Chassis rifles

[Jay]

Let see them. Chassis rifles.
Like it or not, we’re in a new era. CNC machining. What not that long ago would cost A LOT in custom work, is now achievable by ordering parts. So, chassis rifle thread…

Howa 1500 mini action, 6mm ARC in an MDT Oryx chassis

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Ruger American Ranch, 5.56 in a Sharps Bros chassis

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Savage Axis, 308 Win, MDT Oryx chassis

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Build in progress… 10/22, superlite… Grey Birch chassis is here. 16” carbon fiber barrel ordered from McGowan. 8-10 week estimated delivery. So it’ll be a bit. Gives me time to get the rest of the parts together.

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I know there’s some bad chassis rifles out there… let’s inspire…

[Jay]

On that topic, I propose a challenge… you probably have a rifle that is capable of bolting into a chassis.. MDT, Sharps Bros, Grey Birch.. etc. Pull one of those rifles out, find a chassis for it and put it to work. Give it a new life.

[GrapeApe]

On that topic, I propose a challenge… you probably have a rifle that is capable of bolting into a chassis.. MDT, Sharps Bros, Grey Birch.. etc. Pull one of those rifles out, find a chassis for it and put it to work. Give it a new life.

VERY doubtful, not a fan

[Jay]

Hey, it’s not for everyone.

The main benefit I get is being able to run bolt guns on a tripod for hunting. With the 10/22, I’ll have a lineup from that, to the Ranch in 5.56 to the 6ARC and 308 Win. Got some bases covered, as far as tripod hunting goes. And I’ve got a lineup of ARs from 20 Practical to 308 Win, for added possibilities.

In the case of my Savage Axis, it’s a rifle I very rarely used. An inexpensive rifle in a Tupperware stock. Now, it has a new lease on life. That’s my thinking. A lot of us probably have a rifle or two sitting in the safe that are rarely taken out. For a few hundred bucks, slap that thing in a chassis and have a new toy. A guy can even stash the factory stock and swap it back later, if he so desired. And, a guy could also get an added bonus of going from a blind mag rifle to an AICS mag fed gun.

[Zee]

On that topic, I propose a challenge… you probably have a rifle that is capable of bolting into a chassis.. MDT, Sharps Bros, Grey Birch.. etc. Pull one of those rifles out, find a chassis for it and put it to work. Give it a new life.

VERY doubtful, not a fan

Why is that? Out of curiosity.

[GrapeApe]

Don't like the way they feel, or fit me

[Zee]

I agree they are not all created equal. I’m rather particular myself.

[CPJ 2.0]

I’m a fan.

I like my Oryx more than my Sharps, but, it takes AR mags for my rifle that…takes AR mags.

I’ll have more. One for an Axis in 223, and one for my heavy ass savage 243. Haven’t really shot that rifle in 4 years, I hate the stock I built. I mean, the whole gun works very well as a system. But I don’t like the stock. And it’s VERY limited. It’s a bench beotch, period.
So it’ll get a chassis. I’ll machine them both. I’ve had a chunk of aluminum for one for……awhile. Never have made sure the design/process was good enough to chance a $250 block of recycled beer cans.

[CPJ 2.0]

Fatass bench gun and chassis test piece. That test piece is….far away from what it will be.

[GrapeApe]

The "right one" might change my opinion of them, but I haven't found it yet, and to be honest, I'm not really spending any time or $$ looking.

I've restocked a grand total of 3 rifles and my XP-100 in my lifetime.
7x57 Ruger 77r that I had JSD turn in to an "International" (aka Mannlicher) with a Lilja BBL, I finished and customized a Walnut Stock and forend for my Contender carbine, a Heavy, thumb hole, stock for my AMT 10-22 clone when I had a 0.920 bbl on it for RF bench rest and finished and bedded a walnut stock for my XP-100.
The only possible restock on the horizon is a Magpul 10-22 stock after I have the .920" bbl threaded, so I can use the semi-auto as a "critter getter"

Edited to add: To be perfectly clear... If you have/like/use them, God bless, go forth and be happy. Currently, just not my cup of tea.

[Justsomedude]

That's the reason I bought a 3D printer, to make things like that for my airguns. I'd like to design something for one of my powder burners but I'm not sure which. My buddy has some interest for his Savage 110 in 416 Ruger.

[Bigslug]

I no longer compete. . .and the Highpower game is pretty much gas guns these days anyway. . .

Tried a detachable magazine on a hunting rifle, and really didn't like that feature. . .

Have gone to flat-bottomed, controlled feed actions as my preference. . .

I know how to epoxy bed. . .

And if you're only as old as you feel, I guess I'm about 93. . .

So. . .pretty sure this chassis thing ain't gonna happen for me.

[shotgunshooter3]

No chassis guns yet, but I do like them. I have a Savage 12 HB .308 that I bought for a since abandoned project that will either get put into an Oryx, or get sold.

EDIT: I'm debating personally if my main rifle focus these days (backcountry hunting) is better served by a carbon fiber stock, or a folding chassis with weight shed elsewhere. I will likely try both, leaning towards a carbon fiber stock for my 7mm08.

[CPJ 2.0]

Detachable mags in any form other than AR15 or AICS pattern suck wiener.

[Wambli Ska]

I’m intrigued but my firearm tastes run in the opposite direction nowadays. I’m saving my money for a Winchester carbine (Italian clone) 1873 in .357 mag, a rifle I’ll get a shlt-ton of use out of. I have a pile of bolt rifles I’ve never even fired yet. And the only bolt action gun that continues to be a recurring dream is Al’s .280

BUT, I am intrigued and after the ‘73 the list of “wants” is literally blank… soooooo, maybe I’ll take the challenge later on.

[jkp]

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[Jay]

See! Chris and jkp know the cool kid stuff…

[Jay]

That's the reason I bought a 3D printer, to make things like that for my airguns. I'd like to design something for one of my powder burners but I'm not sure which. My buddy has some interest for his Savage 110 in 416 Ruger.

You guys with machining knowledge are way past me… I’m impressed that I can order a chassis, bolt a factory barreled action in it and go shoot stufff. And there has been some stuff shot… I’d be interested to see what you guys could come up with.

[Jay]

No chassis guns yet, but I do like them. I have a Savage 12 HB .308 that I bought for a since abandoned project that will either get put into an Oryx, or get sold.

EDIT: I'm debating personally if my main rifle focus these days (backcountry hunting) is better served by a carbon fiber stock, or a folding chassis with weight shed elsewhere. I will likely try both, leaning towards a carbon fiber stock for my 7mm08.

Dude, you’ve got a great candidate! Order an Oryx chassis…. Bolt your action to it.. go shoot it! Give it life!

[Jay]

I’m intrigued but my firearm tastes run in the opposite direction nowadays. I’m saving my money for a Winchester carbine (Italian clone) 1873 in .357 mag, a rifle I’ll get a shlt-ton of use out of. I have a pile of bolt rifles I’ve never even fired yet. And the only bolt action gun that continues to be a recurring dream is Al’s .280

BUT, I am intrigued and after the ‘73 the list of “wants” is literally blank… soooooo, maybe I’ll take the challenge later on.

Your tastes change every time you move..

I have a ‘94 in 357 mag. Shot my first coyote with it. Will never get rid of it.. I have a bunch of rifles I rarely shoot, but won’t get rid of… But, chassis rifles have their own appeal.

As I allude to, with quality machining, there’s no bedding. No trickery… Take that old bolt gun out, put it in a chassis and open up possibilities.

[Jay]

Also, I will say.. Tripod hunting changes the game a bit. Some jackasses got that snowball rolling for me..

To effectively run a bolt gun on a tripod… chassis make it work. I also find they ride a rest and/or bags pretty good.

[Orchidman]

I hear what you are saying.......but its not for me. If some of the properties I cull on were 'flatland' and I could use a tripod with my thermal I would go for a chassis rifle. But nearly all my culling is done on hilly bush country, some of it steep enough to cause heart palpitations in the dark. A lot of the places require a rifle to be slung over my shoulder while I am on my way to a suitable vantage point. The only time I have carried a 'chassis' style rifle over my shoulder it kept poking me in places I didnt want or like.Thats why all my 'cull' rifles are lightweight models like t3x's with synthetic stocks and t3lites...

My other consideration is the cost......to buy any chassis for any of my rifles over here would nearly cost me the price of a new traditional stocked rifle........It sucks living on the other side of the world.........sometimes...

Edited to add: Here is an example of cost. A KRG T3X Chassis in the USA from what I can see costs around $490usd. Over here the same model costs $1600nzd or about $1000usd......I can buy another rifle for that and still have enough left over to put towards a scope

[Jay]

In your case, that makes perfect sense.

[shotgunshooter3]

No chassis guns yet, but I do like them. I have a Savage 12 HB .308 that I bought for a since abandoned project that will either get put into an Oryx, or get sold.

EDIT: I'm debating personally if my main rifle focus these days (backcountry hunting) is better served by a carbon fiber stock, or a folding chassis with weight shed elsewhere. I will likely try both, leaning towards a carbon fiber stock for my 7mm08.

Dude, you’ve got a great candidate! Order an Oryx chassis…. Bolt your action to it.. go shoot it! Give it life!

That's what I'm leaning towards, but I have to watch the budget more carefully these days. I took a pretty big pay cut doing a career change, and I'm eying a lot more international travel in the next few years. Toys aren't off the table, but they are heavily scrutinized.