Anyone here hunt with their MDT XRS?

T

Tikka223

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I’ve got an itch to put my T3 CTR into an aftermarket stock. My other Tikkas are all in KRG Bravo stocks and are set up for PRS-style shooting. I hunt with my CTR in the OEM stock with a Bushnell SMRS 1-8.5. I feel like turning my CTR in a bit of an all-round precision rifle that I can plink with and hunt with (especially as th rumor around NB is that we can soon use larger cartridges for year-round hunting).

I’ve googled the topic a bunch looking for stock options and just can’t stomach the idea of spending 1500$+ on a McMillan or Manners etc. I’m tempted by the Bell and Carlson Medalist but I know I’ll get annoyed by not having flush cups or the ability to slap on an Arca rail should I choose. I’m also tempted by the Boyd Pro Varmint but each time I look at the XRS and can’t help but see the value it offers for 500$.

The big question is how does it feel in a hunting situation? I’m not going to cry about the extra few pounds of weight. Yes it might make off hand shots a bit tougher but in my experience, the weight isn’t noticeable if the stock is comfortable and balanced.

Thoughts?
 
My hunting rig (Rem 700 switch barrel 26" carbon 7saum, 20" steel .308 built by Insite Arms) is in an XRS. Honestly, it feels great. The polymer panels aren't cold to the touch (like a chassis is) and the ergonomics are great. It's topped with a Bushnell 4.5-18 LRTS in MDT Premier rings. I've added the enclosed forend since the photo. I got a spiker with it this year:

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Any idea of the total weight it will be? I hunted bear last spring with a Howa in a chassis and it weighed in around 11lbs without ammo iirc, it was fine for rolling around on the quad but it got old quick when I was hiking. I’m no stranger to weight in a hunting rifle but I put it back in its field stock for the fall season.
 
Butcherbill said:
Any idea of the total weight it will be? I hunted bear last spring with a Howa in a chassis and it weighed in around 11lbs without ammo iirc, it was fine for rolling around on the quad but it got old quick when I was hiking. I’m no stranger to weight in a hunting rifle but I put it back in its field stock for the fall season.
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Here are the numbers I put up (for the 26" carbon barrel) in another thread:

Scoped rifle with Harris bipod, full mag (7 rounds) and sling (Shadowtech SS Loophole): 14.5lbs
Scoped rifle with Harris bipod, empty mag, sling: 14.0lbs
Scoped rifle with Harris bipod, empty mag: 13.5lbs
Scoped rifle with empty mag: 12.5lbs

For what it's worth, I didn't build it with absolute light weight in mind. It was intended to be a long range hunter/occasional ELR rifle so I went with a long, heavier contour carbon barrel (it's a Hardy carbon MTU) the concept being increased speed being helpful at longer ranges as well as a the barrel heating up less quickly. I haven't weighed it but I bet it'll be lighter with the 20" .308 barrel (it's a med Palma I had chopped). Same thing with the scope, it's not a total porker but it does weigh 28oz, I believe but is a lot more capable (for long range work) than a typical "hunting scope". It balances well and is no problem to shoot offhand. For my purposes, it works quite well. If I'm hiking far, it goes on my back. I am planning on dropping this rifle into a new HNT26 chassis when mine arrives and that'll drop about 2lbs off the weight but we're talking an entirely different price bracket there. I really do like the XRS though so I'll have to re-purpose that chassis for something else, maybe a new build, haha.
 
Just a heads up, MDT is coming out with the HNT26 which is a purpose-built chassis for hunting applications. Will cost twice the amount of an XRS. As for the XRS, I think it's great for hunting. The polymer panels surrounding the chassis eliminate the cold metal problem, and if weights not an issue, then I can't really see any cons.
 
laker415 said:
I missed why you wouldn't just use another bravo? The Bravo is lighter than the XRS. I have both and the weight difference is quite noticeable. I don't hunt with either though.
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The Bravo very much feels like a precision rifle with the thick vertical grip. It’s not the best for off-hand shots but I agree that it is nice for weight. I hunted with the CTR in the Bravo a couple of times and it wasn’t too bad.
 
laker415 said:
I missed why you wouldn't just use another bravo? The Bravo is lighter than the XRS. I have both and the weight difference is quite noticeable. I don't hunt with either though.
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Not that it really matters for a hunting rig but I find that the Bravo is too short unless you add the spigot and with the spigot there's only a 1/4lbs difference between the 2 of them. I also just prefer the feel of the XRS, just felt less "hollow" to me but that's kind of an intangible.
 
Yeah fair enough. I like both. I prefer the looks of the KRG and I appreciate all the add ons available for it. I do prefer the vertical grip feel of the xrs. Seems to be slightly bigger than the Bravo. I stuffed my bravo with 9mm bullets and duct seal to add weight and get rid of the "hollow" feel. Night and day difference
 
btabin said:
Just a heads up, MDT is coming out with the HNT26 which is a purpose-built chassis for hunting applications. Will cost twice the amount of an XRS. As for the XRS, I think it's great for hunting. The polymer panels surrounding the chassis eliminate the cold metal problem, and if weights not an issue, then I can't really see any cons.
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Honestly, I just can’t get used to using a pistol grip on a bolt action. Semis no problem, bolt actions just seem to add the extra step of getting your thumb out of the way when you go to cycle the bolt.
 
How is the XRS with a sling? I find the QD cups on some rifles are poorly placed causing the rifle to flop around or be uncomfortable to carry. Does the rifle stay flat against your back when you carry it?
 
laker415 said:
Yeah fair enough. I like both. I prefer the looks of the KRG and I appreciate all the add ons available for it. I do prefer the vertical grip feel of the xrs. Seems to be slightly bigger than the Bravo. I stuffed my bravo with 9mm bullets and duct seal to add weight and get rid of the "hollow" feel. Night and day difference
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Yeah, personal preference is such a big part of all this and there is a ton of stuff available for the Bravo. That being said, MDT has come out with a bunch of stuff for the XRS, the new enclosed forend with integral arca/RRS dovetail rail is real nice.
 
Tikka223 said:
How is the XRS with a sling? I find the QD cups on some rifles are poorly placed causing the rifle to flop around or be uncomfortable to carry. Does the rifle stay flat against your back when you carry it?
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I can't really comment on this as I never really carry my rifle on my back with the sling. I usually carry it "patrol carry" or strapped to my pack if moving fast/climbing, etc.

The XRS comes with flush cups for the rear of the stock and then you can add an mlok qd socket up front where you want it.
 
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rugbydave said:
Here are the numbers I put up (for the 26" carbon barrel) in another thread:

Scoped rifle with Harris bipod, full mag (7 rounds) and sling (Shadowtech SS Loophole): 14.5lbs
Scoped rifle with Harris bipod, empty mag, sling: 14.0lbs
Scoped rifle with Harris bipod, empty mag: 13.5lbs
Scoped rifle with empty mag: 12.5lbs
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14.5 lbs is a bit more than I would want to lug around all the time but it’s all about how much you want to hunt with it in that configuration. Over the last few years I’ve been trying to go lighter in all aspects of my hunting gear, I do equal amounts of hunting on foot and from the quad or truck depending on where I’m going and what I’m hunting. The lighter or more minimal I can go the better, but that’s my personal preference.
 
Butcherbill said:
14.5 lbs is a bit more than I would want to lug around all the time but it’s all about how much you want to hunt with it in that configuration. Over the last few years I’ve been trying to go lighter in all aspects of my hunting gear, I do equal amounts of hunting on foot and from the quad or truck depending on where I’m going and what I’m hunting. The lighter or more minimal I can go the better, but that’s my personal preference.
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Yeah, it's all a compromise, in the end. I compromised more on the side of long range capability (I've shot it out to 1600 yards) than weight. I'm used to carrying heavy rifles around though so t really doesn't bother me. I normally drop the bipod if I'm moving any distance. I'm also going to drop it in a HNT26 chassis which will drop about 2lbs of weight.
 
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