I'd like to take my TAC A1 out and blood it, but, at near 13-14 lbs, it will not be for spot and stalk. In a stand overlooking a cutblock or pipeline or field, maybe. Except I hate sitting in one place for more than about 15min. I have a SxS for spot and stalk in the bush, it's good for 300yds, a singleshot stalking rifle for hiking with, and another singleshot that isn't quite as heavy as the TAC a1, that I'd rather use for stand hunting, as at 10lbs, it is bearable for some short spot and stalk.
Hunting/Hiking with a chassis based rifle?
- Thread starter Slowbalt
- Start date
Don't hunt with chassis style rifles but like the looks and accuracy and that's probably where the industry is going eventually.
Since weight of the chassis style rifle is the big detriment to hunting, I would imagine in time and with development that issue will be addressed.
Carbon fiber barrels will replace steel barrels (that's a big savings in weight - especially on the right end of the rifle)
Polymer or alloy receivers and skeletonized everything else will make a big difference as well.
Shorter and lighter scope tubes will make a difference.
Since weight of the chassis style rifle is the big detriment to hunting, I would imagine in time and with development that issue will be addressed.
Carbon fiber barrels will replace steel barrels (that's a big savings in weight - especially on the right end of the rifle)
Polymer or alloy receivers and skeletonized everything else will make a big difference as well.
Shorter and lighter scope tubes will make a difference.
I hear ya. I ride my pedal bike into one of my spots sometimes then pick a shorter walk from there, just depends if it snows.
I used an MDT LSS chassis on a Rem700 as my primary coyote rifle one winter. Tried it mostly as a novelty, but wanted to get a feel for the ergos of a chassis/pistol-grip set-up. I'll be honest, I didn't like the extra weight, I didn't like all that cold metal, and in most instances I didn't find the ergos to be better (and sometimes found them much worse!) than the traditional rifles with which I have hunted for the past 50+ years. Sold the chassis after a winter of use and didn't really miss it.
But...I must admit the new MDT hunting chassis sounds like it would address all the negatives I encountered. I'm looking hard at trying one of those.
But...I must admit the new MDT hunting chassis sounds like it would address all the negatives I encountered. I'm looking hard at trying one of those.
I haven't seen a chasis made for carrying. But I'd consider one if it was lightweight and ergonomic for carry.
There are times when I do a local hunt with an overweight milsurp or heavy target rifle for nostalgia or just the experience. But for a serious hunt I use the best tools I have, and that wouldn't be a 12+ lb rifle that's a pain to carry.
I also carry a smart phone instead of a laptop, although the laptop is more powerful and can do everything the phone can and more. Because weight and ease of carry matter.
There are times when I do a local hunt with an overweight milsurp or heavy target rifle for nostalgia or just the experience. But for a serious hunt I use the best tools I have, and that wouldn't be a 12+ lb rifle that's a pain to carry.
I also carry a smart phone instead of a laptop, although the laptop is more powerful and can do everything the phone can and more. Because weight and ease of carry matter.
I have a friend who put together an MDT chassis rifle as a truck/ short walk around rifle .
Folding butt stock. Etc.
If is fairly light and with the folding feature it doesn't take up much room .
Not for me mind you, but different strokes......
Cat
Folding butt stock. Etc.
If is fairly light and with the folding feature it doesn't take up much room .
Not for me mind you, but different strokes......
Cat
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Have had mine since late september. Meh, still deciding if I want to keep it...I am trying hard to like both chassis and Tikka T3s but if I am being honest I usually just grab my Ruger GSR for spot and stalk hunting and general woods-loafing.
One unexpected thing about the HNT26 is how warm to the touch the carbon fiber pieces are...almost like they have their own heat source, but the downside is they are very noisy. My favourite thing about the HNT26 was MDTs new flush-fitting 3rd AI magazine that was shipped with it, it went straight to my ruger and damn it functions,looks and carries nice in my GSR!
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Yeah its kind of funny I hear many folks saying that chassis-based rifles like the Sig Cross are the future of turn-bolt hunting/sporting arms but I dunno,a full pistol grip is tough to get used to in a bolt action rifle in a general hunting role and that is what the HNT26 is marketed as.
If we were closer I'd let you take the HNT26/Tikka combo for a whirl. I would definitely try before you buy.
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This is exactly my fear about this set-up. The HNT26 stock addresses some of the problem I have with a cold stock...but the central portion around the balance point, where I want to grasp it for one-handed carry, is still cold metal. I hadn't realized the noise issue, but that is also a concern.
Another thing that bugged me about the MDT stock I used was accessibility of the safety. On a traditional stock, my thumb is right there next to the safety, allowing easy and quick manipulation. I want to be able to move it over a tiny bit, disengage the safety, and regain my original position all without losing or shifting my shooting hand grip. The "expert" hunters on TV are often shown releasing their shooting grip entirely, grasping the safety with thumb and fingers to operate it and then re-aquiring their grip. That's totally nuts.
With a chassis, your thumb is completely wrapped around the pistol grip and needs to be lifted up and over the pistol grip and stock to access the safety. That's a bit less stupid, but only a bit.
It looks like the Sig Cross has addressed this with a left side safety. Bravo! Now...about that ice cold metal...
A chassis rifle doesn't need to be a quantum leap forward to be attractive as a hunting gun, but it needs to offer something more than just "looks cool styling" if that brings with it multiple ergonomic glitches. Less flash, more substance.
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A lot of the chassis hunting commercials… err videos are calling out the difficulty of shooting a traditionally stocked rifle. I don’t have the experience with chassis rifles to comment but I would suggest that the nature of the stock on a hunting rifle has evolved to suit the needs of the hunter, who generally fires a single shot and carries his rifle through all kinds of stuff. As tree stand and road hunters dominate the market maybe we will see the chassis become the de rigeur stock design but I doubt it.
Sounds like if you want to mimic AR ergos the safety is a part of the package
I looked at a SIG cross and it seemed pretty well put together, safety as mentioned was easy to operate. Lightweight but a big package compared to a GSR or Kimber hunter I imagine it would be a bit rear heavy with a scope on it.
The folding seems like a bit of a gimmick.
Sounds like if you want to mimic AR ergos the safety is a part of the package
I looked at a SIG cross and it seemed pretty well put together, safety as mentioned was easy to operate. Lightweight but a big package compared to a GSR or Kimber hunter I imagine it would be a bit rear heavy with a scope on it.
The folding seems like a bit of a gimmick.
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Good post jjohn, and I agree with every point you made. The full pistol-grip on a bolt rifle certainly takes some getting used to and requires some re-training.
I haven't yet decided if I even want to go there.
I haven't yet decided if I even want to go there.
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From the comments above, there are still obvious gaps between a traditional stock, and a chassis. The most obvious should be that chassis are used mostly for target style rifles, and traditional stocks on "hunting" rifles. So depending on how you hunt/shoot, the choice should be fairly straightforward.
The HNT26 weighs about 26 ounces or so. This is a massive improvement over previously offered chassis, tipping the scales around 2.5 to 3 pounds, or other hybrid "hunting" stocks, like the McMillan Game Scout, which can also be in that 2.5 to 3 pound range.
As usual, we arrive at the crossroads of: There are many different ways to get something done, pick the best way for you. With regards to this thread, this means that if you don't already shoot a target style rifle, if you are considering that your fingers get cold when they touch cold metal, if you don't like a pistol grip, if you are concerned where your thumb goes, if you believe that carbon fibre is too noisy, or if you limit your shots on game to under ### yards, then an expensive 26 ounce target style stock is not for you. And there is nothing wrong with that, until there is.
The HNT26 just got dragged around on a 4 day moose "hunt". The chassis wasn't cold or noisy, there were no issues with the rifle's safety, and it didn't manage to make coffee in the morning either. What it did do, was provide significant weight savings over the target style stocks that have been previously packed around, give a familiar platform to the user, and also did everything MDT said it would. It's a sold piece of kit. It's also a target rifle style chassis that weighs 26 ounces! Choose accordingly. Just sayin'.
R.
The HNT26 weighs about 26 ounces or so. This is a massive improvement over previously offered chassis, tipping the scales around 2.5 to 3 pounds, or other hybrid "hunting" stocks, like the McMillan Game Scout, which can also be in that 2.5 to 3 pound range.
As usual, we arrive at the crossroads of: There are many different ways to get something done, pick the best way for you. With regards to this thread, this means that if you don't already shoot a target style rifle, if you are considering that your fingers get cold when they touch cold metal, if you don't like a pistol grip, if you are concerned where your thumb goes, if you believe that carbon fibre is too noisy, or if you limit your shots on game to under ### yards, then an expensive 26 ounce target style stock is not for you. And there is nothing wrong with that, until there is.
The HNT26 just got dragged around on a 4 day moose "hunt". The chassis wasn't cold or noisy, there were no issues with the rifle's safety, and it didn't manage to make coffee in the morning either. What it did do, was provide significant weight savings over the target style stocks that have been previously packed around, give a familiar platform to the user, and also did everything MDT said it would. It's a sold piece of kit. It's also a target rifle style chassis that weighs 26 ounces! Choose accordingly. Just sayin'.
R.
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I hunted this year with a Sig Cross and loved the feel of the rifle. I am more used to carrying a chassis style and found it to be very fast in the bush when needed.
For the cold, I wrapped the forend in Camo-Form and installed a rubber pistol grip. I also "hockey taped" my bolt knob, which gave it more grip than the aluminum bolt handle.
I have hunted with a Tikka CTR in an MDT chassis and found the safety positioning to be the worst part of the system, the Sig Cross has fixed this, making it easy to "ride" my safety to ensure it was on when needed.
The biggest upside for me is carrying it in a sling across my front, rather than back on my shoulder. The side QD sling mounts carry it perfectly, and I can easily get rid of the sling when not needed. The Folding stock was a novelty at best- Nice to bring it out in a smaller case but never folded it during hunting/vehicles or anything else.
For the cold, I wrapped the forend in Camo-Form and installed a rubber pistol grip. I also "hockey taped" my bolt knob, which gave it more grip than the aluminum bolt handle.
I have hunted with a Tikka CTR in an MDT chassis and found the safety positioning to be the worst part of the system, the Sig Cross has fixed this, making it easy to "ride" my safety to ensure it was on when needed.
The biggest upside for me is carrying it in a sling across my front, rather than back on my shoulder. The side QD sling mounts carry it perfectly, and I can easily get rid of the sling when not needed. The Folding stock was a novelty at best- Nice to bring it out in a smaller case but never folded it during hunting/vehicles or anything else.
