Hunting/Hiking with a chassis based rifle?

BB I spend everyday in field season walking more kms than you ever put on hunting in the bush with far more weight than that in far more remote areas

I have never felt the need to carry 40 means of signalling with me.

If you are so bad in the bush you feel the need to do that maybe you should stick to golf and threads about builds you will never do on cgn
 
So after you fire your signal echoing signal shots your buddies can wander around in circles for another half day trying to find where the noise came from. Can get a good pair of radios these days for less than one “payload” of signal shots costs these days….
 
No matter how impractical, people will somehow find a way to convince themselves that is what they need .Not for me .The balance point of a chassis is really bad , carrying my rifle is what i do when I hunt. Not to mention off hand shooting is awkward at best with chassis ergonomics and balance.I have some arthritis in my hands and the alloy midsection plays havoc with that with the way it conducts the cold.Even with gloves it brutal.

Impractical in your mind, that's fine, but the reality is way different to many others. I didn't need to "convince" myself of anything! I wanted to try a chassis and after trying it I liked it way better than the factory stock. My rifle is perfectly balanced for me the way I carry it which is with a Safari Sling (I'm sure you have some opinion on those also) Off hand shooting is a dream and way more ergonomic than with a regular stock with the simple addition of a Magpul AFG. I too have arthritis in my hands and honestly, with my carry method, which is certainly not carrying the gun around in my hand all day (how the hell do you do that all day with arthritic hands!) I don't even notice if it's cold as I'm only holding the metal when I am shooting and then it's kind of like blast and recoil, you don't notice it. It's a simple case of to each their own. I have many regularly stocked guns but when I reach in the cabinet before a hike with the dogs or going hunting the chassis finds it's way into my hand the most often with no "convincing" needed:)
 
Two point slings are quite useful for front carry as well, especially if you build a shorty. Traditionalists who like that balance point under the action to ride nicely in their hand will need to adapt to an entirely different platform as I suggested. But military and law enforcement carry at the ready all the time with essentially chassis style ergos and they use two point slings, you can snug them fast for when you need to bend or get through or over a fence and they loosen super quick for fast shouldering. Once you actually try some of this out it's pretty eye opening stuff that transitions well to hunting. But yes the discussion can definitely go to two different types of chassis builds. Most are building prs style heavy target rigs that would not translate to hunting at all, too long, too heavy. HOWEVER, if you look at this more like the AR guys build up AR's you can build more along those lines, shorter/lighter rigs that handle very fast off a two point sling and still shoot amazing at distance.

As with learning a new platform there's lots of the nuances and ins-outs to learn like most of us already know by instinct now with regular style firearms like balance points, one handed carry etc. So you can still play with balance points with these also, barrel length and weight still a factor one can manipulate, and in order to get more weight forward one needs to forgo the telescopes and the heavy triple bolt tactical rings and stick to lower talley style rings, traditional hunting scopes and keep em low enough so you can ride on standard lightweight butt stocks. So ALL of this is possible but one must learn the distinction between doing a hunting build vs the typical chassis rigs guys build up. You can get balance points where you like, you can get weights where you like, you can make very functional hunting rigs from a chassis platform.

It's a growing thing so there will be plenty of growing pains as this goes. I'm a few years in now so I've learned a fair bit so far. As mentioned the alpha mountain hunting studs doing up lots of high dollar XLR carbon folding stock rigs that are very lightweight. But you can build budget everyday working man rigs that are quite functional too and while I can afford and used to play with the high dollar stuff I no longer enjoy it, but rather the basic everyday stuff. I run a Ruger American Ranch 6.5 Grendel in a chassis now and beyond happy with the set up. It's short, stout and it's plain getting r done, very accurate, user friendly, and I was an ultralight sheep guy with 6.5-7 lb all up scoped rigs for a long time...so there's that. All I will carry now is this little bat, mountains or not, I actually like the weight, perfect would be around 7.5 all up but a little over 8 works just fine and only adds to the shoot ability. Balance is great, it one hand carries in front of the magazine well quite well, I paid attention to weight in optics/rings/butt stock/grip and buffer tube.
 
Lots of unbiased opinions on here, a few seem quite biased I wonder if some of the guys 'knockin have even tried one?. I'm trying to keep an open mind and incorporate the HNT26 chassis into a general-purpose hunting rig of 8lbs but I have to be honest it's not so easy for me to embrace and not based solely on the ergonomics argument either.

When my T3X was placed in the chassis I noticed large gaps/openings where debris water etc. seemed very likely to enter the trigger pack/housing.
In my hunting areas there are many thick sections of brushy second growth pine I need to push through in order to reach the adjoining cut. The little dry pine needles get everywhere and you find them in places on both your body and your gear you never thought possible.
Late season hunting in my area also brings freezing rain into the equation.

In the first picture when looking at the bolt handle cut-out you can actually peer down the hole at the sear surfaces in the trigger pack. I've had a 700 in an LSS chassis some years back but can't remember if these huge gaps were present on that one?
Bottom two photos are obviously a factory stock, but you can see how that hole is covered underneath the bolt handle.

On a positive note regarding the HNT26 my T1X drops right in!

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So after you fire your signal echoing signal shots your buddies can wander around in circles for another half day trying to find where the noise came from. Can get a good pair of radios these days for less than one “payload” of signal shots costs these days….

This is what the additional 39 signalling shots are for

If you fire 3 rounds every minute for 13 minutes it allows your partners to triangulate your location and respond in kind

After the deafness subsides you can walk the 16 miles of remote bush to one another


On a positive note regarding the HNT26 my T1X drops right in!

“ you had my interest, and now; you have my attention”
 
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The metal on a chassis would not be a lot different than the metal on a good classic lever gun, especially the MDT HNT26 chassis--which I have and I intend to hunt coyotes with this winter. In regards to the argument about the thumb wrap around the pistol grip, I have learned to just hold my thumb in a position that is more or less up and forward a bit and not wrapped around the grip at all, in fact most MDT chassis have a small shelf there just for your thumb. Some other added advantages of the chassis rifle is there is lots options for adding different accessories, forward grips, arca rails, M lock picatinny rails, etc, and of course the fast load/unload of the detachable magazine.

I also appreciate a more classic stock, and in fact my next rifle will be a Winchester M70 Featherweight in 308--if I can ever find one. Something romantic about the traditional walnut stock, nicely blued rifle that just makes the heart warm and fuzzy inside.
 
Off hand shooting is a dream and way more ergonomic than with a regular stock with the simple addition of a Magpul AFG.

I like this setup, cool to hear that it works well. I always liked angled foregrips on the banned guns
 
I've carried a lot of different ones over the years from factory to full blown customs and for me, I've come to the conclusion that the Cross is probably my favorite hunting rifle as it just seems to check all the boxes for the type of hunting I do. I know that in my case, it has stopped me from shopping since I have had it. Personally I wouldn't change a thing on it.
 
Simmer down hot shot, the internet turns everyone into a badass. If you think a normal day for plenty of guys in your province is braggadocio I can’t help you. BB is a big boy he can respond on his own

If you’re gonna talk #### about people not walking in the bush maybe don’t choose someone who walks in the woods for a living….

I know 21 year old girls who could bury both of you lmfao

I’m sure brynbenn is glad you have risen to his defence for no ####ing reason though. Are you also in the shotgun, chassis, 60 extra shots because you are in such remote southern Ontario bush club or did you just feel like picking a fight?
 
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Simmer down hot shot, the internet turns everyone into a badass. If you think a normal day for plenty of guys in your province is braggadocio I can’t help you. BB is a big boy he can respond on his own

If you’re gonna talk #### about people not walking in the bush maybe don’t choose someone who walks in the woods for a living….

I know 21 year old girls who could bury both of you lmfao

I’m sure brynbenn is glad you have risen to his defence for no ####ing reason though. Are you also in the shotgun, chassis, 60 extra shots because you are in such remote southern Ontario bush club or did you just feel like picking a fight?

Cool story bruh, you sure do worry a lot about what other people choose to lug around the bush.

You’re not the only one that works in the bush for a living, it ain’t that special lol.
 
^ no #### that’s what I’m saying here


Thanks for coming out. I’m still not sure why you did. Logger reading comprehension and temper I guess?
 
From my experience hands on and observation a laminate wood stock in classic hunting lines is the best carrying rifle in any position... positions will shift regularly just for weight shifting and relaxing muscle areas. I say laminate only because I know of solid wood stocks (albeit rare) that have shifted with moisture change. Most don't to catastrophic amounts, but the point is laminate does away with that at the cost of slightly more weight and you never lose the more quiet nature of wood and that it doesn't suck the heat out of bare hands. The classic lines permit comfortable carry whether slung, single or two handed carry etc. try carrying different stock styles and you'll see. Blind box, hinged floorplate or smooth fit detach. mag. in that order compliment the ergonomics.

Though I have carried thumbhole/heavy barreled rifles, for carrying all day the shape more so than the weight is what grows tiring and for that reason any rifle I carry for long durations will be a tight bolt action with non-protruding magazine, wood stock in any hunting configuration from traditional FS European to Schnabel to American with a comfortable leather sling, all in weighing under 10lbs. There is a reason why this is a standard sporting rifle pattern.
 
'bein thinking of gettin one of them dere MDT 26 chassis for my 760 30-06.... how cool would that be? :)

Seriously though, it might work out ok for an all around bolt hunting rifle ....didn't have any problems off hand shooting AR style rifles or packing them (when we were allowed to).

They just have a different feel to them that you have to accustom yourself to... Kinda like skinny girls vs robust girls. :p
 
Maybe fellers should look at the weights involved? The MDT chassis weighs about 26 ounces. That's 1.5 pounds. There isn't a laminate or wood stock on the planet that weighs that. 1.5 pounds on a rifle is huge weight. For those familiar with platform, it gives up nothing, off hand or otherwise. For those unfamiliar, why all of the input? Maybe spend some time behind one, try it, and then comment? Target rifle ergonomics on a "hunting" rig, is never a bad thing, if that is what you're used to.
Again, if you're a "I only shoot trophy does at 300 yards maximum, with open sights" dude, then this certainly isn't for you.
If a guy is so inclined, an already light rifle can be made 1.5 pounds lighter by simply bolting on a chassis. And no, you're not going to do it with a Wildcat, or a Brown, without a trip to the smith, or without significant finishing.
R.
 
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^ no #### that’s what I’m saying here


Thanks for coming out. I’m still not sure why you did. Logger reading comprehension and temper I guess?

I can never figure out why people like you get so ruffled by what other people choose to hunt with, it literally makes no difference if they carry 10,20 or 40 extra rounds with them lol. It’s like fudds with an extra box of 20 in their pack saying “Nobody needs to hunt with a 10 rd magazine, a single shot is all I’ve ever needed...” They’re just triggered that someone carries their extra ammo in a mag and not a cardboard box, it’s stupidity.

Worry about yourself bud, but you gotta be that guy right?
 
I just pulled the stock off of my Tikka T3 Varmint 300WSM, it weighs 35.6 oz ... so I'd save just under 10 oz on this rifle with the MDT HNT26 stock.

Thats a huge weight savings! :)

***removed the comment about clipping the trigger spring, yodave spring to the rescue.***
 
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I can never figure out why people like you get so ruffled by what other people choose to hunt with, it literally makes no difference if they carry 10,20 or 40 extra rounds with them lol. It’s like fudds with an extra box of 20 in their pack saying “Nobody needs to hunt with a 10 rd magazine, a single shot is all I’ve ever needed...” They’re just triggered that someone carries their extra ammo in a mag and not a cardboard box, it’s stupidity.

Worry about yourself bud, but you gotta be that guy right?

x2 on that /\/\
 
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