Torn between XRS and Oryx

Hitzy

Hitzy

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Need a new stock for a 26" Savage 6.5cm, torn between these 2 stocks and need a push.
I'm more of a traditional stock guy, but the forend looks a little thin and narrow, I kind of prefer a deeper wider forend for bags.
Does the XRS frame run through the grip like Magpul or the full length of the stock?
Is the Oryx a reasonably ergonomic stock, like when you get behind it does it feel natural? Everything lines up easy and comfortably in shooting positions? Is the check piece long enough on it? Looks kind of short and pretty far back from the action.
Pros and cons from users with these?
 
There's a thread somewhere here where I compared an XRS to a KRG Bravo (I had both at the time). I prefer the XRS. The longer forend vs the Bravo is nice. I found with the Bravo you had to add the spigot to have a long enough forend to keep a bipod on while using a support bag (like a Gamechanger). I also just preferred the "feel " of the XRS. Felt more solid in hand and less "hollow" than the Bravo. I really like the XRS. I'm quite looking forward to getting it back! It's off at the smith (with the action that goes in it which is getting a new barrel) for some cerakote.
 
Assume the magpul hunter Savage will be out soon if not already.

promag archangel exists too.

The XRS forend is shallow but it is plenty strong and rigid to do its job. Remember that many F Open and unlimited BR stocks create a shallower forend... it helps with torque control.

I feel the XRS is the best stock MDT makes right now... but I am more traditional in tastes.

Jerry
 
Mystic Precision said:
Assume the magpul hunter Savage will be out soon if not already.

promag archangel exists too.

The XRS forend is shallow but it is plenty strong and rigid to do its job. Remember that many F Open and unlimited BR stocks create a shallower forend... it helps with torque control.

I feel the XRS is the best stock MDT makes right now... but I am more traditional in tastes.

Jerry
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XRS is probably the one I'm leaning to the most. It's similar profile to my 308 Savage HS stock (except the forend). My 6.5 is a blind mag, so to get a B&C stock with Savage bottom metal would cost more, and I'd still be limited to expensive Savage mags. I already have some 308 class AICS mags so the MDT is making more sense.
Magpul made a Ruger American stock but still haven't got Savage inlets yet.
 
I have/had the oryx on my savage model 10 and still have one on my savage mk 2. I also have a krg bravo (similar to the xrs). The oryx is a good chassis for the price, but I prefer the feel of the bravo over it. I run the MDT vertical grip on my remaining oryx and the quick adjust knobs on the cheek piece. The model 10 dropped in no problem and it fed reliably from steel and polymer mags. The mag release pin constantly walked it's way out when shooting. Nothing major, just slightly annoying. Finish is decent on it, though not overly robust.

I had the intention of trying the xrs for my savage but have since moved on from all savage center fire rifles. If I were to buy one of the 2, I would opt for the XRS.
 
Got the XRS, got a little lucky as they finally released the FDE version a couple days after I placed my order and they were great about switching it up.
Forend is wide but not deep, very big gap all around the Savage HB which are fairly thick production barrels, nice and stiff anyway, and the aluminum chassis is very nicely machined and finished, the whole front end forward of the grip is very impressive.
Rear of the grip to the butt is a little sloppy in the molds lining up, lots of sharp edges that I'll need to knock down with a needle file, one side is higher then the other so I'll have to even that out, bit of flashing, and a kind of nasty looking injection hole in the front/bottom of the butt behind the grip I'm going to have to dress up somehow. Adjustable cheek piece was off center as well due to some flashing and screw posts being off center but I fixed that in about 5 mins already. The butt end looks like it was made by a different manufacturer then the front end cosmetically, but I'm a function kind of guy so it's no big deal. I'll clean it up and it will look just fine. I'll try and get some pics up of what I'm referring to soon.
The big fat vertical grip suits me better, and I had to add 3 of the 4 extra spacers to get a comfortable LOP. I like the Magpul hunter spacer system a little better then the MDT "S" type spacers which have gaps on both sides that you can slide in by loosening the butt pad instead of complete removal. It's not a big stretch between loosening/removing the buttpad, so I'm not sure why they went with the "S" type vs a solid spacer, it would look better with a solid spacer.
Nice touch was the captured action screws in the stock, but they are not standard Savage allen size, so you need a different allen key for them. There are 3 or 4 different sized allen bolts holding it all together, and they all needed a little tightening, every one.
I guess as a direct comparison to the Magpul Hunter, it's a slight improvement and slightly cheaper option, I'll see how it shoots probably Monday or Wednesday. Feels nice and solid anyways, and my $400 Savage 12FV blind mag Cabela's special is now mag ready for $500 lol. I already have a 700 308 in a Magpul Hunter stock so lots of 6.5 mags on hand. Mag release is nice and solid and very similar to the Hunter, just a bit smaller. I actually like the Hunter stock...might be one of the few people that do lol.
 
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Here's the pics...
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Wow. I honestly expected better. Thank you Hitzy for posting this up.

I just went and looked at my KRG Bravo, and the only moulding lines that weren't perfectly smooth/sanded were at the very tip of the fore end (2mm from the end). They're nowhere as prominent as any I see in those pics, I can barely get a fingernail to catch on them. Everything else is smooth as a baby's ass.

I had all but decided on ordering a XRS tomorrow morning, but I'm pumping the brakes. I'd rather spend an extra $85 for another Bravo or a few hundred more on something higher end and take my chances with my wife. I wonder if you had the misfortune of first run issues for the FDE stock?
 
Unholysavage said:
Wow. I honestly expected better. Thank you Hitzy for posting this up.

I just went and looked at my KRG Bravo, and the only moulding lines that weren't perfectly smooth/sanded were at the very tip of the fore end (2mm from the end). They're nowhere as prominent as any I see in those pics, I can barely get a fingernail to catch on them. Everything else is smooth as a baby's ass.

I had all but decided on ordering a XRS tomorrow morning, but I'm pumping the brakes. I'd rather spend an extra $85 for another Bravo or a few hundred more on something higher end and take my chances with my wife. I wonder if you had the misfortune of first run issues for the FDE stock?
Click to expand...

Could be first run jitters, I had my Magpul Hunter out today to look it over (also FDE) and no flash or misaligned mold lines, and it's even more bolted together pieces then this unit. I have no concerns about being able to dress it up, PL Premium epoxy is pretty much an FDE match so I'll plug that hole and dress it up, and file down the flash. I probably should have gone with the KRG, I like the lines a bit better on those, but this isn't a terrible stock overall, just some cosmetic issues as you can see lol.
I'm not one to make a fuss and return #### unless it's a functional issue, $500 for a stock isn't peanuts I agree, I expected a little better too (like not having to pretty it up), but it's not much of the stock, just rear of the action that is sloppy. I have lots of MDT stuff and never been let down, they do good rails, rings, mags, but this is the first stock I got from them and it's not exactly what they have been known to build for chassis, it's a step away from the solid aluminum they make, which is pretty good stuff. Plastic can be a bit of a ##### to get right, this may be a one off and the rest look fine, I dunno, don't have another one to compare it to.
I have seen some of there "seconds"
aluminum chassis', and you would be hard pressed to find a blend in those, so I dunno, maybe it's normal, maybe it slipped through the QC, either way it's something within my capacity to fix so no sleep lost here...as long as it shoots lol.
I did a lot of work to the Factory Savage garbage stock these come in, filled the butt with wheel weights and silicone, JB welded a long piece of thread all steel rod in the forend, bedded the action, and it went from OK to yeah, that thing can shoot...no other reason then to see if I could make one of those cheap Cabella $400 specials shoot like a target rifle. Good waste of time lol.
Anyway, I will see this week if the stock improves groups. If not I'll go back to the OEM outfit.

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Well the stock shoots good, rifle hates 120's (left group), middle is FL sized 140gr Nosler Custom Comp, right is Redding NS with same load and components. And people say neck sizing is out of fashion lol.
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Hitzy said:
Well the stock shoots good, rifle hates 120's (left group), middle is FL sized 140gr Nosler Custom Comp, right is Redding NS with same load and components. And people say neck sizing is out of fashion lol.
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I think that Chassis looks even better in FDE. That's the color I would pick. Neck sizing can work ok, I had my 270 loaded in that manner at one time, but feel load to load is more consistent with FL or in my case body/collet. Its probably a matter of powder charge correction and or neck tension differences. Nice group though!!
 
Lead hammer said:
I think that Chassis looks even better in FDE. That's the color I would pick. Neck sizing can work ok, I had my 270 loaded in that manner at one time, but feel load to load is more consistent with FL or in my case body/collet. Its probably a matter of powder charge correction and or neck tension differences. Nice group though!!
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I got more load playing to do, but the nice group is probably the cheapest target load I've ever put together lol. Hornady brass, Dominion primers, D4064 power, Nosler 140gr custom comp which are about $100/250 bullets. Loaded with a Redding NS die and Hornady seater. I need to get it over chrony, I want at least 2600fps out of these pills, then I'll waste some time at 1000m.
Still have some Nosler 140 RDF to try as well. So far I can live with the cheap rifle, cheapish stock, cheap scope, and cheap loads lol. It's not too bad so far, and I'll feel much better abusing it.
 
I would like to try the RDF's as well, much cheaper but doubt they will do as good as the Berger's. Also the Berger's can squeak by as hunting bullets. (140VLDH.)
 
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