Chassis or Stocks for Competition Shooters

Oftentimes in any type of gun discipline we are pushed into the use of certain equipment because we see others do it or it’s the "next best thing". Well, there will always be a next best thing and someone will always try to tell you what the best piece of equipment is. The important thing is to understand what you are using and why. In the Precision Rifle community there are an especially large amount of gun buffs that know what is "right".

Truth is, unless they know your story and knowledge base, they may not know what is right for you. Stocks and chassis are an example of the "use what is right for you" concept. Your decision between using a stock or chassis and what brand and customizations will depend on environment, type of employment, genuine needs for customizations and adjustability, your wallet, and, most importantly, your experience with past and present types of chassis and stocks.

Stocks A stock is what most envision when thinking of a standard hunting rifle. While wood was most common, they are increasingly made out of composite materials. For example, Manners Composite Stocks (Man- Above and com is ago-to site for Precision Rifle competitors. nersStocks.com, is a popular stock company and they make theirs out of 100% carbon fiber material. Foundation Stocks (FoundationStocks.com, is another company on top for performance of stocks and they make theirs out of a material called Micarta.

Micarta is often used for making knife handles and is a combination of paper, canvas, linen, and sealed with resin. Mc Millan (McMillanUSA.com, makes fiberglass stocks. The company says that these stocks are "filled with solid fiberglass in the receiver area and epoxy and glass beads in the forend. Our EDGE ultralight stocks are made with 100% graphite cloth in the shell instead of fiberglass, for less weight and greater strength." When choosing a stock, those materials matter. Do they absorb sweat? Do they fade?

Are they heavy or light? Do I want my stock to be molded or cut? All of these questions come to fruition when choosing your stock.

Myth or fact: Stocks have less adjustability and customization than a chassis. Turns out, this is a myth. It is often thought that stocks have less adjustability due to the lesser amount of moving pieces. However, a stock’s length of pull can be adjusted with some minor cutting and removal of material or by removing the butt plate spacers depending on the stock. Once that is cut or set you won’t need to adjust it again. The cheek comb can be adjusted on stocks often by a knob that is already installed.

Either way, ensure that you know the tools needed to do these adjustments. Another aspect of customization is adding weight. Recoil management is huge when it comes to shooting Precision Rifle events and spotting impacts for follow up shots. Many stock companies offer weight customization for minimal extra charge. At least one company on the market is now producing a stock that allows for a removable weight system.

Finally, to allow easy mounting of bipods or other accessories, stocks can be outfitted with rails on the forend. com, and other equipment. Chassis Chassis are most accepted by those who have run standard AR-15s and want a large amount of modularity, adjustability, and customization. A chassis can feel most comfortable to those who like a boxy kind of feel. They also offer durability in all types of weather due to the materials they are made out of.

Modular Driven Technologies (MDTtac. com, is a popular chassis company. They use CNC machines to build their ACC chassis system out of 6061 Aluminum. Accuracy International Chassis Systems (Accuracy International. us, has been in the game the longest and makes their chassis out of polymer and alloys. They also have delivered and sustained many military contracts with their chassis. Chassis often offer numerous types of adjustability on the stock.

For example, Magpul (Magpul.com, makes the 700 Pro Chassis which offers adjustability in length of pull, butt pad height, Far cheek comb height, and cheek comb fore/aft. Some chassis offer a folding stock option for storage and pack purposes. Many chassis offer a rail system that allows you to mount many accessories such as thumb rests, plates, and bipods. Be sure to look at what type of mounting system it offers such as ARCA, M-LOK, Keymod, or 1913.

It has been said that chassis offer a bit of a difference with recoil mitigation; some shooters state that it’s positive while others say it’s negative. It all depends on personal preference. This also depends on the ammo and if you’re running a suppressor or brake, which is an entire concept that can be dove into on a later date. An important thing to think about before getting your heart set on a system is to ensure that you can also build a 223 Remington equivalent.

Having the exact same build but in a lighter cartridge will save you money and wear on the match gun. As always try before you buy and do your research. I may have stated that the Precision Rifle game is full of buffs, but there are those who were in the same boat and wasted money on equipment that they decided didn’t work for them. Join a Precision Facebook group in your state and ask around if you can try different set ups. Growing the sport and supporting multiple companies is huge for these shooters.

They won’t be hesitant to allow you to give different set ups a try and find what works for you. AG