THE MOST POPULAR STOCKS AND CHASSIS IN PRS COMPETITION

A BACKGROUND ON THE 2019 PRS MARKET SURVEY

As we had mentioned in our introductory article, Precision Rifle Components and Wisconsin Precision Rifle Steel Challenge (WPRSC) recently teamed up to share usage data for a wide variety of rifle parts and accessories, ranging from barrels and optics to stocks and triggers.

This data was pulled from 626 registered shooters that participated in WPRSC events over the course of the 2019 match season. Our intention is to display this data in a manner somewhat reminiscent of Precision Rifle Blog’s “What the Pros Use” series, but with a focus on your average local PRS competitor.

STOCKS VS CHASSIS: WHAT DO LOCAL PRS SHOOTERS USE?

Do you run a stock or a chassis on your PRS rifle? There is no doubt that there has been a meteoric rise in chassis popularity over the past decade. While chassis offer a wide range of customizable options, many competitors prefer the streamlined ergonomics and classic design aesthetic of modern stock design.

There appears to be a trend toward chassis preference in the Wisconsin PRS market, with 321 confirmed registrants using chassis on their match rifles, while 170 are currently using stocks. The remaining shooters listed a brand that manufactures rifles with both chassis and stocks, or failed to submit usage information regarding their chassis or stock.

Top Chassis and Stock Manufacturers

#1: Masterpiece Arms (132/626)

The leading chassis manufacturer by a significant margin, Masterpiece Arms MPA BA Competition Chassis are a common sight on the WPRSC firing line. Available in a variety of different colors and configurations, these chassis typically command a price of $850.00 – $1,150.00. The MPA BA Competition Chassis has been listed as the #1 chassis in PRS every year from 2016 to present.

New for 2019 is the MPA Matrix Chassis, a unique blend of thumbhole stock aesthetic with BA Competition Chassis forend functionality.  Featuring customizable grip configurations and a variety of thumb rest options, the Matrix Chassis was likely not found on the WPRSC firing line in 2019 due to its recent release, but it will be interesting to see if it builds upon the success of its BA Competition counterpart.

#2: Manners Stocks (98/626)

Available in a wide variety of customizable configurations and inlets, Manners stocks are manufactured from a blend of carbon fiber and fiberglass layers. Select contours have been produced specifically for the PRS market, featuring a wide forend bottom for shooting off barricades. Buttstock geometry options include a traditional taper design, or a flattened base featuring a hook for the shooter to control rifle elevation with their non-shooting hand. Many Manners stocks offer customizable comb height and inserts for additional length of pull. Their folding stocks are also well known for having a remarkably tight lockup. Manners also offers an integral “Mini-Chassis” option featuring  an aluminum bedding block built in to their stocks.

#3: Kinetic Research Group (45/626)

Well known for their modularity, accessory selection, and lightweight design, KRG offers a selection of chassis options ranging in price from their flagship model (the Whiskey-3 with an MSRP of $899.00-$1,469.00), to their mid-priced model (the X-Ray with an MSRP of $549.00-$569.00), and their budget models (the Bravo with an MSRP of $349.00-$439.00).

#4: MDT & Oryx (44/626)

As the discipline of PRS competition matures, we have noticed a recent trend in rifle design gravitating toward lighter recoiling cartridges and heavier rifle designs. The MDT ACC (Adjustable Core Competition) chassis is specifically designed to capitalize on the latter trend. A favorite of many of the top WPRSC shooters, the MDT ACC has been picking up in popularity over this last competition season.

Incorporating an integrated modular weight system allowing shooters to customize the balance and mass of their rifles, the ACC also incorporated a full length Arca Swiss rail into their forend design, as well as a grip option that allowing shooters of various hand sizes to adjust the distance from the trigger shoe to the palm swell of the pistol grip.

While not found in the same level of frequency as the ACC, MDT recently created a new chassis design for a more budget minded shooter. With an MSRP as low as $399.00, the Oryx chassis features a number of desirable features at a relatively inexpensive price point.

#5: Ruger (38/626)

While it’s certainly possible a handful of traditionally stocked Ruger American may have found its way on to the WPRSC firing line at some point in the last season, most of these rifles were likely built on the Ruger Precision Rifle chassis. The Ruger Precision Rifle is different from most chassis designs, in that rather than screwing the action base into the top of the chassis via vertically oriented action screws, the two components are instead conjoined horizontally in a clamshell configuration. This design feature makes the Ruger Precision Rifle much less expensive to manufacture, allowing Ruger to produce a feature-rich rifle at a very competitive price point.

#6: Accuracy International (35/626)

A player in the chassis world for over 30 years, Accuracy International is renown as a premium manufacturer of precision rifles and accessories. While many WPRSC shooters compete with factory AT and AX rifles, a number of others compete with AI chassis designs inletted for the Remington 700 action.

#7: McMillan Fiberglass Stocks (24/626)

A longtime holder of government contracts for the M40 rifle program, McMillan fiberglass stocks have been a long-time staple of the precision rifle shooting community. Their A-4, A-5 stocks are sprinkled across the WPRSC firing line at matches throughout the year.

McMillan’s latest release is their A-10 stock design featuring a shorter trigger reach, thin forearm, butt hook, and custom options like an adjustable comb, sling studs and flush cups, and picatinny rail sections.

#8: Magpul (20/626)

This line item caused me a bit of consternation when I was categorizing stocks and chassis. The data presented did not differentiate from Magpul’s Hunter series stocks (which feature a chassis style aluminum bedding block), and their Pro series chassis, so I elected to omit these numbers from the numbers listed in the introductory paragraph (although it is safe to say their stocks may be just as much chassis as stocks).

As mentioned above, Magpul’s Hunter stocks are lightweight in design, featuring an aluminum bedding block and a polymer shell. Designed to accept AICS pattern magazines, these stocks are popular among those building PRS rifles on a budget.

In contrast to the Hunter series, the Magpul Pro 700 Chassis are purpose built for PRS competition. Weighing in at a solid 5.4 lbs, fabricated from 6061-T6 billet aluminum wrapped in a polymer shell. These chassis are unique in that they are entirely ambidextrous, featuring bolt knob inlets on either side of the action.

#9: Foundation (19/626)

The foundation of a precision rifle is its stock. That’s the mindset Foundation Stocks take to building their products. Machined from a solid piece of composite formed by combining layers of material and resin under heat and pressure, Foundation stocks simply exude coolness. While a number of other stock and chassis manufacturers may feature more flashy bells and whistles, the natural design aesthetic offered by Foundation stocks is tough to top in the PRS market.

#10: KMW Sentinel (15/626)

Designed and developed by Terry Cross, the raw stock bodies of the Sentinel Combat Stocks are manufactured by McMillan Fiberglass Stocks. Featuring a thumbhole grip and adjustable comb height, length of pull can also be adjusted through use of the KMW Spacer System.

#11: Grayboe (13/626)

Grayboe has made quite a splash across the precision rifle community over the past few years. Founded by Ryan McMillan and Gregg Arthur, Grayboe hangs its hat on its ability to use composite material additives that allow for flexibility in stock configurations, an extremely efficient production process, and their ability to create 3D models and prototypes as part of their stock design process.

Their Ridgeback design is immediately identifiable by its unique tool-less adjustable cheekpiece assembly, integral bubble level, and distinct paint patterns. Grayboe Ridgebacks also include integral M-Lok rail sections, allowing for easy mounting of lights, lasers, barricade stops, and bipods. Grayboe also offers a selection of DBM options for Tikka T3X and Remington 700 actions.

Honorable Mentions

 

#12: Bell & Carlson (7/626)

#13: J. Allen Enterprises (7/626)

#14: XLR (7/626)

#15: H-S Precision (6/626)

#16: Stocky’s (4/626)

#17: McRees Precision (1/626)

#18: Desert Tech (1/626)

#19: Bergera (1/626)

#20: Howa (1/626)

#21: Seekins (1/626)

#22: APO (1/626)