Since the advent of laser rangefinders, more and more hunters are pushing the boundaries of ethical hunting ranges. Unsurprisingly, the equipment that they use has also evolved. Many modern precision hunting rifles are beginning to blur the lines between a hunting rifle and a precision rifle. The market for reasonably lightweight stocks that provide precision rifle level modularity and ergonomics is growing. This has popularized hybrid stocks with aluminium bedding blocks. The KRG Bravo and the MDT Field stock lead the charge in the budget portion of this new market segment.
Benefits of an Aftermarket Chassis
First of all, let’s talk about the benefits of these modern stock/chassis hybrids. One of the largest benefits of these stocks is the modularity. M-Lok slots allow for the mounting of accessories like bipods, fore end weights, and ARCA rails. ARCA rails in particular are extremely useful, allowing a bipod to be mounted in a variety of configurations in addition to making tripod shooting much easier.
Another benefit of both of these stocks are the improved ergonomics. The comb lines handle recoil better than traditional stocks and are height adjustable. Length of pull is adjustable through spacers and a vertical grip makes the rifle more comfortable to shoot from common seated and prone positions. Also, the flatter profile fore ends settle in more easily when shooting off of a pack. Finally, both of these stocks offer access to the plethora of affordable and reliable AICS pattern magazines which provide a wide range of capacities.
Ergonomics
While these two stocks are very similar, they do have some ergonomic differences. The first notable difference is the weight. The KRG Bravo weighs 2.9 lbs and the MDT Field Stock is 3.1 lbs. Despite the Field Stock being slightly heavier, because the Bravo’s forend is aluminium compared the the Field Stock’s polymer, the Bravo balances further forward. This is better for shooting in supported shooting positions. Additionally, the full length aluminium fore end on the Bravo results in a stiffer forend, although it’s arguable if there’s a practical advantage as long as the forend isn’t touching the barrel.
Another difference between the two is the comb. While both have adjustable combs, the comb line on the Bravo is a straight line whilst the Field stock has a negative comb. As a caveat, both designs will handle recoil better than a traditional positive comb stock. However, the Field Stock comb will outperform the Bravo because the stock pulls away from the shooter’s face under recoil. Also, the Field Stock has a narrower comb than the Bravo. This isn’t necessarily better or worse, but I prefer the feel of the wider comb on the Bravo.
Thirdly, the Bravo has a bulkier grip than the Field Stock. This makes the grip larger for small hands in offhand positions. In prone positions the fatter grip fills the hand better, allowing for a slightly more controlled trigger pull.
Modularity
While both these stocks are very modular, the Bravo is significantly more versatile. KRG makes a variety of accessories for the Bravo and customers can build their stock into a huge array of configurations. Some popular accessories are weights for the grip, buttstock, and forend, QD sling cups, spigot mounts for bipods, and additional sling studs. There are also tool less LOP adjustment buttstocks that allow adding cant to the recoil pad. The downside of this is that these accessories can quickly add weight and cost.
In contrast, with the MDT Field Stock, customization is much more limited. There are MLOK slots for the addition of a rail and external weights but there is no provision to change the buttstock or add weights internally. To be fair, for a hunting application most people will not want to add weight to their rifle but it can still be helpful when fine tuning rifle balance.
Value
Next, the value equation is where the Field Stock pulls ahead. The Field Stock is selling for $299.99 USD while the Bravo starts at $399.99 USD and goes up from there. The Field Stock allows shooters to get the benefits of a precision chassis for the price of a laminate stock. With fully aluminium rifle chassis’ starting north of $500 USD, both the Bravo and the Field Stock offer more value (and less weight) compared to dedicated precision chassis.
Closing Thoughts
In closing, both the KRG Bravo and the MDT Field Stock are high value replacements for the injected polymer stocks common on budget rifles. The KRG Bravo is more rigid, modular, offers improved ergonomics, and is lighter weight. On the other hand, the MDT Field Stock comes in $100 cheaper. For those who will add an ARCA rail and a bipod and leave it alone, the Field Stock may be an attractive option. For my money, the higher performance and tuneability of the Bravo make it well worth the extra price upfront.