Posted by Cory Ross on 2024 Sep 10th
Outdoor Life: MDT Field Stock, The Best Upgrade for Any Budget Rifle - MDT Mention
“The MDT Field Stock might just be one of the most underrated upgrades of the year — especially for budget rifle shooters,” states Outdoor Life’s Tyler Freel. “More than that, though, it’s an embodiment of the modularity and flexibility that modern manufacturing offers today’s hunter and shooter.”
Outdoor Life recently released a review and overview article discussing MDT’s value-minded Field Stock. In the article, Tyler Freel offered insightful and helpful information for shooters looking to upgrade their factory rifles.
All photos courtesy of Outdoor Life.
The MDT Field Stock is a budget-minded offering from a premium chassis manufacturer. In describing the construction of the chassis, Freel notes, “The MDT Field Stock Chassis, which incorporates design and ergonomic elements from many of MDT’s other highly popular hunting and competition stocks and chassis, is both simple and well-executed.” I’d argue that’s an understatement. I think that today, MDT is known for its flagship (and expensive) ACC chassis lineup, which was designed for PRS and similar style competitions. However, many will be remiss to note that the TAC-21 and LSS series of modular chassis laid the groundwork and built trust with their consumer base. Back in the dark ages of precision rifle shooting (you know, ten years ago), the consumer didn’t have many options for drop-in chassis. The ones available were expensive and more sniper-focused. Modularity didn’t exist as we know it today, especially when many available offerings only fit Remington 700-based actions. MDT was an outlier. They offered chassis offerings that were modular, adaptable, affordable, and available for a plethora of footprints. The Field Stock is an extension of that ideology.
What makes the Field Stock so good is also its simplicity and ease of use, even when it comes to installation. “Installing your action in the MDT Field Stock couldn’t be easier. Simply remove the action screws holding it into the factory (or current) stock, remove the plastic retaining nuts from the action screws that come installed in the stock, and place the action into the Field Stock. MDT recommends applying rearward pressure to the action while tightening the action screws to press the recoil lug tightly against the bedding block. Action screws require an Allen key, and should be tightened to 65 inch-pounds.” Moreover, the Field Stock, like any good chassis, is adaptable to the shooter with an adjustable length-of-pull via spacers and a toolless adjustable cheekpiece. All of this sounds expensive. Right? “At only about $300, the MDT Field Stock Chassis is really whatever you want to make it. It’s useful for both hunting and competition purposes and is affordable enough to justify as an upgrade for even budget-priced rifles.”
This lends the Field Stock to fill a multitude of roles that Freel highlights. The main two he discusses are a 22LR trainer and a budget PRS-rig. I’ll let you read the article for his findings. But speaking from the perspective of an Ohio hunter, where we have limited options for deer hunting, the Field Stock is an excellent upgrade to the flimsy and uncomfortable plastic stocks of the Savage Axis and Ruger America, especially when they are chambered in the shoulder-thumping 450 Bushmaster (Ohio, for those unaware, is a straight wall rifle cartridge state. This limits our options, so any upgrade is a plus!). In closing, Freel offers, “The MDT Field Stock is a great value in a variety of categories. It may not be a master of any, but it can give you tangible benefits for shooting a rifle you already have and is a perfectly suitable option for building out a competition or precision hunting rifle on a budget.” Check out the Field Stock for your next project.
MDT FIELD STOCK ARTICLES FROM MDT
MDT Field Stock vs. Traditional Hunting Stocks
Impact Shooting MDT Field Stock: Straight UP Precision Rifle Match