The MDT ORYX Chassis appears to be a product that is gaining a lot of momentum. In my gunshop, I have had a couple customers mention it in conversations. Most were liking the price point and took a “wait and see” attitude. The chassis has been on the market for a few years so, many are out there. MDT was cool enough to provide an ORYX Chassis for Remington 700 LA (long action) for review.
MDT Oryx Chassis @ TFB:
I thought this would be a great time to upgrade my hunting rifle, put this chassis to the test, and see if I like the idea of trudging it through the mountains of New Mexico. All my chassis rifles are very accurate, and as you can guess, pretty heavy. I really do not want a safe dweller, I want an elk gun. Do not let me down MDT, your website says: “Designed with both long-range precision and hunting portability in mind”.
Unboxing
Unboxing the MDT ORYX brought a bit of a surprise. The chassis was smaller than I expected. I was surprised until I remembered I wanted something to carry up and down large hills. This is my first chassis that is only one piece, nice and simple. The color scheme was cool. I like the black on OD green. This is where I stopped and called my Cerakote guy for the parts that were going on it. This is going to be a very cool-looking rifle!
The stock is 7/8″ thick and has an adjustable cheek comb and length of pull. Although the adjustments do require a tool, they will (hopefully) stay where they belong. It’s a “fit and forget” type stock. Make your adjustments and lock them down and you have one less variable when sending rounds. When people shoot one of my rifles and want to make adjustments to those areas, it makes my skin crawl.
TFB Review: ORYX Chassis for Remington 700 LA
The bottom of the stock has an M-LOK slot providing you with mounting options. This is where you can go the hunter route with a sling, or the precision route mounting a monopod of some sort.
TFB Review: ORYX Chassis for Remington 700 LA
Moving onto the lower receiver portion. It starts with a standard AR-style grip. The grip that shipped with it is wide and rubberized, it fits my paws pretty well and will stay. A heavy trigger housing gives it a nice look and provides durability. Maybe MDT could have saved some weight here, maybe not. The AICS magazine that shipped with it was a pretty snug fit. Tight enough to cause you to slow down a little bit. A very small point.
TFB Review: ORYX Chassis for Remington 700 LA
The top half of the chassis is well machined for a nice metal on metal uniform seating of the receiver to the chassis. Pretty sure no bedding is required, man I love chassis!
TFB Review: ORYX Chassis for Remington 700 LA
The all-aluminum forend has M-LOK slots for a bipod, if wanted MDT does put a threaded hole for a sling mount. The color contrast is nice here. Firing from standing, the forend provides a strong and comfortable purchase.
TFB Review: ORYX Chassis for Remington 700 LA
For those who may ask, this rifle is in 7mm Rem Mag with a Criterion barrel, Christensen Arms bolt, and Timney Elite Hunter trigger. On top is a Horus 4X16 scope, mounted to a Seekins Precision rail by some Vortex rings. On the muzzle is a Griffin taper mount flash comp.
ORYX Chassis Specification:
- Material: 6061 Aluminum
- Finish: MIL-Spec Type III hard-anodized
- LOP: 13 – 13.5″ (Additional LOP can be achieved with our spacer kit)
- Material: 6061
- Accepts AR-15 Grips (included)
- M-LOK pattern slots along the underside of the forend
- Uses AICS pattern magazines
- Free-floating barrel
- Maximum barrel diameter of 1.250″
- MSRP $429.95
- Weight: 4.2lbs
Some of the first shots, zeroing scope with commercial ammo
Conclusion
My conclusion is that the ORYX is a “score”. It is pretty light but durable. The magazine insertion does take a deep breath to get through, but deep breaths are good! As you can see in the pics, the barrel is free-floated with room to give.
The ORYX Chassis lives up to the hype I have heard. I very much enjoy shooting it and do not mind carrying it (for now at least). The look of the chassis is great and the build appears that it will last a lifetime. I find the stock hefty, maybe a little too hefty for a hunter. Not too bad, but by day three of a hunt, you may have some curse words. That is okay because sometimes by day three you have curse words about many things.
TFB Review: ORYX Chassis for Remington 700 LA
I already have grown fond of my new rifle. Not a “let down” in the slightest. It is sturdy but not too heavy. I hope to submit a follow-up article on the chassis with it sitting on top of a harvested elk. Do any of you readers have as much liking for it as I have?
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Source
ORYX Chassis for Remington 700 LA -The Firearm Blog is written by Mike R for www.thefirearmblog.com
