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MDT XRS Chassis System Review: A Refined Rifle Upgrade
- By Chris Parkin
- Last updated: 13/08/2025
The MDT XRS chassis is available in a wide variety of inlets for rifles like my CZ 457, but also caters to models from Remington, Savage, Tikka, Howa, and Ruger. The XRS offers a middle ground in rifle furniture, as it has a full aluminium spine that mates with your barrelled action’s bedding surfaces, while its outer surfaces are clad in injection-moulded polymer skins. These provide a warmer, softer ergonomic feel and help reduce weight.
It’s available in Flat Dark Earth (FDE), as seen here, or plain black. For centrefire rifles, the XRS is compatible with AICS magazines. In this case, it’s a perfect drop-in fit for the CZ 457 system. MDT also makes an inlet for the older CZ 455, which uses the same magazines, and it can accommodate the .22LR or .17HMR mags.
The XRS chassis features a full-length CNC-machined 6061 aluminium spine encased in polymer skins. As well as a textured vertical pistol grip, it also comes with a more angled grip, which was my preference. The overall weight is 1,700g (3.9lbs), and it features a generously sized barrel channel that accommodates anything from lightweight hunting rifles to heavy varmint or precision target setups. The stock’s overall length is 840mm (33”), depending on the length of pull, which is adjustable from 327mm (13.25”) to 382mm (15”) using the supplied spacers, and more can be added if needed.
The fore-end offers over 300mm (12”) of M-LOK rail on the sides and bottom, all kept rigid thanks to the aluminium spine. There are numerous bipod mounting options via M-LOK. I added a Picatinny rail for the bipod and a section of ARCA rail ahead of the barricade stop, allowing me to shoot from a tripod as well.
For this rifle, the CZ’s original magazine release lever is retained, and MDT supplies new screws of the correct length, allowing for installation of the action into the chassis in under two minutes. A polymer trigger guard provides generous space for gloved fingers, and the front face of the grip — whichever style you choose — is rubberised for better tactile feedback.
The reach from the grip to the trigger blade is 85mm, which avoids the feeling of “overwrapping” the trigger, as sometimes experienced with AR-15 ergonomics. The rear of the grip has a deep cut-out, making it equally comfortable to shoot with either a thumb-up or wrapped grip position. This layout enables quicker bolt manipulation compared to a thumbhole stock, unless using a thumb rest, which has become very popular for this reason.
The vertically adjustable cheekpiece provides approximately 40mm of travel, easily accommodating even the highest scope mounts. Two thumbscrews on the right side control this adjustment and can be relocated to the left if preferred. Note that the chassis inlet is specific to right-handed bolt setups.
The underside of the buttstock offers plenty of room for a supporting hand or rear bag. At the very rear, interlocking 7mm spacers allow for precise adjustment of the length of pull. The 18mm-thick, firm rubber recoil pad grips well in the shoulder and has a consistent profile without any sponge-like flex, which is something I really appreciated.
Machining throughout the stock is precise and clean, without any sharp edges or burrs, finished with a deep matte black hard anodising. The aluminium spine reveals the internal structure of the M-LOK system, giving visual assurance of the chassis’ strength and rigidity. Accessories mount securely, with no hint of loosening or wobble.
The CZ 457-specific inlet includes a V-groove with a rear recoil lug slot, providing a stress-free bedding fit. This is a testament to the machining tolerances of both MDT and CZ, which are far more consistent than those of many rifles from previous decades, where tolerances varied significantly.
I’ve used the XRS with a variety of bipods and have always appreciated the solid, tactile feedback it provides. There’s no flex in the fore-end, and the consistent rigidity from front to back makes the entire setup feel tight and precise. The firm butt pad reinforces this impression.
As mentioned, I preferred the angled grip, which was hand-filling and featured a slight ambidextrous palm swell. The 85mm trigger reach allows for perfect finger placement, ensuring your index finger sits naturally on the trigger blade rather than wrapping around it.
The negligible recoil is perfectly linear, and the weight helps suppress any muzzle jump, not that a rimfire has a lot.
Magazine insertion was generally secure and crisp, though the flat underside of the chassis could benefit from a deeper, chamfered magazine well, as it occasionally took a moment longer to align the mag correctly.
The inclusion of lateral QD sling mounts for biathlon-style carry, along with the versatile cheekpiece shape and its adjustability, rounds out a well-executed system that suits a wide range of shooters and rifles.
“It delivers all the benefits of a modern chassis without excessive bulk, and the refined machining and thoughtful features”
MDT has done a superb job of combining the mechanical precision and rigidity of an aluminium chassis with the comfort and tactile appeal of a polymer-shelled stock. It delivers all the benefits of a modern chassis without excessive bulk, and the refined machining and thoughtful features, such as Torx fasteners, recoil pad spacers, and dual grip options, make it highly user-friendly. GM
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