MDT JAE-G5 REVIEW

While I’ve owned many chassis and stocks over the past two decades and preferred chassis over traditional-style stocks, I had always harbored a not-so-secret love affair with the JAE chassis and a desire to own one. I’m not entirely sure if it was simply the aesthetics, the futuristic hybrid look, or perhaps the fact that it seemed like unobtainium so many years ago—requiring a heavy price and an excruciatingly long wait—but it was something I always wanted. Then, in July of 2019, news quickly spread: J. Allen Enterprises, after 16 years, closed its doors. Admittedly, disappointment set in as I hadn’t yet had the opportunity to get my hands on one for any extended period of time.

Several months later, “MDT announces acquisition of J. Allen Enterprises” (or some variation thereof) scrolled across my phone screen, and what had been disappointment turned into real excitement—mostly because I had a working relationship with MDT, and finally owning the elusive JAE became a real possibility.

I don’t recall exactly how long it took for the final production of the JAE Gen 4 to be released, but when the box arrived, I was beyond excited. Now, most people might get excited by any new chassis or stock, but if you understood how many stocks and chassis I own and play with daily, you’d realize that the idea of getting excited over something “new” rarely happens anymore. I unwrapped the cardboard and plastic, probably staring awkwardly at it while muttering “my precious” and grinning as if I’d just pulled Excalibur from the stone.

I took the new Gen 4 for a test drive and brought it to a 2-day match in my usual “yard sale” fashion—when I actually find time to shoot a match. It was an interesting combination: a Lone Peak Razor Ti, a suppressed 18” PROOF carbon fiber pre fit in .308, and me shooting five different lots of mixed-up 118LR because, frankly, I hadn’t had time to reload, and it was what I had lying around. We won’t go into my overall performance at that match beyond the humorous outtakes with my buddies in the squad, but I loved every moment of it and felt I gave up nothing with my choice of chassis. It also garnered attention as others noticed and wanted to check out the latest iteration, especially given my random configuration!

MDT JAE-G5 VS GENERATION 4

SHOT Show rolled around, and an MDT Rep said, “We’re working on a Gen 5, and it will have a lower price point.” As a marketing and business development guy, these are rarely words you want to hear from any manufacturer—especially when inflation typically signals an opposite direction for pricing. Fear began to set in as I wondered what they would do to my “Precious.” Today was D-Day. The new MDT JAE-G5 arrived, and while I knew what to somewhat expect in the box—an obligatory green chamber flag and sticker—the rest was in God’s hands. My unboxing this time was perhaps less enthusiastic, but knowing I always had the Gen 4 to fall back on, I settled my fears and went for it.

I was NOT disappointed! In fact, considering the retail cost now versus before, I have to wonder what exactly Maarten and the MDT team did up North to achieve such a feat. Aesthetically, aside from minor details (that you likely wouldn’t notice unless you had a Gen 4 for direct comparison), the changes are subtle.

MDT JAE-G5 IMPROVEMENTS

• Integrated barricade stop. The more you use it, the more you appreciate it.

• Magazine latch adjustment and magwell dowels. With the abundance of magazine types, any ability to fine-tune and make adjustments for more reliable seating and feeding is welcome.

• The trigger guard was milled to tune triggers from the bottom. I primarily use TriggerTech, and while they don’t talk much about this small adjustment, it’s great for guys like me and others.

• It uses the same NV bridge and bag rider as the Gen 4, so I don’t have to buy entirely new accessories.

• Drop-in forend weights. This is pretty much a must-have for most competition chassis and stocks now.

• They’ve gone from metal to polymer spacers. I personally don’t see this as a negative, though some may think it gives the chassis a cheaper feel. That said, the retail cost definitely reflects the value of this change, and your wallet will appreciate it in a sport that is generally expensive at every turn.

• The newer ARCA rail doesn’t extend as far to the rear of the rifle as the previous Gen 4, nor does it come with R-lock (which I don’t mind, but that’s subjective), and doesn’t have accessory mounting slots/screw holes for adding Picatinny sections should you want to attach a Picatinny bipod but keep the full-length ARCA (which is rarely used anyways). The longer version that extends beyond the forend isn’t available yet, but I understand it will be soon.

As for the internal changes, I haven’t fully disassembled it to examine the new design that supposedly eliminates vibrations and provides a “dead” thump as advertised. But in my defense, I literally just opened the box, and I might still be embracing both stocks as if I’d won some lottery. Overall, MDT produced nearly the same JAE chassis while significantly reducing the retail price to make it far more accessible to shooters like myself and improving the overall design for competitive shooters who want modern features. You did good, MDT. You did good.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nick Setting is a Marketing and Business Development Consultant in the firearms industry based in Western Washington. He has collaborated with leading manufacturers of precision rifles and accessories on a wide range of projects, including strategic partnerships, product development, and solution-based strategies for business growth. Nick holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Puget Sound and is also an accomplished photographer, with his work featured in various print and digital media channels for companies and popular publications. For business inquiries, he can be reached at NickSetting@gmail.com.