PRECISION RIFLE BLOG: What The Pros Use | Best Rifle Stock

For years, the Precision Rifle Blog, created and hosted by Cal Zant, has been the go-to resource for in-depth information on precision rifle shooting and gear. He covers everything from reloading and optics to cartridges and bipod selection. When people ask me for recommendations, I always direct them to the Precision Rifle Blog. Cal’s long-running series, “What the Pros Use”, is an annual survey he conducts with top PRS shooters across the country. He gathers their input across various categories and turns it into quantifiable data to see what the world’s best shooters use. Recently, Cal released his first “What the Pros Use” article of the year, discussing the stocks and chassis used by the best shooters.

HOW THE DATA IS GATHERED

Every year, Cal surveys the top 200 Precision Rifle Series competitors just before the PRS Finale and asks them about the exact gear they use in matches. That data offers a unique glimpse into what’s working at the highest level of the sport. Instead of relying on marketing claims or opinions, Cal’s articles are based on real-world choices from the world’s best long-range shooters.

HISTORICAL DATA

Cal has been collecting this information since 2012. So, he has a wealth of data to show how trends are shaping the sport. For instance, from 2012-2015, well over half of all shooters surveyed used traditional fiberglass stocks from companies like McMillan and Manners. Back then, the most common chassis you’d see by the top shooters was from Accuracy International! Today, not a single shooter used a stock form McMillan, and only a few opted for a Manners or an AI chassis. In short, modular chassis systems have taken over the sport.

By how much? According to Cal’s data, 80% of PRS shooters opt for a chassis over a traditional stock. This is a 14% increase from just two years ago. For clarification, Cal views chassis as a system that “offers more adjustability, weight tuning, and accessory mounting options than traditional stocks, allowing competitors to optimize balance and ergonomics for positional shooting.” Shooters want to customize their stock to fit their needs, not the other way around.

2025 DATA

According to the latest survey, Modular Driven Technologies has established a strong lead as the most popular chassis among top Precision Rifle Series competitors. An impressive 41% of the top-ranked shooters reported using an MDT chassis, including four of the top ten competitors in the standings.

Since its founding in 2009, Modular Driven Technologies has focused on developing chassis systems, releasing the MDT TAC21 Chassis System that same year—well before chassis designs became common in Precision Rifle Series competition. Over the years, the company steadily expanded its lineup, introducing platforms such as the MDT ACC Chassis System and, in late 2022, its flagship competition model, the MDT ACC Elite Chassis System.

Among shooters using MDT, the ACC Elite dominates. According to the survey, 94% of MDT users reported running the ACC Elite, including every MDT user who finished in the top 25. A few competitors were running the ACC Premier; one used the MDT JAE chassis, and another opted for the lightweight MDT CRBN Rifle Stock (who competed in the Sportsman Division).

Part of the ACC Elite’s appeal is its adjustability. Shooters can fine-tune the length of pull, cheek height, grip position, and other elements to create a consistent shooting position. Combined with a long 19-inch forend and a wide range of accessories, the platform offers the flexibility competitive shooters demand.

ZOOMING OUT

Cal Zant’s latest “What the Pros Use” data from the Precision Rifle Blog highlights how much the sport has evolved. Traditional fiberglass stocks that once dominated the early days of the Precision Rifle Series have been mostly replaced by modular chassis systems designed for adjustability and positional shooting. Leading this change is Modular Driven Technologies, with the MDT ACC Elite Chassis System standing out as the top choice among top competitors. It shows that today’s best shooters focus on fit, balance, and customization—and MDT chassis provide the tools to fine-tune their rifles for consistent performance when it counts.

For more from Cal, check out the Precision Rifle Blog here.