Transform your build for any purpose with the LSS GEN3 Chassis. Swap out grips, forends, buttstocks, and buttstock interfaces without removing your action and losing your zero.
Hunting. It's one of the most basic and innate forms of human nature. For thousands of years, hunting meant survival. It's how society was formed. Today, there is a disconnect in how our food gets to our refrigerators and tables, and for most, hunting has become a pastime rather than a necessity. In a recent video, Leupold brought YouTube personality, 2a Activist, and lawyer Colion Noir out to experience the thrill and the hardship of the hunt. Colion Noir is best known for his YouTube channel, Colion Noir, where he reviews new products, dissects court rulings, and discusses the importance of the 2nd Amendment.ABOUT LEUPOLD OPTICSLeupold Optics is a brand that is bigger than its product line. The company and its people live, breathe, and eat the things their consumers do. Unsurprisingly, they have a facility perfect for tuning up before a big game hunt that includes rifle setup and optics sight in, a flat range proving ground, and a dynamic range to practice hiking and shooting from uncomfortable positions. Colion learns the basics of backpack hunting in the hills and mountains of the American West. For many Eastern Hunters, hiking over thousands of acres of untamed wilderness to stalk and hunt is a dream—and Colion is living it. While the exact details of the rifle are unclear, the rifle appears to be a custom action and carbon-fiber barrel sitting in an MDT HNT26 chassis. The glass, of course, is from Leupold and comes from their VX-6 line—Leupold's highest tier in their hunting line. While the video overviews an amazing experience, connecting man and beast, it also highlights Leupold's line of products—from optics and binoculars to chest harnesses that keep everything close at hand.THE HUNTHiking over rough terrain is hard. Adding the logistics of carrying everything on your back, including a rifle and handgun, makes the experience all that more exhausting. But the serenity of nature substantiates the experience—or, as Colion describes it, "beautiful misery." Conversely, the video's highlight isn't Colion talking about his youth or experiences or even the products showcased, but the cinematography of the hunt. The beauty of nature, the peace and idyllic presence of the world, and inner peace are breathtakingly captured. All of this erupts into a conclusion that can only be described as reverence—a deep respect for the game taken, the challenges that were overcome, and the momentary realization of taking life. It's that deep respect that drives hunters. It was an experience that Colion craved. It was the connection he needed. While the urban lifestyle brings the immediacy of interaction, hunting in the mountains brings something entirely beautiful—inner peace.Check out Colion Noir's epic hunt, titled Colion Noir's FIRST Elk Hunt – Leupold Behind the Core, and all of the other epic adventure videos Leupold creates. More information about the MDT HNT26 Chassis System can be found here.RECENT MDT MENTIONS! Mountains, Mullets, Merica! Shorty 6.5 CreedmoorTeam MDT Wins the PRS Rimfire National Finale!Long Range Beginners: Tips & TricksSheep Hunting in Kyrgyzstan3,000 YARD TIKKA 7 SAUM RIFLEAndy Slade Wins The 2023 AG Cup!ABOUT THE AUTHORI have worked in the firearms industry for 11 years and counting. What started as a part-time job during undergrad has become a career. In that time, I have been lucky to work with some incredible people and companies. I also completed a Master of Arts in History from Cleveland State University. When I am not shooting, reloading, or working on my firearms, I am reading, writing, and tinkering with Legos.
Extreme Long Range, or ELR as commonly known, is the sport of taking shots at targets that exceed a mile. Some of you may have heard of an event called King of 2 Miles, where competitors from all over attempt to hit targets at increasing distances. In this event, and others like it, popular cartridges such as 375 Cheytac, 338 Edge, 338 Lapua, and other purpose-built ELR calibers dominate. But what about ELR with a more, well, historic cartridge? More specifically, what about a round that has been involved in nearly every conflict for almost a century? That’s what MarkandSam AfterWork are trying to achieve in their latest video. But instead of distances like a mile or two thousand yards, they aim for hits at 3,000 yards. Hailing from Down Under, Mark and Sam, the owners of 4AW in York, Western Australia (a specialty shop offering ELR solutions), are looking to stretch the limits of the famed 303 British. It’s a cartridge that proved infallible during two World Wars and has since been relegated to the tomes of history, but it has been rejuvenated to test its limits. Anyone who has attempted shots at extremely long range knows the sport requires specialty equipment. For Mark and Sam, that includes specialty bipods, bag riders, a Zero Tech optic, TACOM HQ Charlie Tarac (which works similarly to a periscope and adds elevation, something that is a requirement for shots at extended distances), and a custom rifle. They took a HOWA 1500-long action for this project and had a heavy profile Swan barrel spun up. Once assembled, they mated the barreled action to an MDT Oryx chassis. This chassis provides the shooter with adjustments to offer the perfect fit—something that is essential for taking long shots—and increased rigidity with its aluminum chassis. The atmospherics must be perfect when shooting at these distances, especially with a round that pales compared to modern ELR cartridges. Too much mirage from a rising sun or just the right amount of left-to-right wind can turn an attempt like this upside down. Will Mark and Same achieve a first-round hit? Or will they have any success at all? Check out their video to find out! If you want more ELR content featuring unique guns and cartridges (like an 1874 Sharps Rifle), visit their channel.
The history of the M2010 (or XM2010) is bleak, short-lived, and follows a trajectory eerily like its maker, Remington Arms Co. In 2010, the storied gun maker was a shell of its former glory. Remington was operating on legacy and pedigree, not on reality. But before delving into the downfall of Remington and the demise of one of the most short-lived sniper systems in American history, we need to look at why the rifle was implemented and to do that; we need to first look back on the Global War on Terror in Afghanistan, circa 2010. A CHANGING BATTLESCAPE The Hindu Kush Mountain range stretches nearly 500 miles from northwestern Pakistan to southeastern Tajikistan and extends through central and eastern Afghanistan. This section of mountainous terrain is known as the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region (HKH). It serves as the dominant topography for embattled American soldiers fighting against Taliban and remnant al-Qaeda forces. As enemy combatants vacated the streets of Kabul and Kandahar, they fled to the historic mountain range as they did during the Soviet invasion of the 1970s and 1980s. This range provided a haven for fleeing troops and served as a base of operations for various militant groups. The terrain also rendered much of the American military's advantages moot. Like the Viet Cong of decades past who sought refuge in the steamy jungles of Southeast Asia, the Taliban regarded the Hindu Kush as an equalizer in their struggle against Western infidels. For patrolling American troops, the high angles and peaks, as well as the hidden caves and tunnels, meant Afghan combatants could fire on them from almost any distance. These extended distances presented significant challenges for Army snipers. Photo courtesy of DVIDS. The M24 SWS (as covered in a previous article) was a system based on 7.62x51mm. Commonly referred to as 308 Winchester, the effective range of the cartridges was around 800 meters. Depending on ammunition quality and atmospheric conditions, that distance is when 308 starts to go transonic and becomes unpredictable. A USA Today article from 2010 articulates that "…insurgents have been shooting down from ridges and mountain tops where gravity helps their bullets travel farther and beyond the range of Army snipers." This realization forced Army brass to solicit a contract to update the M24, whose thirty-year service was showing. THE M2010 SNIPER RIFLE The M2010 represented the Army's effort to modernize an existing platform. Army commanders recognized that enemy combatants were firing from increasing distances, utilizing the Hindu Kush mountains to their advantage, which severely hampered the Army's advance into the region. A larger caliber rifle was necessary to push existing boundaries. Fortunately for the Army, the M24 SWS was built on a Remington 700 long action (whereas the Marine Corps M40 was built on a short action), providing the Army with the flexibility to update the existing platform. As a result, the M2010 was chambered in the significantly larger 300 Winchester Magnum. This robust cartridge, known for its recoil and kinetic energy, extended effective ranges well beyond 1,200 yards. The outdated stock design of the M24 was also replaced with a modern aluminum chassis system featuring an adjustable right-hand folding stock and a full-length monolithic Picatinny rail on top, allowing for easy attachment of night vision and thermal clip-on devices (the chassis was known as the Remington Arms Chassis System or RACS). US ARMY Green Beret shooting the M2010 Sniper Rifle. Photo courtesy of DVIDS. Additionally, the enhanced Sniper Rifle included a Leupold Mark 4 6.5-20x50mm Extended Range/Tactical riflescope, an AAC suppressor, detachable box magazines, a case, a bipod, and the requisite tools to maintain the rifle—a truly upgraded package. Ammunition-wise, the rifle was tested with the older Mk248 MOD 0 (190-grain Sierra Matchking) and the newer Mk248 MOD 1 (a 220-grain Sierra Matchking that is ballistically superior), which confirmed the rifle's effectiveness at extended ranges. This increased range was further justified by Col. Douglas Tamilo, who manages weapons programs for the Army, stating, "They're not outgunning us, but they are putting our soldiers in a predicament where 800 meters (2,625) may not be enough." The M2010 erased that problem. Since the M2010 was based on an existing platform, the fielding of the weapons system was expedited. The Army issued a press release announcing the contract on September 30, 2010. In this press release, Army officials anticipated the new rifle would be deployed by Christmas that same year. "Within the space of a year, we were able to partner with industry to deliver a new capability for our snipers in combat," said Lt. Col. Chris Lehner, the product manager for individual weapons and a part of PEO Soldier. "The upgraded weapon system provides extended range for our snipers and incorporates the latest in weapons technology." The contract facilitated the update of 3,600 M24 systems and projected a service life of 10 years. Of course, as we know now, it fell short, but why did it? DOWNFALL OF THE M2010 The first reason was that it wasn't a dedicated sniper rifle designed from the ground up. By 2010, many sniper rifles in service worldwide were purpose-built platforms developed from the ground up (for example, look at Accuracy International and the Sako TRG-22/42). The genesis of the gun was the popular civilian Remington 700, a hunting rifle that dates to the Vietnam War. By the mid-2010s, the need for a more adaptable system was glaring. Additionally, electro-optics and standard scopes were progressing at a breakneck pace, necessitating a more versatile weapons system. Furthermore, our understanding of ballistics was also evolving. Using Doppler radar to study how bullets fly led to significant advancements in bullet design. In contrast, ballisticians examined shoulder angle and case efficiency to better utilize the new, longer, and sleeker aerodynamic bullets resulting from these advancements. This led to the development of cartridges like the 300 and 338 Norma Magnum, 6.5 Creedmoor, and the 300 PRC, all of which have been used on the modern battlefield. However, as conflict zones changed from urban to rural and shifted from the Middle East to parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, and beyond, the Army needed a sniper system that was equally adaptable, paving the way for a switch barrel system that accommodated a variety of mission sets. All of which left the M2010 behind. Photo courtesy of DVIDS. And then there is the elephant in the room: Remington. The Remington Arms that built the M40 and M24 sniper rifles was no longer the same. In 2007, private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management (which has changed its name many times, but most gun owners refer to it as Freedom Group) acquired Remington Arms for $370 million ($569 million today), including $252 million in assumed debt. It was the beginning of the death knell for one of the United States' most storied gun makers. Private equity firms have been the demise of many brands within the industry. When the DoD and the Army solicited Remington for the M2010 project, Remington was already on a downward trajectory. As new management entered the fold, the knowledge and wisdom of generations of gun builders faded. Over the next decade, Remington assumed $950 million in debt and eventually filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020. All the parts were sold off. LEGACY OF THE M2010 The M2101 is ubiquitous, whose legacy may be shrouded by its maker's demise. The rifle itself succeeded in its intended mission. The need to challenge Taliban forces at extended ranges during the push into the Hindu Kush Mountain range was fulfilled by the M2010. However, the Global War on Terror constantly evolved, as did the firearm industry, which invested resources into the rapidly developing precision rifle sport that, of course, rolled over to military snipers. Perhaps the M2010 was considered outdated from its inception; moreover, I would argue that its short service life is more linked to cartridge development, changing military needs, and advancing technology. Barrett MK22. Photo courtesy of Barrett. Regardless, the rifle will still be in service in 2025 but will be phased out in favor of the MK22 MOD 0 from Barrett (which will be covered in the future). The M2010 was truly an "in-between" rifle that served as a quick solution. Nevertheless, for collectors and military historians, the M2010 holds a significant place in the pantheon of American Sniper rifles.
Spring 2025 has been a whirlwind of success for Team MDT, with shooters racking up wins, top finishes, and hard-earned accolades at matches around the globe. From Alabama to the hills of Kentucky and even across the pond in the UK, MDT athletes continue to prove why they're among the best in precision rifle shooting. At the Alabama Precision Shooters Challenge in Carbon Hill, Alabama, the course of fire was both technical and demanding—exactly what competitors have come to expect from match director Levi Wilson. Despite tricky winds and challenging stages, Michael Lilly rose to the occasion and secured 1st Place Overall along with Top Suppressor. His wife and fellow Team MDT shooter, Kili Lilly, also delivered a standout performance, taking home Top Lady honors. Michael and Kili Lilly Reflecting on the weekend, Michael shared: "We had a great weekend as a couple at the Alabama Precision Regional match. Levi Wilson put on a great COF that challenged you on every shot. I shot really well in one of the trickier wind days I've shot in at AP and managed to secure my second win of the season. Kili Lilly also managed to take home top lady honors. It's truly a blessing to have a spouse that enjoys sharing this journey with me. #couplegoals". In Somerset, Kentucky, the Yeti Spring Fling NRL22X match greeted competitors with freezing temperatures and thick fog that delayed the event's start. But once the sun broke through, it turned into a beautiful—albeit demanding—day of shooting. Ruth Soucie showed resilience and focus through the conditions, earning Top Lady and continuing a packed competition season. Ruth Soucie. From Ruth - "It's the 5th of 10 matches I'll be shooting in 6 months across nine different states," Ruth said. "Weather was challenging, starting the day at freezing temperatures with dense fog delaying the event—but the sun came out and warmed everything up!" Out west at the 2025 Koenig-Ruger Precision Rifle Competition, hosted at the renowned Cameo Shooting Complex in Grand Junction, Colorado, MDT Supported Shooter Brady Allinson secured an impressive 4th Place Overall. With its high-altitude terrain and elite competition, Cameo remains one of the circuit's most challenging and prestigious venues. Meanwhile, Team MDT also made waves at the Highland Outdoor PRC match in Caerphilly, Wales. Ryan Charlton put together a strong performance to finish 5th Overall, followed closely by MDT Supported Shooter Sam Steward in 6th. Their results underscore the growing presence and competitiveness of MDT athletes on the international stage. Ryan Charlton with a 5th place win. Sam Steward with a 6th place finish. Back in the Southeastern U.S., the Clinton House Plantation PRS match in Clinton, South Carolina, saw several strong finishes for the team. MDT Sponsored Shooter Ken Sanoski placed 8th Overall, while Matt Stiner earned Top Tactical honors. Ryan Beck also stood out with a 5th Place Overall finish, rounding out another weekend of high-level performances for the squad. Matt Stiner with a 1st place finish. Matt Stiner’s competition rifle and trophy. From fog delays and swirling winds to cross-country (and cross-continental) travel, Team MDT continues to rise to every challenge. These aren't just podiums—they're proof of the hard work, precision, and passion that every shooter brings to the line. With more matches on the horizon, one thing's for sure: Team MDT is just getting started.
MDT increased its Field Stock compatibility lineup to include six Ruger American long action rifles. Compatible Ruger American Rifles include the Gen 2 Standard, Gen 2 Ranch, Gen 2 Predator, and Standard Ruger American barrelled actions. AICS magazine length for the Field Stock, when paired with a Ruger American Long Action, is 3.715 inches. Various capacity magazines can be used. The Field Stock has an aluminum inner chassis, free-floating barrel, and AICS magazine compatibility. It also provides accessory mounting points while providing the look and feel of a traditional-style hunting stock. Swivel studs for sling mounting are also included on the Field Stock. Two-way adjustability in the butt of the Field Stock offers more ergonomic adjustability than a traditional hunting stock, and the polymer outer shell of the Field stock gives it better durability and lower weight. V-Block bedding ensures consistent contact between the rifle’s action and the chassis and minimizes unnecessary movement between each part. Eliminating unnecessary movement allows for optimal accuracy compared to traditional hunting stocks. The MDT Field Stock is currently available for the following Ruger models! Upgrading a Ruger American rifle with a Field Stock chassis system requires no gunsmithing, with two screws being the only mounting hardware required.
How shooting matches makes you a better hunter Shooting precision rifle matches is the best practice for hunting. Ryan McLean covers some of the similarities between shooting matches and making shots on game animals. He covers positional shooting, shooting movers, using your optic and reloading. THE GEAR Check out the gear we highlighted in the video. mdt TIMBR FRONTIER STOCK SHOP NOW MDT ACC ELITE CHASSIS SYSTEM SHOP NOW mdt lightweight premier scope rings SHOP NOW mdt 20 moa picatinny scope base SHOP NOW more from mdt watch: getting the most out of the mdt baker wings Keith Baker, Team MDT pro shooter, invented the Baker Wings to get an advantage over his competition. Your non-shooting hand can now improve target acquisition and recoil management. watch: HOW TO SET UP YOUR SCOPE FOR LONG RANGE ACCURACY An improperly set up scope can cost you points at a match or a trophy animal on a hunt. If you trust your local gun store to properly set your scope up then you’re good to go. But, if you don’t, we have Pro Shooter Keith Baker. WATCH: HOW A PRO SHOOTER SETS UP HIS .22 What is your perfect rimfire rifle build? Pro shooter Andy Slade breaks down the setup he used to reach the podium at the PRS Rimfire Series Finale in Texas.
The MDT LSS GEN3–the most adaptable and customizable rifle chassis ever built.
Whether building a competition rifle, dialling in a hunting setup, or putting together a tactical beast, this system lets you customize every detail without ever pulling your barrelled action.
The ORYX Chassis System is a high-performance, drop-in upgrade designed to maximize your rifle’s accuracy, stability, and ergonomics. Built for hunters, competitive shooters, and long-range enthusiasts, this precision-engineered chassis delivers superior control and consistency.
What's the best way to measure a bullet’s downrange impact on a target? It might not be the most convenient method, but it’s definitely the coolest—repurposing a decommissioned punch machine into a device that measures bullet impact force. Here’s how we did it!
Is a $5,000 rifle really worth it?
And how does it stack up against a more common $500 hunting rifle? That’s exactly what we set out to find. We tested a $500, $2,500, and $5,000 rifle to see how they compare in terms of group size, long-range accuracy, comfort for different heights, and overall shootability.
Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know about new products, get weekly videos and blog posts delivered straight to your inbox, and receive early notice of special offers and events. Plus, enhance your skills and knowledge with educational content on everything precision shooting.
