Weatherby and MDT Team Up for Factory Lightweight Modular Bolt-Action Rifle

I reviewed MDT’s LSS chassis for the Remington 700 and loved it. The chassis is lightweight, attractive, and improves the accuracy of the firearm thanks to rigid bedding and a free floating barrel. Weatherby similarly makes great rifles (like this one I reviewed), but their product line has been missing something. Just about everyone else makes a “tactical” rifle these days, but Weatherby has stuck with their traditional designs. Until now, that is . . .

It looks like Weatherby and MDT have teamed up to produce the lovely “tactical” bolt action rifle you see above. Combining the sleek sexiness of the MDT LSS with the reliability and accuracy of a Vanguard rifle is bound to be a hit, especially with an MSRP in the neighborhood of $1,449. At that price point it’s a direct competitor with Ruger’s Precision Rifle, and honestly I think it might be a winner. Here’s the press release:

Weatherby Inc., legendary firearms manufacturer, is honored to introduce the Modular Chassis rifle, one of the latest iterations of the Vanguard series that debuted in the early 1970s.

Since that time, Vanguard rifles have redefined the level of performance that’s attainable from a production hunting rifle —especially budget-friendly models. With its new Modular Chassis rifle, the company combines the best attributes of the Vanguard with features deemed nonnegotiable by the tactical community.

Adhering to the Weatherby axiom, “Nothing is … more accurate,” accompanying the Modular Chassis rifle is an accuracy guarantee; when using premium ammunition, it will produce a three-shot group measuring 0.99-inch or less at 100 yds. from a cold barrel. Aiding this assurance is a cold-hammer-forged, No. 3-contour “bull” barrel measuring 0.740-inch at the muzzle. Twenty-two inches in length, the free-floating barrel has a bead-blasted, matte-blue finish to minimize glare.

The heart of the Modular Chassis rifle, the renowned Vanguard action, is affixed to a CNC-machined, 6061 aluminum chassis that has a black, hard-anodized finish. The svelte, minimalist fore-end features hole spacing for Magpul MOE L5 (11 slot) and L3 (7 slot) accessory rails for true customization, as well as a stud to which a bipod and/or sling can be attached. Meanwhile, its oversize trigger guard grants a gloved finger unimpeded access to the trigger.

As with other Vanguard rifles, the Modular Chassis is equipped with a match-quality, two-stage trigger that’s user adjustable for pull weight. It also has the familiar three-position safety and fluted bolt with dual-opposed locking lugs of its siblings.

Feeding the tactical rifle is a detachable, MDT pattern, staggered-column, polymer box magazine that holds 10 rounds of .223 Rem. or .308 Win.—its initial chamberings. This not only ensures supplemental rounds for follow-up shots or multiple target engagement are at the ready, but also immediate load adaptability; simply replace the magazine with one having loads optimally suited for the situation. Additional magazines will be available on Weatherby.com.

Borrowed from AR-style rifles, the Modular Chassis rifle is fitted with the 1.26-lb., bilateral Luth-AR Modular Buttstock Assembly (MBA) 1. Constructed from glass-filled nylon, the MBA-1 is fully adjustable for length of pull and comb height. The latter ensures consistent cheekweld and eye-to-optic alignment. Rounding out the package, a Hogue Inc. Overmolded pistol grip with finger grooves, texturing, and a palm swell enhances purchase and comfort.

The Vanguard Modular Chassis rifle is scheduled to hit dealer’s shelves by November 16, 2016 with an MSRP of $1,449. Call your local authorized Weatherby dealer to order yours today.