This is purely aesthetics comment: I think the buttstock is a little blocky / chunky looking. It looks a little like the 3 parts: Fore end, chamber & grip area, and buttstock were all designed independently and put together. The design lines don’t feel like they flow / mesh super well together. Just my personal opinion on the aesthetic design. Don’t hate me.
This closely resembles the PRS-winning setup from 2025, aside from the swing stock. I prioritize performance over appearance. Many attractive rifles fail to perform. If the design emphasizes function over form, offers a stable platform for producing small groups, and is reasonably priced, take my money.
1 Like
Thanks, Jim. Getting interesting! Will it be drop mag only / no floor plate option? The butt stock is taller than I was expecting. How would LOP be adjusted? Same for cheek riser? What is the source of rigidity for the forend? Really like the pic foward and long arca rails! Will the grip have any type of “rubber” overmould or “ grippy” texture? I’m stalling on a HNT26 in anticipation of this. Thank you for sharing.
It will be mag only. I have never seen a chassis with a floor plate but that could be kinda cool in the future.
I agree with a couple of you commenting on how big/chunky the buttstock is. Really helps from a shooting perspective but I agree that it’s probably too much.
We’re working on some adjustments to the buttstock to put it on a diet 
1 Like
For me, having gone through a broken stock on a minor fall on day 2 of a 5 day hunt, I don’t miss the extra material. I think you rethink the aesthetic of the cutouts. They are asymmetrical, but nothing else is (at least by what I see). Some symmetrical might blend the size better.
1 Like
I love the look so far! Super psyched to get one as soon as they’re available. A few thoughts:
1: Glad to hear there’s some thoughts of putting the stock in a diet, visually is looks like a large thing hanging off a small hinge, both the xlr and mdt have more proportional looking hinges. No doubting that it work great, just visually looks a little different and may scare buyers.
2: the top of the hand guard extends further forward than the bottom of the hand guard, correct? I think that looks sweet aesthetically but I really want the bottom longer than the top since the bottom is where I’ll mount a bipod or hold to shoot off hand or rest on something to shoot off of. The wrap around design looks cool (and stops mirage) but would be nice if the bottom side extended further forward than (or equal to) the top.
3: The big hook/bag rider on the stock looks like it would be nice while shooting but will catch branches if you’re finishing a stalk when the rifle in hand and the stock deployed. Maybe vertical would be better as others mentioned? Or removable for range vs hunting?
Again, I think it looks great and I would buy it as is no question, just my thoughts!
-Porter
Thanks for that Porter.
The hand guard bottom cutting in is what allows the user to be able to install the barreled action into the chassis without removing the hand guard. It works similar to how the HNT26 also has a cut like that, and the Fierce.
We’re working on some refinements of the buttstock. I really like it as is because I think it will contribute to the best shooting experience, but I also have to balance that with the visual look of the chassis and it does look like a watermelon on a toothpick
2 Likes
Lefty option?
Here’s the new look for the buttstock based on y’all’s responses that the buttstock was just looking too giant. The one on the left is from the previous pic I posted and the one on the right is now not as tall, reduced the angle on the hook to be less snaggy, has more symmetrical cutouts… and loses another 1.7oz.
Appreciate the ideas. We have been staring at these designs for literally thousands of hours so it’s nice to have a fresh set of eyes on it to highlight the things we don’t notice anymore because we have seen it so much.
We’re making over 50 little tweaks this week and will manufacture another prototype to be ready by middle of next week.
8 Likes
Looks great. Really excited for this. Thanks for sharing so much info w us, and letting us enjoy the journey with you!!!
Will the folding stock lock into the closed position? Or just lock open?
1 Like
Looks great, Jim. Are you still on track for the 1st quarter of next year for release? This looks like it was a very challenging project, especially to get in all the upgrades into your design. Can’t wait to own one!
It locks in both positions.
2 Likes
Yeah, we will still launch in January. We have finished all the hard parts of the functionality. Now, we are just working on aesthetics and durability testing each part, and creating the processes to actually manufacture it.
2 Likes
My two cents, don’t glue the pistol grip on! Had the expensive competitors version of this. First hunt I took it on in north Idaho this fall. It was a Cold day and the glued on pistol grip broke on me 8 miles into the back country.
Legit owned it less than a month, had it long enough to put on, site in and carry strapped to my pack hunting.
2 Likes
Did it break off in your hand, under pressure, while strapped-in, etc? Curious as to what MDT said and how they responded?
1 Like
I have a question concerning sales. There is obviously a lot of interest and demand. For the initial offering are you limiting it to one per person? Seen a couple posts with people having a desire for several chassis.
I want more than one but to be fair to everyone I initially want only one for my Tikka.
It would suck for someone to purchase multiple chassis and someone not getting one because of it.
I strapped it to my bag and rode my horse in. When I went to take it off my bag, the handle fell to the ground.
I have a EXO Mt pack with the rifle holster and it was strapped to that. So it’s not like the weight of the rifle was on the grip and I didn’t drop the pack or go tearing through rough country. I had the butt stock in the holster, then two straps across holding it to the bag. One below the scope and one higher up. It was around 20 degrees out though so I’m guessing it had something to do with it going from being in a warm truck to a cold environment
They offered to glue it back together and fix a mag well spring issue that I was having. I had an issue where the roll pin for the mag release kept working out every couple shots, which they told me was a weak spring
Their customer service was very good. They responded quickly to my emails and answered all my questions. Ultimately I asked to return the stock because for 1700 bucks I don’t think they should have those kinds of issues.
Specifically the grip only being glued and falling off just seemed cheap to me. I hunt in some very remote places and the last thing I want to worry about is my grip falling off every time it gets bumped.
To be fair if it had never fallen off, I would have probably never had an issue with it being glued.
They gave me a full refund and paid for return shipping. It was a bummer though because have a folding stock was amazing for the short time I had it.
Having a full length stock and a suppressor on my barrel is obnoxious at best when riding and hiking through the mountains.
I never would have expected a grip to be glued into position. I thought that’s the whole purpose of having a grip screw.
Thanks for the information/update
1 Like
We are going to do our best to get Backfire Plus people taken care of first before we open it to the public. Appreciate y’alls’ Support.
8 Likes