The ModX from AB Arms–SHOT Show 2015

in Jacob Epstein, SHOT Show 2015, Uncategorized

Updated: February 3, 2015 BY Dave Higginbotham

New from A*B Arms for 2015 is a rifle chassis system that may change the way shooters perceive precision rifles and the stocks we mount them in. Lightweight, ergonomic and modular, this chassis system allows its user to optimize his or her rifle to their operational needs. This drop-in package allows its user take an off-the-shelf Remington 700 short action and bring it into the 21^st century. With minimal time and tools, you can completely update the antiquated design of 700 and give yourself a configurable platform to work from.

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The Mod*X

The Mod*X

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The chassis comes with a LUTH-AR MBA stock, an A*B arms SBR pistol grip, and a thirteen inch Keymod handguard. The Keymod handguard has mounting slots at 3 6 and 9 o’clock that make mounting grips, bipods, lasers, and enhanced optical systems as easy as plug and play. The handguard is snag free, which gives you the sleek canvas to dress as you see fit.

The Mod*X chassis seems much larger than it is. It is still very maneuverable and light.

The Mod*X chassis seems much larger than it is. It is still very maneuverable and light.

The chassis is milled from Aluminum. It is extremely lightweight and strong. Weighing in at three pounds ten ounces, the chassis is an optimal choice if you are looking shave pounds off your gun, or mitigate the added weight of all the tactical bells and whistles you plan on attaching in the future.

Built around the Remington 700 short action
Built out of hardcoat anodized aluminum
20 MOA milspec top rail
5 inch key mod handguard
Designed to accept AR15 buttstocks, and pistol grips
Uses MDT/AICS-sytle magazines in .308 and .223
Available in black and dark earth

We look forward to getting our hands on this chassis system in the coming months and truly putting it through its paces. These kits area available now on the A*B Arms website and are selling for $799. If your looking to jazz up that old 700, this should be the first thing you check out.

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Taking picutres at SHOT is always a challange, but the effort is made more difficult by odd lighting and flat black on dark backgrounds.

Taking pictures at SHOT is always a challenge, but the effort is made more difficult by odd lighting and flat black on dark backgrounds.

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The Mod*X is a drop-in chassis system that is easy to use.

The Mod*X is a drop-in chassis system that is easy to use.

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Benjamin W Michel Sr February 5, 2015, 3:42 pm

That will make a good one for the boys on the frunt lines. NOT a hunting gun!!

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A Gun for Every Purpose February 5, 2015, 11:56 am

I grew up attending gun shows when it was common place to see $10k-$20k shotguns and rifles. People just gathered to admire the wood. That was before most people gave much thought to free floating barrels and all the other advancements we now accept as common knowledge. Nothing beats the feel of a fine wood stock on a finely crafted rifle… it is like a warm embarrass of a woman… just plain sultry. I even own several beautiful exotic wood blanks that were bought with the intention of building into rifle stocks.

I did not serve in the military so my interaction with the AR platform was by choice. Initially, I didn’t get it. The gun is loud, plastic and an eye soar. A buddy dragged me to a 3 gun match and then I “understood” the AR platform… you have to throw it in the mud and drag it around in the dirt. It is meant to be used rough without consideration. I would never do this with one of my nice bolt rifles. I now own several, and yes I still wipe them down after a fun day at the range.

Tactical rifles / long range precision rifles, like AR15’s, are a different category of rifles built for a specific purpose. They are made to shoot extreme distances with precision. Think 5 shots in more or less one hole at 100 yards. Go out to 1,000 yards and multiply you group size by 10x (1″@100 = 10″@1,000) and then factor is wind which can move the bullet by feet at those ranges. I have had a couple of custom rifles built using Rem 700 actions. The final product doesn’t resemble the standard hunting rifle. Once kitted out these guns weigh in at 13lbs-16lbs. They aren’t meant to be carried about on casual walk. Much like the AR15, not everyone is going to get the concept of a tactical/long range precision rifle… until the get a chance to get behind one for a few shots.

Each gun has a purpose. My favorite gun… well that depends on what type of shooting we’re going to be doing.

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Bill February 5, 2015, 11:51 am

If a wood stock bolt is what you want then great! But don’t crap on an ad review of another chassis option for the matte finished, Rem 700 P line of bolt guns! And this doesn’t make it an AR type rifle, it gives people another choice for their conventional, heavy stocked rifles. Call it plasticky all you want but I along with many others like it! Oh, and I am a hunter who has some conventional stocked bolt guns but this product won’t bring the anti gunners out!

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Model 700 Owner February 5, 2015, 12:16 am

My 700 SPS Varmint .204 rests in a Bell and Carlson Medalist. The big 26″ barrel makes it too heavy to carry around.

My 700 SPS Tactical .308 also rests in a Bell and Carlson, but lighter than the varmint rifle. The 16.5″ threaded barrel is perfect for my YHM titanium suppressor.

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Brad February 4, 2015, 9:07 pm

Well boys I can tell Ya from carrying a Rem 700 7mm mag many miles in the wilds of Wyoming I am looking for just this type of frame for my 700 Rem, so as soon as they make it in a long action I will be very interested. Elk a 700 yards is a good hit. My 700 magni-ported and heavy wood stock does the job if needed but I would love a lighter tactical stock for a long action to take some of the weight off. So let get off the kicking the tires act cause some of us like the new stocks for the hunting aspect of the sport.

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- Bill February 14, 2015, 6:09 pm
  
  I agree with you. Wish they made it for my Winchester Mod 70. 300win mag.
  
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J. W. Sherman February 4, 2015, 2:47 pm

Try a flash on your photos. It will over ride the bad lighting behind the subject and light the subject to bring out the details.
Sirjohn

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Tony February 4, 2015, 12:40 pm

The stock regardless of wood or plastic at the end of the day they all do the same thing. I have seen owners waste time walking between brush trying not to scratch the old safe queen and not paying attention to the surroundings,Owners take pride in what ever they own! But don’t make it unsafe while out hunting.The platform would make a perfect go to gun for banging around out in the brush.
I think the old saying applies if you don’t like the colour of my socks don’t look.

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Jerry Wilburn February 4, 2015, 10:43 am

I am of the old school. My 700 in 280 is the best. I hunt animals not people. AR’s are military built for people hunting. I personally love my wood!

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Rip February 4, 2015, 8:47 am

Looks cool!!

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Scott February 4, 2015, 8:44 am

Sorry, guys…
I have a modest collection of Winchester M-70 Featherweights, because I absolutely love the look & feel of blued steel and walnut. And, they’re perfectly warm and comforting in the deer woods or most any other day afield.

In all fairness, I also have and shoot regularly a few semi-custom rifles, by GAP, Patriot, and R+D all done in flat/matte steel, and synthetic/composit stocks. These are the rifles (tools) I routinely use for both training and shooting at distance. For consistent accuracy, despite the weather or ambient conditions, these “ugly ducklings” are virtually form-fitted to me, and can’t be beat.

I find the beauty of wood and steel hard to resist, and a joy to look at. However, the adjustable and synthetic equipment makes sense for those of us who also spend time shooting under any/all conditions. Kinda like your family sedan and pick-up truck, they’re two vehicles for two different jobs. You don’t have to like them, but it’s hard to argue against either.

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Alan February 4, 2015, 8:25 am

It might look cool, BUT, moving the scope mounts from the receiver to the rail with that long cantilever is a bad idea. This design might have limited success on short actions, but, long actions and magnum cartridges won’t remain stable.

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Dangoodshot February 4, 2015, 8:09 am

Howdy ya’ll.
Bill, Joe, remember guy’s, different strokes fer different folks.
First guys, I can appreciate a beautifully done wood stocked rifle as much as the next guy.
Me personally, I’m a young old military tool guy, and that’s how I approach my rifles.
When I see a nicely done AR it stirs the same feelings in me that a nice wood stock does fer ya’ll. And that’s great!
Remember, we all have one thing in common. We all love OUR guns. Weather it looks like a Michelangelo or out of a mac tools catalog, we still need to stick together as brothers.
Carry on,
Dan

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- John L February 4, 2015, 8:55 am
  
  My thoughts exactly. I have my 1953 Rem. 700 sitting right next to my Colt AR in my safe. My 50 year old colt single actions sit on a shelf with my modern semi autos. Maybe we shooters need to get along as well as our firearms do. Good comment sir!
  
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Jack Black February 4, 2015, 7:48 am

I’m sorry you don’t like it, because I really do, I have a couple safe queens gonna get a make over…no more fear of nicking the pretty wood.

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- Alan February 4, 2015, 8:29 am
  
  Plenty of synthetic replacements on the market with rock solid bedding systems that don’t mount yhe scope on a rail that is bound to float. I bet they’re cheaper too…
  
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  - Michael February 4, 2015, 10:03 am
    
    Alan,
    If you look at the second picture, you can see where the chassis mounts to the top of the receiver. I think it’s a fantastic design and for less than half the price on an AICS, it’s a sure winner. I can see George Gardner at GAP, Jared Joplin at Patriot and Bobby Keigans at Freedom Gunworks/Diablo Rifleworks saturating the planet with these things at that price. This is one of the best designs for a tactical 700 at that price.
    
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Joe February 4, 2015, 6:45 am

Although it’s been many years since I’ve traded off my Remington 700 ADL .22-250, it’s beautiful stock and the 10 power weaver scope on top set it off as the beautiful straight shooting rifle it was .
The thought of converting that gorgeous piece to a modular lookalike for a price that could just about allow you to build a complete modular lookalike escapes me.
Oh well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder…

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Bill case February 4, 2015, 6:41 am

The article about the plastic AR looking Remington 700 is hideous, a slur on the Remington 700.
What is wrong with a rifle that has wonderful bluing, wonderful American or Bastogne walnut or fiddleback
Maple or quilted maple stock. A rifle should be a thing of beauty to be loved and cared for much the same
Way you love, respect and care for your wife. I shouldn’t look like a tool with a plastic handle and kept in the tool shed. The M-16 is a tool to kill people and dose a great job. The AR clone are ugly and give the anti gunners
Ammunition to take our firearms.

I can send you pictures of factory and semi-custom Remington 700 rifles and you can do an article with your plastic 700 and my wood stocked 700’s. Then have an online survey to see which type 700 you should be
Writing articles about. When is the last time you did an article about a nice semi-custom, custom or factory wood stocked 700 Remington or any other wood stocked rifle that is not a military rifle.
Thanks for giving me your time,
Bill Case in North Carolina

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- Dave Hicks February 4, 2015, 8:28 am
  
  Bill’s right. I don’t really care for bolt actions,but if you like them and there are at lot of reasons to,such as caliber and nice wood and so on.The AR platform has it’s place.$799.00 to change a bolt action to magazine feed, just get an AR 15 or AR 10 and keep the bolt action’s in the wood. Thanks for the info..
  
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- Michael February 4, 2015, 9:55 am
  
  Bill, I think they’re aiming at the tactical market, buddy. Look at the 700 SPS, 700 V, 700 LR, 700 XCR, etc. This is a replacement product for a TACTICAL rifle, not your 700 BDL that you take out to get Bambi. If you look at the age old design that comes with the tactical 700’s out of the box, this is a great improvement over the plastic, epoxy, generic stocks. I think this is a great product and fully intend to get one for one of my 700 SPS’s. Well done, A*B!!!
  
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- Lee February 4, 2015, 11:23 am
  
  I guess I’m coming from a younger generation here, but wood stock guns are just fugly. Seriously, none of the guys I shoot would want to run around with a stick in the woods. But then again, I’m a 3-gunner. In a rifle, I want something made from man made materials, metal and plastic. Not something that looks like “Grandpa’s old shotgun” and kicks the junk out of you every time you shoot.
  
  The mentality that “fuel to the anti gunners fire” died out about two decades ago, when idiots who believed in that crap let the Clinton era crime bill pass. I guess people are already forgetting that lesson. The anti-gunners don’t just want some guns, they want them ALL, even your wooden ones. They just know they can’t take them all at once, so they find idiots who “compromise” their rights away with “reasonable” legislation. The only thing is, they know that after time goes buy, they can keep changing what is considered “reasonable” until you can’t even have that double barrel side by side duck shotgun… Don’t be sucker and fall for that crap… Read up and educate yourselves guys!
  
  Have fun with your 2 minute Remington 700… I’ll be shooting my “Evil” JP LRP-07, making sub minute groups, without the bruise on my shoulder…
  
  Happy shooting gentleman, be safe, have fun, and shoot straight.
  
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- john Flatt February 4, 2015, 2:02 pm
  
  Woooo ! easy brother . This chassis was never designed for the average hunter ! Wood stocked rifles look great , but this is a tactical platform NEVER meant to be a hunting rifle system. One of the Greatest Military rifles ever made was the M 14 or M1A Springfield and it has a tactical platform for about $800 . THESE are Tactical Platforms designed for a dedicated purpose and they fit into a niche for Tactical Operations . I have 4 Rem 700’s in 762 with A5 stocks . And each has been fitted with removable 10 rd mags . I cannot hunt with these with the 10 rd mags . These are simply Tools of The Trade , for those working in THAT Trade . All they are doing is showing off NEW products … We all love a good looking wooden stocked hunting rifle .
  But this platform is designed for a purpose . And all they are doing is showing NEW products for those of us not lucky enough to be able to go to the Shot Show ……….
  Respectfully ,
  
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