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Long range and ELR (Extra Long Range) precision rifle shooting are all the rage these days. Chassis stock systems are part and parcel of these shooting applications, but most are pretty limited in scope. They’re either designed for light-weight or are very heavy for stability with ELR actions and long barrels. Sure, some chassis systems work across the board, but most do not.
The Accuracy Solutions ORCA chassis is one of the most versatile systems. By now, it has been extensively tested in decades of long range precision rifle shooting, training, and competition. The ORCA fits Magnum actions, and the Baby ORCA suits short or standard actions. The gist of the ORCAs is that their design maximizes marksmanship, especially when shooting in the prone position. These chassis systems, which are manufactured from durable G10 (the same material found in knife handles and pistol grips) also interface nicely with the Accuracy Solutions BipodeXt. G10 is a high-pressure epoxy and fiberglass composite material that originally saw use in printed circuit boards. Its material qualities give ORCA and Baby ORCA chassis a high-degree of stiffness without being too heavy.
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Accuracy Solutions Baby ORCA
Accuracy Solutions F.A.S.T. Baby Orca is a multi-featured stock designed for the long range shooter, one of the first made from G10. The Baby ORCA is available for short and long actions for just about every manufacturer out there. Weight-wise, the Baby ORCA chassis comes in at just over 10 pounds and can accommodate a 30 pound scoped and barreled action. While the weight on aluminum stocks can help dampen recoil, the G10 material deals with recoil more effectively. There’s very little resonance or vibration during the shot. Like its big brother the Baby ORCA also accepts BipodeXt.
Stock adjustments on the Baby ORCA’s chassis can be adjusted on the fly with metal knobs. They’re optimized to be handled in the prone position. Users can adjust comb height, length of pull and clearance for the bag rider.
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In most cases, the Baby ORCA can accommodate left or right handed actions. In addition to that adjustment knob, three different cheekpieces fit into the stock in order to align the shooter with most any scope height. Swapping these out is straightforward and requires no tools.
I think the Baby ORCA’s best feature is the adjustable magazine paddle. These days, several companies make bolt-action magazines that are fractionally different in size. With the Baby ORCA’s adjustment, you can fit the chassis system to the magazine. I don’t think any chassis system out there offers as many adjustments and options for so many actions.
Setting Up The Baby ORCA
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I set up my Baby ORCA chassis with standard Remington 700 long action. In my case an Alamo Precision Rifles G2 long action chambered for 6.5 PRC. It has a 24-inch barrel with twisted barrel flutes. I’ve got a silencer mounted on the end and a Steiner T5Xi 5-25 helps me aim.
I have had this rifle for years and it is incredibly accurate and my preferred long range rifle (out to a mile). The Baby ORCA was inlet for the 3.725-inch AICS patterned magazine, and my 3.715-inch Accurate Mag fit pretty well. With just a little adjustment using that new magazine paddle I was talking about, the magazine fit was perfect. There is very little movement, yet it drops free easily. For this review, I primarily shot Hornady factory 147 grain ELD-M. It clocks around 2900 fps. My own handloads with the same bullet generate over 3000 fps.
The first thing I noticed is how soft-shooting the Baby ORCA felt. Not that the 6.5PRC is particularly bucks with excessive recoil, but this chassis helped dampen it some more.
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You can really feel the difference with the G10 material because of how it absorbs and dulls the impulse. Even with my handloads, it felt like more of a “thud” than the usual impulse. I could even watch impacts at 100 yards through my scope. Once zeroed with the Hornady factory ammunition, I printed consistent .30 to .50 groups with a couple in the ¼ MOA range.
Shooting At Longer Distances
I switched to the 300 yard berm in order to really dial in the adjustments. Extending the BipodeXt’s tube out placed the front of the suppressor right under the bipod which meant that the rifle’s muzzle hardly bounced while taking shots. It just seemed to push backwards. During this process I was able to get some 1 to 1.5 inch groups at 300 yards. Controls on the stock are easy to access from prone making it possible to get amazingly comfortable. Being able to adjust not only the cheek height, but the slide height was really helpful dialing in with a couple of different Armageddon Gear slider bags.
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At my home range, I shot even further off a bench–my favorite position to shoot long range. After adjusting the Baby ORCA to fit me perfectly while shooting off a bench and dialing my scope to my 900 meter adjustment, I began to consistently put 10 round strings on the 2-foot round steel gong. Moving back and forth from 300 to 900 meters was pretty fast and very consistent. Comfort is a thing when it comes to precision shooting, and the Baby Orca allowed me to make this rifle shoot with no muzzle rise and little felt recoil. Your stock connects you to the rifle, and the Accuracy Solutions Baby ORCA allows you to easily fit it precisely.
Parting Shots
Even though I started out a tad skeptical about Accurate Solutions Baby ORCA, the reality is that shooting with my Baby ORCA is an excellent long-range solution. After getting some trigger-time behind it I was absolutely sold–even as a skeptic with 30 years of experience behind precision rifles of all types. That G10 material on the Baby ORCA isn’t light, nor is it overly heavy. Adjustments are easy and vast, and they can accommodate most any action out there. If you are looking for a Long Range Stock this needs to be at the very top of your list!
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The post G10, It’s Not Just For Knives Anymore— Baby ORCA G10 Rifle Chassis appeared first on Athlon Outdoors Exclusive Firearm Updates, Reviews & News.
