There are almost no KRG Echo reviews, so here ya go. I own 2 Tikka Bravo chassis to compare. While I want a carbon fiber, they are far more expensive, and I can't handle them before I buy.
Upon opening the box, the first thing I noticed is the black cheek piece for a green stock, and also the green is very dark. It looks black until I put it next to a black stock. Why doesn't it match?
Not including LOP spacers and thumbscrew is pretty lame.
Out of the box it weighs exactly what I expected.
Cheekpiece - The standard cheekpiece is identical to the Bravo, but the metal nut that locks it down is bigger and aluminum. It is also substantially harder to insert the cheekpiece. The lightweight cheekpiece saves less than an ounce. The posts are plastic. Personally, offhand and sticks the cheekpiece all the way down is best. With it down, the lightweight one is fine. Prone or bench id want the regular one.
Forend - The additional length is appreciated. It adds a little over an inch to the Bravo of useable space. However, its about 2 inches longer. The curved area up front is probably for strength and so it doesn't snag on stuff. Its slightly wider than a lite forend, and not nearly as wide as a varmint forend.
Buttstock - It feels identical, but it is 1 piece with the rest of the stock. It is also different inside. You cannot add the flat butthook cover, because it is missing a screw hole. I guess that is ok. Not ideal with a protektor type bag, but it is meant for field shooting. The hook is just fine for a squeeze bag.
Ridgity - I estimate based on squeezing the barrel and stock together that I can move the Bravo half as much or less. It flexes right infront the aluminum. It's stiffer than the factory stock though. My contour is a Preferred Barrel Blanks Tikka Lite Hybrid. Basically the same as a .75 no taper for threading 5\8 - 24. There is plenty of clearance and I can't make it touch in any shooting position no matter how hard I push. I can make it touch if I squeeze the barrel and forend together with my hand.
Accessories - A big part of this decision was its easy to add a pic rail for my Atlas bipod. While I have a Harris, I prefer the atlas by a mile. I have different feet and leg extensions for it. The other thing is sling studs that stick out suck on the bags. Unfortunately, it didn't come with a QD cup like the Bravo. I don't use a sling on one of my Bravo. I took it off that one. You will need to buy an mlok QD sling mount for the front. I have a BCM coming. There was no cheesy plastic pic rail included like the Bravo. Overall, I think they should ditch the lightweight cheekpiece and include LOP spacers, thumbscrew, and the QD cup. I now have a ton of extra screws, parts, and so on, so thats nice.
In summation, very happy for the price. It is a bit heavy, but I like how it makes a lower center of gravity. I hate when the scope makes a gun top heavy. I plan to put my 2-10x42 Tract Toric on it, and just use the heavier Midas Tac for load development. This gun is mainly for walking up Jack Rabbits and calling predators. Its also the one I keep handy in the truck for a varmint of opportunity. It is a big improvement in ergonomics over a factory stock. Despite the weight, I think there is something to be said for all my rifles to have the same ergonomics.
Upon opening the box, the first thing I noticed is the black cheek piece for a green stock, and also the green is very dark. It looks black until I put it next to a black stock. Why doesn't it match?
Not including LOP spacers and thumbscrew is pretty lame.
Out of the box it weighs exactly what I expected.
Cheekpiece - The standard cheekpiece is identical to the Bravo, but the metal nut that locks it down is bigger and aluminum. It is also substantially harder to insert the cheekpiece. The lightweight cheekpiece saves less than an ounce. The posts are plastic. Personally, offhand and sticks the cheekpiece all the way down is best. With it down, the lightweight one is fine. Prone or bench id want the regular one.
Forend - The additional length is appreciated. It adds a little over an inch to the Bravo of useable space. However, its about 2 inches longer. The curved area up front is probably for strength and so it doesn't snag on stuff. Its slightly wider than a lite forend, and not nearly as wide as a varmint forend.
Buttstock - It feels identical, but it is 1 piece with the rest of the stock. It is also different inside. You cannot add the flat butthook cover, because it is missing a screw hole. I guess that is ok. Not ideal with a protektor type bag, but it is meant for field shooting. The hook is just fine for a squeeze bag.
Ridgity - I estimate based on squeezing the barrel and stock together that I can move the Bravo half as much or less. It flexes right infront the aluminum. It's stiffer than the factory stock though. My contour is a Preferred Barrel Blanks Tikka Lite Hybrid. Basically the same as a .75 no taper for threading 5\8 - 24. There is plenty of clearance and I can't make it touch in any shooting position no matter how hard I push. I can make it touch if I squeeze the barrel and forend together with my hand.
Accessories - A big part of this decision was its easy to add a pic rail for my Atlas bipod. While I have a Harris, I prefer the atlas by a mile. I have different feet and leg extensions for it. The other thing is sling studs that stick out suck on the bags. Unfortunately, it didn't come with a QD cup like the Bravo. I don't use a sling on one of my Bravo. I took it off that one. You will need to buy an mlok QD sling mount for the front. I have a BCM coming. There was no cheesy plastic pic rail included like the Bravo. Overall, I think they should ditch the lightweight cheekpiece and include LOP spacers, thumbscrew, and the QD cup. I now have a ton of extra screws, parts, and so on, so thats nice.
In summation, very happy for the price. It is a bit heavy, but I like how it makes a lower center of gravity. I hate when the scope makes a gun top heavy. I plan to put my 2-10x42 Tract Toric on it, and just use the heavier Midas Tac for load development. This gun is mainly for walking up Jack Rabbits and calling predators. Its also the one I keep handy in the truck for a varmint of opportunity. It is a big improvement in ergonomics over a factory stock. Despite the weight, I think there is something to be said for all my rifles to have the same ergonomics.
Last edited:
