Mossberg MVP bolt action .223

[Dangermouse]

I wrote a longer article on this last week only to have it disappear as I hit the send key,
Now that I have counted to ten, here I go again.

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2011 ... -magazine/

Again I am not going to copy the pictures in, as I am being lazy and my photo site is taking ages to work now they have installed a anti spam thingy.
If you search “Mossberg MVP” on the internet you will see a number of Bloggers and web sites with almost word for word similar articles and photographs. I am guessing Mossberg did one release and no one has actually managed to get their hands on one yet.
The US RRP for the basic rifle is $649.00, we all know that the UK price will be at least £650 with possibly more added on for tax etc.
For what it is worth, I think that for a rifle that will possibly be a similar price to a Remy 700 and comes with a pillar bedded stock, scope rail, fluted barrel, adjustable trigger and magazine capability as standard, this package could be a winner. The only thing that could let it down is out of the box accuracy.
Mossberg are claiming one MOA accuracy, I wonder if that is acceptable in today’s market? Certainly only a few years ago it was the level to strive for but these days people are looking for half MOA accuracy, but then perhaps it is unfair to expect custom rifle performance from a out of the box gun.
Apparently this is built on the 4x4 action, of the reviews that I could find they were all positive, should you have handled one and know differently I would be interested to hear your views on teh action.
We are so used to looking at a Remy 700 and thinking what you would do to customise it to make it better, that it is difficult not to think along the same lines with this set up. But as most of the obvious tweaks come as standard the only question’s will be if the stock is up to scratch and if the trigger needs replacing.
Can’t finish without saying something about those AR magazines – at last, someone is using them! So cheap, so plentiful and so many options. I would like to use this rifle for practical and the possibility of having 10/20 and even 30 round mags easily obtainable makes this a very attractive package.
I looked on GT to see if anyone was importing Mossberg into the UK and see several rifles for sale, so someone is, but I could not work out who. Hopefully this will work its way to the UK,

DM

[Sandgroper]

Looks very nice and I have 3x30rd mags at home, as well. :lol:

From the Mossberg website there are 3 UK dealers;


Deben group
441 3943 87 762
FX: 441 3943 80 373

York guns
ph: 44 1904 487190
FX: 44 1904 487 195

The saddlery and gun room
ph: 44 195 957 3089
FX: 44 195b 957 5590
EM: hushpower@ic24.net

[Sim G]

It looks like an interesting package, but as for reaching the UK, I'm not so sure, well certainly not in numbers.

And that's the real shame of it. The UK is tiny in comparison to other "gun markets" even in Europe and importers can't or won't invest. Our market is dominated by a couple of makers from a couple of importers. We are missing out on some really good, reasonably priced rifles because of this.....

[Dangermouse]

I have been reading some of the comments made re these press releases.

On a good side is the rifle is chambered for 5.56 so can handle the hotter military ammunition. Hot .223 rounds should be no problem.
Unfortunately, if stamped 5.56 it could cause problems exporting as it is a military calibre and the do gooders will see it as an arms shipment.

Something which I have no experience of but the US readers appear to know something about is that AR mags are poor feeders for bolt action rifles - hence no one has made one before. Mossberg claim to have sorted this, it will be interesting to read what the reviewers say when they get them.

The 1 in 9 twist barrel will only be suitable for the lighter bullets, as this is a longer barrelled rifle, many will be wanting to shoot heavier bullets at longer distance.

Mossberg has said that more calibres are to follow, one in .308 feeding of AR10 mags will make it very interesting again.

DM

[Sandgroper]

Something which I have no experience of but the US readers appear to know something about is that AR mags are poor feeders for bolt action rifles - hence no one has made one before. Mossberg claim to have sorted this, it will be interesting to read what the reviewers say when they get them.

Here's one for you.

http://www.gunmart.net/guns_for_sale/20 ... -GP24.html

BMS trading made BA rifles using the bolt, barrel and magazines from the AR-15. They're supposed to work quite well. The bolt lift was apparently as little as 22 degrees, as well. I don't more about them apart from they're pretty rare.