Accuracy and the mossberg patriot

[txcookie]

I plan on a 308 soon. The mossberg has my eye so I have spent some time researching it. I have found A LOT of videos showing less than desirable accuracy. I am hoping someone here has experience with this rifle good or bad.

I'd rather spend more on a 700sps or savage 110 and get good accuracy.

 

[LoonWulf]

Most of the guys Ive talked to on here about the Patriots has liked them. Ive honestly been considering getting one just to mess with as Ive heard the same thing.

 

[Hugger-4641]

The only Patriot I've shot was a 300wm. I was not impressed, but for the price it was ok. Accuracy was ok, 2 1/2moa at 100yds with same factory ammo that my 700lr gets 1 1/4 moa. Recoil and muzzle jump were bad. 308 is probably a little tamer for recoil, but Savage and Ruger definitely win for accuracy. If I were to get a Patriot, and I might, it would probablt be 6.5 Creedmoor or .223.
I just bought a Ruger American Predator in 308 and I don't see a Mossberg getting anywhere close to its accuracy. It is 3/4 moa right out of the box with whitebox fmjs.

 

[arsterling180]

Look at how thin that barrel is. Think of accuracy in a lifetime of 3 maybe 4 rounds tops before heat opens the groups up. That is fine for blasting 4 legged critters and hiking around all day.

 

[EIB0879]

I have a Mossberg 4x4 in 30-06. It was the predecessor of the Patriot except it had a longer fluted barrel. It is a tack driver but it likes to accumulate copper near the muzzle so I take extra time to get the copper out. have would huy a Patriot in a heartbeat.

 

[FL-NC]

I have a Mossberg MVP in 223, suppressed and very accurate. My understanding is that it is very similar to the patriot.

 

[Brutus54]

My wife has a Patriot in .243 and it is a tack driver. It has been responsible for thinning the deer population in out woods for the last few years.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

My brother had an MVP in .223 and I have a "free" Patriot in 6.5 Creedmoor. Both are sub MOA with good ammo.

Having said that, they do feel cheap... But they are cheap. I would consider the Ruger American as well, similar gun.

 

[jmr40]

If you want an accurate 308 on a budget pick up a Ruger American. I like the Predator versions, but it comes with an 18" barrel which some find to be too short. I'm fine with it in 308. The standard rifles come with a 22" barrel and are a little less expensive. Street price is around $400-$450 for the Predator, about $50 less for the standard rifle.

I'm also fond of the Tikka's. Street price in blue is around $600, around $750 in SS.

I like the Tikka a little better, but I've never seen any of those rifles that didn't shoot well. Either of those give you the best odds of a tack driver for the least money.

The Mossberg has been around since the 1990's under several different names. They started out as the Raptor firearms company and quickly failed. Several companies have bought the rights to build the design since and none have had much success. Mossberg has kept it the longest and done the most with it. But I don't care for the design.

 

[Varminterror]

My n=1 experience with the Mossberg bolt guns was underwhelming, but adequately satisfying. A fellow shooter at our indoor range was chasing single shot groups around his target, shooting from both elbows on the bench, dialing after each shot, and looking downrange in my own rifle, I noticed he had printed buckshot style greater than 10” across his target. Visually frustrated, I asked him if he was having trouble… defeated and exasperated, he set the rifle down and mentioned he had bought multiple boxes that day, and couldn’t even get it zeroed… I offered a rear bag and a front support, and he immediately asked if I would shoot it - I printed about 3/4” at 100yrds, WAY off of POA… so I dialed the correction, and printed 3 more shots at center, again under an inch… he took over behind the rifle and hung onto around 2” from the supports…

For the price, it felt like it should - not refined, but adequately accurate. A commensurate build for its price.

 

[d2wing]

I'd skip right to Tikka or maybe a Remington 700. I am too old for the frustration of saving a few dollars. Or you could buy the Patriot and see then move on to something else if you are not happy. Cheap rifles are very tempting. It's luck of the draw with most.

 

[LoonWulf]

It's luck of the draw with most.

Agreed, but when we're just talking about raw accuracy( precision... Whichever word we're using today lol), I'm not sure the cheaper guns are significantly less likely to produce than the more expensive ones.
At least until you start getting into the semi-custom range.

I think it would be an interesting comparison to take five each, $200-$500 rifles, $600-$900 rifles, and $1,000-$1,300 rifles, all in the same chambering, and similar configurations...say 6.5cm or .308, and sporter or "varmint"
Then give them equal amounts of load testing with the same bullet and powder combinations, and see if there's a noticeable difference in accuracy.

Obviously not an affordable study..... But I bet if you average them all out they would end up awful close.

 

[d2wing]

Agreed, but when we're just talking about raw accuracy( precision... Whichever word we're using today lol), I'm not sure the cheaper guns are significantly less likely to produce than the more expensive ones.
At least until you start getting into the semi-custom range.

I think it would be an interesting comparison to take five each, $200-$500 rifles, $600-$900 rifles, and $1,000-$1,300 rifles, all in the same chambering, and similar configurations...say 6.5cm or .308, and sporter or "varmint"
Then give them equal amounts of load testing with the same bullet and powder combinations, and see if there's a noticeable difference in accuracy.

Obviously not an affordable study..... But I bet if you average them all out they would end up awful close.

Maybe so. I know a gun dealer that when he buys a rifle for himself he buys 5 Remington 700's and tests them all and keeps the best one. Some brands specify a certain accuracy. In my opinion each maker allows a certain tolerance and some designs are better than others. I have seen cheap guns outshoot expensive ones. You might be right but My money is on the brands that have always been good to me. But I haven't tried them all. I do read reviews. Some are more consistent. Yeah if I had your time and money, LOL. I have seen guys at the range that can't shoot expensive guns or the guns weren't good. You make a good point and it would be interesting to actually find out.

 

[Mike J]

Agreed, but when we're just talking about raw accuracy( precision... Whichever word we're using today lol), I'm not sure the cheaper guns are significantly less likely to produce than the more expensive ones.
At least until you start getting into the semi-custom range.

I think it would be an interesting comparison to take five each, $200-$500 rifles, $600-$900 rifles, and $1,000-$1,300 rifles, all in the same chambering, and similar configurations...say 6.5cm or .308, and sporter or "varmint"
Then give them equal amounts of load testing with the same bullet and powder combinations, and see if there's a noticeable difference in accuracy.

Obviously not an affordable study..... But I bet if you average them all out they would end up awful close.

Your post made me think of this Hickock45 video. Of course he isn't anywhere near as scientific as what you propose in his video.

 

[KsSkaEnthusiast]

My experience with the mossberg patriot is 2 fold. My friend had a cryptec 243 that was a 1.5 moa gun pretty consistently between both of our shooting and a bunch of different factory loads. The other one i had was their walnut in 308. it was a consistent 2 shots sub minute and the third 2.5 inches away. 5 shot groups were an absolute crapshoot. I will never miss an opportunity to recommend a ruger american for a budget rifle that just shoots. You may get a better one than i though.

 

[txcookie]

I'd skip right to Tikka or maybe a Remington 700. I am too old for the frustration of saving a few dollars. Or you could buy the Patriot and see then move on to something else if you are not happy. Cheap rifles are very tempting. It's luck of the draw with most.

Well Said. It is the luck of the draw and I am very tempted. My dad only has custom, rem and ruger. They all cost a lot, have wood trim and shoot very well. Maybe I should stick to the same formula? I know that a rem 700 will likely print well. It would be odd if it didn't.

 

[WisBorn]

@txcookie Thanks for starting this thread. I was walking through Wal-Mart and saw a Patriot in the display rack. And was thinking about them. I too have heard good about the Mossberg rifles also. My next rifle is going to be a Ruger American left-hand. But if Wal-Mart closes out the Patriots like they did with Savage Axis a couple of years ago I'll buy one or more.

 

[jdavis123]

Don’t confuse the Patriot with the previous Mossberg models. I have a walnut stocked version in .270 which has the look of the pre 64 Winchester model 70. It may not be bench rest accurate but is plenty accurate to take game. Everyone that sees it is impressed by it;s looks and feel. It’s a hunting rifle and the thin fluted barrel keeps the weight down for carrying. People who fear the barrel heating after longer strings of fire are mistaking it for a range gun. If that is your purpose let the barrel rest between strings. Besides, how many times have you fired more than a few shots on a hunt? Mossberg has come out with a Revere version of the Patriot with a polished blue unfluted barrel and a European walnut stock with rosewood nose and grip caps. It’s a beautiful rifle and I’m ordering one in .243 Win.

 

[txcookie]

The mossberg feels better to me. The stock isn't to flimsy and the mag goes in and out better. Maybe it's a cold barrel rifle purely for hunting. I'd be good with that. Guess I'll just pick one up and see for myself. If it's a dud I'm gonna document it well.

 

[CptnAwesome]

The mossberg feels better to me. The stock isn't to flimsy and the mag goes in and out better. Maybe it's a cold barrel rifle purely for hunting. I'd be good with that. Guess I'll just pick one up and see for myself. If it's a dud I'm gonna document it well.

With that being said, I doubt you'll be disappointed.

 

[Captcurt]

If you want an accurate 308 on a budget pick up a Ruger American. I like the Predator versions, but it comes with an 18" barrel which some find to be too short. I'm fine with it in 308. The standard rifles come with a 22" barrel and are a little less expensive. Street price is around $400-$450 for the Predator, about $50 less for the standard rifle.

I must admit that a Ruger American Predator in 6.5 CM was one of the most accurate rifles that I have owned. The synthetic stocks on the Patriots are one step above Tupperware and you definitely don't want to torque the action screws too tight. However, their wood guns are a nice piece for the money. I was really impressed at the finish although the wood-to-metal fit wasn't that great. Bergara could take a lesson on wood finishing from Mossberg.

 

[Roverguy]

If my goal were a value for money hunting rifle, the Patriot is better than the Axis, Compass and some of the other budget rifles. I don’t think the Ruger American is necessarily more accurate, but I think it is better finished.

if I wanted a rifle to put small groups in paper, the Patriot would be fairly far down the list. I have one in 375 Ruger. I like it but the stock is dreadful.

 

[Gordon]

The $400 or less Thompson Center Compass and the $500 Venture have a 1 MOA guarantee and the 6.5 CM Venture I bought my son to hang a suppressor on with the 4.5-14 Leupold Vari x 3 i LRP $400 scope on it has done that with a few loads on the 200 yard range he sighted it in on. The stock feels cheesy, but actually hard and carbony like a Kevlar stock, which it isn't. The action is plent smooth and very positive and with a Mcarbo (I think) spring kit a a little polishing the trigger is 2 pounds and crisp enough . With Back Country Leupould mount system the whole package was $1000 and gives him a go to hunting rifle with no extra fidling.
https://www.tcarms.com/firearms/bolt-action-rifles/venture

 

[Turkeytider]

Look at how thin that barrel is. Think of accuracy in a lifetime of 3 maybe 4 rounds tops before heat opens the groups up. That is fine for blasting 4 legged critters and hiking around all day.

I`ve found it interesting that I shoot a 3 shot group with my Savage 110 Storm .223 and the barrel (SS ) gets noticeably warm, though not nearly hot. It`s most assuredly a hunting rifle. Still, I`ll let it sit in the rack with bolt open for 4-5 minutes before the next group. I think I could shoot my Savage 17HMR with a heavy barrel all day and it wouldn`t get hot!​

 

[Turkeytider]

I plan on a 308 soon. The mossberg has my eye so I have spent some time researching it. I have found A LOT of videos showing less than desirable accuracy. I am hoping someone here has experience with this rifle good or bad.

I'd rather spend more on a 700sps or savage 110 and get good accuracy.

I really like my Savage 110.