Are Mossberg mvp actions as rough and binding as they look in the vids?

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My MVP was a bit rough. Not BAD, but so-so.
Couldn't warm up to it on several levels, traded it off to aquaintance for his sons to shoot deer with. (.223).
I mostly didn't like the chintzy bolt lip that functioned to strip top round from magazine. Not all magazines worked, particularly a 5-round I had. Best was the 10-round magpul mags.
I had to modify the magwell to get it to properly align the magazines.
 
I have the thunder ranch model in 223. The metal mag supplied with it was trash, I have since switched to 10 and 20 round P-MAGS. They do fine.
 
I don't own one and wouldn't buy one, simply because it's pretty hard for me to justify buying ANY factory rifle, but I have ran a few of the Mossbergs as customer rifles or as "opportunities" at ranges when I've seen guys struggling to zero. For their price point and brand name, I don't expect a lot, but I've not noticed them be much rougher than some of the other lower cost rifles on the market. Fixing "rough" is generally pretty simple, so as long as they're not overly sloppy, if I really wanted one, I'd just lap it out. But personally, I couldn't be convinced to want one.
 
My brother had one for a while when they first came out (came out in '11, he got his in '12), but he isn't much of a target shooter or hunter so he traded it for a handgun. Regardless, it was the Predator model so it had a pretty laminate stock.

I think the bolt was overall very nice for the price point. I also found the trigger to be very good and accuracy above average for the price point (about 5 years ago...). As far as the "wobble", I wouldn't say that it felt chintsy. It just didn't feel like it was running on rails. I would say that most modern bolts feel that way to me. My old Rem 700 feels like I'm dragging the bolt through slippery butter and feels like there is contact the entire time. But newer Rem700, Ruger Americans, Savages, even Weatherby Vanguards/Howas all feel like there is is limited contact surface. They do not feel like Winchester 70s of old.
 
This is my biggest gripe with Mossberg guns and I have tested several. The bolt is sloppy with lots of play, but overall they are a decent buy in their price range. I had a Patriot in 308 that shot as well as my 700 Tactical and shot a couple of MVP's that were sub-MOA out of the box with reloads. The triggers were comparable to most of the cheaper guns, but could be improved with a little TLC.
 
Mine was rough, but what I truly disliked was the cheap, plastic magazine well. The magazines flopped and clunked oddly.

My nieces and nephews bored of it quickly, when contrasting 30 rounds fired from an AR, versus 30 rounds fired by actuating the bolt each shot.

I finally sold it before that plastic broke. My impression, they are not worth the asking price.

JMHO
 
I have the ATR, blind internal box magazine version. Bolt is OK, consider the low price. Excellent value consider the blade trigger. I paid $245 after rebate for the scope combo. Recently bought a T/C Compass, bolt is not better and trigger is worse. I like the ATR better.
 
I have the MVP in 5.56 that shoots sub moa with Hornady 55gr SP. I've tried to duplicate their load with no luck. One issue it has is with military primers it is hit or miss on ignition even though being chambered in 5.56. I might be sending it to mossberg to remedy that.

Regarding the bolt roughness, once one gets the feel for how it rides and man handles it, its fine for me, not great but ok. If your looking for a get it done rifle that takes cheap magazines and is accurate that has been my experience. If your looking for a smooth operating looker...keep on moving.
 
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I handled an MVP Patrol in 2014 when I was preparing to buy a bolt action .223 with removable mag. To me, the mini-Mauser action of the CZ 527 Carbine that I finally bought was superior. YMMV
 
I've handled a few of them at gun shops and I think they look like they should be sold at harbor freight. Very rough and lots of tooling marks. They look really nice from 5 feet away but when you actually touch and feel them they really don't have a look of quality. I definitely would not pay what they are asking for them. I think it should be a $300 gun.
 
Mine seems fine but then I'm such a controlled feed fan that no push feed is "correct" for me.

Mike
 
I've got the "Predator" model with a laminate stock and 20" fluted barrel.

It's true, the bolt is a little sloppy, but the rifle shoots as well as my Remington 700, sub MOA with decent ammo. I find it to be a handy little rifle that I take coyote hunting.

The novelty of using AR mags is what drew me to it, but to be honest that wore off quickly. I usually run it with a PMAG that's be chopped to 5 rounds and fits flush anyway.
 
I bought 7 of them when we tooled up to make 300BLK barrels for the 5.56 MVP's. They're pretty rough and sloppy.
I would suggest going with a Howa instead. That Howa Mini Action is super smooth. It's puts everything else out there to shame, especially at that price point.

Tony
 
vtsteve said:
I've got the "Predator" model with a laminate stock and 20" fluted barrel.

It's true, the bolt is a little sloppy, but the rifle shoots as well as my Remington 700, sub MOA with decent ammo. I find it to be a handy little rifle that I take coyote hunting.

The novelty of using AR mags is what drew me to it, but to be honest that wore off quickly. I usually run it with a PMAG that's be chopped to 5 rounds and fits flush anyway.
Click to expand...
Early (no threaded barrel :( ) Predator in my case as well . It's a tack driver.

Mike
 
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