Thoughts o Mossberg MVP?

[pippin53]

I've been thinking about a good plinking bolt action centerfire rifle for a bit.

Since bolt action has more kick than semi automatic, extended plinking, I think, would require a smaller caliber. Another plus would be cheaper ammo. That settled the caliber, to me, on .223. I think it would be ideal for honing ones skills as a rifleman, something to take to Appleseed and the like.

One .223 bolt action that caught my eye was the Mossberg MVP. Main reason was that it could take AR 15 magazines. Anyone have any experience on the MVP? I read some people who say the bolt feels "flimsy," my guess that it has to be a bit wonky to take ar mags. Is t functional and accurate? Any other good rifles in a similar vein? Is this a terrible idea?

 

[xfyrfiter]

The Howa 1500 can be had for cheap, and is a pretty good training platform in .223. New bottom metal and detachable mags are available. The only drawback is the synthetic stock, it is a little flexible but can be stiffened with glass and resin in the hollow areas of the butt. Or Boyds offers a drop in.

 

[jakk280rem]

Do a search. Not too long ago (last month?) there was a guy who did a write up on the MVP. Lots of photos and good info.

Edit: found it.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=729863&highlight=MVP

 

[jmr40]

There are a lot of good bolt rifles. The Mossberg is one of only 2-3 that I just wouldn't buy. Not horrible guns, but for the same money there are quite a few better.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

Fun little gun and accurate too. I'll probably pick up one of the new ones in 300 BLK when my AAC Cylone stamp comes. By summer I hope. Paid for the damn thing Feb 8 but the dealer transfer took forever . . .

Mike

 

[Jackal]

I'm not a big fan of the Mossbergs bolt head. That little arm that flips down to catch a cartridge just seems like a failure risk. If they had designed a AR15 style bolt head, I think it would fare better. Why steal the AR's mag system only to cheap out on the bolt? The other little problem is that the Mossberg's price point puts it in nearly direct competition with AR15's like PSA, S&W, etc, against which it has no clear advantage.

One of the biggest problems is that the bolt action Mossberg has been reportedly less reliable than a run of the mill AR. The whole point of a manually cycled action is accuracy and reliability, neither of which the Mossberg has over the AR.

Bottom line: I like the idea, but being in direct competition with the AR is a bad place to be.

 

[RPRNY]

Find a Savage 340B in 222 Remington. Sub $300 and ridiculously accurate. Not tacti-kewl though.

 

[slickone]

I have one in .223 and I really like it. True the bolt wobbles a bit but it shoots like a dream. My Ar15 mags 20rd fit perfectly. I zeroed it at 100yds last week and I had a 1" group easily. I like it.

 

[rule303]

They are a solid little rifle. The little guide piece on the bolt that pushes cartridges out of the mag looks flimsy, but I have not heard of any failures. The laminate stocks are better than anything else in that price range, the triggers are decent, and they are definitely good shooters. The ability to take AR mags is nice, not for the capacity, but just to be able to get cheap, reliable mags just about anywhere.

 

[MrDig]

Count me in

I would not hesitate to buy another one, since I like mine so much. It shoots better than I do and the only complaint I have is I don't get to shoot enough.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Rumor has it through the gun shop grape vine is that Ruger will be releasing a similar platform.

I've handled but not shot the Mossberg MVP. I'm not a huge fan of bolt guns, but the MVP was solid, well built. If I had a larger disposable income, I might get one just because it uses AR mags.

 

[CSC_Saint]

I love mine so far, bought it from someone on this forum too. With 69 grain HPBT, I have sub .5 moa groups, with 60 grain vmax, 1.5 moa. Every mag I've come across fits in it, pmags are a tight fit though. The round catcher picker upper latch seems pretty flimsy, but over the last year and a half I've followed every review I could find on it and have read/heard/seen not a single failure of it. don't get one with a scope on it from factory, its a barska so expect to have to buy your own glass, sooner or later, its going to be necessary. For the sub $600 price tag, I think its an excellent rifle that looks quite good with the laminated stock. If you do get one, it may or not be free floated, so take it out, shoot it, and if its not giving you the accuracy you want, then look at sanding down the raised band that hugs the barrel at the end of the stock.

 

[Gtscotty]

I've sort of been eyeballing some different practical type .223 bolt rifles lately, including the MVP Patrol. USAF-Vet, count me intrigued on the Ruger prospect, does the gun shop grape vine have any more info on the base platform, details or release time-frame?

 

[USAF_Vet]

The only other details I heard about it was that it would be based on their .308 Scout platform. No word on release date.

 

[rduckwor]

Got one, the 18.5 inch predator model.

Its a good little rifle. Plenty accurate and reliable. Handy for the field and fun to shoot. Worked up several loads for it and I really like the 50 Gr Nosler Varmageddon in it. It screams out of that barrel and is plenty accurate.

RMD

 

[rman43]

My grandson has the 24" version. I was a little reluctant to buy it but he was hooked on the looks/features. Turns out he was right. It functions well, shoots 55 and 60 grain Horn VMax and Sierra 55 gr SPBT VERY well. He keeps me busy reloading.