Pluses and minuses regarding the Benelli MR-1

1899

1899

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As the title suggests, what are some of the pros and cons?

I'm only interested in NR. How is the accuracy, out to say +300 yards? I've read some complaints about scope mounting - what are your views and what setup do you use? How is the trigger? I am also only interested in the collapsible stock as my wife and kids would use it too. Is the collapsible stock a decent setup? I understand that regular AR compatible stocks do not work with the MR-1, correct? I've read some folks having issues with the LAR magazines, has that been sorted out or will I be stuck with 5 round magazines?

Any other comments on longevity, reliability, ease of cleaning etc?

Thanks.
 
I like mine. It is reliable with hollowpoints as well as ball.

Cons:

The control ergos suck but it's not a go fast rifle for me. Mainly the bolt release but I don't mind a reciprocating external bolt and I just rack it back like my SKS.

The mag release is OK but like I said I'm not a go fast kind of guy.

The optics rail is too short and it's hard to shoehorn optics onto it. I have a Redfield 2x7 Accurange reticle on it in QD cantilever PEPR lookalike mount. Works fine. The 2X lets me shoot with both eyes open. On 7x I have to crawl forward a bit on the stock to find the exit pupil but I get a good cheek weld at all magnifications. Off the bags it shoots 2-3" at 100 yards with Norinco ball.

5 black LAR15 mags with angled bottoms from Wanstalls are too tight in the magwell so I only use them in my CQA.

The first time I stripped it I found it hard to re-assemble but now it's a breeze.

It's a piss off that they charge you $90 for the rail attachment that should have come with the rifle.


Pros:

The OEM ghost ring is fine and lines up fast with a good cheek weld.

I like the collapsible stock, it's solid and I can adjust for clothing or armour.

It shoots really, really clean with the piston system and I NEVER have FTE or FTF. i've shot Fiochi, American Eagle black box and Norinco bulk ball through it plus Winchest white box HPs. No problems.

I use LAR 15 mags exclusively with it. 15 (CanAm and Questor) of 20 mags slide in and drop free.

I have a cheapy NC Star light and green laser mounted at 6 o'clock on the bottom front rail. Even in bright light I can see the green laser at 7 yards and it is scary easy to shoot small 10 shot groups with your head up off the stock or even from the hip.

It's a tank of a rifle and feels very solid and reliable.

I love the non-restricted classification which lets me throw it behind the seat of my truck for bush trips, un trigger locked and with a couple of LAR mags in my pockets.

Here's mine with the Leupold see through rings and a cheap stock pad that gave me a good cheek weld.

MR1_zps0fe60ec7.jpg


And in its current setup with an Uncle Mikes QD picatiny sling swivel on the left front rail, it hangs nicely now.

DSCN1925_zpscdfa096b.jpg
 
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Thanks for the detailed write up. There are LAR magazines with flat bottoms and angled bottoms, right? Is the rear sight easily removable? Have you tried it with a red dot?
 
1899 said:
Thanks for the detailed write up. There are LAR magazines with flat bottoms and angled bottoms, right? Is the rear sight easily removable? Have you tried it with a red dot?
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Yes, the Questor grey mags and the Canam black mags with the flat bottoms work great in my MR-1.

The rear sight is attached with Torx head screws and from some reports are really torqued in. I like to have irons on all of my rifles so keeping them on and finding a scope solution was my priority.

I was thinking of putting a TRS-25 on a 45 degree mount on the right front rail but since the current mount is a QD and the laser works so well for bad breath range, I'm forgoing the RD for the moment.
 
The optic mounting looks like it might be a PITA, or at least very awkward, for little folks. One of the reasons it interests me is that you can have as short as a 9" LOP. I guess one could go with a red dot of some sort.
 
I like the Redfield Revolution's "open both eyes" performance at 2x. It feels very fast in acquiring targets, kind of like my Leupold FX.25x IER on my Guide Gun.

The place where it is weak is at 6-7x where I have to move forward to find the exit pupil. It's nothing major but this setup is definitely optimized for fast shooting at 4x or less.

Can you get to a store and heft one to see if it works for you?
 
I'm going to try and find one in town. As I mentioned I like the possibility of having my wife and kids shoot it - all of them would require between 11" and 13" LOP so it is nice to have the adjustability. I can deal with sights a bit high but I don't know if the littlest one would be comfortable in such a position.
 
1899 said:
I'm going to try and find one in town. As I mentioned I like the possibility of having my wife and kids shoot it - all of them would require between 11" and 13" LOP so it is nice to have the adjustability. I can deal with sights a bit high but I don't know if the littlest one would be comfortable in such a position.
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If the fit feels good to you then I'd just remove the rear sight and mount a scope as low as you want. Maybe a Burris DMS?
 
I fully support this rifle. It's my favorite rifle and I seem to enjoy it more every time I shoot it. It's light for such a long gun, so I can shoot it well offhand. It's a soft shooter. (Still get a blast out the front as well.. I like to see flames!).
My rifle seems to really like pmags - never any issues.
Disassembly and assembly was a pain the first few times, but I'm sure there's more instructional videos on youtube now to help. I have it down pat now, so is not an issue.

I have the burris ar332 3x red dot on it
 
Put an EOTECH on mine, works great to 100 yards. I have not yet added a magnifier to it to see how it does past that distance. The iron sign on it also works fine. I tried mounting a cheek rest and a nikon 223 scope on it, but I can't seem to shoot straight with the scope. With the Eotch however, it's a hoot.
 
It's based on the argo system which is a shotgun recoil system.

So it has the feel and handling of a Benelli shotgun. Does not really feel like a rifle.
 
I was looking for NR/black a while back and fondled an MR-1 multiple times. I liked the upper half mostly - the rail, pencil barrel, light weight. I really disliked the lower. The stock has a really big drop to get a good cheek weld. the clincher for me was the weird ass bolt release. Just could not get over that and that was the end of it. I ended up buying a HK SL-8 and love it. Little bit more money, but in the long run I am way happier. YMMV.
 
superlative said:
It doesn't hold a candle to the XCR-L keymod with lightweight barrel. The XCR is lighter, better balanced, easier to maintain and clean, much better ergonomics, more modular and configurable, non reciprocating charging handle, uses all STANAG mags without issue, can change muzzle brakes, long top rail and about the same accuracy.

If money is an issue, then get the VZ58 in .223, which is $800 cheaper and is a better rifle.
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I've read a couple of reviews that note issues with FTE/FTF ( for example Truth About Guns review). It makes me nervous at +$2500.
 
I don't understand why the reciprocating charging handle/bolt is such a big deal on the MR-1 but nobody seems to mind them on the SKS, AK-47, Valmet, Galil, SIG550, SCAR, CZ858, M1 Garand, M14, M1 carbine, Thompson SMG etc.?

Some benefits are simplicity, being able to beat on them to remove stuck cases or seat a round into a dirty chamber (in combat only).
 
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