I’m looking to get a tactical bolt action .223 for my collection, and have come down to either a CZ Trail 600 or a BCL MRX Bison scout. I’m having a hard time finding any reviews for either rifle that aren’t from 2 years ago. It seems the main problem with the CZ Trail is the accuracy due to a non free-floated barrel, plastic chassis, and wobbly stock. Meanwhile the MRX Bison seems to have had firing pin/extractor issues in early production that were supposedly fixed after the 3000+ serial #s but I can’t find any recent feedback on it other than people saying “don’t buy BCL”. I did have a chance to hold the MRX Bison in store and it felt well made and the bolt was relatively smooth. Both rifles seem to be equally good/bad and I just can’t decide which one to get. I’d appreciate some feedback from shooters of either rifle especially if you’ve had both and help me decide on which one to get.
CZ Trail vs BCL MRX Bison
- Thread starter LeoSky
- Start date
FatCatsDad
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I might be odd man out but I enjoyed shooting the Bison.
I had some parts sent to me to fix a firing pin issue under warranty which were simple to install and it performed very well after that.
The barrel was kind of a piece of crap but at 100 yards and under it worked well.
It was small and easy to fly with and have traveled a few times to shoot Coyotes in Southern ON.
I'd say it's more a field hunting gun than a competition rifle.
I had some parts sent to me to fix a firing pin issue under warranty which were simple to install and it performed very well after that.
The barrel was kind of a piece of crap but at 100 yards and under it worked well.
It was small and easy to fly with and have traveled a few times to shoot Coyotes in Southern ON.
I'd say it's more a field hunting gun than a competition rifle.
I was in the market for a 223 bolt gun in a shorter handier platform and looked at and fired both the CZ and the BCL.
I hated the CZ stock although the gun was accurate enough. I liked the overall quality of the rifle but the price was ridiculous.
The BCL was certainly a rougher action and the fit and finish was below the CZ.
In my testing the BCL was about .75 to 1 moa with crappy 55 grain ammo.
The CZ was 1.5 to 2 moa with the same ammo. Neither gun is a target rifle and neither is perfect.
The CZ has history on it’s side from a manufacturing perspective.
BCL is basically a Canadian cottage industry that had has some quality control issues in the past. I also own the BCL bronco which i have had for 3 yrs or so.
I had a couple of issues with it early on and BCL repaired it with no hassle at all.
In the case of the 223 i had decided i was going to go with the CZ but after having both of them side by side I ultimately went with the BCL.
As i said before neither is perfect and the price and my previous experience with BCL was certainly a large factor in making the choice i did.
So far i have had no issues with the 223 version with 500 rnds down range.
I hated the CZ stock although the gun was accurate enough. I liked the overall quality of the rifle but the price was ridiculous.
The BCL was certainly a rougher action and the fit and finish was below the CZ.
In my testing the BCL was about .75 to 1 moa with crappy 55 grain ammo.
The CZ was 1.5 to 2 moa with the same ammo. Neither gun is a target rifle and neither is perfect.
The CZ has history on it’s side from a manufacturing perspective.
BCL is basically a Canadian cottage industry that had has some quality control issues in the past. I also own the BCL bronco which i have had for 3 yrs or so.
I had a couple of issues with it early on and BCL repaired it with no hassle at all.
In the case of the 223 i had decided i was going to go with the CZ but after having both of them side by side I ultimately went with the BCL.
As i said before neither is perfect and the price and my previous experience with BCL was certainly a large factor in making the choice i did.
So far i have had no issues with the 223 version with 500 rnds down range.
Recently saw a guy at the range with a BCL, well, actually saw him about a half dozen times over a two week period.
Every time I saw him he told me how much more polishing he'd done on the chamber with emery cloth, and hand-loading low-pressure rounds to try and get it to extract.
Eventually he went from hitting the bolt handle with a mallet and using a rod to beat the empty out to being able to actually shoot it as intended. So, I guess he ended up with a functional rifle at the end of it.
I wouldn't touch one with a 10 foot pole and someone else's money.
Every time I saw him he told me how much more polishing he'd done on the chamber with emery cloth, and hand-loading low-pressure rounds to try and get it to extract.
Eventually he went from hitting the bolt handle with a mallet and using a rod to beat the empty out to being able to actually shoot it as intended. So, I guess he ended up with a functional rifle at the end of it.
I wouldn't touch one with a 10 foot pole and someone else's money.
How bad was the accuracy at a 100 yards? I don’t really need better than 2-2.5 moa.
Good to hear you’ve got 500 rounds with no issues, and I’m sure I would decide on the Bison too if I held the CZ Trail assuming it feels the same as it looks.
Stuff like this is why I’m still hesitant to pick up the Bison, many owners enjoy it and have no major issues, yet some have horrible malfunctions, this is identical to Turkish guns and I learned that lesson already and don’t want to gamble on getting a lemon when buying a gun.
I'm curious why you have limited yourself to these 2 rifles. Have you considered the MRA Renegade or a more traditional bolt action rifle (Savage, Ruger Ranch, Howa Mini, Remington) with an MDT LSS chassis?
By tactical do you mean magazine fed with pistol grip? I'm assuming this based on common features of both rifles you are looking at.
I posted a photo of my Savage .308 with MDT chassis. I originally had built a .223 version because I wanted to try deer hunting with .223. I switched after one season but they look identical.
By tactical do you mean magazine fed with pistol grip? I'm assuming this based on common features of both rifles you are looking at.
I posted a photo of my Savage .308 with MDT chassis. I originally had built a .223 version because I wanted to try deer hunting with .223. I switched after one season but they look identical.
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I’ve already backordered an MRA Renegade to be a dedicated bench gun and I’d rather not have 2 of the same gun. I also considered building a rifle but it’s going to be almost twice as expensive with the chassis alone being over $1000. You are correct about me looking for something magazine fed with a pistol grip. I might just end up having to suck it up and put a 16” .223 action into a LSS gen 3.
It’s unfortunately overpriced with tariffs and I’m not a fan of lever actions. I also refuse to buy American made guns since I’ve been waiting for a replacement part for over 6 months now thanks to their export BS.If you don't mind spending more the Henry Supreme is fantastic and sub MOA at 100 with the right ammo.
If you want to make it more "tactical" you can add the Ranger Point Precision stuff like I did. It also accepts MRX mags by the way
My ca 10-year-old Ruger American standard with the old rotary mag is still MOA-capable with most ammo, even bulk. With 'target ammo' does better.
PS - I had a renegade and couldn't get it under 2-MOA with a good scope. It was fun, but not very satisfying.
PS - I had a renegade and couldn't get it under 2-MOA with a good scope. It was fun, but not very satisfying.
My Bcl had okish 2-3 moa average acuracy depending on ammo originally, it cycled ammo fine but had light primer strikes on PMC ammo. After questioning BCL THEY paid to ship to them and I have received it back and this thing is now smooth as silk reliably shoots everything and is near or better than moa with good ammo and under 2 even with the cheaper stuff I have tried this far.
Has become my favorite Center fire range toy.
Has become my favorite Center fire range toy.
I’ve ultimately decided to pass on the CZ Trail and MRX Bison. Looks like I’ll be getting a 16” B14/R700 and dropping that into a LSS Gen 3.
I’ve held a Taipan X in store, it felt awkward to hold and the action was gritty.
The one I have is smooth as can be, they spring assist is great
BCL has a reputation at this point, but part of that reputation is dealing with any problems and supporting the life time warranty.
Sounds like buddy got a lemon and rather then letting BCL deal with it decided he knew better.
My understanding is the lifetime warranty is transferable to ever owns the gun.
My biggest issue with the BCL bolt actions are the lack of nice "curves" and weight. It looks like it was designed by a German who liked right angles and straight lines....
The CZ trail is a cool looking gun that would no doubt sell better under $1000.00. I guess the price of plastic is high in Czechia.
That seems to be true. He had dealt with them with respect to firing pin issues and had good service.BCL has a reputation at this point, but part of that reputation is dealing with any problems and supporting the life time warranty.
Sounds like buddy got a lemon and rather then letting BCL deal with it decided he knew better.
My understanding is the lifetime warranty is transferable to ever owns the gun.
My biggest issue with the BCL bolt actions are the lack of nice "curves" and weight. It looks like it was designed by a German who liked right angles and straight lines....
The CZ trail is a cool looking gun that would no doubt sell better under $1000.00. I guess the price of plastic is high in Czechia.
I had suggested that he just send it in to them but he chose not too. His call.
It doesn't change the fact their QC is bad enough to send out a rifle that wouldn't function properly.
I agree, BCL should go above and beyond with Quality control to get out from under their reputation of being hit and miss.... It's a bit shocking that any manufacturer with modern equipment (which they have) can have QC issues today.
No doubt part of the story is the fact that the lemons that do make it out get lot's of airplay on the forums and the ones that work as intended just don't get as much "air time".
Already have a Troy PAR, lasted about 30 rounds, then broke. Now waiting over 6 months for replacement parts, going to get rid of it once it’s fixed.
Even if most MRX Bison rifles work well and nobody talks about them, it’s still concerning that any lemons are catastrophically bad. Even with lots of good feedback all it takes is one person with a lemon to make you question whether to buy one.
