A new lightweight 300 Win Mag for $400.

I've never played with a Mossberg centerfire to date, tried almost all the other entry level rifles and found the majority to be of quite well put together and finished.
I've always wanted one of those MVP's that take AR mags...just don't know enough about them.
 
To be honest, with modern machining techniques, there is really no excuse for making an inaccurate rifle at any price..... except for maybe stock fit......

There are other things I consider important when buying a rifle like durability, smooth function, weather resistance and just plain pain pride of ownership.....

Accuracy is important, but it's not everything......
 
Hitzy said:
I've never played with a Mossberg centerfire to date, tried almost all the other entry level rifles and found the majority to be of quite well put together and finished.
I've always wanted one of those MVP's that take AR mags...just don't know enough about them.
Click to expand...

I've got one of the 'Patrol" .223's and I bought exactly because it uses AR mags.

i haven't shot it much for groups but the few I have turned in sub MOA with whatever bulk FMJ ammo I have on hand.

The rifle is basically a budget Scout style rifle. On the plus side, it's accurate with both open and telescopic sights, it's light, handy, inexpensive compared to other rifles of this style, and feeds great with the Mossberg Mag supplied and many AR or LAR magazines. On the downside, the buttstock seems a bit short, the iron sights are actually plastic sights, and it doesn't like some brands of magazine, requiring you to hold the bottom of the mag to apply a bit of upward pressure to feed well. Basically if a mag clicks into place but will jiggle up and down, it's not a great fit for this rifle.

Stock is typical injection molded tupperware that you might find on many factory rifles. The barrel isn't a HB but it's not a pencil, either, it's pretty stout, which probably helps with accuracy but because this rifle is so compact it doesn't feel heavy.

I like the Ruger Scout type rifles much more, but they are far more expensive and they don't accept AR magazines. Overall, it's similar quality to many of the other budget bolt actions on the market these days, but with the bonus of the magazines, a flash hider and iron sights.
 
I think Ted did a wise thing, apparently keeping His planned purchase a secret, I have followed a lot of His posts and He is a very well liked and respected Man, secrecy was His only option . friends do not let friends buy Mossberg rifles. Now, many are already shopping on line and requesting plain parcel wrap.
 
I think it's a grate thing wen a experience hunter gets a cheep rifle like this especially when there going to post ther results and give a Real life review on the rifle
After all sum guys on CGN don't work in the oil patch or thay have student loan's and famly to take care of Sumtime a cheep rifle that place one good shot on a target is all that is needed
This review is going to be a grate help for the first time hunters or a father looking to move his kid up from a small game to big gam rifle
 
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Just got back from the range. Still a bit windy, but went anyway.




Forgot my rest, so used a mickey mouse setup with some blocks and old carpet to give it a try.



Never adjusted anything on the rifle, other than mounting the scope. Shot it just as it came out of the box. The trigger was about three pounds, but has a very noticeable creep after the first stage. Will take the rifle apart, check the bedding, adjust the trigger, torque the action screws, etc, before the next trip.


Here's the first 15 shots at 100 yards. Left to right, one grain increase in each load. Either there is a bedding problem, or I am not shooting very well. It certainly was not the wind.





This is the last group, two touching and one a tad over an inch away. MV was 3067 fps out of the 22" barrel, no noticeable signs of excessive pressure. Maybe just luck, or maybe it really wants to shoot.



Perhaps the barrel is getting lapped in a bit as well. Will give it a thorough cleaning, load some more, do some shooting at 300 meters, and let you all know.


The recoil is about the same as my Vanguard 338 Winchester, which weighs a pound and a half more, shooting 225 gr Bonded cores at 2700. Not bad at all.

A reasonable start for a $400 lightweight rifle. I would not hesitate to take it hunting tomorrow. Hmmm, maybe I will.

Ted
 
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I've got a 4X4 in 300 WM. Quite happy with it, shoots really well. The only issue I have with it is that it's pre-LBA, so I may end up putting another trigger on it, if I decide to bring it out of retirement - although the factory one is not too bad. It easily outshoots me if I do my part on the reloads.
 
Good evening, Ladies and Gentleman.

As posted, the first shooting was done with the Patriot just as it came from the factory. Never checked or changed a thing. Just mounted the Burris 3-9X40 FF II in a set of cheap rings that came with the Rem 783 package. The idea was to simulate Joe Average getting his gun, and going hunting.

The results of the first 15 shots can be seen in the pictures in the earlier post #47 above.

Thoroughly cleaned the bore with ammonia solvent. There was very little evidence of metal fouling. Dried and then oiled the bore, now all ready for the next trip.

Then took the barreled action out of the stock, and got the first surprise. The front guard screw was not torqued tight. The rear was tight. That certainly didn't help the groups.

Next surprise, the trigger is only adjustable for weight of pull. Nothing else. Checked the manual, and that is proclaimed loud and clear by Mossberg. It says it is adjustable from 2-7 pounds, and is factory set for the lightest pull. Checked this one and it was 33 ounces. Left it as is.

The bedding is not like anything I have seen before, but was solid enough that it would hold the metal in its grasp while upside down with the guard screws out. Not even going to try to figure out how one would improve on that. Plastic, lots of plastic everywhere, with no sign of anything having budged. Should have tried to flex and twist the stock while apart, however it never appeared to be 'bendy' at all while handling it. Will be sure to check that next time.

Gave the metal a quick wipe down with some light oil, put everything back together with the screws evenly torqued, and noticed the scope had slid about 1/8 of an inch in the rings. Well, that really didn't help either! Checked all the screws in the mounts, put a witness tape on the scope tube, now all ready to go.

Back to the bench, loaded 15 more rounds with the top load that averaged 3035 fps, and gave the best group. Next trip will shoot a mag full, 3 rounds, at 100, 200, and 300 meters. That will leave six rounds, and who knows what they might be used for? It is Spring after all....

Stay tuned,
Ted
 
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Seriously though, it might be interesting to see if stabilizing the forend improves those groups, and if you like I can send you a stock stabilizing kit I got from Nathan Foster. Stock stabilizing is supposed to be used in conjunction with glass bedding, but it would be interesting to see the effect of stabilizing the forend alone, then glass bedding later, if you decided to. The stabilizing compound will add a bit of weight to the rifle, that should be a benefit with a .300. I hate it when a rifle shows it wants to shoot, but refuses to keep 3 together, like that last group of yours; although tightening up that guard screw will make a difference.
 
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