Clay at Prophet River advertised a Benelli MR1 in the EE last week. I called him up and we talked a little about it. He's a great guy to deal with and told me right off the bat that he didn't know a lot about them. I read everthing that I could about them in the forums here and elsewhere and i just wasn't sure. I called him back and told him I didn't think it was for me. Questionable accuracy, pencil barrel, ergonomics issues. I was down that road with the Mini-14 years ago and shot patterns instead of groups. Then I kicked it around all weekend and decided the only way to know for sure was to drive the hour and actually see/hold onto it. Needless to say, it wound up coming home with me.
A good cleaning, remove the rear sight, a set of Burris tactical rings, and a Bushnell 6-24 X 40 and I was ready to try it out.
Many of the things that I read were true. The ergonomics are different, but I found them comfortable. The thin barrel did throw the rounds around when it got warm. And it threw my brass around, some to the side and some to the rear. (this is something I'll have to look into) But I have to say that after some of the bad press this rifle has received, I was pleasantly surprised.
Let me set the scene a little. It wasn't a great day to site in a rifle. Somewhere around -23C, a crosswind at about 10 km/h, a wind-chill that made your fingers go numb(even with gloves on) and snow drifted deep enough at the shooting bench that I was somewhere between kneeling and laying in it. But I just had to try it out! All I had for ammo was some American Eagle 55 gr. FMJ, no handloads in sight. This was my best group of the day, although I had a couple more that were close. I know that I'm going to have to do a lot more work with this gun when it gets warmer, and see what it's really capable of, but like I say, so far I'm really impressed. It isn't an H&K, or a Swiss Arms. It isn't a RA XCR. But it is mine and I think that I like this little rifle - Thanks Clay
5 round group at 100 yds using AE 55gr. FMJ Sorry about the picture but it's the first time I've tried to post one.
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A good cleaning, remove the rear sight, a set of Burris tactical rings, and a Bushnell 6-24 X 40 and I was ready to try it out.
Many of the things that I read were true. The ergonomics are different, but I found them comfortable. The thin barrel did throw the rounds around when it got warm. And it threw my brass around, some to the side and some to the rear. (this is something I'll have to look into) But I have to say that after some of the bad press this rifle has received, I was pleasantly surprised.
Let me set the scene a little. It wasn't a great day to site in a rifle. Somewhere around -23C, a crosswind at about 10 km/h, a wind-chill that made your fingers go numb(even with gloves on) and snow drifted deep enough at the shooting bench that I was somewhere between kneeling and laying in it. But I just had to try it out! All I had for ammo was some American Eagle 55 gr. FMJ, no handloads in sight. This was my best group of the day, although I had a couple more that were close. I know that I'm going to have to do a lot more work with this gun when it gets warmer, and see what it's really capable of, but like I say, so far I'm really impressed. It isn't an H&K, or a Swiss Arms. It isn't a RA XCR. But it is mine and I think that I like this little rifle - Thanks Clay
5 round group at 100 yds using AE 55gr. FMJ Sorry about the picture but it's the first time I've tried to post one.
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