MRA Renegade/Maverick... is the bolt removal a deal breaker for you?

CanuckShooter

CanuckShooter

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I was really excited when I stumbled across these rifles. They seemed to have everything I was looking for... simple mechanism, nice aesthetics, reliable function. I can't get past having to remove the castle nut and buffer tube to remove the bolt though. Not only is it annoying, but it makes staking the castle nut out of the question. Yeah they're manual straight pull, and the inside of the receiver is not going to foul like an AR. They will still need cleaning though, plus I like to keep the lube on my guns fresh.

It's a blatant design shortcut IMO, on a rifle that costs $1500-$1700 for a base model. I would drop the money on one of these if the bolt came out like an AR or at least in a way that made sense, but I'm yet to be desperate enough to pay a premium rifle price with such a major design corner being cut. Especially when it's standing on the shoulders of a platform that epitomized modularity and practicality.

I guess the tradition of the flawed, "rushed to market" Canadian-made tactical rifle continues. I actually am rooting for these companies. I'm glad there are people enjoying the rifles and I appreciate that they're trying to put products out for the increasingly restrictive Canadian market. Not trying to negate their efforts or dump on them, but I think honest constructive criticism instead of lowering of expectations is the only way we finally end up with a rifle that checks all the boxes. It's a bummer and feels like such a missed opportunity.

So what about you? Is this a deal breaker? The rifle seems to be stellar in every other way.
 
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I've been kicking around the idea of one of these as well; casually reading the odd article here and there, but never knew about this. Thanks for bringing this up; maybe not quite a deal-breaker but it sure doesn't sweeten the pot any.
 
CanuckShooter said:
I was really excited when I stumbled across these rifles. They seemed to have everything I was looking for... simple mechanism, nice aesthetics, reliable function. I can't get past having to remove the castle nut and buffer tube to remove the bolt though. Not only is it annoying, but it makes staking the castle nut out of the question. Yeah they're manual straight pull, and the inside of the receiver is not going to foul like an AR. They will still need cleaning though, plus I like to keep the lube on my guns fresh.

It's not just the design flaw itself, but the price you're paying for a gun with such a design flaw. I would drop the money on one of these if the bolt came out like an AR or at least in a way that made sense, but I can't bring myself to pay a premium rifle price with such major design corner being cut.

I guess the tradition of the flawed Canadian-made tactical style rifle continues. I actually am rooting for these companies. I'm glad there are people enjoying the rifles and I appreciate that they're trying to put products out for the increasingly restrictive Canadian market. Not trying to negate their efforts or dump on them, but I think honest constructive criticism instead of lowering of expectations is the only way we finally end up with a rifle that checks all the boxes. It's a bummer and feels like such a missed opportunity.

So what about you? Is this a deal breaker? The rifle seems to be stellar in every other way.
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it's probably the number one reason I still haven't bought a maverick receiver set
The only way I could see a design change that might make removal possible without removing the buffer tube and castlenut is to have the rear end of the buffer tube itself, threaded and capped with a removal cap that would allow the spring and bolt assembly to slide out the rear of the tube.
It could easily be done, but means that the manufacturer will have to make a proprietory buffer tube for these rifles.

victory ridge..... if you like my idea and run with it...... maybe flip me a maverick receiver set hehehe
 
I'm lazy. I own 2 MRA Renegades and 1 Maverick and I have never taken the bolt out of either. Bought used, and just use a pull-through for the barrel and oil & rag on everything I can reach. ~300 of rounds through my 7.62x39 and guessing close to 800 rounds through my 223 Wylde. Maverick only has 100 or so rounds so not sure if I've even put a pull-through down the barrel yet.

YMMV
 
It's annoying for the reasons you mentioned. And, like you mentioned, the rifle itself doesn't get as dirty as a DI/gas gun so it kind of balances out. It's takes less cleaning, but when you do want to give it a cleaning, there is more work. For me, not a deal breaker.
 
Between the bolt handle channels on each side of the upper, and the bottom of the bolt being open through the mag well, is that good enough to lube what needs to be lubed?

Much more important to me than removing the bolt for cleaning IMO. Although it would be nice after having it out in the cold and it ends up full of condensation.
 
Joel said:
Between the bolt handle channels on each side of the upper, and the bottom of the bolt being open through the mag well, is that good enough to lube what needs to be lubed?
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IME, yes. I doubt anyone is using their MRA for a 500+ round carbine operator's course so you're not seeing the carbon built up to foul the action.

Joel said:
Much more important to me than removing the bolt for cleaning IMO. Although it would be nice after having it out in the cold and it ends up full of condensation.
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I hear you there. I usually save the disassembly for after a hunting trip, and I minimize bringing in the rifle in from the cold during a trip. i.e once it is cold, keep it cold.
 
oppy said:
IME, yes. I doubt anyone is using their MRA for a 500+ round carbine operator's course so you're not seeing the carbon built up to foul the action.


I hear you there. I usually save the disassembly for after a hunting trip, and I minimize bringing in the rifle in from the cold during a trip. i.e once it is cold, keep it cold.
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Sounds like the way to go... the whole thing ends up full of water, inside and out.

I'd hope, although have no idea, after a high round count, the mechanism in an MRA is cleaner than a DI rifle maybe?
 
wasa said:
I'm lazy. I own 2 MRA Renegades and 1 Maverick and I have never taken the bolt out of either. Bought used, and just use a pull-through for the barrel and oil & rag on everything I can reach. ~300 of rounds through my 7.62x39 and guessing close to 800 rounds through my 223 Wylde. Maverick only has 100 or so rounds so not sure if I've even put a pull-through down the barrel yet.

YMMV
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Same, although I just have one Renegade. It's essentially a bolt action. I've had mine for 3 years now, and just pull back and clean the bolt face. I don't have the one with the bolt hold back, so cleaning the barrel can be a bit of a pain, but it adds a couple of more minutes to my routine. Not a deal breaker, and non existent with the new receivers that have the bolt catch on them, but I've never had to disassemble the bolt to take it out. There's no gas system, so it's fairly easy to know where the carbon builds up..
 
How often do you pull the bolt out of your pump shotguns and lever action rifles? There should be no gas coming back into the receiver at all. Just spray in some balistol from time to time and it only takes a couple minutes to remove the castle nut when need be.
 
mmattockx said:
I wouldn't say this is a result of rushing to market, more of a design decision. Still annoying and undesirable, though.
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A matter of opinion I guess. It looks that way to me though as the first gen didn't even have a bolt hold open. On a centrefire tactical type rifle with a spring loaded bolt you leave off a bolt hold open? That decision was the result of sound logic dictating that it's not an important feature or was it time constraints/ pressure to bring the product to market in a timely manner? It was added later on, so I lean toward the latter.

I'm not saying there's any sinister motivations here. I get it, it's probably a competitive business and first to market makes a big difference, but IMO it often results in a rushed product that sees improved models rolled out after the fact due to customer feedback and real world use.
 
Joel said:
Sounds like the way to go... the whole thing ends up full of water, inside and out.

I'd hope, although have no idea, after a high round count, the mechanism in an MRA is cleaner than a DI rifle maybe?
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Well, for certain definitions of high round count, the answer is : Correct - your MRA will be much cleaner than a DI rifle.

After trips to the range, I find that just wiping the bolt face will suffice. I'll still pull through the barrel daily when hunting and take the rifle apart afterwards to lube and such - that more out of concern over the condensation buildup than dirt.
 
Ungrateful said:
How often do you pull the bolt out of your pump shotguns and lever action rifles? There should be no gas coming back into the receiver at all. Just spray in some balistol from time to time and it only takes a couple minutes to remove the castle nut when need be.
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Thats a good point, but its a lot easier to clean and lube in/around the bolt and action of a lever gun than this.

As for the pump shotgun, if it was outside in cold weather or poor weather I would. Which kind of implies "more than a range/nice weather gun".

Depends on the use of the Maverick IMO
 
Ungrateful said:
How often do you pull the bolt out of your pump shotguns and lever action rifles?
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I don't like cleaning from the muzzle if it can be avoided. On an AR based rifle with an upper/lower receiver set up it shouldn't be hard at all to clean from the chamber end.

CanuckShooter said:
A matter of opinion I guess. It looks that way to me though as the first gen didn't even have a bolt hold open. On a centrefire tactical type rifle with a spring loaded bolt you leave off a bolt hold open?
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I agree on the bolt hold open. If it was a straight manual action then it's no big deal, but with a spring closed action then you need a way to lock the bolt open, plain and simple.


Mark
 
Personal decisions and opinions ... waste of doe to me <------

Carried a black gun + pistol for 40 yrs, couldn't give a rats butt in retirement ...

For 1K I'm set up with a really nice to me - K31 carbine straight bolt that I shoot out + up to 1K to 1500 and fun for me ✔ :0)
 
infidel29 said:
I'd rather just have a traditional bolt gun in MDT chassis with an 12" barrel....
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Similarly, I recently started a thread about wanting just a traditional bolt action AR upper that accepts all other AR parts (lowers, barrels, handguards, buffer tubes, grips, etc). Just for the modularity, endless selection of standardized parts, and ease of barrel change (no head spacing).

Just the ultimate minimalist rifle. No gunsmith needed. Every part serviceable by the user with simple tools. Like a duty pistol.
 
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