I have often pondered the idea of a general utility rifle, one that could put meat on the table, be reliable, serve double duty as a sniper rifle out to 600 meters, and cheap enough that I could stash one somewhere for "just in case" ever becomes a reality.
So what do I see in the "Gun's and Ammo" that my wife sent in a care package but the "Mossberg MVP" 223 Rem bolt action rifle, heavy profile barrel, laminate stock of the "tactical" variety, and takes STANAG magazines? Well it fits the bill. 223 is a marginal round for big game, but marginal is better than a 22 rimfire, and if worst comes to worst big game will get scarce very quickly. The 1:9 twist will handle the old 69 gr SMK's just fine, and possibly 75 grain bullets if velocity is sufficient.
The MVP is like a lot of other entry level rifles on the market right now, shamelessly copied the features that make Savage rifles so nice, a barrel nut and wannabe "accutrigger." In the 308 realm I have a Saiga and a Savage, both with 20 inch barrels, both with "Tactical" scopes, but in 223 I only have an AR-15 that I use for High Power. So having another 223 in the stable makes a bit of sense, especially if I could get my wife hooked on rifle shooting.....
One of these days I'll upgrade the Saiga 308 to an AR-10 style rifle, maybe after I win the lotto?
Anyways, I would love to see the MVP in 308 and accepting M14/M1A style magazines. That would be the bees knees for an entry level "do it all" rifle. Fluted heavy barrel, good factory trigger, decent stock. It would definitely be a winner.
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7 comments:
Ruger Scout rifle?
http://www.ruger.com/products/gunsiteScoutRifle/models.html
I've got a 303 Enfield that is nice for that purpose. The 303 will drop a fair size animal, has low recoil, and the rifle is small and light.
I like the idea of an MVP 308 that takes PMAGS! Simple, straight in & out of the action and they can be had for $19 - $25, depending on where you shop.
Savage has a version of the Ruger Scout rifle, the 10 FCM Scout in either .308 or 7.62x39.
I almost went for one, and still may, but I have a 1984-ish Remmy700 in .30-06. It needed a new stock, but that's much cheaper than a new rifle. We'll see how it works out.
My first rifle I bought for myself at a gun show last Spring was a Mossberg 243...love it! Hoping to get my first deer with it...it's definitely a good starter choice for a female.
+1 on both the Ruger and the Savage Scout Rifles.
Hard hitting, versatile, light weight, surprisingly accurate and great for fast snap shots.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scout_rifle
Your money man but I've never gotten bolt action .223 rifles. Anything they can do an AR can do for not that much more money and it can do other stuff also. If you go .223 I would save the extra C note or two and get a flat top AR instead.
For what you are thinking personally I would get a gently used .308 or 30.06 (available in the used rack at any gun shop worth anything) and put a decent scope on it. That could be done for 2/3rds the price of the MVP.
Also regardless consider a folding stock for discrete transportation.
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