My rifle is a bit of an odd man out at the range when it comes to 5.56mm bolt action rifle. I own a long serving Mossberg MVP. It was purchased used at a fair price and continues to provide good service. The MVP fits well in the budget category. It isn’t a cheap gun but an affordable rifle. The MVP line is similar to the AR in some ways with a solid optics mounting section AR magazine compatibility and flash hider. But then the 7.62 version is similar to the fabled Lee Enfield Jungle Carbine. The MVP has some tactical utility but it is also a good hunting rifle. I was fortunate to find the MVP in the LR or long range version. The stock alone is worth the upgrade. The LR isn’t currently in production. The Mossberg Patriot Tactical LR version is comparable filling the same niche. The Patriot rifles, however, are not available in 5.56mm/.223. That is a shame because in many ways I find the 5.56mm rifle more fitting for my needs. If the rifle is only a projectile launcher mine is as good as any. It allows the author to test optics and ammunition in a solid platform.
The MVP is available in a number of effective reliable combinations
It would be expensive to add a stock comparable to the MVP LR to a standard rifle. The MVP LR rifle features an adjustable cheekpiece. This makes for easy adjustment whatever your choice of optics. There is a thin recoil plate completely adequate for the 5.56mm cartridge. (I know there is a difference between the .223 and 5.56mm loads- and I respect that. That is another subject.) The green textured stock isn’t cheap plastic but a harder composition. The semi vertical pistol grip offers a comfortable and secure grip while the for-end is flattened for braced use. The stock features sling swivels and a mount for a bipod. The barrel is free floated.
This is a well made and capable rifle
The action is a bolt action but without a blind magazine or short removable magazine. The MVP is modified to use AR 15 magazines. This makes for great utility and interchangeability. You may use the same magazines as your AR or in non free states set up a decent tactical defense rifle with good capacity- five and ten round magazines are easily obtained. The safety is a simple two position that does not lock the bolt. This allows loading and unloading the rifle with the safety applied. The bolt release is on the left hand side. This is a push feed type action. The action is as smooth as any in the price range. A rule with magazine fed bolt guns is that they are not usually as smooth as blind magazine fed rifles. The Mossberg has a tab on the bolt tap for feeding from the AR 15 magazine. As early as World War One bolt action rifles were modified to feed from extended magazines, it isn’t a new science. But a rifle of this type will never be as smooth feeding as a rifle using a blind magazine. The bolt handle is well designed with some grooving and offers good leverage. I have used five, ten, twenty and thirty round magazines, both aluminum and polymer, with good reliability. The magazine catch is forward of the magazine. It is secure but will not win a speed contest.
The 7.62 NATO version has much appeal to many shooters.
The barrel is twenty inches long. It is fluted a nice touch on a rifle listing for somewhat less than one thousand dollars, I have used sixteen and eighteen inch barrels in this caliber most often. The twenty inch barrel adds velocity and makes for greater downrange energy. I was surprised to see that Federal’s 62 grain Green Tip clocked a solid 3307 fps in the MVP while the same load broke 3090 fps in an AR 15 with 16.5 inch barrel. While the gain varies it is easy to see that a handload using slow burning powder may achieve significant velocity increase with the 20 inch barrel. As an example I used the Nosler 64 grain bullet and a heavy charge of 4895 to break just over 3000 fps. That is a good load and incidentally a tackdriver in practical off hand shooting. For shots inside of 100 yards the advantage may be slim but it is demonstrable. The finish is a dull black type from the barrel thread protector to the threaded bolt.
Optics
I cannot recall when I have not trusted Burris optics. In this case the MVP was paired with a Burris Fullfield 2.5 x 10 x 42mm optic. This magnification allows keeping the scope set for a modest magnification at close range for defense use or for fast moving predators inside of 100 yards. Crank it up to full magnification and it isn’t difficult to make cranio ocular hits to at least 100 yards. The eight inch kill zone of a deer sized animal isn’t a difficult target at all. With this rifle I found that there are more accurate rifles while the MVP is more than accurate enough for my needs. Lock into an offhand firing position and you keep a great deal of the precision found in firing from the benchrest.
The Burris optic offered flawless performance.
Firing Tests
Most of the ammunition fired in this test has been Federal 55 grain FMJ American Eagle. A clean burning accurate and affordable loading the American Eagle load is a good resource for meaningful practice. The rifle is smooth enough if you work the bolt aggressively. Don’t baby the action but work the bolt with sufficient force and the action is smooth enough for rapid follow up shots. The advantage of this rifle is in offhand fire. The stock nestles firmly into the shoulder. The wide forend allows a good grasp on the stock. The rifle is stable and offers excellent speed to an accurate first shot. It is among the most comfortable rifles I have fired in engaging targets from 50 to 100 yards. Hit probability is high.
Federal’s 62 grain Fusion load is an accurate game load.
Absolute accuracy
Firing for groups was enjoyable. The bolt action rifle allows feeding cartridges one at a time into the chamber for accuracy testing. I fired several three shot groups from a solid benchrest firing position using the Birchwood Casey firing rest. When firing from prone I used the Birchwood Casey shooting mat. These items added up to a good shooting experience. Firing at a long 100 yards results were good. This is a credible all around rifle with good features. The MVP is available in 7.62 NATO as a Scout rifle and the Patriot rifle in several configurations offers similar utility. This isn’t the most expensive rifle but it is a friendly rifle to fire and operate.
The author used various handloads with good results.
At 50 yards, a reasonable distance for many chores, the MVP/Federal American Eagle combination will cut a single ragged hole.
Three shot groups at 100 yards from a solid bench rest
Load Group size in in inches
40 grain Hornady V MAX 28. 5 grains CFE223 3211 fps
1.5 in.
55 grain Hornady V Max 27.5 grains CFE222 3050 fps
1.25 in.
Federal American Eagle 62 grain Green Tip 3307 fps
1.4 in.
Federal 62 grain Fusion 3133 fps
1.25 in.
This Burris/Mossberg combination is a good one!
All that is needed is to get this rifle into the field!
Specifications
Action Bolt Action
Magazine AR type, all compatible
Barrel Length 20 inches 1 in 10 twist
Weight 8 Pounds without scope
Overall Length 46 inches
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