Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Montana Rifle Company XWR-SS - Range Report

John, thanks for that info. That's good to hear.

I still think the stock is dang ugly, but undoubtedly it's one thing to look at it in a photo, and another to handle it.

The MRC rifle certainly has a heck of a lot going for it, and I agree with SAS, it really is the "new Model 70." I'll take something made in my own state with the best hunting trigger ever designed, over a Portuguese made non-model-70-model-70.

I've got a sneaking suspicion that the new MRC stock will look alot better in person. Their photography leaves much to be desired in terms of showing the true dimensions of the stock.

More I've thought about it, the more I think you could be right.

I've looked, and not seen on the website where they give any measurements on the stock. Pressed for time right now but will look again later...

later....

Since this has become a bit of a reference thread, adding some load data from some limited testing thus far for the 260 and 308 in case it helps someone down the road and answering a couple of questions.

Answering a question on the 260,

Weight 6 pounds, 14 ounces.

Muzzle diameter - 0.600" at the muzzle, on a 22" barrel.

Mine is 1:9" twist.

So far, in tinkering with Barnes bullets with the 260, the best loads have been:

100 gr. Barnes TTSX

44.7 H414 - avg 3065 @ 65F, again from a 22". The H414 would push it over 3100, but this was the best accuracy.
Lapua brass with F210M's.

H414 is the same as Win 760, and very similar to 4350, except it is a spherical powder, and easier to find. Also tried IMR 4831 and Varget for comparison. Did not have any I or H 4350 handy to try when testing.

120 Barnes TTSX

41.8 H4350 avg right at 2800 at 65F.

Lapua brass and F210M.

With the long mag box, reaching the lands is easy and still with mag box room left over. Both Barnes loads are 0.010" off of the lands, i.e. 0.010" of jump.

For the 308, this load works in every 308 I've ever tried it.

175 SMK
43.5 Varget
F210M
2.810" COAL
Black Hills fired brass (same as Win).

Runout on all loads for testing is equal to or less than 0.003" and usually 0.001" or less. The insides of the necks are polished with a copper brush chucked in a drill.

Did we ever find out if these will work in stocks made for a model 70?

They are not just"drop in". My CZ 3 built on an early MRC action was a little long and required some file work as did the bolt release. Not an impossible situation but requires some work.

Do the 1999s need to be fed from the magazine or will the extractor snap over the rim? Is the bottom metal steel or aluminum?

John

It will snap over and the bottom metal appears to be stainless steel.

Got MRC 1899 XWR SS in last night. Haven't shot it yet, but first impressions are VERY favorable. Quality seems top notch - a huge step above the typical factory M700. I got the short action version, which when compared to a Remington SA, is more of a mid length action. The 3.125" magazine box is perfect for those that want to seat out the VLDs to the lands. For those that haven't wanted to put a 6mm Rem on a short action before, this action is the answer. Would also be perfect for the 284 case. If throated correctly, I suspect it would even be suitable for a 6.5-284 w/ VLDs. Mine has the B&C stock and I really like it. The comb is higher than any non adjustable I have dealt with. The forend is a little shorter than normal and I really like the look. It seems quite stiff. I am not able to easily squeeze the forend to touch the barrel.

I have handled and used CRF rifles, but have not owned one and really scrutinized it. Mine could still be made to double feed IF I seriously short stroked the action. The extractor doesn't pick up the rim until the round completely pops up out of the magazine, which is about 1/2 way through the bolt travel. Still though, it DOES get control of the round well before you close the bolt handle, which I can't see being a bad thing. Ejection is horizontal which means no cases bumping windage turrets. The same can't be said about some of the other custom actions out there. With only moderate rearward bolt speed manipulation, it really flings the cartridges out there. As adjusted from the factory, the trigger has a little creep, but is so smooth as to be nearly non-detectable. I didn't put a scale on it but it is very useable as adjusted from the factory. The magazine will actually hold 5 down. The belly seems relatively trim so I don't know how it does it, but it does.

Even, having not shot it yet, I am certain this will not be my last MRC. I like the action so much that even should it not shoot well (and based on its overall apparent quality, I don't expect that to be the case), I will just have it rebarreled. Range report to follow, but it will be about 10 days or so before I have the opportunity to shoot it.

John

I called them and it is indeed, stainless.

John

tag

What is the trigger pull weight from MRC? I know they can be adjusted just curious what weight they are coming from MRC.

The reviews I've read have the trigger between 3 and 3.5lb..

I've got a XWR-SS in 308 on the way, can't wait. I'm hoping to chuck my Bushnell 2.5-10x50 on top in some Leupold PRW rings - anyone running the Leupold rings and able to suggest the height? or able measure from the bell to the barrel, and bell diameter on their XWR?

The pics showing the difference between the new & old stock seem to have gone - any easy way to separate by finish, or just profile?