Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles MRC group buy #2, first impressions and disappointments!

I picked up my rifle yesterday from the LGS, and to be honest I'm on the fence about it. I ordered some Talley mounts that didn't make it into the box, but Eric admitted the mistake and refunded the money at my request. However, he did offer to overnight them to me at no expense which was a very nice gesture.

I had dropped of a Leupold VXII 3-9X40 to be mounted in the Talley's but when they weren't in the box he to the liberty of using some aluminum Weaver bases and Quad Lock rings. It's no big deal and the mounts and rings will work for now as if this rifle shoots really well, I'll be switching out the scope for a more long range option. However if it doesn't shoot as I hope, it'll probably get reworked.

First thing I noticed about the rifle is way heavier than advertised. MRC list the X2 Extreme as 6lbs 14oz. I figured I was going to add close to another pound with the Talley's and the Leupold, making the rifle a hair under 8 lbs. Well that isn't the case the rifle came in a hair under 8.5lbs, big difference from what I was expecting.

Sorry for crappy scale picture:



I know the MRC actions are supposed to be heavy as just reading around the web you hear that. I do think MRC could lighten up these rifles a bit by changing the barrel profile especially the shank. The shank on my rifle is a good 1.75" before the barrel begins to taper. However the balance is good on the rifle as it seems to balance right at the front action screw.





Fit and finish seem to really good on my rifle, the trigger guard is flush with the stock line as well as the tang and ejection port. The cutout for the bolt handle could have used a little more attention as it's a little over sized. It doesn't feel as sevelt in my hands as my McMillan Hunter or M70 FWT stocks, but the stock does feel nice. The forearm is a little thicker than the McMillan's but the wrist, flutes and pistol grip has an excellent feel to them in my hand.

The barrel is free floated and centered in the forearm, though I'd maybe like a little more float on the barrel. It's a snug fit for an 8.5X11 sheet of printer paper to fit down the forearm. The float ends right at the shank as that is where the bedding material ends as well.





The stainless steel has a nice even matte finish all over though I haven't popped the action from the stock yet. The bolt handle feels a little small but it's still easy to manipulate. There is a ton of shipping grease in the action and on the bolt so until I can take some time to degrease everything, I can't really tell you how the bolt feels. I can tell you however, the safety works within an acceptable decibel range for those worried it might be too loud to use while hunting.

Hopefully I can get my 12 year old to drive me to the range on Friday after basketball practice, since it's hard to drive my pickup with my broken leg. She's getting pretty good at driving a stick and taking the backroads to avoid the law. It's a little father daughter bonding time we both enjoy.

If the rifle shoots well then I guess I'll figure out if I can put it on a diet affordably or not. I really want this rifle to perform well as I had planned to build an 8 twist .243 that would finish at sub 8 lbs all up, but jumped on this group buy as it saved me a minimum of $500 right off the bat. Needless to say I'm a little bummed about the thought of a 9lbs all up .243 Win.

9lbs is a deal breaker for me. That is disappointing. If I could get one and take enough weight off of the barrel, and bottom metal to get to 7.5 lbs scoped I'd give them another look.

I knew the Montan action is heavy like Ruger's because it's a forged action with a little more metal to it. However, the first group buy of the .260 Rem's the naked rifle was 7lbs. I figured I'd go 8.5 all up which wasn't bad since I'm sharing this rifle with my 12 year old for 11 more days daughter. I wanted something that was within reason for her to carry and shoot without getting bad habits on mule deer hunts. I just wanted the fast twist to play with shooting at longish ranges.

I don't want to sound like I'm upset with Whittaker's in any way. Eric and Darrik have been nothing but professional and super easy to deal with through the whole process. I'll gladly send them my business any day and recommend them to anyone looking for a firearm. I just feel like this problem rest solely on MRC's shoulders since they exaggerated the weight by such a large amount. I've contacted MRC to see what they have to say about it and I'll keep everyone informed.

The 8.5lb weight includes your scope and rings right? How much did the rifle weigh naked?

Order and Edge stock and PTG aluminum bottom metal (or go blind mag on the stock but you'll have to grind the current mag box). Sell the current stock and bottom metal (which is very nice, just heavy) to get some of the extra cost back.

Not what you wanted going in to this, but it will achieve your end goal.

7lbs 9.5oz with aluminum Weaver two piece bases. Scope weighs and even 14oz with Weaver Quad Lock rings.

That is a long shank for a lightweight rifle, but the advantage is that the barrel can be set back when the throat is gone around 1300 rounds and you will enjoy 2x barrel life...that's not a bad deal overall. If the bbl is at 24" I'd trim that too and AI the sucker!

I've used those Weaver 4x4 rings, and they're functional, but personally, I'd want a different scope.

Or sell it and buy a Kimber Montana and be money ahead.

Or build on a Winchester Featherweight, and have it just right!

Even if I had bought a Montucky I'd be swapping barrels, as I wanted a 1:8 twist. The MRC's judicious magazine was a plus as well. I just wasn't expecting it to be as heavy as it is turning out to be.

Rifle & Scope 8lbs 7.5oz


Rifle and Bases 7lbs 9.5oz


Scope and Rings 14oz


I emailed MRC about the difference between actual and advertised weight and the VP of Sales and Marketing basically told me to pound sand in a polite manner.

First time I've been on here today and just saw this....

Ship it back before you shoot it and I'll refund your money in full? That's not standard practice and I wouldn't sell it as a new gun, but I could sell it as used -- unfired. We'd take a hit, but that's life.

I've not taken any of these out of the box for inspection, but that's heavier than any I've owned.

If you're not happy now, you never will be.

This is absolute top shelf CS.

That's customer service!!! Well done!!!

Unfortunately It's RARE that a rifle weighs what the mfr states...... Very rare

Darrik, thank you very much. If you have my phone number on file would you please call me tomorrow, and we can discuss this. This is not your fault in anyway, and I'm really disappointed in MRC and their reply.

Offering to take care of a problem that is not your fault is going way above and beyond normal customer service. Very commendable on your part SAS.

Kimber don't lie...

Ouch, my old pre 64 338 win mag only weighs 7 pounds. I feel you pain brother... Who wants a 9 pound (all up) .243??? Not me..

Wow!!!

That Dud needs someone to teach him how to respond to disappointed customers....

Or just someone to kick the pomp out of his ass.

Jeff could take a lesson or three from you...