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Joined: May 2005
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OP
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They have a very interesting caliber line up, an old style M70 trigger and seem to be well made - does anyone have one and if so what are your impressionns? http://montanarifleco.com/?page_id=180
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,943
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2008
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I bought one of their actions from my gunsmith but sold it before I could build on it. I really liked what I saw in it though. And lots of guys here have built on them before they were offered as a rifle packages.
The biggest reason I don't think they are more popular? I have never seen one in a gun store. Never seen one on a rack anywhere.
As a special order only proposition, that leaves a pretty small market...primarily only the true loonies and enthusiast buying them. Not sure if that is the same down under though.
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 46,965
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 46,965 |
I have a Serengeti in 6.5x284 that used a Montana Rifle Co barreled action. I bought it used on here and the thing never shot consistentely. Last year I re-barreled it with a Bartlein and it's shooting quite well now. It's a bit heavy, but I like it. It does have a good trigger.
We may know the time Ben Carson lied, but does anyone know the time Hillary Clinton told the truth?
Immersing oneself in progressive lieberalism is no different than bathing in the sewage of Hell.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 28,388 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 28,388 Likes: 1 |
That's probably why - you just don't see them. I saw one wood stocked ASR in the Cabela's gun library but that and the X2 I ordered through the Whittaker's group buy are the only two I've even seen.
Pros:
- Nice ergonomics to the stock. It's a bit thick in the middle with a smaller pistol grip, but I suspect they did that so one stock can be used for light kicking rifles up through the boomers. The pg is nicely shaped, semi-open but positions the hand well to the trigger.
- Well finished. Inletting and glass bedding are well done.
- Great hunting trigger. I turned a couple of the lock nuts out to lighten the pull and it is now a consistent 2 3/4 lb pull but will not let off even from bouncing the butt on the floor fairly hard.
- Nicely accurate, definitely sub-MOA with several loads.
Cons:
- Heavy. Mine is a .243 and weighs 8 lbs 2 oz with a Leupold VX-II 3-9x40 in talley lighweight mounts.
- Mine doesn't feed every nose shape. In fact it balks at feeding anything but sharp plastic tipped bullets, it jams everything else - HP or soft nose - into the collar instead of feeding it into the chamber. Not all the time but at least one out of each magazine, and then only if the rifle is held level. Point the barrel up and it jams those rounds at least 2 or 3 out of every 5. I replaced the factory follower with one from a Remington M700 short action and that helps a lot but still hasn't made it 100%.
I would imagine there is something a tad bit off on the feed rails of my individual rifle since no one else seems to have this problem, but haven't had to nerve to start whittling on them to find out. I could send it to a good gunsmith to look it over and maybe fix it but already paid well over $1,100 for it plus the cost of sending it back to the factory twice (they didn't fix it after two trips back) and really don't want to invest another $100+ in it, so just live with it and restrict its diet to plastic tipped bullets.
Gunnery, gunnery, gunnery.
Hit the target, all else is twaddle!
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,513 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2005
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$1300 for the cheap models might have something to do with it.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever."
-S. M. Stirling
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 5,474
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2012
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I paid $1200 for my X2 in 7mm08 and that included the factory chopping the barrel fron 24 to 22.
For me pros are that they will do some custom work to the rifle at the factory. Mine feeds great but i am not running anything kinky through it just factory loads. Mine is shooting as tight as I can shoot. Mine seems well put together . I doubt I can tear it up.
Cons are its just bit heavier than I would like but maybe half lb.
The safety was hard to operate and noisy at first but it smoothed out after cleaning , lubing and some use. They tell me they could fix it if i sent it back. I figured I would shoot it a season and see if it needed anything else.
It doesnt.
If I had to over again I would have had the barrel fluted. I may send it back for the fluting and have them address the safety then.
Life can be rough on us dreamers.
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Joined: Aug 2012
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Campfire Tracker
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Joined: Aug 2012
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Doesnt effect me but one pro is they carry virtually every caliber in lefty.
Last edited by Boarmaster123; 08/04/16.
Life can be rough on us dreamers.
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,336
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,336 |
I have one in 300 Win Mag and love it. The X2 stock is great also. Fit and finish is well done too. Feeding and ejection has been perfect without any hiccup at all. Accuracy is super also with everything I have tried except one.
Doing it over again I would go with the 30-06 instead of the 300 Win Mag but that is just me.
While you will see very few of this product at your local gun store, any FFL dealer can order a rifle for you. They do not have to be a master dealer or anything like that.
Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times.
Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 28,388 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 28,388 Likes: 1 |
Doesnt effect me but one pro is they carry virtually every caliber in lefty. Being left handed that is a big pro for me. No one else offers such a huge list of chamberings in southpaw rifles. Tikka comes close and they are great rifles but just not the same, if y'all know what I mean and I think you do. Despite the kink in my one and only sample, I haven't lost faith in them and am still thinking hard about getting a wood stocked ASR in something I've never played with like a .257 Roberts.
Gunnery, gunnery, gunnery.
Hit the target, all else is twaddle!
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 5,474
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2012
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A buddy of mine just got in a mrc with wood and stainless 2506. That is one nice looking rifle.
Life can be rough on us dreamers.
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,638
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
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I've handled a few. They are a bit clunky. For that price, they shouldn't be.
I probably hit more elk with a pickup than you have with a rifle. I have yet to see anyone claim Leupold has never had to fix an optic. I know I have sent a few back. 2 MK 6s, a VX-6, and 3 VX-111s.
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 711
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2005
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I have seen a couple here downder - gunshops here struggled to move them and are trying to run them out on special - and I suspect the negative was the weight factor.
Montana obviously make a bigger action than Winchester to take the 378 Wby and 416 Rigby - thats pretty interesting.
Thanks for the info Gents!
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,335
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2004
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I have one 1999 Montana Stainless in a McMillan stock, Shilen SM barrel chambered for 257 WSM I've shot it maybe 25 times with 100 grain MK's into pretty much one hole. I'm really a 30 cal guy. I do like the action, I guess that's why I still have it.
I've been so overwhelmed with fake news that I'm now nuts. Let's go Brandon
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,812 Likes: 4
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2013
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I like what I see online, but I'm not sure they're worth the price. For $1300, you can get a pretty nice Mauser, Sako, M70, Kimber....
Or maybe two Rugers.
What fresh Hell is this?
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,631
Campfire Regular
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Joined: Jun 2005
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I remember when they first came out, they where "gun smith ready", meaning often very rough. Some people did not seem to read that, and gunsmiths did not smooth them up. Making for a rough action. Some would spend a few hours cleaning and polishing them, to get them up to Winchester standards. Some had pittings, due to beeing investment cast.. or bubbles in metal? I belive this where a common complaint the first year or so.. I lost intrest in them, when I could find superbly made Mauser actions, at a cheaper price. I am however right handed. You lefties are often left to your own.. 
The US in the last 40 years:
Socialism for big corporations and military industrial complex
&
Rugged individualism for the individual.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,146
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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There's one in the spendy case at the LGS. Been thinking about checking it out. Looks pretty good through the glass though.
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 4,847
Campfire Tracker
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I have an ASR in 7x57 and think it's a great rifle. The only drawback is, as folks have mentioned, it's pretty heavy. But I contributed to that by putting a Leupold VXR 3-9 on top. I'm seriously thinking about switching it out for a new VX-3i in 1.75-6 with either a post and duplex or German 4 reticle. That scope, with its smaller size, will contribute a lot to the rifle's handiness. I would also rather have a 22 inch barrel but, as mentioned, the factory can certainly take care of that. Mine feeds without a hiccup and the bolt is almost as slick as the old Ingwe Special that's sitting in my safe. Almost, but not quite. I haven't had any issues with the safety, but maybe that was luck of the draw.
Although I can't speaking highly enough of it, I don't use it much as I have a BACO (SC) Featherweight that has all my attention at present...although if MRC would configure it as a Featherweight option I'd be all over one in a heartbeat, especially in stainless.
Oh, by the way, another pro: the short action is actually an intermediate action (the box is a tad over 3 inches), so you can seat bullets long if needed.
Just my $.02
RM
"An archer sees how far he can be from a target and still hit it, a bowhunter sees how close he can get before he shoots." It is certainly easy to use that same line of thinking with firearms. -- Unknown
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 12,153 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 12,153 Likes: 3 |
I have two. Both ordered thru SAS at Whitaker's. For me...
Pro's:
1) As a Southpaw, first and foremost, as mentioned above, they offer everything except their special runs in Left Hand, for the same price as Right Hand. This includes a wide variety of chamberings, not just .243, .270, .30-06, 7RM...
2) Not cheap, however, can purchase a complete Left Hand SS MRC CRF rifle for same or less money than a true LH SS Win M70 donor.
3) New X2 synthetic stock has very good ergos for me. Thinner more open grip, and forward gripping portion of forearm is thin as well.
4) 3.125" mag box on their short actions. EG: You can build a 6.5x55 on a short action and not limit COAL. Also good for .243's and .260's with the long knitting needle bullets.
Con's:
4) Weight. Not where you want to start if you're looking for a 6 lb mountain rifle. For me, not an issue. I have other "light" rifles. An 8lb .243 or 6.5x55 is fine by me for the areas I will hunt with them.
5) I have a "seed of concern" regarding MRC Customer Service based on Jim_In_Idaho's situation above. I have a Left Hand .243 out of the same group buy as his rifle (5 LH rifles total). After reading his issue, I loaded up 15 dummy cartridges for my rifle: 5 with 95gr Nosler Partitions, 5 with 100gr Hornady RN's, and 5 with pointy Berger 105gr VLD bullets. All dummy rounds were loaded to COAL with bullets touching the lands in my rifle.
I cycled all 5 bullets of all 3 bullet types thru my rifle: Muzzle horizontal, muzzle vertical up, muzzle vertical down, and entire rifle upside down horizontal. Multiple times, without issue.
Bottom line, totally satisfied with both of my MRC rifles. And would not hesitate to buy another. Having said that, if I had been the recipient of the rifle that Jim_In_Idaho drew, and not received total satisfaction after TWO return trips to the manufacturer, I would definitely not be as upbeat about MRC rifles as I currently am. So, satisfied with my specimens, but still keen to hear what type of CS experience others have with MRC.
Last edited by Orion2000; 08/05/16.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 28,388 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 28,388 Likes: 1 |
I have two. Both ordered thru SAS at Whitaker's. For me...
Pro's:
1) As a Southpaw, first and foremost, as mentioned above, they offer everything except their special runs in Left Hand, for the same price as Right Hand. This includes a wide variety of chamberings, not just .243, .270, .30-06, 7RM...
2) Not cheap, however, can purchase a complete Left Hand SS MRC CRF rifle for same or less money than a true LH SS Win M70 donor.
3) New X2 synthetic stock has very good ergos for me. Thinner more open grip, and forward gripping portion of forearm is thin as well.
4) 3.125" mag box on their short actions. EG: You can build a 6.5x55 on a short action and not limit COAL. Also good for .243's and .260's with the long knitting needle bullets.
Con's:
4) Weight. Not where you want to start if you're looking for a 6 lb mountain rifle. For me, not an issue. I have other "light" rifles. An 8lb .243 or 6.5x55 is fine by me for the areas I will hunt with them.
5) I have a "seed of concern" regarding MRC Customer Service based on Jim_In_Idaho's situation above. I have a Left Hand .243 out of the same group buy as his rifle (5 LH rifles total). After reading his issue, I loaded up 15 dummy cartridges for my rifle: 5 with 95gr Nosler Partitions, 5 with 100gr Hornady RN's, and 5 with pointy Berger 105gr VLD bullets. All dummy rounds were loaded to COAL with bullets touching the lands in my rifle.
I cycled all 5 bullets of all 3 bullet types thru my rifle: Muzzle horizontal, muzzle vertical up, muzzle vertical down, and entire rifle upside down horizontal. Multiple times, without issue.
Bottom line, totally satisfied with both of my MRC rifles. And would not hesitate to buy another. Having said that, if I had been the recipient of the rifle that Jim_In_Idaho drew, and not received total satisfaction after TWO return trips to the manufacturer, I would definitely not be as upbeat about MRC rifles as I currently am. So, satisfied with my specimens, but still keen to hear what type of CS experience others have with MRC.
Wanna trade? I'll throw in $50 boot...  Seriously, I'm glad yours is okay and still believe mine is that one in 100,000 or more that just happens. Or perhaps there is some karmic debt I owe for transgressions in a past life and am paying it in rifles, since I've also had two Model 700 bolt handles fall off.  On the customer service, it would have been nice had they gone the extra mile but I can't really blame them for not. Their gunsmith said that factory ammo cycled perfectly and that it was my handloads that did not meet SAAMI specs - I had sent them a sample of dummy rounds to try. COAL was under SAAMI max and they had actually been seated to the COAL listed for each bullet in the Hornady manual, they weren't seated out long to hit the lands. I measured my resized cases vs. factory new and all case dimensions were identical down to the thousandth except the diameter at shoulder was .003" larger on my resized cases. I had a hard time believing that .003" made that much difference, or if it did, then were the feed rails .003" wider the bullet noses still would be a gnat hair away from hitting the collar. In contrast both of my LH Model 70's feed rounds straight into the chamber and will even feed empty cases as long as you don't work the action at panic speed. They said they weren't going to "customize" the action to make them feed my handloads since it opened them up to liability issues, so I can their point of view but it sure would have been a great story to laud them if they had. Anyway, I just feed it Hornady V-MAX and A-MAX bullets and those work fine.
Gunnery, gunnery, gunnery.
Hit the target, all else is twaddle!
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Joined: May 2004
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Just for the record the original 1999 Montana action castings were from Pinetree casting. They are the people that cast all Ruger actions so they are not new comers to the game. Oh guess what, Pinetree is owned by Ruger, thats the business Bill Ruger was in before SR became a pistol manufacturer. Pinetree's quality control is second to NONE.
I've been so overwhelmed with fake news that I'm now nuts. Let's go Brandon
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