Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Montana Rifle Company X3

Good report, sounds like you got a keeper......Hb

Was looking at the lefty x3 in 280AI. Think that could just be a darling of a rifle.

I would LOVE IT if MRC offered featherweight barrels. But, not holding my breath. I tried to special order an MRC rifle with a FWT barrel two years ago. MRC refused. I am thinking that they are trying to limit the number of parts and SKU's, Hence, even if they turn their own FWT barrel, all of the stocks are probably pre-inlet for their #2 sporter weight barrels. If they are in a sold out position, just building their standard SKU's, I can understand.



I paid more than $100 to have the barrel on a custom X2 factory fluted. Unfortunately, MRC fluting is more of the cosmetic variety. Not that deep. Minimal weight savings.

To be clear, as a Left Hander, I really like MRC rifles and actions. I have a raw action on the shelf for a future build. Waiting for an opportunity to handle a Left Hand X3.

I have an X3 sitting at my FFL, picking it up this AM. I'll likely do a separate post. I had the guy weigh it - 6lbs 0.6oz bare rifle.

What are you guys paying for these X3? I had an X2 that I wanted to love but I had all sorts of extraction, feeding, safety issues that they took months to fix. The x3 has me interested again but still skeptical after my past experience with MRC.

Short action model maybe? Is that 6lb's and 6oz's or 6lbs and less than an ounce at 0.6oz?......Hb

So ????

Picked it up this PM. It is a LA - 30-06 to be exact. I noticed in the picture, after re-examining it, that the 6lb 0.6oz weight was w/o the bolt. Neither the guy taking the pic or me caught that. The rifle in 30-06 weighs 6lbs 15oz. Not as light as I wanted but after boring it to 338-06, cutting 2" off the barrel, using Talley LW mounts, and either Burris E1 or Leup VX3, it should weigh 7lbs 11-12oz. About exactly what I want my 338-06 to weigh. I was concerned when he sent me the 6lb 1 oz picture that I couldn't get it beyond 7.5 lbs even with a lunker scope.

I took it apart. Nicely built rifle action is tight, bedding looks good, bottom metal is flush and snug. It has the old style Winchester M70 trigger which I really like. My only nit to pick is the gap around the barrel channel. It is probably 1/16 or 3/32. It certainly won't hit or rub. I'll likely add some bedding compound for aesthetics. I'll dream up some loads, 180 Sierra and H4350, and give it a whirl. I've heard the later versions of the MRC shoot well. So far I'm pleased but will be ecstatic if it shoots well and comes in at 7lbs 10-12 oz.

If you have a chance, would appreciate if you could weigh the stock and the barreled action separately. Reason for asking for my LA 6.5x55 and SA .243, both stocks weigh in the 31 to 32 ounce range. Seems that someone mentioned that the weight loss for the X3's was in the stock. That seems like a whole lot of weight to take out of a stock without going to carbon fiber. Just curious where the weight reductions occurred. Much appreciated.

Bwinters, thanks for the excellent info, I am having a hard time deciding between a MRC X3 or a Win 70 Extreme Weather.....Still dont know which I might pick, Weight would have been a deciding factor but it looks like the MRC X3 is really no lighter than a Mod 70 Extreme Weather, I think either one should be excellent rifles.....Hb

24" barrels on short actions just doesn't make sense to me.

I agree, and to My eye's it just dont look right either......Hb

Additional weight loss is also because the X3 has aluminum bottom metal. Stock and bottom metal. Everything else is the same as an X2.

The weight savings are from the stock and aluminum bottom metal. I weighed the stock already - 25.9 oz. Doing the math, the action with aluminum bottom metal is 85.7 oz. Given the 6lb 1 oz weight first reported, I asked him to send me the steel bottom metal. He sent the aluminum bottom metal yesterday. The steel bottom metal with follower and spring weighs 7.8 oz. The rifle is a solid build. Using the M70 action is where the weight 'penalty' comes from - it isn't as svelte as the M700 or clones.

VA - I have both. The new X3 is going to weigh almost exactly what the M70 EW weighs. Barrel contours look very similar and the action looks identical except the bolt release. Of the two, I'm leaning MRC because of the simple old-style M70 trigger and the stock on the X3. The X3 stock is superior to the B&C on the EW. The EW stock is more clunky, the MRC is slimmer through the wrist and forend. I measured the stock dimensions yesterday - it drops ~ 5/8" at the heel, ~ 1/2" at the comb. The LOP is 13 5/8". Overall, it feels like the stock was built for me - those are the exact dimensions I want in a stock. I put a set of Tally LW Low on it and may go Extra Low. As much as I really don't want to, I'll likely put a Leup VX3 with B&C reticle on it to keep the weight where I want it. The "B" measurement is like a LA M70 and measures 5.5". I'll need to flip the Talleys around to minimize the "B" measurement if I use a 2.5-8x36, the 3.5-10 fits fine. I'm leaning 3.5-10. I really, really like the VX3 3.5-10x40 with B&C reticle. I'm hoping to use it as a set/forget scope.

As an FYI, I bought an X2 "Transition" rifle from JD Outfitters. They are marked "X2" but have the light stock and aluminum bottom metal. He's got 2-3 more 30-06, and a 25-06 in the X2 Transition. They are a bit cheaper but more importantly are available now. 2-3-4 month wait for a real X3.

Jerry at JD has been very good to deal with. I highly recommend him. 405-822-1564. Tell him I said to call.

bwinters, Thank you for the time and effort to respond. Very helpful !

No problem. If you want more or pics, let me know.

For anyone considering an X3, be sure you're cool with the barrel channel gap. I personally think it looks like crap but I'll fix it later. It's purely cosmetic.

B, thanks for the excellent info. There are things I like individually about both rifles, I like stock feel of the X3 by far with its slim wrist but I dont like its skinny triggershoe so the Mod 70 MOA trigger gets the nod from Me, I also like the fluted barrel on the Mod 70, the bolt release on either rifle is fine with me....The stock feel is most important and I can fit the X3 with a Timney (not sure about the width of the Timney trigger shoe though) so I guess Im leaning more toward the X3 in .300 Win, though @ 6lbs and 15ozs I wish it was a 1/2 lb lighter.... .I noticed JB has X3's in .300 Win listed on GB for a little over $1,300.00.....Hb

Agree on skinny trigger show in X3. JB is supposedly their biggest retailer. He's a good guy to deal with.