Thinking of a new rifle and wanted input from members on how their new Montana Rifle Company Xtreme X3 rifles are shooting. How cloose to advertised weight are they coming out? I own a X2 and like it but its a little heavy. Thinking I'd jump on the bandwagon and get the 6,5 Creedmoor, being as they don't offer the 6.5X55 anymore.I'm not a long range hunter, seems like a practical little cartridge.

The only rifle MRC has offered in the past couple years that interested me was the XAR. A little under 6 lbs and available Left Hand. The XAR was just introduced at the SHOT show this year, and is already gone from their line up...

Looks like the new ownership is reducing the number of models as well as standard chamberings to streamline the line up. The little blurb on several pages indicates you can still special order non-standard chamberings.

The reason the X2 is shooting good might be the extra weight.

I've had a MRC American Standard Rifle for a few years now and can't complain about it. Originally in 270 Win I had it re-barrelled to 257 Roberts recently. It's always been accurate and reliable.

As long as you never have to send it back for repair, they are fine. Customer service is awful. It took me over a month just to get in contact with them. 3 more months to get the rifle back, only to have to send it back again. I wil never buy another MRC. A quick search will turn up several threads about bad customer service.
My first issue was head spacing, couldn't chamber a round. Second issue was safety couldn't be engaged.

Yup

I have an X3 in 26 Nosler. I haven't shot it much, yet, so I can't comment on accuracy. I like the rifle, but I am not sure it would be a good choice if looking to reduce weight. Though in 26 Nosler, I don't mind a little heft. If looking to go lightweight, I am a Kimber Montana man, myself.

I had to send the X3 back to MRC, and I actually got a good turnaround time with a properly done repair. Then I found the rifle had short action screws, so I fixed that myself. PM if you want more info.

Any idea what your set up weighs?

Weight of a Montana Rifle Company X3 in 26 Nosler. Note this weight includes bases and the bottom half of scope rings.

When did you have to send it back? There was a change of ownership at the beginning of the year. I am hoping customer service and quality control improves.

Shipped to MRC on December 4, 2018. Returned from MRC December 20, 2018.

It took me almost the whole month of January to get them to send the shipping label. Shipped out the end of January and received back the 13th of April, only to find the safety was inoperable. This was after I was assured it had been verified for function.

I have 3 of them and they all shoot great, but won't buy another do to customer service.

They feature a "Colorado Buck" edition, that alone should tell everyone something.

The web site says 6 Ppounds 11 Oz for the long action. This is what concerned me. Seems ity grew almost a pound in shipping! Does anyone own a new short action and could give me an actual weight? I hav e an older X2 in 280 and it is heavy! Scope and mounts a little over Pounds.

That's unfortunate. I want to like the guns, but that kind of QC the first and second time coupled with slow turn around is unacceptable.

I was strongly considering a MRC but too many internet bugaboos. Reports are not good.

It's been many years since I dealt with MRC. But it sounds like nothing has changed. If you get a good one, your fine and happy. If you get a bad one, your out of luck with the horrible customer service. Wouldn't touch them again after all the trouble I had. Sent my rifle back enough times I could have bought a new rifle with all the shipping costs. Never hunted with it the three years I had it because it was at the shop for so long each time.

The MRC 1999 action is a very good design, with some slightly improved details over the Winchester Model 70 design. (I am not saying the 1999 design is "better" than a M70, but it is not the lessor of the two, either). It is cast by the same company that casts Ruger actions, and is a made from a relatively hard alloy, so the initial fabrication is good. In other words, all the basics are there for it to be a good rifle action. Unfortunately, after a great start, MRC has trouble "bringing it home," and the finishing process lacks the attention necessary to make it a well-executed final product. This holds true for their barrels, as well. As such, the rifles are hit or miss, with some users happy and other users unhappy.

When shopping for a CRF action where light-weight is not a primary consideration, MRC rifles would be high on my list, but I would not buy one sight-unseen, Rather, I would want to personally examine the actual rifle to make sure all the finishing details were properly done. This would include running a bore scope through the barrel. Or, buy a used example that has already been "proven" by someone else. I understand this is probably more work than most people want to deal with.

JMHO

I found a photo of the bare X3 in 26 Nosler on a scale:

Looks like they're fudging a little on the weight. Web site says 6 Pounds 15 Oz. After reading previous posts I called and they are sticking to their story, told me " we got the X3 stock weight down from 4# on the X2 to 3# on the X3"! Really! B&C's are lighter than that. Looked really attractive but guess I'll pass, Looking at the 6.5 Creedmoor, I like a rifle around 71/2 to 8 pounds max with scope up. Thinking the short action X3 would end up around 8 1/2 pounds or more, scope up. Thats what my Ruger with walnut stock and 26" barrel weighs! Like the 24" barrel and action,but...........

Montana Rifle Company X3 Custom XT 338-06 with 24" barrel:

Thats more like it!

According to what i was reading in Rifle magazine, the new management team are now producing the actions in house.

Are they using investment castings from Ruger, Pine Tree Casting. Seems that was the plan before.

DF

According to the rifle article they brought in all new machines to do the action. CNC?

That would be interesting. Possibly looking to revert back to machining their receivers from a high strength alloy that would allow a lighter overall weight versus the casting? Maybe they will figure out the weight issue after all... I wish them luck. But I am still wait and see...

Interesting info. Switching manufacture process from casting over to machining would be a substantial job. I wonder if the original 1999 action design would need any changes to go from casting to machining?