In 2011, Mossberg released a modified version of its bolt action 4×4™ rifle called the MVP Varmint. The MVP Varmint took the gun industry by storm due to one unique design feature: it uses AR-15 magazines. Decried by detractors as a gimmick and heralded by others as revolutionary, the heavy barreled MVP Varmint gained quick acceptance and sold like hotcakes. In 2012, Mossberg took the MVP concept in the totally opposite direction by introducing the “P” version of the MVP: a lightweight carbine version called the “Predator.” As the name implies, it’s designed for hunting coyote, bobcats, and fox. Think of it as a bolt action version of the Ruger Mini-14 or a Winchester 94 Trapper lever gun: a small, lightweight rifle with lots of on-board firepower. I tested the MVP Predator and walked away very impressed . . .
When I first unboxed it and saw the sporter profile barrel, I was pretty disappointed. I was expecting to review the 18” bull barreled version and, rightly or wrongly, I tend to associate the bull barrels with better accuracy. I figured the skinny barrel would only yield ho-hum accuracy (1 to 2 MOA) typical of lower-end hunting rifles. Man, was I wrong. I’ll cut straight to it: this thing is an absolute tack-driver. As an example, these were my first three shots at 100 yards during a recent trip to Tri-County Gun Club, in Sherwood, Oregon (.45 inches with Hornady 55 grain V Max):
And the MVP will produce groups like this all day long. That gets me excited, especially from a gun that retails for $500 and change. So, I’ve been bonding with the MVP for a few months now and am of the opinion that the skinny 20-inch barrel is the way to go for a “Predator” configuration. Here’s my thinking on this:
A bull barrel is not typically needed for predators. Hunting critters like coyotes or bobcats is typically not a high-volume shooting affair, so shifting POI from a hot barrel isn’t going be an issue. One to three shots constitutes a typical coyote hunting day for a hunter like me, and while I’m sure expert hunters will go through a few more rounds than that on a good day, I doubt anybody is likely to use a full box of shells.
Second, the light, relatively short barrel points faster than longer, heavier barrels. I usually shoot in a sitting or kneeling position off a long 13”-25” Harris bipod so this isn’t that much of an issue. But in situations where the coyotes are coming in fast and close, it’s nice to be able to ditch the sticks and shoot offhand with very low scope magnification. The MVP Predator excels at this type of shooting.
Third, predator hunting typically involves quite a bit of foot travel, so a short light rifle is a real bonus. I usually set up 4 to 6 stands in a morning, and there may be a quarter to a half mile or so between each one. I’ll often haul in my heavy bull-barreled sniper rifles (just because they’re cool and I like to take long 400-600 yard shots if offered), but a light rifle like the MVP Predator would be very advantageous if it doesn’t compromise accuracy. Also, you’re less likely to bang a short rifle up against a fence post, barbed wire, a gate, etc., announcing your presence to every coyote within ¼ mile. Staying quiet is critical when hunting, and short rifles are easier to maneuver.
Now, if you plan on suppressing the MVP, there may be some value in getting the thicker barrel. It seems to me that it might be easier to thread a barrel with a thicker profile. But I’m not an expert on that.
The test gun is chambered in 5.56 x 45 NATO/.223 Rem which is a good choice for high volume shooting due to easy availability and low cost of ammunition. Of course, presently it would not be much of an overstatement to say that there is not a single round of .223 Rem available for sale in the USA. Don’t worry – I’m sure the Mexican military has some for sale. With any luck, the recent panic-buying spree will subside by the summer and .223 Rem will become more readily available again.
When I first inspected the bolt, I have to admit that I thought that the little lip that strips the round out of the magazine looked pretty flimsy. My first thought that it was “not G.I proof,” as we used to say in the military, but it’s worked like a charm. After only 500 rounds, I’m not prepared to declare it to be bomb-proof just yet, but by the same token, it hasn’t shown any signs of weakness or failure so far.
Nick Leghorn reviewed the MVP Varmint version of the MVP and while he had a lot of positive things to say about the Mossy, he found it to be lacking in a couple of key areas. First, his test sample wasn’t as reliable as it should be. Second, he thought the bolt required too much force to unlock. So when Mossberg sent TTAG the MVP Predator, I wanted to see if this test sample had the same foibles.
In terms of reliability, the Predator prefers some mags over others. Because an AR-15’s mag well has a deep funnel, there isn’t much opportunity for a magazine to rock back and forth from front to back. The Predator, on the other hand, lacks a deep funnel, so if the magazine is a bit “short” of spec, it won’t seat very well in the mag well. Mags tend to rattle around a bit in the MVP’s well, and that can make some extra noise. In the case of some mags, this can affect reliability of the rifle because it affects the angle at which the Predator’s bolt strips the round off the mag. If the angle isn’t right, the bolt misses the strip or gums up so mag selection is important.
The Mossy proved to cycle reliably with the factory 5-round mag (small mag on the far right in the picture above). The magnificent HK 30-rd magazines worked flawlessly, as did Magpul Gen 2 PMAGs, Lancer mags and mil-spec Colt mags. I had some C-Product 20-round magazines that seemed to routinely cause problems. I solved that with a little duct tape, but some shooters might find that to be a less-than-perfect solution.
As for the bolt throw – I have to agree with Nick that it initially took a surprising amount of force to lift the bolt on the MVP Predator after a round was fired. However, after a 300-round break-in period, the bolt is not nearly as stiff as it once was. I’m sure a gunsmith could smooth out the bolt even more if need be, but I haven’t found it to be a real problem.
I’m very impressed with the MVP’s trigger. I know I’ve said that a lot lately in my reviews and I’m probably starting to sound like a broken record. But trigger technology has improved greatly in the past ten years or so, thanks in large part to Savage’s legendary Accu-trigger. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and Mossberg definitely upped its game in 2008 when it released its Accu-trigger-inspired LBA™ Lightning Bolt Action™ Adjustable Trigger.
The LBA trigger adjustment is remarkable in its simplicity. Tightening or loosening a flathead screw adds or releases tension on a spring that controls the pull weight (see photo, above lower). As an added bonus, the LBA trigger blade in the center of the trigger prevents the sear from releasing the striker unless the blade is fully depressed. Thus, the gun will not accidentally fire when jarred, even when the trigger is set at the lightest adjustment setting.
The MVP Predator has some nice features that set it apart from the rest of the $500 rifle crowd, including a highly recessed crown and shallow flutes on the barrel. The aggressive channel makes the crown difficult to clean without a good tool, but again - no biggie.
I also really like the stylish shallow spiral flutes on the bolt. That’s a feature usually only found on high-end rifles. Although the flutes on the MVP don’t compare to those on a Robar or a Surgeon, I’m not aware of any other manufacturer that’s adding bolt flutes to a $500 rifle. Cudos to Mossberg.
Traditionalists may balk, but I appreciate originality in gun design. So I really like the styling of the fore-end and handgrips, as well as the gray-ish laminate stock.
I also appreciate the plastic bedding system in the stock – no real need to bed this rifle. The barrel channel keeps wood away from the barrel, making the rifle entirely free–floating.
Scope Options / Recommendations
Mossberg offers the MVP Predator in a scoped package. Unless money is really tight, I would skip these factory package “deals” because, in most cases, the scopes that come with them aren’t great. Spend the extra money and buy a good quality scope from Leopold, Burris, Nikon, etc.
I don’t believe you need a big, high magnification scope for the MVP Predator, especially if you’re actually using it to hunt predators. Any decent 3-9 x 40 scope should do the trick. Even better, a small lightweight 2-7 x 33 or 2.5-8 x 36 would provide all the magnification you need while keeping weight down to a minimum. I also like the option of being able to dial the magnification down to 2x or 2.5x when the coyotes come in fast and close. If you plan on shooting at ranges longer than 300 yards, a BDC reticle or target turrets should be added.
I tried to run a Bushnell 1 x 6.5 Tactical Scope on the MVP and although I like the scope, I didn’t like the combination. As an initial matter, you can see the barrel when the scope is set to anything under 2x, which is distracting. Second, the way the factory scope bases were installed didn’t allow me to mount the Bushnell forward enough to get a good cheek weld. And finally, it’s my opinion that a lightweight scope is the way to go on this rig. The Bushnell is a heavy duty piece of kit made for AR-15s, so I’d shy away from tactical red dots or 1×4 or 1×6 scopes on the Predator.
Ammo Preference
The MVP Predator’s 5.56 x 45 NATO chambering and 1 in 9 twist are optimized for shooting both surplus military ammo as well as the light-weight bullets favored by predator hunters. I had great success shooting anything from 40 grains up to 69 grains, including M855 and M109 ball. I mostly shoot 55 grain ammo (‘cause its cheap), and this rifle shot sub MOA with even pedestrian ammo such as UMC, American Eagle, etc. Accuracy suffered a bit when I fired a few of the bigger 77 grain bullets through the Predator, but even then, groups tended to be 1-2 MOA on a warm day. Certainly, you would expect worse accuracy in cold weather.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, I haven’t historically been a Mossberg fan. Then again, I never owned any of their rifles or shotguns. Based on the way the MVP has performed, though, they can now officially add me to their fan club list. This rifle does what it’s intended to do very well, and for the price, the MVP Predator is an absolute steal. So long as you take the time to match it up with the aftermarket mags it likes, you will not be disappointed.
What’s next for the MVP Predator? Expect Mossberg to release versions of the MVP in .308 Win and .204 Ruger. Maybe others as well. If it were up to me, I’d bring out versions with Mossy Oak camo stocks and a threaded barrel. A Jeff Cooper-inspired scout rifle version in .308 Win would seem to be a natural fit as well. I might also think about developing optional mounts for night vision.
Specifications
Caliber: 5.56×45(NATO) / .223 Rem.
Barrel: Choice between 18.5 inch medium “bull” or a 20 inch sporter contour (both have a 1 in 9 RH twist).
Length: 39 inch overall length
Weight: 6 lbs., 7 ounces empty
Operation: bolt action
Finish: parkerized
Trigger: LBA™ Lightning Bolt Action™Adjustable Trigger (2 to 6 Ibs)
Capacity: 5 round mag included; accepts AR magazines
Sights: Drilled and tapped, no iron sites included. Weaver scope mounts are factory installed
Price (MSRP): $650.00 Street price is $500.00 -$550.00
Ratings (Out of Five Stars)
Accuracy: * * * * *
The MVP is one of the most accurate skinny-barreled production rifles I’ve ever shot in that price range. The test rifle is a .4 to .7 MOA shooter all day long, using factory ammo. My personal best was a three-shot .37 inch group at 100 yards. To get a rifle with this kind of accuracy for $500 is a sure sign that Mossy is on the right track.
Ergonomics: * * * * 1/2
I really love the handling characteristics of the diminutive Mossberg MVP Predator. Light, fast, and comfortable ergonomics make it a real hit. I wish the stock were an inch longer, but I say that about most rifles. I probably won’t complain when it’s cold out and I’m wearing a bulky jacket.
Reliability: * * * *
The MVP did occasionally fail to chamber the last round from a few different AR mags. Having said that, the rifle functioned flawlessly with the factory 5-round magazine supplied by Mossberg. Figure out which mags it likes and you will be good to go.
Durability: * * * * *
I did not experience any broken parts, failures to fire, or other failures that would make me lose confidence in the rifle. The finish on the rifle leaves a bit to be desired, because the blueing seems to be wearing off in high-use areas such as the bolt handle. This MVP screams for a camo duracoat job in any event, so I’m not too worried about the blueing.
Customization: * * *
Other than the obvious (AR mags!), there are no MVP-specific aftermarket accessories available for this rifle. But honestly, I can’t think of anything that I’d change. I suppose it’s possible to add a Badger Ordinance tactical bolt handle if you really wanted to.
Overall Rating: * * * * ½
I really love this rifle. And I really hope Mossberg doesn’t want it back.
Well it’s a bolt action it might be legal for deer in PA!
As you mention in your excellent article, there is no need for a heavy barrel as most ‘yote hunters only fire a few rounds per session. Wouldn’t that seem to nullify the main selling point for this rifle, namely, using AR mags for rapid reloading?
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If they do come out with a .308 version it will complicate my life as I have been looking at the Ruger Scout Rifle for a while now
I’m not sure, but I believe the “Varmint” MVP comes with a heavier barrel. I believe this one trades reliability/accuracy over many rounds for lower weight and easier pointing.
You are correct: the trade off is accuracy (when the barrel gets hot after 30 rounds or so) vs. light weight, and speed (easier to point quickly).
You read my mind. I would like a .308 version as well that takes the AR-10 mags (DPMS style). Would want a threaded barrel also.
I don’t see a problem, just buy one of each.
I like your thinking!
The main reason for the AR-15 mag was that up until recently they were cheap and plentiful. It was a case of why redesign the wheel.
@ Peter: You make a good point, and I thought of that as well. Nonetheless, I like the idea of having a common mag that is easy to find in any gun store (recent panic buying scarcity notwithstanding). My T/C Icon (.243 Win) uses proprietory mags that cost $32 a piece and are pretty much going to be a mail order proposition. Currently, I only have one mag for the T/C, and if I lost it on a hunt or it broke, I’d be SOL for at least a week. So in that sense, the Mossy’s AR-Mag design is great. I probably have 50 AR mags already – in all shapes and sizes from 5 to 100 round capacity. Also, I don’t think the skinny barrel version is incapable of being used for varmint shooting; its just going to experience more of a POI shift as the barrel gets hot.
Excellent review. I’ve been hoping to get a bolt action target rifle for a while, and really wanted one in a (used to be) cheap caliber that I already (used to) shoot a lot of. Since my darling SCAR won’t be in my price range for quite some time, perhaps I’ll look into blowing some cash on one of these.
I wish someone would make that exact same rifle except with semi-automatic action rather than bolt action.
They do. It is called an AR-15 and you can’t get one right now, but hopefully soon.
A Ruger Mini-14 would be much closer to the exact same rifle. But you probably can’t get one of those right now either.
The drawbacks to the Ruger Mini-14 are that they are expensive and they do not use standard AR-15 magazines. Not only that, the Ruger Mini-14 magazines appear to come with no more than a 20 round capacity versus the standard 30 round capacity AR-15 magazines.
Yes TTACer … I know about AR-15s. I wanted something a little simpler than an AR-15 with a wood stock that would hopefully, normally, knock a couple hundred dollars off the price of low end AR-15s. I guess I could simply look for an AK-47 chambered in 5.56mm then but would such a rifle be as accurate as this Mossberg MVP predator?
Plus, this might be an option for people in restrictive states: it has no “evil” features such as pistol grips, flash hiders, bayonet lugs, etc. Other than the fact that such a rifle could accept standard 30 round magazines, there really is nothing that any citizen disarmament advocate could whine about — other than the fact that it is a firearm of course.
Sounds like a Ruger Mini-14 is right up your alley.
browning BAR
A low-end AR used to be around $700. The problem with the Mini is that it is not nearly as accurate as an AR of the same price, and an AK action would likely be as bad or worse. And that doesn’t even address the whole evil shoulder thingy that goes up problem with the AR/AK options. If they made the FNAR in .223 and cut the price in half that would be the ticket. And if wishes were horses…
Ruger does offer factory-manufactured 30-shot magazines for the Mini-14, but only in .223/5.56mm. They function superbly, but are far more expensive than AR mags of the same capacity.
Kel-Tec SU16 comes close to those requirements.
I have seen reviews of rifles that cost 2x-3x or more that can’t match the accuracy. I understand big-bore safari rifles are not made for that, and the cartridges can’t necessarily achieve that kind of accuracy anyway. What I don’t understand is when a bolt action rifle (rhymes with eatherby) in an accurate chambering can’t beat a $500 Mossberg. What are you paying for?
Mossberg is the blue collar working mans gun. Even folks on a limited budget that don’t want to shop used or maybe don’t have the experience to shop used can buy a good, new gun for a reasonable price. And Mossberg’s work.
I also like the package deals that companies offer on rifles and scopes. I agree that the scopes aren’t ideal, but if you’re on a tight budget saving for a better scope can mean missing the season.
For a little more than 400 bucks my son can get an Axis .30-06 with scope from Big 5. He has a stay at home wife with 2 little ones to care for. That axis combo will allow him to hunt deer and pigs without worry of hurting the family budget.
Point well taken – a cheap gun/scope combo is better than no gun/scope, if those are your options. I recently purchased teh Remmy 700 ADL with Scope for $350, and the scope was OK. I mean, it was marginal, but certainly better than nothing.
Even if you have no use for a bolt action rifle that accepts AR15 magazines, I can’t really see it as a detractor at all.
Exactly. I mean, I can’t picture going through even a 10 round clip with a bolt gun, but hell, this is great if you have AR mags–and they’re cheap and easy to get most of the time. Beats the hell out of proprietary magazines.
When does the .308 version come out?
The Ruger Thunder Ranch Scout in .308 is already out. Twice the cost but exactly the right caliber.
Every time I see an article about the MVP, I just have to chime in: I love mine. I’ve got the 24″ heavy-ish barrel version, and it’s everything I could ask for out of a $550 .223 bolt rifle. It is such a perfect complement to the AR-15.
I was very happy to hear about Mossberg expanding the MVP line at SHOT. I personally wish for a 5.45×39 version, but the .300AAC one is going to be sweet.
Give me one in .300 AAC and a threaded barrel.
Joe,
This was an absolutely excellent review. Top quality work. You’ve motivated me to consider acquiring this rifle model or waiting for the .308 ‘scout-version’ to come out. If I get this rifle I would probably want to add iron sights to it for back-up use if the main scope gets broke.
I’m not familiar with the process or what is involved in a camo duracoat job. Is that something an owner can do on their own or does it require a trip to the gunsmith?
Check out the Patrol version with a 16″ barrel and rifle sights.
I looked on the Mossberg site yet was not able to find a “patrol” model. Does another manufacturer make it?
Aharon, it’s a brand new model and isn’t on Mossberg’s website yet. It was debuted at Shot and will be available soon. If you Google it, you’ll see some images.
twelve.guage,
Thank you.
I wish they would make lefty versions of the rifle.
Around seven years ago, after a few months of looking around I found a left handed Ruger M77 in .30-06, which I do like a lot. However, since then I have fired a few other bolt actions and decided a RH one is not a bad deal for me, especially if I’m shooting from a bipod. I can keep my firing hand on the grip as I manipulate the bolt, not a bad arrangement. Try it out and see how it works for you.
i’m planning the following:
Howa barreled action in 7mm-8 $400ish
bell and carlson stock $200ish
Howa detachable magazine conversion $100
I think that the conventional wisdom of buying guns in popular calibers has gone out the window. Can you find any .223 or .308? Or even bullets and brass?
a whole gang of .284 bullets and once fired .308 range brass would keep me going for awhile. No need to worry about empty shelves at walmart and Midway.
I like your thinking, and encourage others to think similarly.
There are some fantastic bullets available in the 7mm(.284) space how. Wicked high ballistic coefficients, and any sort of hunting or target or VLD/long-range application you’d care to develop, there’s a bunch of nice bullets available.
The 7mm08 is an excellent cartridge for everything up to elk, very easy on recoil.
For people who have a long action rifle, look at the oft-forgotten .280 Remington. Want more gas in a short action? Look at the Winchester .284. Want even more? Look at the 7mm WSM. These latter two will require work on a magazine, but the 7mm08 will go into a .308 magazine quite nicely, and the .280 will go into a magazine intended for a .30-06.
Where does one aquire a barreled action from Howa or from another manufacturer?
My only small complaint about this rifle is that I wished they had a 1-in-8 twist in the barrel. There are more and more heavier .224 bullets hitting the market, and while you can stabilize a 77gr pill with a 1:9, it would be nice to spin it up just a tad more.
With a bolt gun, it becomes easier to single-load 80+ gr pills in the .223.
I like shooting the heavier bullets as well. This rifle did not really what little 77 grain ammo I ran through it – groups were Ok for hunting purposes, but rather pedestrian (1.1 – 2 MOA on average) Rightly or wrongly, I think Mossberg’s thinking on the 1:9 twist was based on the assumption that most people would be shooting the lightweight, fur-friendly varmint rounds and/or Mil sup ammo. I don’t own anything in .223 with a 1:8 twist – how light of a bullet can you shoot accurately with that twist rate?
In my experience with the 1:8 so far, 50 or 52 grain pills seems to be the lowest I can go before things start getting over-spun (as evidenced by groups opening up). 62′s and 69′s work nicely, as do the 75′s and 77′s. Never tried 80′s and heavier in my 1:8.
1:7 twists will spin up the heavier pills for long range work (such as it is with a .223) but are too tight for anything you can feed through an AR magazine other than the 77′s and maybe high 60′s. (IMO, based on the math).
1:8 will stabilize anything from 50 to 77 pretty nicely (in my experience with AR’s). Unless I’m using a bolt gun on squirrels, I don’t go under 50gr pills in .223.
1:9 will stabilize from 40 or 45 grains up to 62 grains OK. 55 grain M-193 ammo goes through a 1:9 barrel very nicely. So I see what they’re getting at. I’m always a guy looking to maximize my Bc’s…
Oh, one more tip that might improve the accuracy of rifles like this with three screws to mount the magazine and trigger loop:
Tighten the front screw (forward of the magazine) fully tight.
Tighten the screw on the rear of the trigger guard just barely snug.
Then tighten the middle screw just to a point where you start to feel resistance. DO NOT reef down on the middle screw if the rear screw goes into the tang on the rear of the receiver.
If the rear screw goes only into the grip wood, then tighten the front full, the middle snug and then don’t strip out the rear guard screw.
This was learned many eons ago on rifles like the Model 70.
If I see this in a scout type version chambered in .308 that accepts standard mags AND they keep the price below the Gunsite Scout, my credit card is in for some abuse.
Great article. Very informative. I think I may try one of these out.
A .308 scout version that uses DMPS style AR-10 mags (compatible with .308 PMAGS) would be a top seller IMHO.
The use of proprietary single stack Accuracy International magazines is a major flaw in the Ruger scout rifle design.
3 shot groups are a waste of time.
Do minimum 10 shot groups and see what you get. I have strong doubts that this firearm is half MOA “all day long” with factory.
IMO, 10 shot groups are a waste of time for anything other than a varmint rifle or a sniper rifle. What predator is going to give you ten chances to shoot it? Besides, most people can’t shoot 10 rounds in a row without introducing some sort of operator error. Three shots tells you what the barrel is capable of doing in terms of grouping, and that is all that really matters. Granted, a skinny barrel will likley give you a POI shift as it gets hotter, but again, what does that really prove?
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POI shift is WHY 10 shot groups are useful. It isn’t about hitting the same spot 10 times, it is about how the bullet behaves compared to POI after 10 shots. If the shots are stringing vertically or vertically and to the right, etc, it is nice to know that and be able to compensate.
Yeah, but the POI shift you exerience will never be consistent from rifle to rifle, so anything that I would post about this particular sample would not necessarily transfer over to any other sample.
Just checked out the Patrol version – make it in .308 for AR-10 mags, price it the same or less than the Ruger GSR, and take my money.