Shooting
78 SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE
FIREARMS | GUN TEST
The MVP is designed
to run on any AR
magazine, the
Mossberg clip is
at the front
Pete Moore casts his eyes over a
rather tasty tactical/varminter that
will not break the bank
The MPV shot all
these well with
nothing outside
the inch, however,
the GECO 56-grain
Express went to
½” with easeT
o me the name Mossberg means
pump-action shotguns with their classic
ATP 500 Slugster getting the brand
recognised in the UK in the early 1980s. I
knew they made rifl es too but never got the
opportunity to test one and to my knowledge
they did little in the UK fullbore bolt-action
scene. But that has all changed with their
MVP range that - identical to the Slugster -
offers a lot of gun for not a lot of money!
Never having shot one of their bolt-guns
before I was sceptical as what was on offer
seemed far too cheap and I assumed
corners had been cut. Well mainly no, but
there are a few areas that could have done
with a tad more thought. But to be honest
the package far exceeded my expectations!
GREY GHOST
The MVP range is large with many options
on stock materials and confi gurations as
well as barrel lengths and calibres.
Included in this are Scout and Patrol rifl es
as well as one with an MDT LSS chassis
and Magpul MOE accessories, however my
tester was the 24” Varmint chambered in
5.56x45mm/223 Rem, with a 1-9” twist
rate. This will probably be the version that
ticks most boxes in the UK. I would
describe this rifl e as a medium weight
varminter, as even when fully bombed up it
does not feel as heavy or unhandy as say
a Remy 700 VLSF.
Another USP is the fact the gun runs
on standard AR15-style magazines and
comes from the box with an alloy, 10-shot
Colt-type clip. Add in an adjustable
Savage-style trigger, steel Weaver
bases and a pillar-bedded, grey
laminate Bench Rest type stock
and it all adds up to an impressive
package.LOCK, STOCK AND...
The thing that hits you fi rst about the
Varmint is its grey laminate stock. The
rectangular forend is full and free-
fl oats the barrel though on my example
the channel was cut a tad off bore
centre though did not touch the tube atall! The pistol grip is hand-fi lling and near
vertical and offers a great hand/trigger
fi nger position. Textured panels are seen
on the sides of the forend and grip and
offer a modern look. Moving back we come
to the butt, which looks like someone went
a bit mad with the router. It’s deep as
befi ts the style but is very thin in cross
section and where it scallops into the grip I
doubt if there is ½” of material in the
width.
Length of pull (LOP) is short at 13 ¼”,
it looks like the slim recoil pad can be
removed and spacers fi tted. There’s a
vestigial, ambidextrous comb/cheek piece,
which adds about 1/8” of extra height and
width and I have to say the comb felt a bit
slim on my cheek. QD sling studs are fi tted
fore and aft as standard and overall the
furniture is well presented and fi nished.