S_S_2015_05_

▲

79

GUN TEST | FIREARMS

“But to be honest the package

far exceeded my expectations!”

Surprise

Removing the barrelled action from the
stock shows a rather unusual approach.
It’s pillar bedded, which is good and the
action sits on a removable polymer block,
which is also the magazine well. Unlike
some modern rifl es the MVP shows a
proper recoil lug.

REMY + SAVAGE = MVP
The action is like a Remy 700 with a fully
enclosed, twin lug head with plunger
ejector. Unusual is the articulated feed lug
at 6 o’clock on the bolt head. It’s obviously
designed to ensure it gets enough case
head to push on the forward stroke feeding
from an AR mag and hinges up out of the
way on the rearward movement. I’ve never
seen this approach before, as to its
longevity I make no comment!
The bolt is spiral fl uted, not sure if it’s
for looks or to aid functionality! The handle
angles back nicely and shows a checked,
semi-fl at knob, lift angle is around 90° and
it is a bit stiff as you raise it for the
cock-on-opening mech. At the rear the tail
of the striker sits fl ush with the shroud
when cocked, which you can see and feel.
The safety is a 2-positon lever (rear right of
the action) it pushes forward for FIRE, rear
SAFE with bolt operation and the bolt
release a plunger rear left.
The short action receiver shows two
steel Weaver bases and like the barrel is
matte black in fi nish. The trigger mech is
like a Savage AccuTrigger and shows the
classic inner (Glock-like) safety blade.
Mossberg calls it the LBA™ Lightning Bolt
Action™ Adjustable Trigger! It’s easily

adjustable by a single screw at the front of

the block but the stock needs to come off

to access it. Typically it cannot be set too

light as it will go into fail safe mode.

Screwing the adjuster in reduces the

weight. It came set about midway with a

fi rm but useable 5 lb break. I backed this

off a bit, it dropped the poundage and

certainly crisped up the release to a more

predictable level.

BOXING CLEVER

Feed is from an old-style, aluminium, Colt

AR15-type mag, made in house it holds

10-rounds! Magazines slide straight in with

the release being a pull-back lug at the front

of the well that engages an AR15-like

retaining lug. The mag is a very sloppy fi t, I

also tried Colt and Magpul 20s and they

were better, but not by a lot.

The 24” barrel is fl uted for half its

length and is 18mm in diameter apart from

where it expands in to the re-enforce. Taking

yet another cue from Savage it appears to

be secured by a collar. My example was not

threaded but the supplier told me all guns

for sale will be. Useful to is the 1-9” rifl ing

twist rate, meaning more leeway on bullet

The action is very Remy

700 in some places and

Savage in others

A lot of gun for the

money – the Mossberg

MVP Varmint!