5.56 bolt action is it a fun range gun or waste of money?

[glock_this]

that thing is soo ugly but soo sweet at the same time. i think i would do that guy in 308 not 556.

i do have the MVP predator in 556 already with a nice redfield revenge 3-9 scope that i LOVE for range time, its a great little plinker.

1. I think it is rather awesome looking, but I like modern looks like this - in all things.

2. I am opting for 5.56 because it can reach out and touch the furthest distance I could realistically shoot given available ranges. I don't hunt so not for hunting or taking game down. I can use 5.56 in any other rifle I own or vice versa. I can use the dozens of pMags I already have. I do not need to start to try to amass a new caliber of ammo when 5.56/.223 is plentiful for me. Point is, I like to buy things that have multiple crossover uses, a 5.56 is logical for me.

3. I will be mounting a Burris Eliminator III on it (already have that piece)

[asphaltcowboychip]

I asked this question in here some time ago (as I'm sure many others have) - and the general consensus is that shooting the higher pressure 5.56 in a gun that says ".223Rem" on its barrel is safe, but not generally recommended.

FWIW I got a Mossberg MVP Patrol that is actually chambered in 5.56, so no worries there.

It is in fact more of a fun gun, because so many other guns can do almost any aspect of it better. Rapidity of fire? Geez - any AR or mini-14 has it beat there. Precision? A tricked out, purpose built varmint rifle can shoot groups half the size that the MVP is capable of with ease and a good scope. Iron sights? They're not the best - the Ruger Scout has it beat with its aperture sights.

All that said, it is a rifle that just feels right. It's light and handy, shoulders quickly and well, has a very mild-recoiling cartridge, and, for a $600 gun, is quite accurate. I like mine a lot. The fact that it can take AR mags is kinda cool, but not necessary.

Appreciate the info..I recently been in a struggle to either get a .17 hmr or a bolt .223. I handled one of the mvps and all you said is true. Surprisingly light, the palm swell feels good. A cheek rest and good scope is all it seems to need. Anyone else have experience with the mossberg mvp in .556?

[Guardian Mode]

I love the mvp, as I've said in other posts.
I held a newer Patrol model recently and was pleasantly surprised to see it was a polymer stock!
It feels great. The painted wood stock of the original ones didn't feel quite right to me.
The polymer ones have a great shape and I didn't wanna put it down.
I have a savage 17hmr. I say skip that.
It's cool punching paper, but honestly, a paintball gun feels more substantial than that.
. 223 is wonderful! Hard enough to feel like a weapon.
Light enough recoil that you can shoot all day.
Way cheap to reload, too! 75gn Hornady bthp's get out to 600yds pretty easy.
You can get a savage axis with a heavy barrel for like $266 after & 50 mir.
That would be super fun.

[asphaltcowboychip]

I love the mvp, as I've said in other posts.
I held a newer Patrol model recently and was pleasantly surprised to see it was a polymer stock!
It feels great. The painted wood stock of the original ones didn't feel quite right to me.
The polymer ones have a great shape and I didn't wanna put it down.
I have a savage 17hmr. I say skip that.
It's cool punching paper, but honestly, a paintball gun feels more substantial than that.
. 223 is wonderful! Hard enough to feel like a weapon.
Light enough recoil that you can shoot all day.
Way cheap to reload, too! 75gn Hornady bthp's get out to 600yds pretty easy.
You can get a savage axis with a heavy barrel for like $266 after & 50 mir.
That would be super fun.

Nice...what scope do you have on yours

[Guardian Mode]

Don't have one. Just checked it out at turners. If I did have one, I'd put a Vortex Strike Eagle on it. That scope would fit well with a 16" 223.

[asphaltcowboychip]

Gotcha..I've been reading a lot of reviews and the down sides I have heard of is the bolt being gritty, and having to modify pmags to fit..this is looking like a winner.

[stand125]

If you get one you won't have to run all over the place to pickup your brass Chambered in 223 is fine, since that's probably a tighter chamber anyways, and your going to end up reloading for a range use bolt gun anyways.

And loading for a bolt gun takes nothing more than a LEE Classic loader and a scale ( optional but highly worth it ).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOpQVOBUq34

[Trakker]

I just bought a Tikka t3 compact for my 10 year old. I have two other Tikkas and the features and quality is tough to beat. Check out gun genie. It's on sale


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[AcmeFusionCompany]

I really like a .223 bolt rifle. In fact I own and shoot two (only one at a time however). A Tikka (my favorite) and a Rem 700 CDL (beautiful but not as smooth as the Tikka. They slow you down and allow you to think about the shot, enable you to learn about wind and other factors, are generally more accurate than a semi-auto and the .223 allows all of that while doing it at low cost.
Go for it. You'll be very satisfied.
Acme

[Trakker]

Bolts guns are for precision long range work. Semi autos are for "run and gun". It makes me laugh seeing guys shoot semis for sub moa groups. It's like driving a corvette to tow a trailer. Different skills with each type.


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[billt]

Bolts guns are for precision long range work. Semi autos are for "run and gun". It makes me laugh seeing guys shoot semis for sub moa groups. It's like driving a corvette to tow a trailer.

Total nonsense. There are plenty of semi's that will outshoot bolt action rifles. Les Baer guarantee's 1/2" groups with match ammunition out of their semi auto Varminter AR-15 rifles. The Barrett Model 107, .50 BMG rifle is a semi auto. As is the Accuracy International rifle in that caliber. They have been used in combat to make some of the longest range sniper kills in history. Your argument does not hold water. There are just as many inaccurate semi's as there are bolt actions.

[23 Blast]

Total nonsense. There are plenty of semi's that will outshoot bolt action rifles. Les Baer guarantee's 1/2" groups with match ammunition out of their semi auto Varminter AR-15 rifles. The Barrett Model 107, .50 BMG rifle is a semi auto. As is the Accuracy International rifle in that caliber. They have been used in combat to make some of the longest range sniper kills in history. Your argument dones not hold water. There are just as many inaccurate semi's as there are bolt actions.

Seriously - are there ANY rifles made in the last half-century or so (semiauto, bolt-action, lever-action, single-shot, etc.) that are truly inaccurate? Meaning, worse than 4-5 MOA from a benchrest? I don't think so. Even the Italian Carano rifle, which had a rep for being inaccurate, isn't that bad with proper ammunition (from what I've read, ammunition sold for it and reloading data for it were using improperly sized bullets, accounting for the inaccuracy reputation).

[milotrain]

It makes me laugh seeing guys shoot semis for sub moa groups.

But what if they are getting sub moa groups?

[Trakker]

But what if they are getting sub moa groups?

Good for them if they are getting sub moa - in fact I was contemplating a precision upper but ended up with a dedicated bolt 223. Cheaper in the long run - well almost same price.

But recall, the purpose. AR with free float tube, match chamber etc..will still do it.

But if you want a SHTF machine gun AR - minute of man accuracy, you probably would prefer standard service parts. Probably a direct impingement system - yada yada..

[milotrain]

But recall, the purpose.

The purpose of a thing is the purpose I give it. No more no less. The AR platform is more than capable of sub MOA performance without reinventing anything or spending a boatload of money. A bolt in 556 is valuable for many reasons other than its small accuracy bump over an AR.