Mossberg MVP Flex vs Howa Varminter

[panzerman]

Well based upon the responses I better do more research, I cannot afford to buy something and not be happy with it, I have done that far too much in the past. Savage makes awesome rifles, I think but I am set on a removable magazine for some reason but plan on spending the next few days checking out Tikas and Savages in this AO. Thanks much.

[ar15barrels]

Hmmm, what is the weight difference between a 20" sporter bbl and a 20" meduim/bull bbl? I thought the diff would be negligable and the better accuracy with the medium/bull would offset any small weight gains.

A couple pounds difference.

The accuracy of the first 2-3 rounds is the same.

[ElvenSoul]

Savage Light Hunter in 6.5 Creedmore if you are looking for a pack rifle

[3RDGEARGRNDRR]

Any Howa 1500 will be a far better made rifle than any Mossberg.
You want a sporter contour barrel for hunting.
Varmint barrels are for bench shooting.

My 308 MVP patrol had been extremely accurate. I havent measured groups with it. It is a fun gun/great plinker and will hit whatever you point it at. Offhand standing with Discards of unused handloaded ammo for general break in I was able to hit the chain of the gong holding the target. No, other people at the range were not happy but an old timer dared me to do it. This was not too surprising since my 223 MVP varmint was easily less than 1 moa with cheap factory/surplus/handloaded discard ammo.
Yes its a cheap backpacking all around tool. A target/prarie dog gun its not designed to be but an easily pointed hitting the point of aim gun in a 1" circle it is. Its a cheap whore with mags. She aint the prettiest but a great value yes.
cons: Pathetic finish on my stock. I duracoated over the krylon flat black they use.
Optics are a problem, you will need an elevated cheek rest.
16" barrel is great for handiness, not so great for long distance anything.
Bolt when open has lots of wobble and feels cheap.

Dont get me wrong, I love my one hole target rifles. The weight, handloading and gear associated with those rifles on range trips and the sheer frustration of not getting one hole has driven me to fun plinkers for the time being.

[3RDGEARGRNDRR]

I do like the Tikas but at least the ones I have looked at are quite pricey. I hunt on my parents ranch in the mountains of south central Montana and spend as much time as I can backpacking there in the summer. I usually carry a revolver but like the idea of a rifle and I am trying to get tags for mountain goats there in Sept and the terrain is pretty rough. I am just leery of Howas based upon my past experiences with them.

Oops on the MVP. Wrong tool. How far are you going to hunt those goats? Ethically Get a scoped and longer barrel for long range shots. A 6.5 or 7mm if youre doing some leg stretching. Looks like you are asking for a bit too much from just one rifle.

[ar15barrels]

My 308 MVP patrol had been extremely accurate.

Accuracy/precision has little to do with how well a rifle is made.
It has more to do with the barrel.
Even complete crap rifles can shoot well, but they are still complete crap.

[3RDGEARGRNDRR]

Accuracy/precision has little to do with how well a rifle is made.
It has more to do with the barrel.
Even complete crap rifles can shoot well, but they are still complete crap.

I dont disagree, that the MVPs are a cheap dirty whore, that will take on multiple roles, but if you read my post, OP is looking for too much for one rifle, and it wont work.
AK's are complete crap too, but many are fond of them for many reasons.
I dont criticize any firearm if it is suited for the mission and to the shooter

[ar15barrels]

I dont disagree, that the MVPs are a cheap dirty whore, that will take on multiple roles, but if you read my post, OP is looking for too much for one rifle, and it wont work.

Almost every new buyer of a rifle is looking for too much from it.
They want it super accurate from the bench, but they also want it to be lightweight so they can hump it 10 miles a day, uphill in the snow.
They want the bullets to fly super flat and hit really hard, but they don't want it to recoil.

They don't realize that their requirements fall on opposite ends of the reality spectrum.
They don't realize that there are different types of rifles to meet each of those requirements and that there is no single rifle that will do all those things they want.

[buffybuster]

Almost every new buyer of a rifle is looking for too much from it.
They want it super accurate from the bench, but they also want it to be lightweight so they can hump it 10 miles a day, uphill in the snow.
They want the bullets to fly super flat and hit really hard, but they don't want it to recoil.

They don't realize that their requirements fall on opposite ends of the reality spectrum.
They don't realize that there are different types of rifles to meet each of those requirements and that there is no single rifle that will do all those things they want.

Hey, you're going to burst someone's internet bubble.....

[panzerman]

Hey, you're going to burst someone's internet bubble.....

No bubble bursting here. Do not allow my apparently silly questions and lack of pontification and all knowing on this site lull you into a false sense of security. Unlike some I have a sense of humility and I know that I really don't know. I thought this was the place to ask questions and learn. I do not have the money for a safe full of one hunt guns. I was interested in the 308 Howa and MVP and therefore I asked while providing what my intentions were. Am I asking too much from one rifle/carbine and the 308 cartridge, perhaps but at the very least I have the sense to ask.