Mossberg has a new series of rifles out, the "MVP" series. You can go from a "patrol rifle", which has a 16.5" barrel, the "predator model", either 18.5" or 20" barrels, or a "varmint" model, which has a 24" barrel and a bench-rest type stock.
I don't really get short-barreled bolt-action rifles, at least for civilian uses. The idea of a rifle is to have, to use an old neighbor's term, an "AT&T gun". A carbine is for close-in work and why the hell would you want a bolt gun for such a situation? It'd be like trading in an AK for a M-44 Mosin.
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8 comments:
I blame Jeff Cooper and his "Scout rifle" for this.
Many types of game aren't too shy and allow to close in to 50 yards, but are harmless to the shooter and too quick for a good follow-up shot.
Shotguns could be used, but they're heavy and the shot dispersion is an issue.
Hunting in dense woods like I grew up around is usually done with a short-barrel rifle, either a lever gun or bolt action, because anything longer is unwieldy in the thick brush and not useful because you can't see more than 50 yards anyhow in the overgrown sight lines of the oak bottoms and pine uplands of the South. We mostly used .30/06 bolt action carbines for deer hunting, .22 rifles for rabbits and squirrels, and open choke shotguns with the shortest legal barrels we could put on'em for quail. Anything else in those woods would have been insane.
The "Patrol" here is not out of line with what we might have carried back then for varmint hunting, though probably not in 5.56 because .22LR was plenty good for varmint and a lot cheaper besides. Still, Mossberg wouldn't make'em if they couldn't sell'em, Mossberg isn't exactly a boutique brand :).
Size doesn't matter as much as you think: http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2013/10/daniel-zimmerman/the-truth-about-barrel-length-muzzle-velocity-and-accuracy/
As stated above, carbines in the thick stuff (places where its so thick, a dog has to back up to bark :^) and enclosed deer stands are very handy to aim quickly. Also fast to manuever in a truck cab - jeep. Their downside - pretty loud, especially in big game center fires (i.e. .308 and >).
Hi-cap bolt gun that uses the very common AR family magazines - sounds good to me, but just as unhandy to carry as the automatic.
I'll be checking the LGS for a 16.5 " barrel model in 308. Its the perfect get my a** back home set up.
I'd have loved to have had one of these as a patrol rifle when I was a patrol officer or patrol sergeant. Never did see the need for a M4gry in a patrol car, but heaven forbid you suggest a more particle 30/30 Winchester or Marlin LAR.
Anon 5:51, that's an interesting report. But note that the author handloaded for each barrel length. I'd be more interested in a report how factory ammunition performs. Most casual shooters are going to go to Wally-World and buy a box or two of Remington/Winchester/Federal and that'll do them for years. (Sight it in and then go hunting.)
I can tell you that factory Krag ammo, fired from a 19" carbine, is loud as all hell.
Still, if people are in thick woods and need a carbine-length rifle, what the hell is wrong with a `94 Winchester?
Some folks did carry the 94 Winchester, but mostly the lever gun guys carried Marlins, the reason being scopes. Now, I hear you saying, "why do you need a scope at under 100 yards?" Err, well, once you've had a few beers, a (low powered) scope can be the difference between hitting the target, and hitting dirt... what can I say, I grew up with a buncha rednecks and yeah, they did occasionally manage to kill each other. Generally after reproducing, alas, so the gene pool wasn't improved. So it goes.
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