MRC 1999 Long Action

[Walsh]

Hey ya'll, it has been awhile since my last post/thread, just been reading a lot, but I have a question.

How are the Model 1999 actions from Montana Rifle Company? I have read mixed reviews about them, from godlike to shady buisness practices. The reason I ask is because Winchester 70's are now assembled in Portugal, and I want a 100% American made and assembled/produced rifle The 1999 action is the only viable alternative, don't want a Ruger, or really a Kimber (I'm sure their great rifles though).

Not to worried about price, as this will be my "one" rifle, funny idea right. Here is a link to their site: MRC Actions

And is case ya'll were curious, here are current spects for the rifle:
30-06
Krieger 22", 1-10" twist, light palma contour, stainless steel
2.5 - 3.5 pound trigger
McMillian HTG fiberglass stock, 50% black, 25% white, 25% red, pillar and glass bedded
Rear steel receiver sight
Front steel sight ramp
Stripper clip guide
T.A.B. Sling
3" Picatinny rail on the left side of the stock, on the forend if possible
<8.5 pounds

Anyways, I appreciate the time, I haven't read enough to be confident in a purchase from the company.

- Walsh

 

[18Echo]

I looked at one once, but heard enough bad things about them on the inter webs to find an old winchester donor rifle with CRF to do my build. If price, as you say, isn't a consideration you can buy a Satterlee action but it's going to put a serious dent in your wallet.

 

[Walsh]

Holy crap, the whole rifle build ain't going to cost that! By no consideration of expendetures, I guess I should've said <$2500.

Unfortunately, I read that reply too often, I might have to give them a call sometime all feel them out.

Any other opinions?

 

[GhostFace]

My question for you is why risk it? If there are a few complaints about this company why risk loosing your money? There are enough reputable smiths that have steller reputations and recieve nothing but praises to send your business to. I would not send my parts or money to someone that I would have to worry about, there is no need for it....

 

[Blackbrush]

Use a Dakota action

 

[weshowe]

Gents,

I've got two of the early Montana 1999 actions. I bought them when the company first started. Polishing could have been better, but functionally they've been very good. I paid about $350 for mine then. They now go for $850. For a hunting rifle they are great, but for an accuracy/sniper rifle I'd pick another maker with a reputation for precision work and product(ie; Big Horn, Stiller, Surgeon, etc.).

Mind you, I'm not bad mouthing the action. They are nice and make into a proper rifle IF you take your time and have a good smith put it together. For the money there are better...

Wes

 

[Walsh]

Well I am not looking for extreme accuacy considering I'll just be using iron sights/1-4x optic. Why do you consider those actions to be "better"? No three position safety, no claw extactor, no recoil lug (usually) built in, and they are usually a bit higher in price for a pretty 700 action.

I really do wish I liked the 700 pattern action more, I just can't get over the weaker extraction, which rears its head with steel cases in my experience.

 

[weshowe]

Walsh,

For a hunting type action I think you'll be happy with the Montana 1999. Controlled round feed and the best of the Winchester 70(trigger) and Mauser breaching system.
Go with a 23" barrel. We did a lot of testing and it seems to be an optimum length for velocity while still remaining handy.

Wes

 

[wadebrown]

Check the letters to the editor in the NRA's December issue of American Hunter as one of the letters real bad customer service that the author had with a rifle he ought from them. I had thought about buying one of their actions for a classic style deer gun but after reading the letter to the editor and the past really bad press I just bought a C Higgins Model 50 off of gunbroker.com. Don't laugh quite yet the Model 50 is built on a commercial mauser 98 made in Belgium by FN, I really like 98's and FN probably makes one of the best actions. I plan on putting a it in a nice piece of walnut with cut rifled barrel, three position swing safety on it and Sunny Hill bottom metal and it should be a very smart looking classic rifle that function great. There are far cheaper ways to get hunting rifle and even a controlled feed action but if I wanted to save money I wold not have a safe full of rifles.

 

[Walsh]

I sure do hate that! I could always get an 03A3 action I suppose..... have a yearning for "new", stupid I know, or maybe, slightly used.

Calling them sometime this week and see how they treat a prospective customer.

 

[blackfoot]

Based on how they put their production rifles together I wouldn't give them a cent.


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[Walsh]

blackfoot, what do you base this off of? not to be confrontational, just curious....

 

[blackfoot]

I almost bought a stainless gun until I took the stock off. It had pillars that didn't go through for the action screw to bear on, just filled with bedding material. It's like the stock wasn't built for the action. There was a washer used for a spacer under the rear action screw that was epoxied in, along with the rear action screw. Worst of all the extractor slams against the barrel tenon and bows the extractor. To top it all of the gun had back up open sights but the stock comb made it impossible to get low enough to look down the sights. The shop had 6 identical rifles with the identical issues.


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[Walsh]

Dang thats worse than the "rifles" that Remington is currently producing!

Gosh I need to find a solid CRF action.....

 

[weshowe]

Walsh,

I can't vouch for Montana's production rifles, methods, or quality. My actions are almost ten years old and were re-barreled professionally by Pac-Nor with their super match barrel.

With what's been said, I think I'd stay away.

Wes

 

[Walsh]

Well that is frustrating to say the least, are there any other options out there, given my specifications? Closest custom CRF in price is a McMillian G30, and that is $1450!! Absurd.....

Maybe those CZ550s aint to bad after all, even if they are not produced here. Or maybe I'll revert back to an 03 action.

 

[18Echo]

Like I said previously I'd try to find a New Haven or S.C. Win 70 classic donor rifle, or hit up gunbroker for a mauser action of which there is usually plenty.

There is always this:http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...ts-custom-338-06-hunting-rifle-*lowered*.html

 

[Walsh]

Slick rifle, but I am not buying until the summer when I can get a job (in college now).

I might just have to go the used/slightly used route, I'm sure it'll provide for many years of use.

 

[Ncloud]

reviving an old thread, has the consensus on these rifles improved?
I've heard about some of them that are very accurate and some that aren't.
I have a 300 win mag that was won in a NRA raffle.

 

[PBWalsh]

This thread is so old the OP is my ORIGINAL Sniper’s Hide account!

For what its worth, I did build said rifle off an 03a3 action. Rifle build was a fail. Didn’t do anything well, the smith I used was not the most proficient either. Would have been better with more careful consideration to weight, probably would have been a solid rifle, but I failed to pay attention to the weight of the selected components.

For what its worth, if I had to do it over again I’d just get a T3x/Bighorn Origin, prefit light to medium 16.5” barrel, simple 1-4/6 optic. .308., CTR or MCS EH1 stock. Live and learn I suppose.