Author Topic: Considering a Mossberg MVP (Read 7978 times)

cpaspr · « **on:** September 05, 2019, 03:21:36 pm »

I used to have a Ruger Mini-14. Loved the way it looked, and the way the controls were situated and operated.

BUT - I just had to have an AR-15. So, I sold the Mini-14 to fund an AR-15.

And have regretted it ever since.

There's just so much I don't like about the A/R platform. The safety is on the wrong side (that can probably be made ambi). The bolt hold-open is on the side - weird. And running the bolt? Hard to reach sitting under the back of the scope. I know, again, it can probably be tweaked with extenders of some sort. But it's still a weird design compared to all other guns I'm used to.

So, I'm thinking of pulling the scope back off the AR and offering it for sale. And then using the proceeds to buy a Mossberg MVP. The reviews I've read have been mostly positive, but I realize they're written by people who are paid to write reviews. So, not necessarily unbiased.

Anyone here have any real world experience with one? And of so, which model?

WeTheArmed.com

Plebian · « **Reply #1 on:** September 05, 2019, 04:09:50 pm »

One of my buddies bought the MVP patrol model.

It is a good shooting little rifle. That is the only one I have seen and shot, but they have good reviews everywhere online. So I assume they are decent little rifles. It is not as light as it should be IMO with the short barrel, but it is not heavy just expected lighter with the shorter barrel.

ksuguy · « **Reply #2 on:** September 05, 2019, 10:20:23 pm »

Maybe you should try a Brownell's BRN-180 upper? That seems like it would address a lot of your problems, especially if you get an ambi safety for the lower too.

coelacanth · « **Reply #3 on:** September 05, 2019, 11:24:06 pm »

Got to shoot one a while back at a group shoot up in the high country. Nice little rifle. I agree its a little heavy but unless you're going to pack it around all day at 7000' like where I was its not too bad. Handy with an OK trigger - not great but its workable. No surprises if you're accustomed to a stock Mini 14 trigger. I was able to hit with it from a rest out to our longest range that trip which was roughly 200 yards. I think we were using Federal 55 grain stuff. If I were in the market for that kind of gun I'd consider it.

cpaspr · « **Reply #4 on:** September 06, 2019, 12:06:01 am »

Quote from: ksuguy on September 05, 2019, 10:20:23 pm

Maybe you should try a Brownell's BRN-180 upper? That seems like it would address a lot of your problems, especially if you get an ambi safety for the lower too.

??

Sorry, but I don't see that as addressing any of what I don't like about ARs. It's still an AR upper, albeit a piston one. Simply has more rail is the only difference I see.

And the idea was to unload the AR to finance the MVP. The BRN-180 is $799 for the out of stock one, even more for the one they do have. Which is actually a pre-order one and, oops, forget it, it's a 10.5" barrel.

ksuguy · « **Reply #5 on:** September 06, 2019, 08:07:22 am »

It also has a side charging handle, and they do have the 16" model too (albeit out of stock at the moment). You can always grab one of Brownells 10% off coupons that are frequently out there too, but I do admit it is a little on the pricey side, even with that.

cpaspr · « **Reply #6 on:** September 06, 2019, 01:56:48 pm »

Ah, didn't see the side charging handle aspect. Still, trying to conserve funds. Hence the desire to sell the first to finance the second. I have enough guns (no, really, I do

). Just trying to fine tune the selection to guns I actually enjoy over ones I don't.

Mikee5star · « **Reply #7 on:** September 06, 2019, 10:43:43 pm »

Quote from: cpaspr on September 06, 2019, 12:06:01 am

??

Sorry, but I don't see that as addressing any of what I don't like about ARs. It's still an AR upper, albeit a piston one. Simply has more rail is the only difference I see.

And the idea was to unload the AR to finance the MVP. The BRN-180 is $799 for the out of stock one, even more for the one they do have. Which is actually a pre-order one and, oops, forget it, it's a 10.5" barrel.

The BRN-180 is NOT an AR-15 or any clone of one. Yes it uses an AR-15 lower, and was originally designed by the same guy, for the same company. However it, at least in the original form, shares no parts with AR-15s. It does share design sensibilities, rotating multi-lug bolt, etc. Brownells has modded the original design to work with more AR-15 parts, lowers and such more for their sales/manufacturing ease than anything else as being true to the design. AR-15's are forged or billet uppers and lowers, AR-180's were a stamped upper to be made for second or third tier forces, and that is what drove the design differences.

cpaspr · « **Reply #8 on:** September 07, 2019, 01:32:15 am »

I guess my words have failed me once again. I'm better with numbers.

I don't like the bolt release/hold open location, nor how it is manipulated to make it function. Way too much handling of the gun to lock the bolt open. And the safety is also in a weird position, to me. And both are on the AR-15 lower assembly, so it doesn't really matter what's on top.

And it still comes back to economics. Sell the one I don't like and replace it with one that I'm pretty sure I'll like better. For roughly the same amount of money.

Roper1911 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 07, 2019, 09:15:52 am »

there are ways to "fix" you issues with an AR, side charging uppers, PDQ bolt release/catch, ambi safeties and such.
it would cost a few hundred though.

as for the MVP? solid gun. some issues with bolt bind if you're running it too hard. but its manageable.

Mikee5star · « **Reply #10 on:** September 08, 2019, 10:05:36 pm »

Quote from: cpaspr on September 07, 2019, 01:32:15 am

I guess my words have failed me once again. I'm better with numbers.

I don't like the bolt release/hold open location, nor how it is manipulated to make it function. Way too much handling of the gun to lock the bolt open. And the safety is also in a weird position, to me. And both are on the AR-15 lower assembly, so it doesn't really matter what's on top.

And it still comes back to economics. Sell the one I don't like and replace it with one that I'm pretty sure I'll like better. For roughly the same amount of money.

Guns are like cars, if you don't like one sell it and buy one you like better. Find something that works best for you.

I do want to apologize for the tone of my post, I was cranky and tired and a bit harsh. I did not mean to be critical of YOUR choice. All I wanted to say was that the AR-180 is a completely different design from the AR-10/15 family. The BRN-180 is designed to make it accessible, hence being built as a AR-15 upper. The success of the AR-15 causes many of us to forget that Armalite had any other designs.

ksuguy · « **Reply #11 on:** September 08, 2019, 11:13:48 pm »

Some people have complained that the BRN-180 isn't more like the original AR-18, they wanted something more like the other Brownells Retro rifles. However, I think they made the right decision. Having it work with a standard lower makes it a lot more accessible, and it is the first really good option to have a good folding stock system on an AR.

I just wish they would do an 18" or 20" version. I have never been a huge fan of shorter barrels.

cpaspr · « **Reply #12 on:** September 09, 2019, 01:48:25 pm »

Mike -
No offense taken.

What's interesting, at least to me, is that I'm seeing some MVP guns on Bud's that the Mossberg site isn't showing. I think I'd prefer the longest barrel possible, which appears to be 20". But from their website the guns that barrel is available on are higher priced. But not at Bud's, on the guns the website isn't listing.

Oh, bother.

cpaspr · « **Reply #13 on:** October 28, 2019, 06:53:59 pm »

Semi-necro thread revival.

Been thinking about this again (I know, that can be dangerous!).

I liked the Mini-14 I had. That one's not coming back. The family member in possession likes it as much as I did.

And I don't want to pick up another used one, considering what usually happens to them (shot hard and fast, put away dirty). My previous one was an exception, but it was still an older one, more inclined to less than optimal accuracy.

My friend who owns the gun store where I originally bought my AR says that now is not a good time to be selling used ARs. But give it a few months as we get closer to the election, and prices should go up. Way up. Sufficient to be able to sell it and buy a brand new Mini-14. I think that's what I'm going to do. Probably the Ranch Rifle in stainless steel.

coelacanth · « **Reply #14 on:** October 28, 2019, 07:06:54 pm »

They are fun rifles to shoot. Good luck with your new plan.

MTK20 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 28, 2019, 09:33:36 pm »

Quote from: cpaspr on October 28, 2019, 06:53:59 pm

Semi-necro thread revival.

Been thinking about this again (I know, that can be dangerous!).

I liked the Mini-14 I had. That one's not coming back. The family member in possession likes it as much as I did.

And I don't want to pick up another used one, considering what usually happens to them (shot hard and fast, put away dirty). My previous one was an exception, but it was still an older one, more inclined to less than optimal accuracy.

My friend who owns the gun store where I originally bought my AR says that now is not a good time to be selling used ARs. But give it a few months as we get closer to the election, and prices should go up. Way up. Sufficient to be able to sell it and buy a brand new Mini-14. I think that's what I'm going to do. Probably the Ranch Rifle in stainless steel.

I loved shooting my buddy's new mini 14. I'm saddened that the new mini 14 is priced in a way that no longer competes with AR or AK platforms and renders them as basically irrelevant in the market.

I don't even think Ruger moves mini 14's anymore, because of this

.

ksuguy · « **Reply #16 on:** October 29, 2019, 01:12:13 am »

As a side note, full auto Mini-14s are one of the more affordable transferable machine guns available. Noticed that when I was browsing the NFA section of gunbroker. Of course, that still means they are outrageously expensive, just less outrageously expensive than some other rifles.

cpaspr · « **Reply #17 on:** October 29, 2019, 01:16:53 am »

Quote from: ksuguy on October 29, 2019, 01:12:13 am

As a side note, full auto Mini-14s are one of the more affordable transferable machine guns available. Noticed that when I was browsing the NFA section of gunbroker. Of course, that still means they are outrageously expensive, just less outrageously expensive than some other rifles.

Interesting aspect. Bud's currently has a Ruger AC-556 for only $11,500. Wood stock and blued steel though, so wouldn't quite be A-Team acceptable.

ksuguy · « **Reply #18 on:** October 29, 2019, 01:42:18 am »

I've toyed with the idea since I've had some extra cash on hand since we sold the old house and paid the new one off. However, that is a lot of money to tie up in one gun. Basically it's 10k at a minimum to get something decent, and then there is still the NFA hassle and a year long wait to deal with.

So I decided to have Arizona Response Systems build the FAL kits I've had sitting around for the past 15 years, built a couple more AR-10's, and I'm having Jesse put together a couple of Galil kits for me. So even with all that, I still only spent a small fraction of what a transferable mg would cost.

MTK20 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 29, 2019, 01:58:04 am »

Quote from: ksuguy on October 29, 2019, 01:42:18 am

I've toyed with the idea since I've had some extra cash on hand since we sold the old house and paid the new one off. However, that is a lot of money to tie up in one gun. Basically it's 10k at a minimum to get something decent, and then there is still the NFA hassle and a year long wait to deal with.

So I decided to have Arizona Response Systems build the FAL kits I've had sitting around for the past 15 years, built a couple more AR-10's, and I'm having Jesse put together a couple of Galil kits for me. So even with all that, I still only spent a small fraction of what a transferable mg would cost.

I haven't seen Jesse in forever on here. Hope he's doing well.

cpaspr · « **Reply #20 on:** October 30, 2019, 11:25:55 pm »

Quote from: MTK20

I haven't seen Jesse in forever on here. Hope he's doing well.

He was last on August 9th, last posted beginning of July, and his previous post before that was March of 2017.

Yeah, he hasn't posted much lately.

Agreed on wishing him well. There are a lot of us who used to be a lot more active who have just, sort of, slipped away. Many to FaceBook.

I refuse to patronize the fakebook site other than what I absolutely must, to get pictures of the grandchild. Otherwise, I wouldn't even have an account.

coelacanth · « **Reply #21 on:** October 31, 2019, 12:56:35 am »

Last time I talked with him it was over at the Arizona Gun Owners site. He was doing well at that point. Pretty swamped with all the day to day stuff but who isn't at this point?

I send him a PM and see if I get any response.

MTK20 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 31, 2019, 02:19:50 am »

Quote from: coelacanth on October 31, 2019, 12:56:35 am

Last time I talked with him it was over at the Arizona Gun Owners site. He was doing well at that point. Pretty swamped with all the day to day stuff but who isn't at this point? I send him a PM and see if I get any response.

I've been meaning to set up an Arizona gun owners account for a bit now self-

.

Quote from: cpaspr on October 30, 2019, 11:25:55 pm

He was last on August 9th, last posted beginning of July, and his previous post before that was March of 2017.

Yeah, he hasn't posted much lately.

Agreed on wishing him well. There are a lot of us who used to be a lot more active who have just, sort of, slipped away. Many to FaceBook.

I refuse to patronize the fakebook site other than what I absolutely must, to get pictures of the grandchild. Otherwise, I wouldn't even have an account.

I don't blame you for not using Facebook anymore than you have to.

I was a meme war veteran back in the day and I'm probably on several lists now for my trouble. I made my account all but dormant and I'm sure in this current climate, if I tried my same shenanigans, I would be permanently banned like so many others were just a couple years later during the 2016 kekistan campaign. It sounds ridiculous, but satire, memes, s___ posting, and generally provocative political humour have done more in defense of the first amendment than I ever would have imagined.

Regarding this forum, this is the closest thing I use to social media. I am deeply saddened to watch it's occupants leave and for the whole thing to "go to scale", but such is life. I imagine someday it'll just be me here shouting into the void

.

coelacanth · « **Reply #23 on:** October 31, 2019, 01:13:04 pm »

Yup. You, me and a precious few others huddled around a digital camp fire called We The Armed, talking among ourselves and reminiscing about the "good old days" ( pot up lonely, melancholy background music for effect ) . . .

. You better watch out - you're in danger of becoming an old timer.

MTK20 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 31, 2019, 03:22:27 pm »

Quote from: coelacanth on October 31, 2019, 01:13:04 pm

Yup. You, me and a precious few others huddled around a digital camp fire called We The Armed, talking among ourselves and reminiscing about the "good old days" ( pot up lonely, melancholy background music for effect ) . . . . You better watch out - you're in danger of becoming an old timer.

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