Opinions on Mossberg Patriot?

Freezer

I have been trying to get a H&R Handi-Rifle to shoot well for my wife. In frustration, gave up. In a hiss fit, I stopped by the LGS to but a Savage compact in 243. All they had was a Mossberg Patriot Bantam chambered in 6.5 Creedmore. I bought it and three boxes of ammo. 

I stripped down, put on a loin cloth, captured some squirrels and started the ritual barrel break-in ritual. The moon was right! I don't know what I did wrong.

The dam thing won't group! I expended 2 boxes of ammo breaking in the barrel, and it won't group!  

Today I went to the range. I thought it was a problem with the arrow, not the Indian. While there, the president of the club arrived and grilled me about the rifle. He critiqued me on my procedures and assessments. He confirmed my suspicions, it's the arrow!  The scope sucks! Right out of the box, it is junk, a "Dead Ringer" The only thing it's a dead ringer for is a turd. I installed an old Redfield 2x7 and it sight-in with four shots at 25 yards.

The bolt is hard to open after being fired and that gives me some concern. The stock is a floating stock and free to the action. The stock is cheap (to be expected) there are no metal pillars and the entire thing is plastic. The trigger really isn't bad.

If I can get it to shoot, I'll work on the stock. I like the way it firs my wife, though a good shot, she no marksman. 

What is your opinion of Mossberg's Patriot line?

If I can get this thing to group, I'll put a Leupold on it next year, and ebd the action.

I should have waited for a Savage!

Zee

I’ve never held one. But, I’ve never been a Mossberg fan of any kind in the past. 

Hope it ends well for you. 

Bigslug

First of all, please define "won't group".  Won't group as in won't make a competitive Benchrest shooter happy, or won't group as in the broad side of a barn can't be hit even from the inside with the doors closed?

Are the three boxes of ammo the same stuff?  That could be the issue.

What's the torque spec for the action screws?  You say it's a floating stock - does it even HAVE action screws?  It's worth looking up, as there can be a lot of variation:  Remington 700's are usually 35 inch-pounds for wood; 45 for factory synthetics; and 60-65 is pretty common on custom-bedded target jobs.  Ruger 77-patterns are 90-95 on the angled front and 50-60 at the rear on the Hawkeyes, but only 10 on the plastic triggerguard of the Gunsite Scout.

If the barrel isn't floated, it should be set into the stock with some upward pressure from the forend.  If it's some half-assed in-between or off-center thing, that might be a clue.

Scope mounts tight? 

Could a scope mount or action screw intruding into the locking lug recesses account for your sticky bolt? (Could also be the ammo).  Does the bolt close hard (Could be extractor or ejector).  What's the brass look like after it comes out?  Striations on the sides?  Rim buggered up?  Primers flattening or backing out?

Uncle Fester

I would trade it in on a Ruger or Savage.  

CHIRO1989

I I have a pre-Patriot .243 youth, not sure what is different, synthetic stock with an accutrigger style trigger, shoots Federal Fusionswith boring 100yd accuracy , office manager has a walnut stocked Patriot in 22-250, she has rolled several beavers on their deer hunting property with it with good accuracy also, no problems with either

Freezer

Bigslug said:

First of all, please define "won't group".  Won't group as in won't make a competitive Benchrest shooter happy, or won't group as in the broad side of a barn can't be hit even from the inside with the doors closed?

Are the three boxes of ammo the same stuff?  That could be the issue.

What's the torque spec for the action screws?  You say it's a floating stock - does it even HAVE action screws?  It's worth looking up, as there can be a lot of variation:  Remington 700's are usually 35 inch-pounds for wood; 45 for factory synthetics; and 60-65 is pretty common on custom-bedded target jobs.  Ruger 77-patterns are 90-95 on the angled front and 50-60 at the rear on the Hawkeyes, but only 10 on the plastic triggerguard of the Gunsite Scout.

If the barrel isn't floated, it should be set into the stock with some upward pressure from the forend.  If it's some half-assed in-between or off-center thing, that might be a clue.

Scope mounts tight? 

Could a scope mount or action screw intruding into the locking lug recesses account for your sticky bolt? (Could also be the ammo).  Does the bolt close hard (Could be extractor or ejector).  What's the brass look like after it comes out?  Striations on the sides?  Rim buggered up?  Primers flattening or backing out?

I'm using the same ammo, Federal.

The stock doesn't touch the barrel, you can slide a dollar bill to the action.
I checked the action screws, but not with an inch pound torque wrench, which I have.

I checked the base and mounts to insure they were secure. I have not checked for an impingement.

Will not group. It's all over the paper, sometimes low then high both right and left, a 7 or 8 inch pattern.

Dead ringer is made by Rock Ridge Outdoors and retails for about $65.Mossberg used to off a Vortex scope, why they put this piece of crap on this rifle baffles me.

I put a 2x7 Redfield on it and have it on at 25 yards. I get another box of ammo tomorrow and try again Wednesday.

If I can get close to MOA I may bed the action, recoil lug and install pillars of the action screws.

Gene L

Send it back to Mossberg. One or two MOA can be ammo, but unless your scope is ruined, I can't think of why it shoots 8 MOA.  Bed the action; can't hurt.

GrapeApe

Copper fouling and scope would be my first 2 suspects after what you've already done

Justsomedude

Can you pull the bolt and verify that the bolt nose isn't touching the back of the barrel? If so there will be a slight round drag mark. If not, I'd say that GrapeApe has correct suspicions. 

Freezer

OK, I cleaned and lubed the bolt and action. The last time I shot it, I had it at the 25-yard range when I installed an old Redfield 2x7. I hit the bullseye and stopped.
Today after work I decided I'd get to the range and try again. It was 28 degrees, and I wasn't anxious to shoot a long time. I set up and had targets on the 50-yard range and 100-yard range. I loaded the mag with 3 rounds and began. The first shot was 5 inches high, the second 3 inches after an adjustment, and three and four were touching in the red. I swung to the 100-yard range, and the first shot was one inch high and centered. The second was a bullseye, The third touched the first shot on the right and the fourth shot was touching the bullseye shot on the right. One inch on a cold afternoon was good enough for me. The scope was the problem! I can't wait to get some powder to do a load work-up. The stock is all plastic, The mag is plastic the action isn't butter smooth, it's an entry level, but it can shoot! 

Why they put such a piece of crap scope on this rifle is beyond my comprehension!

An interesting side story. After the first 100-yard shot, I had to reload the mag. After that I slipped it into the rifle, set it in the shooting bags and settled in behind the scope. I as looked through the scope, all I could see was the north end of a south bound doe! She had come off the left bank, crossed in front of me and walked to the 100-yard range. She turned right and broad side to me as if to examine the target. Then she climbed the right bank. I sent three more shots down range and after inspecting the shots through my spotting scope decided I was cold enough and went to retrieve the targets. When I got to the 100 yard target, she was over the bank not 35 yards from the target. She got up and walked up the hill to the right.

Oh! The things you see when you can't shoot!

JKP

Good deal. I have a .22 Mag rifle that came with a package scope I need to replace as I suspect it's not helping accuracy. 

Gene L

Yeah, when you're getting 8" groups something is seriously wrong like everyone said and you know now it's the original scope.  With a good scope I don't think you could make a rifle shoot 8" patterns if you tried.

GrapeApe

Glad you got it sorted out

Zee

A package deal (with scope) is never a deal. 

The scope is the hook without any actual value. 

Freezer

Zee said:

A package deal (with scope) is never a deal. 

The scope is the hook without any actual value. 

I agree. I wanted a Savage compact that came without a scope chambered in 243. I have plenty of 243 ammo, brass, dies and bullets. I was in need of a rifle, and they only had the Mossberg compact Chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, with no chance of getting a Savage before next year. Now that I have it shooting well, albeit with a 50-year-old scope, my wife is good for this season. I'll put a Leupold on it later. After sighting it and breaking in the barrel, I have plenty of brass but, now, I have to buy bullets and dies for the Creedmoor.

Mossberg offered to replace this scope, but I'm not sure I'll bother. Retail value is $69. I have no desire for a junk scope. The Brand name is "Dead Ringer". The only thing this scope is a Dead Ringer for is a piece of crap.

Gene L

Zee said:

A package deal (with scope) is never a deal. 

The scope is the hook without any actual value. 

Back in 1979 I bought a new 788 with a 3x9 Tasco scope on it.  It was a great deal and after tinkering with it and putting a 4x12 Tasco on it, it was way accurate.  Like 3/8" for a .223 with hand loads.  I paid $125 for it. A great package deal.  I didn't know how to bed a rifle back then so I epoxied the entire barrel.  It was luck, I guess.  

Freezer

Some package deals just aren't worth it. My neighbor inherited a Remington 710. The stock holds the bolt release in place and has a tendency to crack the stock and wasn't very accurate. They didn't last long. The 788 on the other hand was a great rifle, as was the 721 and 722