Mossberg MVP Patrol .300 Blackout

Bolt Rifle with AR-Compatible Magwell from Famed Shotgun Maker ‘a lot of Gun for the Money’

In the shotgun world, Mossberg is the king of the hill. While not commonly mentioned in everyday conversation, Mossberg also makes one hell of a series of rifles. In fact, they are some of the nicest long guns in the industry and in many cases quiet gems. One of their rifles especially caught my eye years ago. The MVP series has proven itself to be a serious performer in a variety of calibers. One specific model came up on my radar recently and I jumped at the chance to run it. It is the Mossberg MVP Patrol chambered in .300 Blackout. My first experience with this gun came at the Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous in Idaho. This is one of my favorite events of the year, as we gather a large number of companies to join the editorial team for some range and relaxation time. It gives us a chance to really visit with the companies and get serious time on their products. This was the case with Mossberg, which has been a staple of the Rendezvous since it started. So it was no surprise when I made a beeline to their tent to test the MVP.

FIRST OFF, THE Mossberg MVP series has a patented design that makes it compatible with AR-15, AR-10 as well as
M1A/M14 magazines. This compatibility is a tip of the hat to the shooters who buy these guns. Mossberg knows there
is nothing more frustrating than a rifle company including a super odd proprietary magazine with their guns. The fact that the MVP can run AR-style mags means you can get about 20 extra if you need them without any challenges. The new .300 Blackout model joins Mossberg’s other models chambered in 5.56/.223 and 7.62/.308. The MVP Patrol .300 BLK is designed to be a versatile, all-purpose platform and is a great choice at the range or in the field. It is one of those guns that fits a huge variety of situations. I like the addition of .300 BLK because this round delivers greater penetration and better terminal performance than the 5.56mm NATO/.223 Rem. cartridge.

The superior ballistics make this intermediate rifle cartridge effective for mid- to large-sized game such as deer, hogs and black bears. The .300 BLK model has a 16.25-inch medium bull, button-rifled and threaded barrel with an A2-style muzzle brake and a protective thread cap. I am a fan of this because my first thought about any gun chambered in .300 Blackout is suppression. Running subsonic .300 BLK through a quality bolt gun produces a true Hollywood silencer sound. Yes, it goes “pew.” It is one of the quietest combos you can get. The stock is pillar bedded, and there is an oversized bolt handle for quick cycling of the action.

The trigger on the gun is much better than the price tag would lead you to believe. Mossberg’s Lightning Bolt Action, or LBA, trigger system is user-adjustable from 3 to 7 pounds. The trigger is solid with little to no play. And because they know you are going to mount an optic, there is a factory mounted Picatinny rail. For those who want to go old-school and run iron sights, Mossberg has included a front fiber optic and rear barrel-mounted, adjustable rifle sight. These sights are not just an afterthought to say they did it. The sights are easy to use and quick to acquire. The gun is light to begin with, but if you want to keep the package super light, you can ditch the optic and use iron sights. Stock-wise, the rifle has a textured, black synthetic stock with stippling on the pistol grip. It’s a simple design but fits the gun very well. The entire
MVP line has become popular, and I am certain somebody is making an aftermarket stock if you want a little more bling. The exposed metalwork has a matte blue finish to protect it from the elements. In an attempt to shave a little more weight off, Mossberg is using a fluted bolt. The action was pretty smooth and with more use, it will become even smoother. Wrapping it up are two sling swivel studs to mount a sling, obviously, or a bipod.

The rifle I got came with one 10-round-capacity magazine. The magazine is yet another item where Mossberg went above the call. The mag for this gun is clearly marked as .300 Blackout. A special note here on this point. Be very careful to separate any mags loaded with .300 BLK from your .223/5.56. The internet is replete with images of people who fed the wrong ammo onto their guns and experienced catastrophic issues. Stay safe and mark your magazines. This marking by Mossberg may be no big deal to some, but I find it to be a reflection on Mossberg and their attention to small things to make life easier on the shooter.

WHILE I HAD the chance to shoot the rifle at the Rendezvous in Idaho, Mossberg was kind enough to send me one for further testing. The gun I received is identical to the rifle described above. The only modification I made to the rifle was the inclusion of an optic. This is not designed to be a super long-range blaster, so I mounted a Primary Arms SLx 1-5x24mm FFP Illuminated ACSS-Raptor scope. The rifle is designated as a patrol rifle, so I thought a scope designed for law enforcement was appropriate.
For part of the range session, I decided to run the gun suppressed as well. My suppressor of choice for this session was the Dead Air Nomad-30. The can is made with 17-4 stainless steel and Grade 5 titanium. It only weighs 14 ounces, which was nice since I was trying to keep the gun light. I used the Dead Air Xeno adapter and brake to mount it to the MVP. While the rifle out of the box was a little plain Jane, it took on a pretty sexy look with the addition of the optic and suppressor. Did that matter in the end, performance-wise? No, but a sexy gun is a sexy gun.

WE’RE STILL FEELING the effects of the great ammo famine, but it seems to be getting better. With that, I dug deep into my secret ammo stash to select three flavors of .300 BLK to run on the range. I used Nosler 125-grain BT Match, Sellier & Bellot 124-grain FMJ and Hornady 190-grain Sub-X because I wanted to see how quiet the gun could be. After a boresight and quick zero, it was time to go to work. The first item on the checklist was to check accuracy. For this section, I mounted a bipod on the rifle to give me a more stable brace. I also used a sand sock at the rear of the stock. Now, I realize that this isn’t exactly an “in the field” configuration, but I wanted to give the gun the best base possible to check accuracy. I took my time and, in the end, the Nosler won the day with a 1-inch group (see sidebar). In all honesty, I was pleasantly surprised by this performance. Mossberg makes no claims about the gun’s accuracy, but I have always been impressed by their performance. Could it be a sub-MOA gun? Perhaps with some tinkering and fine-tuning along with hand loads, but why? Accuracy-wise, the gun performs very well for its application.

The trigger, as I mentioned, was nicer than you may expect. The trigger broke at 2.5 pounds out of the box. I ditched the
bipod and did some positional shooting to get a better feel for the gun. It is a light rifle, yet I did not really have to wrestle with much recoil or muzzle flip. The birdcage flash hider upfront served me well, but ultimately, I would replace it with a different device. More than likely, I would leave the Dead Air Xeno brake on it to allow me a quick on and off with the Nomad-30.

Speaking of suppressors, this gun loved being suppressed; .300 BLK is a great round to suppress, and the Dead Air Nomad-30 paired with the MVP created a power couple. I realized about three magazines into it that I had a goofy grin plastered on my face. All you really get of significance is the sound of the firing pin dropping forward and a subtle
“pew” from the barrel. The Hornady Sub-X subsonic ammo is fantastic and shined on the range. I am blessed to shoot a lot of guns from a lot of different companies. I have been able to get time behind several of Mossberg’s rifles over the years and each time I am impressed. The Mossberg MVP Patrol in .300 Blackout keeps that streak alive and well. It is a lot of gun for the money. If you are heading out for a hunt or simply want an enjoyable gun for the range, this rifle needs to be on your list. ★

Editor’s note: Author Fred Mastison has written over 2,000 print articles in dozens of magazines. He is also the founder of Force Options USA, a training company for various uses of force, from hand-to-hand training to all levels of firearms training. Mastison is also one of the country’s top professional firearms and combative instructors and a certified dignitary protection specialist. He has taught for over 30 years and has over 16 law enforcement post-instructor certifications. In addition, he’s taught martial arts for 28 years and holds multiple black belts, including a seventh-degree black belt in aiki jujitsu.