I thought I had seen a fairly detailed evaluation from somebody that had received their action. Anybody know where I could find this, as I wanted to forward it to a friend?
Posts: 14 | Location: Georgia | Registered: 03 June 2003
Rob, I had trouble finding it here as well. The search facility does not allow more than 300 search hits, so for a subject that has generated a lot of reply-traffic, this may mean you can't find what you are looking for...
Still, other web-sites to the rescue, I posted a link to another website on this AR thread. See whether this might be what you wanted?? You'll have to follow a couple of links this way, I'm afraid...
This is not a DeHaas style report with dimensions, measurements and technicalities of an action. It's more an initial impressions of a new action.
My primary focus is on the receiver and bolt and over-all usefulness of the action in custom rifles. I haven't barreled, shot, tested or proofed one of these actions……..but I would. It's NICE!!
The action I received was heat-treated, but totally unpolished as I requested. The scale was blasted off the receiver and bolt but they were raw out of the molds. The shroud and bottom metal were finished by the aftermarket suppliers. The shroud is polished and the bottom metal carries a vibra-tub finish.
As cast, the action was rough looking but was actually VERY close to perfect in straightness, squareness and fit. There was no surface that took more than .015 finishing with the surface grinder to make straight with the bore line. It's common to see other actions take more. The bolt face, inner ring and face of the receiver were square with each other "as delivered". Amazing!! (and uncommon in today's market.) I faced the receiver on the lathe anyhow, but it could have been barreled without it.
The action is a clear variation of the pre-64 Model 70. The few places it differs from the Model 70 tend to be improvements. The action has several features that place it in the company of action costing several times the modest price.
DESCRIPTION------
This action, like the Model 70 Winchester, is capable of cartridges of lengths up to 375 H&H but this one is blocked slightly to reduce it to a 30-06 length. It's controlled-round feed, long, non-rotating extractor action with a unique anti-bind feature to the geometry of the dual opposed front locking lugs. The left lug is dovetailed and the right has a small "stabilizer" mini-lug present that drastically reduces side to side play in the bolt while out of battery. Tolerances are tight as cast and bolt operation is pretty slick…….it got a LOT better with stoning.
The fascinating part is a Mauser-style inner breeching ring that's smaller than the diameter of the bolt !! This is a great feature. It offers the dual shoulder butting of the barrel shank to the receiver just like a "C" ring Model 98 Mauser AND the safety breech funnel of an early Model 70. The inside diameter of this ring is barely .625 which means it's close to cartridge head size and acts as an extension of the barrel.
The greatest safety factor of any action is in the design. The Montana '99 is a classic Mauser system that uses the rapid venting of escaping gas in a safe direction to save body parts instead of trying to seal the action against escaping gas like the push feed "rings of steel" action.
The Montana takes Mauser's design to a new height. Both sides of the receiver ring is vented and the bolt body has more vent area than a M-77 Ruger. This dumps gas and debris from primer failure (the most common) into the magazine box……..and as millions of M-98s attest, that's the best place for it.
Back to the inner ring---- This design is an innovation worthy of great praise. It makes feeding as positive as the pre-64 M-70 and the earlier M-54, P-17 Enfield and 1903 Springfields with a funnel end to the barrel in a classic "safety breech" but without the hassle of cutting an extractor slot. If things should go wrong with a case, the debris is directed back through the firing pin hole into the bolt with twin windows straight down in to the magazine box. The left overs leaks out both sides of the front receiver ring in directions unlikely to have body parts aligned with them.
Anything so excessive as to fill the left lug rail is first slowed by a gas-shield attached, a' la new M-70, to the extractor collar. Further to the rear in the left rail is a combination gas shield and bolt stop. It's a solid and strong unit capable of slowing lots of gas and brass before deformation. The last line of defense is one of the best bolt shrouds I've seen. None of the inherent weaknesses of the original Winchester design is present in this one. The Montana shroud is MUCH better designed and made than the original M-70 that tended to spray parts of melted cartridge case and small parts towards the shooter's eyes.
I would be confident in shooting this action in "Mauser Mode"……in confidence of being warned of my stupidity long before it gets to the dangerous stage.
The Montana 1999 is a VERY nice action at any price and an especially good deal at current price levels. The fact that it can be fit into a M-70 inletted stock and is, in all ways, equal or better in fit, quality and safety than it's clear parent, makes it an especially tasty offering.
Is it perfect? Not in my opinion, but it's a very good value and will make an especially fine rifle. I understand tweaking of the original design is still in progress and actions produced in successive generations should be even better. These are exciting actions and well suited for a wide variety of custom applications.
After two days of surface grinding, hand stoning and polishing, this action is as slick as a pre-war M-70 and better designed. I'll have it on my table at the Reno ACGG show next week. Stop by and fondle it a while.
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Update--
The Montana 1999 HAS been tweaked and several suggestions for improvements have been incorporated in successive generations.
MRC has proven to be a great company to do business with. They're riflemen building rifles for other riflemen.....
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