First they look nice on the website. Question to those who have looked at them first hand. Are all the as cast surfaces, inside and out, removed in finishing or machining stages? For instance do they broach the raceways to leave a smooth finish or leave them as cast?



I was impressed by their website, I may use one to make my next project.

I've got one here for a guy's 6.5 RUM (shortened 0.200). Very well finished. Will do a little stoning once I assemble it and hone the trigger. Once I set it up for blueprinting I'll let you all know how true it is.

IMO its what Mauser/Winchester would could be. But then I'm not one of those who feel that a forging or machined billet is superior to investment cast.

Mine was poorly polished and took a lot of stoning to true it up. The guard screws and springs were of poor quality. I also had to re-contour the trigger guard to my tastes..it was very thick. The polishing on the front edges of the bottom metal was dished enough that it was hard to recover to a true, flat surface.
The safety did not cam the firing mechanism back far enough..and if one pulled the trigger (from a SAFE position), then released the safety it would drop the firing pin. The safety is not smooth like a M-70. Feels like soft metal to me (a CM short action)as does the trigger...not up to M-70 standards
Inside rails are not polished but this can be done easily..same with the feed ramp. It is smooth after interior stoning and, I believe well dimensioned...however the bolt lift is stiff. This could be traced to poor springs mentioned above or again soft metal.
As received it would probably make a decent rifle, but if you want to spend money on a custom rifle buy a $500 pre-64 and part it out, or start with a good Mauser. Spend the 9 month wait time on caftmanship instead of waiting for the basis for a project.
The action is well engineered, but I don't feel they have enough control over their subcontractors yet to achieve a quality product. Just my opinion.

The ones I have handled are just like the Rugers that come out of the same foundry. I am sure they are a good action, but in my mind they are no better than a Ruger.

Aaron

"just like the Rugers"

That is too bad. I am sure Montanajeff will read this. I will put in my opinion and it is worth what you paid for it. I will never own a ruger bolt gun because they do not clean up the as cast surface in all areas. The bolt fit is sloppy, and not smooth.

Perhaps someone can enlighten me. Why can't the raceways and other surfaces be cast with enough meat to allow a finish cut. In other words make it too small and run a broach through to clean them up. Then the bolt would run smooth and not flop around. If one simply polishes and oversized raceway I may be smoother but will not fit the bolt well.

As far as soft parts, can't they be case hardened in mass?

Scot,
The nice about those actions is that you don't have to own one! I'm sure you'd be much happier with a Dakota or a real Mauser.

I heard someone say the new CZ model 3 uses a montana action. is this true, and if so are they any different than the regular montana action

You know, eight years ago I bought a Mauser action to have my dad build me a custom rifle, it wasn't until after he completed it that he explained the work that went into "smoothing it up" and "truing the action". After that he came up with the idea for the Model 1999 and he told me a couple of things. Not every shooter likes his action the same way and there are alot of simple things that need to be done to an action to make it "just right" for a particular shooter. He also explained that in order to do the most good in this arena we needed to build a product that would be a great start for the majority - he always used the term "Majority" because let's face it, we are not going to please everyone. It was then that he decided to build them as a starting point for a Custom Rifle not a finished product. It wasn't until I had been here about six months that I realized a few things about the "Custom Rifle" business. I began to understand the differnce between a Quality Gunsmith and an Assembler. Now for those of you out there that are going to take offense to that, don't, if you don't like our product it's OK. It's not for everyone. Our actions are a starting point for a custom rifle. Sure it will take a little bit of work to "finish" it. But isn't that what the "Custom" means? Right now we don't have the capacity to do alot of the finishing work that some people require, maybe by next summer that will be an option for our customers. But then we would be competing with most of you gunsmiths and that's not what we want. And for the retail customer out there, sure that adds an extra step in the process for you,and maybe a few more dollars (and it would if we did it too). But trust me when I say it is so much better to have a good relationship with your gunsmith. He is going to be the one who get's to know you , your shooting style, what you like, what you don't like, etc. I hope all of you understand that we have really been as upfront and honest with you as we possibly could. Scot, I sure hope this helps you in your decision.
Jeff Sipe
Sales Manager
The Montana Rifle Company

Folks, go back to when MRC first came on the scene. Their whole reason for existence was to produce an action to be sold directly to custom gunsmiths that combined the best virtues of the Model 70 and Model 98. An AFFORDABLE action that combined the best of both older models. A BRAND NEW, AFFORDABLE action in short, long and magnum lengths , c-m and stainless, for both right and left handers. Anybody got any beautifully hand made and hand finished left hand, stainless short action Oberndorf Model 98 sporters for sale?

These were not meant to be fully finished actions. It was understood that the gunsmith would smooth them up. It was understood that the gunsmith might want to true them up some, although I hear that they are pretty straight as they come from the factory.

They are raw material. Not fair for the factory to tell you �These are raw material for a custom gunsmith� and then criticise them by saying �hey, these aren�t beautifully finished, polished products.� Well, no kidding - that�s what MRC has been telling us from the start. They are what they are � an innovatively designed, low cost start for a fine rifle, made in every variation possible to try to suit the entire spectrum of sporting riflemen.

Of course, if one is unhappy with their product one can always buy one of those dime a dozen, see�em at every show, short action stainless pre-64 Winchesters.

Apparently Montanajeff and I posted at the same time and are basically trying to say the same thing.

I say good for MRC. I wish them much success.

Fair enough. It is an action kit. I have no problem with that. Are the bolt fit tollerances close enough to polish the raceways and still have close fitting bolt? Would it end up more like a 98 sporterized military rifle or Ruger with the loosie goosie bolt?

When I got mine the bolt was so tight it hung up in several places it as it was worked. The exterior finish was quite good and looks bead blasted and that's exactly what was done in finishing a rifle for me. The interior needed polishing as did the raceways but, yes, there is enough meat in there to polish them. After polishing mine I still had a hangup in the bolt at the bridge. Easy to fix. I jewelled the bolt and it's as smooth as any bolt I've ever worked in spite of its being stainless. In addition, it's still quite "tight", not floppy like the average factory rifle. The rails and feed ramp also required a lot of polishing but once done everything works just fine. I did all the work except the machining. My rifle builder said it was the truest action he had ever seen, requiring no straightening of the threads or squaring of the bolt. The only thing that became a problem was my fault. The bolt face was cut for a magnum. I turned it into a WSM whose heads are nominally .535". The face was only .531" and it "looked" like it fit. It didn't, and later had to be cut for head clearance. I wasn't looking for a shiney gun to put in a gun case and show off. I wanted a good looking, functional saddle gun, and that's what I got with minimal work.

If you condense the previous posts and search/read other on this product you will have the whole story, let's see:
1. Pay up front
2. Wait 8-14 months
3. Pay shipping
4. Receive an action produced by a number of subs, but with no in-house QC. Polished by a someone who has no clue. The safety and firing mech. fit with a Dremel tool.
5.Deal with cast parts out of spec and poorly made.
6. Modify an action that fires if the safety lever is released.
7. Call MRC to report these defects and problems and be advised replacement springs/screws will cost you another $45. Oh, BTW there is no resolution to the poor finish. If you order one ask for an unpolished casting and you will be ahead of thie game.
8. Sell it in the classified as a MRC 1999 custom..really hard to come by.
9. Read the ensuing MRC Bullshit on this site
10. Order a new MRC PH square bridge action.

The thought these guys are now marketing a DG rifle action is frankly really scary.

After reading 10at6's comments I just had to chime in with the fact that I love mine. I had a 280rem built up with an MRC action and I love it. Jeff was there with me for every dumb question that I had as it was being built up. Now if I do my part it will hopefully take a black bear in Alaska in a week or so, I may even get brave enough to use it on a moose.



I will be ordering another for a new 375 H&H.



Doug

I paid up front on both the actions I bought. The right hand action is at John Ricks'. The left Hand should be there mid September. Since I started looking for and buying two actions for 404 Jeffery projects, MRC has always been up front and treated me well.



Up front when I paid, I knew it was a startup project. I expected delays and there were delays. John says the RH action he has for my rifle is a good action, well suited for a 404 Jeffery.



For those of you who don't like MRC, I suggest you don't buy their products. There are several other manufactures who make a variety of actions. I'm sure you would be happier with one of those actions.

Just my opine.

10to6 must work for Ruger

Are the actions on the Ruger MKII Magnums the same as theese ? I don't know if it's possible but if a guy wanted to build a 404 Jeff on a budget couldnt you just re-barrel one of the Ruger Magnums and use the same stock ???

Pay up front, yes - but only 2/3 the current retail price if stainless or less than 3/4 current price if CM. For $350 the charter issue wasn't a bad deal at all.

Not even close to the same. The M1999 is much better.

Cold Bore,

I think you about summed it up, I think I will order another today

Doug

The biggest complaint I had is that mine came with a "loosie goosie" bolt. I believe the gun was worth what I paid for it, but not the bargain I had hoped for. I changed jobs to another state just before I had mine completed so I haven't had the chance to really see what it will do. I have really appreciated how up front MRC seams to be, but they do seem to suffer from chronic optimism.

This post has some comments on MRC actions.

MRC Actions