Montana Rifle Co, Shoot2Hunt, and Rokslide Rifle

[MuleyFever]

Any idea on initial caliber offerings?

 

[Gstew1930]

This is awesome! 22 Creed in the lineup?

 

[wind gypsy]

What barrels does MRC use?

 

[woods89]

If we are just doing wish lists here, a correctly designed micro action for 223 and 6 ARC would be nirvana.

I.E., something like my CZ 527 but with some of the issues fixed.

I realize this might need to be a project for the future.

 

[Imac45acp]

What barrels does MRC use?

We make our barrels in house.

Needless to say, we're all pretty stoked about this project. It's been brewing for quite some time!

-Ian

 

[NSI]

Another differentiator would be sending the rifles with 10 round proof groups instead of 3 or 5, and guaranteeing something doable like 1.5 MOA with a particular loading of a consistent ammo like federal GMM. Lots of unrealistic and murky accuracy guarantees out there, you’d be setting a much more useful and verifiable standard.

-J

 

[ID_Matt]

Any idea on initial caliber offerings?

Only offered in 6 UM is the rumor......


Kidding.... Creed family (22/6/6.5) and then a mini action for 22/6 arc and 223 would be awesome. Definitely understand the manufacturing complications of making different sized actions and bolt faces though.

 

[Billogna]

Any love for the lefties??

 

[Formidilosus]

Start at the start.


Why do so many “custom” and “semi-custom” rifles have so many functional problems? Feeding and function issues are common out of the box, precision issues are not uncommon. Incorrect assembly is common. Etc.
So what do you get for your money when you buy a $2,00 to $4,000 (and higher) semi custom rifle? A painted stock? Maybe it’s spot bedded? (but so many are going in chassis and aluminum bedding blocks that’s not even a thing). It has a “custom” $100 Trigger Tech trigger from the factory? An accuracy guarantee* that they never proved? A barrel length/weight that isn’t ideal for the task, but is threaded?

You certainly aren’t getting a rifle that has any more attention to correct cycle of operation- feed/fire/extract/eject/feed; than any factory rifle. They didn’t proof the precision on each rifle by actually shooting it. They didn’t cycle ammo through it (through multiple mags if DBM) to ensure correct function. They didn’t assemble it in any way different than a $500 rifle.

So what is it? From what I see and have experienced the $2,000 plus common “upgraded rifles” are a poorly thought out stock, with a mismatched to application barrel length and weight, In optimum twist rates and magazine COAL, a sub $100 common trigger, and some paint splattered on it. Quite often there are basic function issues that either can’t be remedied by the user, or require significant knowledge of how to do so.
When people spend $3,000-$4,000 on a rifle, they expect that they are paying for that rifle to be free from problems- to function correctly and to group without issue. Unfortunately, that isn’t what you are paying for.

Right now there is not a single rifle offered beyond standard factory, by any company that I could suggest to someone that wants to buy a made for purpose western backpack and general hunting rifle and know that it is ready to go out of the box. The best option currently available for a no nonsense, well setup rifle is a Tikka T3x cut and threaded if needed, with a correctly designed stock, assemble it correctly, and go.


All rifles should, but especially semi-custom and custom rifles should:

- be designed correctly- action/barrel/stock
- be reliable
- durable
- function correctly without fuss
- group consistently and acceptably without fuss
- be assembled and torqued correctly

AND all of that is proven by the manufacturer on the rifle that you purchase- not just guaranteed* . Yet there are no off the shelf options that offer that.

Enter MRC.

In our first conversation they appeared to be genuine, honest and upfront- even about less than perfect things. They too lamented that they could not get honest assessments and feedbacks on their rifles from the industry. They did not have long term, heavy use and abuse on their rifles that they wanted.
The first conversation started about a stock, and ended with “before we go any farther we need to send you/yall a rifle to use heavily and harshly for you to give honest feedback”. They wanted it public- open and honest regardless of how good or bad the outcome.
Ryan and Jake did not want to put the ROKStok on a companies rifle if they didn’t know that the rifle was legitimately good; and MRC didn’t want the stock if they didn’t believe in the rifle.

The MRC Junction in 308 was sent with the direction that it would be shot as is, then modified as it went to make it optimum for western backpack handling bring and general shooting. It was a randomly selected rifle off the shelf. It had some issues that can be read about in the eval that Ryan linked to. Once those issues were identified, MRC immediately found the root causes and corrected them across the board- no excuses, no hiding from it. Just fixed it. That rifle is over 3,000 rounds currently, and since abut round 100 or less when the issues were discovered and corrected, it has been flawless. The most dramatic example is during the last Shoot2Hunt class this year where witches somehow made nearly all rifle have constant malfunctions and problems, the MRC functioned without a single bobble.
So much so, that when the conversation finally came up in earnest about doing an MRC/S2H designed rifle, Jake was dubious asking “really, a CRF?!”. Ryan who historically dislikes CRF stated “well, those problems at the class- wouldn’t and didn’t happen to that rifle”. Ryan’s last question to me was “if they make this rifle exactly as we lay out, would you personally choose to purchase and hunt with it?” I stated that I would pay full retail for the first one that comes off the line.



The MRC and S2H rifle project approach:


1). The MRC action with integral Picatinny rail.

2). Barrels of optimum length, light contour, and threaded. 18” and 22” inch models.

3). Bolt handle redesigned for optimum control and rapid bolt manipulation.

4). ROKStok

5). All chambering’s with optimum (fast) twist rates and ample COAL in magazine

6). AICS bottom metal, designed for carrying in the hand. To be as smooth and low profile as possible, with a slightly enlarged trigger guard for gloved shooting.

7). 2x magazines included with every rifle. 1x flush fit, and 1x 5 round extended.

8). Actions and barrels nitrided (if possible)

9). Every rifle and screw is degreased completely, thread locked, and torqued to the maximum spec.


And most important of all- every single rifle is function checked for 100 rounds of cycling from the included magazines, and shot for a 10 round proof group.


Included in the box with the rifle are cards with QR codes that explain each aspect of the rifle, design, and build.

 

[Formidilosus]

Has a target price been identified?

Between $3,000 and $3,500.

 

[Formidilosus]

Any idea on initial caliber offerings?

Within the first year I believe-

22 creedmoor
6mm Creedmoor
6.5 Creedmoor
308 win
6.5 PRC

Sometime relatively quickly believe-

7 PRC
300 Win mag
300 PRC

This is awesome! 22 Creed in the lineup?

Yes.

What barrels does MRC use?

Their own. As my long post above stated- every single rifle will be shot for a ten round group before it leaves the factory.

If we are just doing wish lists here, a correctly designed micro action for 223 and 6 ARC would be nirvana.

I.E., something like my CZ 527 but with some of the issues fixed.

I realize this might need to be a project for the future.

Ahead of you. grin

Another differentiator would be sending the rifles with 10 round proof groups instead of 3 or 5, and guaranteeing something doable like 1.5 MOA with a particular loading of a consistent ammo like federal GMM. Lots of unrealistic and murky accuracy guarantees out there, you’d be setting a much more useful and verifiable standard.

-J

See my long post. That’s exactly what is happening.

Any love for the lefties??

Yes. But not in the first run.

 

[TxLite]

Start at the start.


Why do so many “custom” and “semi-custom” rifles have so many functional problems? Feeding and function issues are common out of the box, precision issues are not uncommon. Incorrect assembly is common. Etc.
So what do you get for your money when you buy a $2,00 to $4,000 (and higher) semi custom rifle? A painted stock? Maybe it’s spot bedded? (but so many are going in chassis and aluminum bedding blocks that’s not even a thing). It has a “custom” $100 Trigger Tech trigger from the factory? An accuracy guarantee* that they never proved? A barrel length/weight that isn’t ideal for the task, but is threaded?

You certainly aren’t getting a rifle that has any more attention to correct cycle of operation- feed/fire/extract/eject/feed; than any factory rifle. They didn’t proof the precision on each rifle by actually shooting it. They didn’t cycle ammo through it (through multiple mags if DBM) to ensure correct function. They didn’t assemble it in any way different than a $500 rifle.

So what is it? From what I see and have experienced the $2,000 plus common “upgraded rifles” are a poorly thought out stock, with a mismatched to application barrel length and weight, In optimum twist rates and magazine COAL, a sub $100 common trigger, and some paint splattered on it. Quite often there are basic function issues that either can’t be remedied by the user, or require significant knowledge of how to do so.
When people spend $3,000-$4,000 on a rifle, they expect that they are paying for that rifle to be free from problems- to function correctly and to group without issue. Unfortunately, that isn’t what you are paying for.

Right now there is not a single rifle offered beyond standard factory, by any company that I could suggest to someone that wants to buy a made for purpose western backpack and general hunting rifle and know that it is ready to go out of the box. The best option currently available for a no nonsense, well setup rifle is a Tikka T3x cut and threaded if needed, with a correctly designed stock, assemble it correctly, and go.


All rifles should, but especially semi-custom and custom rifles should:

- be designed correctly- action/barrel/stock
- be reliable
- durable
- function correctly without fuss
- group consistently and acceptably without fuss
- be assembled and torqued correctly

AND all of that is proven by the manufacturer on the rifle that you purchase- not just guaranteed* . Yet there are no off the shelf options that offer that.

Enter MRC.

In our first conversation they appeared to be genuine, honest and upfront- even about less than perfect things. They too lamented that they could not get honest assessments and feedbacks on their rifles from the industry. They did not have long term, heavy use and abuse on their rifles that they wanted.
The first conversation started about a stock, and ended with “before we go any farther we need to send you/yall a rifle to use heavily and harshly for you to give honest feedback”. They wanted it public- open and honest regardless of how good or bad the outcome.
Ryan and Jake did not want to put the ROKStok on a companies rifle if they didn’t know that the rifle was legitimately good; and MRC didn’t want the stock if they didn’t believe in the rifle.

The MRC Junction in 308 was sent with the direction that it would be shot as is, then modified as it went to make it optimum for western backpack handling bring and general shooting. It was a randomly selected rifle off the shelf. It had some issues that can be read about in the eval that Ryan linked to. Once those issues were identified, MRC immediately found the root causes and corrected them across the board- no excuses, no hiding from it. Just fixed it. That rifle is over 3,000 rounds currently, and since abut round 100 or less when the issues were discovered and corrected, it has been flawless. The most dramatic example is during the last Shoot2Hunt class this year where witches somehow made nearly all rifle have constant malfunctions and problems, the MRC functioned without a single bobble. So much so, that when the conversation finally came up in earnest about doing an MRC/S2H designed rifle, Jake was dubious asking “really, a CRF?!”. Ryan who historically dislikes CRF stated “well, those problems at the class- wouldn’t and didn’t happen to that rifle”.



The MRC and S2H rifle project approach:


1). The MRC action with integral Picatinny rail.

2). Barrels of optimum length, light contour, and threaded. 18” and 22” inch models.

3). Bolt handle redesigned for optimum control and rapid bolt manipulation.

4). ROKStok

5). All chambering’s with optimum (fast) twist rates and ample COAL in magazine

6). AICS bottom metal, designed for carrying in the hand. To be as smooth and low profile as possible, with a slightly enlarged trigger guard for gloved shooting.

7). 2x magazines included with every rifle. 1x flush fit, and 1x 5 round extended.

8). Every rifle and screw is degreased completely, thread locked, and torqued to the maximum spec.


And most important of all- every single rifle is function checked for 100 rounds of cycling from the included magazines, and shot for a 10 round proof group.


Included in the box with the rifle are cards with QR codes that explain each aspect of the rifle, design, and build.

I just asked on the original eval but will move my question here since it’s a more up to date thread. Do these use a 90 degree throw? And has scope clearance been an issue if so? I tend to gravitate towards sub 90

 

[Formidilosus]

I just asked on the original eval but will move my question here since it’s a more up to date thread. Do these use a 90 degree throw? And has scope clearance been an issue if so? I tend to gravitate towards sub 90

They are the standard Pre 64 M70 throw, which IIRC is 90°. Bolt contact while cycling has not been an issue with how we teach bolt manipulation, however the modified bolt handle and knob on the S2H version will be better regardless.

 

[Choupique]

The MRC and S2H rifle project approach

Good excellent wonderful stuff here.

 

[CJF]

This feels like the start of what will be a very big wave.

 

[h2so4]

Any chance of a 6 ARC?

 

[Marbles]

This is sounding really nice, and for what it will be, appropriately priced. I may have to stop hoarding Tikka actions.

Nitrided CroMoly would make a nice coastal use gun, particularly if all screws and small parts were nitrided and the bolt body was left bare stainless. Probably hoping for too much there though.

 

[wind gypsy]

Any chance of a 6 ARC?

Seems there is a push for it/smaller action, from 5 posts up.

 

[mtnbound]

No. Spring ‘25. We are waiting on one part to start testing the full production versions.

Any idea on the number of rifles that MRC can make or plan to be made in this spring release?

 

[woods89]

Ahead of you. grin

Excellent. I'm not surprised, as the crowd immediately interested in these will probably disproportionately buy a lot of 223 and 6 ARC, if available. I'm looking forward to what you come up with!