Montana Rifle Co, Shoot2Hunt, and Rokslide Rifle

[HuntHarder]

Hey some of us are still slumming swfa's and sportsmatch rings.

True Poverty

 

[Ryan Avery]

Give the people what they want and they will hate you for it….


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[Wyo_hntr]

Give the people what they want and they will hate you for it….


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I'm loving the rokstok.

 

[Bluumoon]

Apologies if already asked.

Bolt, I’m guessing will be similar to the UM short, that was the what stuck out as a dislike on the test rifle (Touron and crab grip made it a non issue).

Confidence the house made barrel will be properly “relieved” (if that the proper term?) ?I’m sure those discussions are part and parcel as they have been expressed as a weakness of American made rifles in general.

 

[Formidilosus]

Apologies if already asked.

Bolt, I’m guessing will be similar to the UM short, that was the what stuck out as a dislike on the test rifle (Touron and crab grip made it a non issue).

Yes, handle and knob will be as optimum as possible.

Confidence the house made barrel will be properly “relieved” (if that the proper term?) ?I’m sure those discussions are part and parcel as they have been expressed as a weakness of American made rifles in general.

Yes absolutely. Thats one of the reasons for a 10 round group from every rifle.

 

[atmat]

This gun sounds cool and I’d love it. Unfortunately, I just don’t think I can justify the price tag when I paid $1,535 for my Tikka 6creed in a Rokstok. That said, I did short stroke at the range a few weeks ago so it’d be nice to have one less problem.

Some follow-up question:
1) Why the 18” over 16” barrel? I love shorties.

2) Plans for any rimfire builds down the road?

 

[TX_Diver]

You can’t buy a Tikka like that, with the assembly, function, and precision proven.


Cost breakdown:

If you use factory barrel:
$850- Tikka T3 Lite stainless
$350- cut and thread barrel
$595- ROKstock
$70- extra mag (Ai)
$70- bolt and handle

Total= $1,935

If you use an AI or metal bottom metal and a pic rail, you are at about $2240. That’s a good deal for a very functional rifle. However, it will also generally take anywhere from 1-3 months to ship the parts, have a smith work on it and ship it back.



If you rebarrel it is-

$850- Tikka T3 Lite stainless
$800’ish- barrel, chambered, cut, thread
$595- ROKstock
$70- extra mag (AI)
$70- bolt and handle


Total= $2,385. If you add an AI or metal bottom metal, and a pic rail it’ll be $2,700 to $2,800. Still a very good rifle- as Tikka’s have always been. However, now you are looking at 4-8 months to get your rifle.



And- neither option did someone fully vet the rifle. To pay a gunsmith to degrease, thread lock, and torque (if they they even do it correctly); as well run 100 rounds through the two included mags, plus proof it with a 10 round sub 1.5 MOA group- you are looking at anywhere from $500 to $1,000 (real numbers that I have been quoted).

So to achieve the same package, you are sending guns and parts to a smith, waiting 4-8 months, and paying as much or more to do so.





But, let’s say between a Tikka setup identically and the MRC/S2H, it’s more about CRF versus PF on an individual preference level, as well as full warranty and factory support.

Do not get it confused- a properly setup T3 as above is the best currently available push-feed rifle on the market for general field shooting.
However, there are advantages to a properly done CRF. Number one is the elimination of “double feeds” due failure to eject from short stroking the bolt then pulling back and try to chamber another round. This happens a lot when people get stressed. A properly timed CRF captures the rim the moment it releases from the mag and will eject it if the bolt is pulled back. Even if due to the mags, the CRF doesn’t control the rim immediately, when the bolt is pushed forward the extractor snaps over the rim, and when the bolt is pulled back- it ejects. CRF is excellent for controlling the feeding, and ejecting of rounds.

Number two, is the open M70 style trigger. The closed Tikka/Sako trigger has very good reliability in very austere environments, especially with ice and snow. It is also a relatively safe trigger system when dropped. However, the old M70 trigger is also very reliable in ice, snow, sand, and debris; and it has a mechanical block on the firing pin with the 3-position safety making it virtually impossible to fire if dropped.

Number three is the integral Picatinny rail. The T3x has an integral rail, and it works, but Picatinny is the standard, is “better”, and integral rails are the way.




The conclusion is that while a correctly setup and optimized T3x is a very, very good rifle- and if you want a PF it’s the best option; you can’t walk into a store and buy it. Regardless, I would absolutely rather have this MRC/RS/UM/S2H rifle as it comes from the box- than any rifle built by any shop in the country, that I didn’t assemble and vet.

Thanks.

Doesn’t seem like a bad value, I have bought extra mags for the tikkas and it’d be great if they came with extra mags, short threaded barrels, etc.
just deciding if the extra cost is worth it. I could definitely see grabbing one eventually but I don’t think the MRC would be the difference between me shooting something and not. Something made in USA is always a plus though! Will keep following the project

 

[id_jon]

This gun sounds cool and I’d love it. Unfortunately, I just don’t think I can justify the price tag when I paid $1,535 for my Tikka 6creed in a Rokstok. That said, I did short stroke at the range a few weeks ago so it’d be nice to have one less problem.

Some follow-up question:
1) Why the 18” over 16” barrel? I love shorties.

2) Plans for any rimfire builds down the road?

I think going all they way to 16" is a mental hurdle for a lot of people, 18" probably sells noticeably better.

 

[Formidilosus]

but I don’t think the MRC would be the difference between me shooting something and not.

No. A well setup Tikka is an excellent rifle.

Something made in USA is always a plus though! Will keep following the project

My interest in this is that there is finally a US made rifle that can be used and recommend without reservation- there are no “it’s good, but” involved.

 

[Brontosaurus]

This is a really neat project! And it’s exciting to see companies starting to finally listen. Form, it would be awesome to see another snow and ice evaluation with the MRC action.

 

[Formidilosus]

This is a really neat project! And it’s exciting to see companies starting to finally listen. Form, it would be awesome to see another snow and ice evaluation with the MRC action.

Just waiting for the snow and cold enough temps.

 

[DagOtto]

No I do not. I do not know how to make this more clear- not one single penny has ever been paid to me from any company in the hunting/gun industry.

Maybe one day that will change, and if it does I will be open about it.

IMHO- A person can accept money from the sale of a product that he helped design, prototype, test and bring to market while still retaining integrity and honesty within his field of interest.

When did we arrive at this place where the majority of folks believe that if someone in the industry is receiving compensation they will automatically lie and pull the wool over the consumers' eyes? I guess this shows just how bad this industry has become when that is the defacto assumption.

Form, I greatly appreciate your directness, honesty, and fact-based approach to making better hunters and better guns, and I believe that it is appropriate for you to receive compensation for the work that you do in that realm.

And, if you are the person who you appear to be in your public persona, I have no doubt you will be open and honest about that fact, and that your integrity and honesty will be such that when conflicts arrive (as they are sure to do,) you will choose the right path. And the haters will hate, and the idiots will spew, and the fan boys won't care. But the rest of us will see what you are doing and will respect you for it.

It is not shameful to profit from doing good, hard, honest work. And the industry needs more people with the integrity to call BS on their own products or their own actions and correct the path.

 

[Castle Rock]

When did we arrive at this place where the majority of folks believe that if someone in the industry is receiving compensation they will automatically lie and pull the wool over the consumers' eyes? I guess this shows just how bad this industry has become when that is the defacto assumption.


It is not shameful to profit from doing good, hard, honest work.

Sorry Dag (jeez I love that name) I chopped some out of your post but I feel those bits need emphasis

Pretty much all you see on the internet is lies and self promotion, it is refreshing to have this place for open exchange.

 

[wyosam]

Sure be nice to see 6mm Remington and 280AI included in the chamberings.

Even more interesting if they can get someone to agree to make quality x 57 brass. I’d buy one just to support that effort!


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[wyosam]

first thing I noticed when I went fat and short, hard to feed.

I dated a girl that taught me that lesson long ago. Lesson learned.


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[wyosam]

So, is everyone going to switch from pimping Tikkas to pimping this Montana rifle? Hopefully, that means there will be some good deals on Tikkas. I'll stick with them. It's amazing how fast Tikka went from being the perfect rifle to not even being a good deal. Lol.

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I’m currently thinking of opening a shop. I’d be willing to become an official disposal site for those filthy tikka actions the masses of RS will be unloading next spring. I’ll even cover shipping. I just happened to come across this thread, which interestingly includes the same type of fit/finish I’m hoping there is a market for. Not just assembling a parts list, but actually function testing and proofing a ready to shoot package. Obviously I’m not planning an all in-house production rifle like this, Mostly I’m looking to sell the idea of a home based shop to my wife since I lost machine shop access when I moved to AK. I’ve seen enough people at the range fighting with a poorly assembled “semi custom” rifle they spent a bunch of money on that won’t shoot, or feeds like garbage, etc that it seems like there is a hole to fill. Hope to see this do well. Any potential for component sales? For push feed actions I’d try to steer people towards Tikkas unless they have a strong preference for a lesser action, but a good source for a quality CRF option would really fill a void.


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