Mossberg MVP "Thunder Ranch" .223 Rifle

The Mossberg MVP "Thunder Ranch" rifle is a budget rifle that provided some good accuracy using Outback Ammo's 55gr Blitzking rounds. The use of AR-15 mags makes the rifle very versatile however I did have issues with the bolt not closing from time to time and jamming when trying to load ammo.
Music by Solid State Logic - Song: Wasted
Written permission kindly provided by the band for use in this video.
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[@okm88]

Nice to see you back, Ozzie. I am glad you're better.

[@PaWNTANK]

Great review. My younger brother owns the MVP varmint with laminate stock and 24" barrel. It suffers similar feeding issues but is ridiculously accurate with most 55gr ammo.

[@ozziereviews]

Yeah I'd say the bolt face needs some polishing… it's only minor but shouldn't occur with a new rifle…

[@jthsignon]

Hi Guys. I had the same issues with my MVP Varmint. I found that the 'keepers' on top of the magazine were not letting the rounds move up high enough to let the bolt engage it properly. I simply bent the keeper slightly on each side to let the round move up higher and have not had a chambering issue since. Also I've since gotten a Pro Mag steel magazine and given it the same treatment. You don't have to change the angle much but it makes a world of difference. The MVP is now my favourite gun.

[@ozziereviews]

Awesome, thanks for sharing the info!

[@elkhunter8664]

Glad to see a new video. Hope you are doing well. The 1:9 twist will like smaller bullet weights. Kind of surprised Mossberg didn't go with 1:7 considering what it is probably used for. As an American, I get a kick out of what you consider a budget rifle. I just bought a middle grade Savage 30.06 ( that I love) for $454 US. These Mossbergs go for $590 and under. here. Someone is making money, government/retailers or who knows? Anyway, great video review. By the way, always go Magpul, IMHO, the only magazines I run in my AR. Have never had a feeding issue. Cheers. And thanks again.

[@ozziereviews]

Thanks Elk, I'm doing ok… back on track now!

[@thegreenman2030]

Your spot on with the 1x7 twist this would make a great big rifle bit your gonna want those heavier bullets to guarantee a clean kill.

[@RJTrezise1983]

Hey Ozzie... Been a while mate. Good vid. When we were last talking I was in the process of getting my Cat D. Since then I got it mate and our business is up and running. Exciting stuff. Looking forward to more vids, seeya mate.

[@ozziereviews]

Thanks Rick, good to see you got your business going…!

[@johncallahan2490]

Congrats. Got a question for you. I've heard that you can only own one semi-auto firearm on a Cat C/D license. Is that true? Cheers.

[@RJTrezise1983]

Rob Mcfarlane Thanks mate. Hmmm, not as far as I know mate. I've just picked up my Saiga IZ132 rifle and I'm gonna grab a 10/22 and a semi-auto shotgun of some kind but I think you can have more than one rifle if you can show need for it. They're pretty strict, and here in NSW they're more strict than other states. Kinda on the ridiculous side actually.

[@RJTrezise1983]

***** Thanks mate.

[@johncallahan2490]

RJTrezise1983 I was hoping that wasn't true; wouldn't surprise me, though. You should do a video with the Saiga, mate. Steve Lee and Ozzie are the only Australians I can think of that have videos using semi-autos.

[@regsparkes6507]

I bought one of these Ozzie,, except mine has the good looking laminate wood stock. ( Good looking is my opinion, of course ) I too had a slight 'hiccup' in the bolt every now and then, but it went away when I lubricated the bolt and put 50 or so military surplus 5.56 ammo. through it. I like my MVP, I must say, and I'm using the Bushnell AR-223 scope. This rifle weighs in at a hefty 4.4 KG with a UTG bipod, so needless to say I bench rest it more often than not. Thanks for the review.

[@ozziereviews]

+Reg Sparkes Good to hear Reg, I'm glad you ironed out the bolt feeding issue...

[@danroxau]

Nice review Ozzie, very honest & fair. Keen to see their shotgun...

[@ozziereviews]

Thanks mate… which shotgun, the semi-auto?

[@snakethepeg7828]

Solid state logic and mossberg mvp... Fuck I love this channel

[@ozziereviews]

@dean geiszlrr - thanks, the limit in QLD for detachable bolt action cat-b mags is 15 rounds…

[@toddwilliams4184]

Just push down on the mag to close the bolt

[@TheGozz13]

Hey Ozzie, Shot the Winchester 64gr Deer Season (very similat to yours) out of a Lithgow 223 and also got a 3" group, a mate with another Lithgow 223 shot a 1" group with the Winchesters...!!!

[@APACHE529CREWCHIEF]

I'd count those flyers on the first two groups as cold bore. Good shooting mate

[@ozziereviews]

possibly but I do have to sight-in when I do the reviews, so they aren't usually cold bores...

[@bfairfax8772]

With a 1:9 twist the lighter the bullet the better I'd recommend trying a 50 gr or 52 gr varmint ammo if you can find it . Look into a chassi system for the MVP it'll get rid of your mag issues and make the rifle a more stable platform to shoot with . If you want to shoot heavier bullet weights in 223/556 I recommend a barrel with a 1:7 twist .

[@jimhovater8755]

I just found a Thunder Ranch MVP in 5.56mm. What height scope rings for a scope with a 30mm tube and 50mm objective?

[@evolvedape9171]

How easy is it to purchase such a fire arms in Australia? What process one has to manage for such a purchase? And is ammo widely available and easy to buy?

[@gnarshread]

Nice thorough review. Its a mystery why there are'nt more bold guns with acis mags.

[@ozziereviews]

Thanks mate, we try to be thorough with each review so potential buyers can be confident they will have their questions answered...

[@deano501st]

Great Video Ozzie, very informative, I have just recently obtained my adults category A and B weapons license and Iam very interested in purchasing one of these firearms wether it be the "thunder ranch" or the normal synthetic MVP with the fibre optic sight and muzzle break. It's great having a very good Australian youtube channel to watch Firearm reviews etc on, as most channels with informative videos like your own are from the USA, where rules,regulations and firearm prices are much different. So thanks for all your hard work in making these informative and interesting videos. Keep up the great work!!! P.S Iam located in North Queensland and would you happen to know if I do purchase one of these mossberg MVP's would I be able to legally purchase and use magazines with over a 10 shot capacity.

[@signkutter]

I have an 18.5" Thunder Ranch. I like the rifle. It is accurate enough at sub moa with certain ammo. I'm sure if i reloaded for it I could get .5 moa.. What i dont like is that it blows primers when suppressed... right into the firing pin hole and eventually ...say 10 rounds... jams up the firing pin.

[@danteness889]

Are you having this problem with multiple types of ammo? Also what kind of suppressor are you using? I have been pondering the idea of putting a can on my MVP and this is the first issues I've heard about them so am curious. Have you heard of other people having the same issue?

[@theghostly7]

Did I miss something? What on this rifle is worth $950? Its a nice looking rifle, at around $600 range.

[@ozziereviews]

+ARKTIKGRAYWOLF Absolutely it is...!

[@WStar4Life]

I find that if you put your thumb where the charging handle meets the bolt and put pressure there when chambering you should not have the feeding issue. That's just what works with me

[@ozziereviews]

Thanks for mentioning Jon… still I'd like to see the bolt being cycled without having to put pressure in a particular area, but as I say, thanks for mentioning it…

[@macewen1]

What max range would say you could achieve with this set up? Would it be good for say practical rifle matches out to 1000 meters?

[@dennismcquinn8233]

In .223 no max range would only be about 300 yards

[@battlefieldphd]

Thanks for the review Ozzie it's really informative. I've been looking at these for a while but can't make up my mind between this or a tikka t3. The Mossberg drew me in because of the ar mags but after seeing the minor issues you had I'm not 100% sold. What would your advice be? A tikka in 223 or this? Cheers

[@ozziereviews]

I can't comment until I review a Tikka, I've own Sako before but it's not quite the same… so I can't give an honest viewpoint here mate sorry…

[@battlefieldphd]

***** thanks for the reply. Hmmm I liked the review but I'm still in limbo.... Maybe the best option is to get the tikka and Mossberg just to be safe :)

[@ozziereviews]

battlefieldphd LOL why not!

[@AussieHomestead]

The Tikka is hands down orders of magnitude better than the Mossberg offering. Go in to your local gun store and handle both. Cycle the bolt on both. My Tikka T3 (in .308) is the smoothest cycling bolt i've ever operated. I like Mossberg, i'm about to get one of their thunder ranch shotguns, but for what you are comparing, there is no comparison, in my opinion :)

[@ozziereviews]

From what I have heard from Tikka owners, it's all pretty much the same, can't say I've heard many negative things about them… So I agree, go into a gun store and feel the action on one… if they are anything like the Sako I've owned, they'll be a great rifle!

[@sandman7378]

Great video

[@HONORGUARD308]

Hey oz, just subbed last video. Had a look a cleaver firearms and im impressed with his listings. Also, just as a general conversation. Bit of a shame outback ammo does not make any 5.56 77 grainers and 7.62 175 grainers. . that would be damn nice.

[@ozziereviews]

Thanks… why are you chasing the heavier stuff over the 69gr and the 168gr? You can always email outback ammo and suggest it as I'm sure if enough people asked for it, they'd make it…

[@HONORGUARD308]

***** Cause I like the little bit extra performance and consistency at range. . I am very picky with my ammunition and rifles lol Not a big deal though, i do load my own ammunition. But would be nice to have something commonly available in them weights. I think federal is the only common brand available in Aust that has such ammunition available and they cost like $150 for a box of 7.62 175gr JHP

[@ozziereviews]

Fair enough… $150 a box?!? Who the hell is charging that much???

[@HONORGUARD308]

***** Most gun shops i think, when i went into the shop he had nothing in stock so like normal he just calls Nioa Defence and that was it. Again federal match grade 175gr JHP are cream of the crop, nothing i know of that is better. . . but if out back did some similar they would likely even have a great market in the US for it.

[@ozziereviews]

Yeah they have done well in my testing…

[@andycraig6905]

Or you could push the follower down like a Mauser.

[@thegreenman2030]

Good review my friend hard to find a lot of user info out there on this rifle. Has the bolt smoothed up for you over time and use?

[@ozziereviews]

No, I no longer own this rifle mate, I reviewed it and took it back…

[@blackadder1966]

wondering if you have shot a howa 1500? The mvp looks good but a howa can be had from $550 for the varmint. I am looking for a .223 budget and lighter than my tikka super varmint .308.

[@ozziereviews]

No mate I haven't used the Howa…

[@guerrierodelgiaguaro]

Hullo Comrade, I would like to know your opinion on the Mossberg "push-drop bolt" system (it seems very flimsy to me). Bye :)

[@snakethepeg7828]

Commie..

[@Haulinbassntrawlinass]

I guess it just takes a lot of effort to get AR mags right in a bolt gun. I love mine hasn't played up yet, but im a bit softer that that. Good work.

[@ozziereviews]

Yeah I found loading it slowly it seemed a bit better but I still had issues… I want a firearm to work regardless, as in a hunting situation or even a competition you need to know you can quickly re-load…

[@markevo1974]

cool vid keep em coming

[@ozziereviews]

Will do!

[@SimmoAusful]

Mate haven't even watched the video, is there a place I can donate to the show for gear n stuff? Alot of time goes into production & editing along with actually buying, feeding, servicing the gear you review. I feel like you don't get enough recognition for your time whether accolade or monetary. Cheers back to the vid.

[@ozziereviews]

Thanks Simmo, yeah it's getting expensive, I have now spent $50 000 in buying gear, ammo, fuel, travel (shot shows), accommodation and so forth, so it's really taken a toll, then my cancer treatments etc etc but I don't like handouts however there seems to be a fair amount of people keen to donate, so I might look at options… as it can always help going back into gear to review!

[@ozziereviews]

SimmoAusful As of today anyone can donate to help out, I did a Facebook post about it (but may do a quick video on it) but if you go to the main Ozzie Reviews page on KZbin, on the right hand side there is a 'support' button where anyone can donate between $1 to $500… I'm not asking for donations, as I have a bit of stubborn pride in me that gets in the way but I have certainly come to the stage where it would be greatly appreciated if someone wanted to…

[@langedenver]

MVP is a nice rifle but I think it gets overshadowed to people as the primary bolt action .223 out there when that's not the case...

[@danielstoner7807]

Nice scope and rings - they deserve a better rifle. :)

[@ozziereviews]

Daniel Stoner Yes.. the Trijicon Accupoint is fast becoming my favourite optic for the price!

[@kennethhamby9811]

Try mvp in 308- beautiful. !

[@iyn1911]

The gun prefers 55 grain ammo?

[@WStar4Life]

It also likes the American Eagle 50gr varmint tipped. Super accurate with those rounds and they can be found for as low as $6.50 a box

[@johncaban4310]

This or Ruger Ranch rifle?

[@keatonjorgensen8793]

Ruger the mossberg bolt guns are junk

[@gragrn]

Are they made for Mossberg by Howa? They look like the same action!

[@chrischris7609]

I would suggest maybe the bigger target got a bigger grouping because aim small miss small principle...might be worth a try shooting those 62 grainers again on a smaller target to see if your grouping with that ammo improves

[@MrBenski81]

"Fluted at the front there to add a little bit of cooling", LOL! It's actually nothing but cosmetics and slight weight reduction mate. If you REALLY wanted to get into the technical details, you'd find that the "added cooling" amounts to less than 0.5 of a degree over a 1 hour period. (Depending on humidity)

[@ozziereviews]

I've not tested it so I can't speak on the exact figures, however fluting does help a barrel cool quicker as it allows the heat to reach the surface of the barrel faster and therefore dissipate quicker than a non-fluted heavy barrel…

[@dennismatt9549]

What is the actual purpose of this short barreled rifle chambered for the anemic .223 round? You cannot hunt anything but varmints with it in many states and do so irresponsibly in those states where the use of the round for hunting is legal. I MIGHT go for the .308 chambering with this rifle and wonder if that chambering takes M14 style magazines?

[@dannyinaus]

the use is when the SHTF and martial law/China invasion takes place. After you shoot an enemy combatant, you can grab his mags and ammo becasue they are all using 5.56/.223

[@URMyTorment]

Wouldn't you then also take their gun?

[@danteness889]

I feel like when Mossberg was designing this gun they had a varmint rifle in mind. Short barrel allows for easy transport in and out of vehicles, opportunity for larger magazine capacity if you were shooting at multiple raccoons or coyotes or whatever. Maybe Mossberg was trying to make a budget friendly bolt action plinking gun that isn't .22 but still not to expensive to shoot. I don't think Mossberg intended this to be a deer rifle, but that's why they also made it in .308, which accept AR-10 magazines not M14 style magazines by the way. I own a MVP in .223/5.56 and when I take friends and family who aren't gun people to the range they love to shoot it because it has very little recoil but still has that bolt action fun to it. The rifle isn't for everyone but I think it definitely has it's place in the market.

[@dennismcquinn8233]

Dennis Matt it will take m1A mags

[@cailrobbins]

How does this compare to the Patrol model?

[@ozziereviews]

+Cail Robbins I'd say it'd be pretty much the same...

[@Poobumwee]

That wiggle in the bolt and the mag issues completely turned me off this rifle

[@userer4579]

That's an easy fix with the aluminum mag well from Tromix.

[@christiandefazio9310]

***** hey ozzie can you run the pmag from magpul

[@christiandefazio9310]

sorry didn't watch till the end

[@c.c.fielder5432]

Replace the piece of crap plastic magazine well with superb metal one from Tromix, $75. Check out their trigger guard too, about $40. Take care....

[@userer4579]

Excellent advice.

[@BrunoRodrigues-qg4zu]

We are always better shooting cans!

[@GodblessthyUSA]

The "music" you added was so awful and LOUD that it made the video unwatchable. Maybe people didn't click on your video with the intention to hear your "music"? Just trying to help.

[@EnkeiTenjin]

I'll die before I buy a mosberg rifle.

[@tullywilliams9518]

These are basically a heap of junk. The bolt cycling and feeding is atrocious, the magazine release is terrible. The only things going for them is using ar15 mags, and fairly accurate.

[@OfficialMINIm]

That stiff bolt and magazine issues are a huge turn off. Really unpleasant how the mag wiggles once it’s in the gun. I rather have proprietary mags that work.

[@jessestephenson6711]

OfficialMINIm different ar mags have different fits. The polymer mags fit much more snugly in the rifle, and they don’t have those sharp metal corners that snag on everything.

[@danteness889]

I've never had an issue with feeding in my MVP using pmags and metal magazines. It does bother me that they wiggle but they do work. I smoothed out the back lip of the follower so I can close the bolt on an empty mag and have had no issues. If you're considering getting this rifle I wouldn't discredit it completely just because the magazine wiggles a little.

[@richardmcree6992]

lose the horrible music!!

[@danestetson4591]

I must say I am disappointed with how cheap this rifle looks when you move the bolt.The action not smooth at all.It's not cheap at $949.I 'll buy a savage or winchester.At almost a grand I'll buy a Ruger Scout Rifle.

[@ozziereviews]

+Dane Stetson Or the Ruger American for even less...

[@SansBinky]

This rifle is only $550