Montana Rifle Company Returning in 2023?

[RLL]

Here’s a response I recieved from the new MRC today on lefty’s and big bores.

 

[Captain Munro]

Here’s a response I recieved from the new MRC today on lefty’s and big bores.

Kind of like Kimber.

 

[Hunt anything]

Here’s a response I recieved from the new MRC today on lefty’s and big bores.

Are they moving out of Montana, the address on the response looks like Michigan?

 

[QKRUNNER]

Yes, looks like moving to Michigan under owners of G5 Outdoors https://www.g5outdoors.com/g5-outdoors-about-us/

Sounds like they will be trying to revive this brand. I'm optimistic because Michigan's auto industry has created a lot of specialists in manufacturing processes and understanding what goes into manufacturing from a cost perspective - especially the substantial capital investment needs (which seemed to be an issues with the last owners)

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

G5 Outdoors is just up the road from me. It's next to the post office and behind where I get my hair cut in Memphis, MI. I do not know the owners but G5 manufactures top quality archery broadhead!

@QKRUNNER is very much correct that highly skilled labor is abundant in Michigan. Machinists, fabricators, welders, and engineers who can build most anything out of nothing are my neighbors and co-workers.

An added bonus is there is a shooting club every 25 miles or so... Lots of gun guys!

 

[FlowHamed18]

It's kind of breaking my heart, but if this rails are a fix part of the Magnum and PH actions too, then I am out...

No classic Safari rifle deserves such rails... I even would spend some (even a lot more) extra money for a classic DSB...

 

[BeeMaa]

G5 Outdoors is just up the road from me. It's next to the post office and behind where I get my hair cut in Memphis, MI. I do not know the owners but G5 manufactures top quality archery broadhead!

@QKRUNNER is very much correct that highly skilled labor is abundant in Michigan. Machinists, fabricators, welders, and engineers who can build most anything out of nothing are my neighbors and co-workers.

An added bonus is there is a shooting club every 25 miles or so... Lots of gun guys!

Yes, these are the people I met. I talked with them about using their fixed blade Montec and later the Striker X on my crossbow.

 

[James.Grage]

I had read that the Montana rifle company would be coming on line Soon. I sent them a message on their site and have not seen anything from them. I probably will sent them another request for information.

I picked up an Alaskan version in 2011 and it needed some adjustments after I purchased it and the work was very quick In returning the rifle back to me.

 

[Corey0372]

I wish they would ditch the integral pic rail. Ruins the look of an otherwise good looking rifle.

I may get a bunch of crap for this.... but I actually like the idea of the integrated rail haha! IDK something about simplicity, utility, and less "things going on" (if you want to consider rail screws and the aftermarket rail things going on). I've always been a fan of that kind of thing. That being said I can see how someone could look at it and not be a fan of the aesthetic, it is a bit different.

 

[Hunt anything]

I may get a bunch of crap for this.... but I actually like the idea of the integrated rail haha! IDK something about simplicity, utility, and less "things going on" (if you want to consider rail screws and the aftermarket rail things going on). I've always been a fan of that kind of thing. That being said I can see how someone could look at it and not be a fan of the aesthetic, it is a bit different.

I somewhat agree, the integral rail allows for a much lower red dot mount. I had to add a comb riser to my stock so I could get proper eye alignment.

 

[Corey0372]

I somewhat agree, the integral rail allows for a much lower red dot mount. I had to add a comb riser to my stock so I could get proper eye alignment.

Yea, on my MRC 300 Win mag i had to get basically the lowest rings possible, and then still had a buddy mill off some of the rail so the scope would clear. Granted I have a tendency to REALLY bury my cheek into the stock, and the scope was pretty big for a hunting rifle. But, milling the base actually made for a really nice setup.

 

[Doug3006]

Taste is, of course, subjective. What looks contrived to me looks purposeful to someone else. Composite stocks look functional to many and like home-made sin to me. That’s why there are so many options available. That said, I’ve never had a scope base fail, so I just can’t see the integral rail being superior, in that regard.

I‘m still hoping they make a proper Safari rifle, but omit the rail when they do.

 

[Corey0372]

Taste is, of course, subjective. What looks contrived to me looks purposeful to someone else. Composite stocks look functional to many and like home-made sin to me. That’s why there are so many options available. That said, I’ve never had a scope base fail, so I just can’t see the integral rail being superior, in that regard.

I‘m still hoping they make a proper Safari rifle, but omit the rail when they do.

Yea for sure! And especially since so many guys still prefer irons on their DG rifles, it would make sense to release those without the built in rail

 

[Stamp Collector]

I get the practicality of an integral rail and even like them on some utility guns. I fall into the they look ugly as sin camp and want no part of one on a higher end showpiece type rifle. I’d love to see MRC produce a double bridge receiver to fill the void that CZ left when they stopped producing the 550 series.

 

[Captain Munro]

I emailed MRC on their website and explained our need for another affordable-ish big bore crf rifle. I received a quick response as follows:

"Thank you for sending over your email. With us being new to making our own rifles since purchasing MRC in 2020, emails like the one you sent help us know what people are wanting in our market. For the first couple of years of production we will be concentrating on short and long action receivers with several calibers. We are hoping that after we have a couple years of good production we can start making the larger calibers which will make us have to redesign a new receiver since we are now fully machining our bolts and receivers in house here in Memphis, MI. instead of using castings like the previous Montana Rifle."

I like the sound of what they are doing. Sounds like they are trying to do right by the customers. I appreciated their fast response too. I'll try to support them so they can get back into the big bores and fill in the gap CZ 550s left.

 

[gbflyer]

I may get a bunch of crap for this.... but I actually like the idea of the integrated rail haha! IDK something about simplicity, utility, and less "things going on" (if you want to consider rail screws and the aftermarket rail things going on). I've always been a fan of that kind of thing. That being said I can see how someone could look at it and not be a fan of the aesthetic, it is a bit different.

Agree. That design isn’t horrible, not a full rail that covers the ejection port.

All in all it looks great to me, a highlight being the trigger design which is perfect for field use. I wish them every success.

 

[Ridgewalker]

I have had good luck with my MRC in 375 H&H. Hopefully they will be able to repeat it. My accuracy has also been outstanding IMO!

 

[Firebird]

The rail is something I could care less about-put rings on it and no one will even notice. What concerns me more is that they aren’t offering anything I don’t already have at
least one of. What bait are they going to dangle to tease me into one more rifle?
I’m eager to see what they offer that really blows my mind!

 

[Newboomer]

The rail is something I could care less about-put rings on it and no one will even notice. What concerns me more is that they aren’t offering anything I don’t already have at
least one of. What bait are they going to dangle to tease me into one more rifle?
I’m eager to see what they offer that really blows my mind!

Crossing my fingers, eyes, toes and whatever else hoping for a 9.3x62.

 

[fourfive8]

Built a rifle on a basic MRC 1999 action in the white I ordered directly from them a few years ago. I'd rate the action as fairly smooth with zero function/feed issues. Conversely I would rate the action on some of the highly revered factory CZ 550s similar to gravel with feed issues. As to the scope rail concerns??? I guess it depends on the design and how obtrusive it may be or which model it may be on. Just have to look at one when they come out to see. Seems like the idea is OK as long as it doesn't bridge the action or interfere with open sights. Leave the full length rail gadgetry stuff for target rifles and shooters. And I wonder the difference between judging the ultimate bolt action DG requirement for "cool" as having a double square bridge requiring a 5 $digit proprietary scope mount system versus having a universal and simple double square bridge with cross slots?

I hope the new MRC 1999 keeps the basic Win 70/Mauser 98 hybrid design. Their triggers and safeties were pre FN Win 70 clones and as such the best ever designed for a hunting rifle, IMO. The only weakness and oversight (?) was that the original MRC 1999 did not retain the anti-bind feature of the post-68 Win M70.