Whether you love scout rifles, or think they’re outdated and useless, the fact remains that there’s a thriving market for light, quick-handling bolt action rifles. Ruger proved that in 2011 with the well-received release of their Gunsite Scout Rifle chambered in .308 Win.
Just a few months later at the 2011 NRA show, Mossberg unveiled their MVP rifle; a line of bolt actions chambered in 5.56 NATO that use AR-15 magazines. The Patrol version of the MVP is their compact carbine, and shares some external characteristics with the Ruger Scout. I don’t think Mossberg initially intended for the MVP to compete directly with Ruger’s offering. After all, the two rifles were chambered in completely different cartridges. But customer demand led Mossberg to develop a .308 Win version of the MVP (running either M14/M1A or Magpul/DPMS AR-10 style mags), which was released in early 2014. Meanwhile, Ruger customers were asking for a 5.56 version of the scout, and Ruger delivered on that request just last month.
Suddenly, we now have a couple of accidental rivals. The Ruger GSR and Mossberg MVP Patrol; two very scout-like bolt guns available in both 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem and .308 Win. At first glance, the two big differentiating factors of these rifles are the magazines and the price tags. A closer look shows that their makers have equipped each rifle with a slightly different feature set. I spent a few days on the range with the 5.56 versions of the Mossberg and the Ruger to see how their performance matched up.
Watch the Video Review: Ruger Gunsite Scout vs. Mossberg MVP Patrol
By the Numbers
The Mossberg MVP Patrol and Ruger Gunsite Scout have a lot in common in terms of their technical specs and features, but there are some important distinctions.
| Ruger Gunsite Scout 5.56 | Mossberg MVP Patrol 5.56 | |
| Barrel Length | 16.10″ | 16.25″ |
| Overall Length | 37″ | 36.5″ |
| Rifle Weight (unloaded) | 7.10 lbs | 7.0 lbs |
| Factory Magazine Weight | 0.61 lbs | 0.12 lbs |
| Magazine Type | single stack Accuracy International (ships with one 10-round magazine made by Accurate-Mag) | AR-15 style (ships with one 10-round magazine made by C Products Defense) |
| Front Sight | fixed black serrated non-glare protected post | fixed fiber optic with red tube |
| Rear Sight | adjustable ghost ring aperture | adjustable open style barrel-mounted |
| Optics Mount | forward-mounted picatinny rail and receiver mounts for Ruger scope rings (set of rings for 1-inch scope tubes included) | receiver-mounted picatinny rail |
| Safety | three-position lever (standard “safe” or lock bolt in place) | two position lever |
| Trigger | single-stage (measured at 4.5 lbs) | Mossberg Lightning Bolt Action (LBA) adjustable trigger (measured at 3.5 lbs as shipped) |
| Action Type | modified controlled feed bolt action | push feed bolt action |
| Stock | Black/Grey laminate wood | black textured synthetic |
| Length of Pull | 12.75″-14.25″ (Adjustable with included stock spacers) | 13.25″ |
| Muzzle | 1/2×28 threaded with Ruger flash hider | 1/2×28 threaded with A2 flash hider |
| Twist Rate | 1:8 | 1:9 |
Size and Weight
Despite having nearly identical overall weight and dimensions, the Mossberg just feels smaller and lighter. As I mentioned in the video, the heavier Ruger magazine and the scout scope combine to throw off the balance of the GSR, making it feel heavier when holding it on target. In addition, I was using one of the included stock spacers on the Ruger to increase the length of pull to 13.25 inches, which actually brought the overall length to 37.5 inches — a full inch longer than the Mossberg. The overall length of the two rifles was still very close, but the poor balance of the Ruger created the perception that the extra inch was adding about two pounds to the front end.
If I were to use the Ruger long-term, I would definitely invest in the full length picatinny rail from XS Sight Systems. This rail replaces the forward-mounted scout rail and extends back over the receiver. The Ruger aperture sight has to be removed in order to attach the rail, but that’s okay because the XS rail has its own ghost ring aperture sight built right in. That allows you to mount any scope you like in the conventional position, and you still have use of the backup iron sights. The Mossberg MVP Patrol allows this kind of functionality right out of the box in addition to the high visibility fiber optic, though you are stuck with a much shorter sight radius, and less precise open-style rear sight.
Triggers
I didn’t measure either of the triggers with our trigger pull gauge until I was done with the testing, but if you had asked me on the range, I would have estimated them both to be right at 4 lbs. The fact that I didn’t notice that the Mossberg’s trigger was actually a pound lighter than the Ruger’s probably says more about my personal preferences and the kind of shooting I was doing than the triggers themselves. For any rifle other than a dedicated target rig, I’m pretty happy with most triggers under about 5 lbs. I ran a few rounds through these guns on the bench, but most of the shooting was done from standing, kneeling, and prone with a sling, often with the added pressure of a shot timer. Under those conditions, any decent trigger is adequate.
I do like the Mossberg adjustable trigger (it’s very similar to the Savage accutrigger), but when it came down to it, my shooting was not hindered in the least by the the crisp, single stage trigger on the Ruger. Despite being a bit heavier, there was no creep or take-up.
Magazines
I’ve already expressed my distaste for the added bulk of the Ruger’s magazine. Five-round magazines would cut down on the bulk, but I’m not sure if it would feel quite as handy as the Mossberg. Of course, the bigger issue for many people is the cost and availability of the Accuracy International style magazines used on the Ruger Gunsite rifle. Ruger sells extras for $74.95 each. There are a handful of other companies that make compatible magazines from both polymer and metal, but none of them are what you might consider “cheap”. Especially when compared to AR-style magazines.
A 10-round AR mag from C Products Defense (identical to the one that ships with the MVP Patrol) can be had for $14. And scores of other companies make affordable AR-pattern magazines in a multitude of capacities from 3 rounds up to 100 or more. To be fair, I’m not entirely sure that all of these mags would work properly with the Mossberg. I mostly used the factory magazine, but it also fed fine with the Magpul Gen 2 PMags and Lancer magazines we had on hand. Personally, I’d stick to the shorter magazines, but even a 20-round Magpul magazine didn’t spoil the handling of the little rifle, and it was still usable in the prone position.
Worth noting is a little quirk I encountered with the Magpul magazines; the Mossberg’s bolt would not go forward on an empty PMag. You could call this a feature or a bug, but the follower essentially acted as a bolt hold open device. This was a nice indicator that the magazine was empty, but I didn’t experience this with the factory magazine or the Lancer mags.
Design and Build Quality
I’m reluctant to even include this section because it’s much more difficult to quantify than any of the other aspects of these rifles, but I think it bears mentioning. Having handled and shot both the Ruger GSR and the Mossberg MVP Patrol extensively over several days, I have to say that the Ruger inspires a lot more confidence in its longevity than the Mossberg. I’m not saying the Mossberg is built poorly or that I got the impression it would fall apart. But if I had to take bets on which rifle would still be running in 25 years, I’d put my money on the Ruger.
Like I said, it’s difficult to quantify, but I could probably point to two factors that lead me to this impression.
First, the Mossberg uses a polymer magwell. It functioned just fine, but we’ve heard of multiple reports of them not holding up so well for others. Mossberg, to their credit, has been quick to fix these rifles, but it’s still not a great sign.
The bigger issue is the Mossberg MVP hinged bolt design. Go back to the video and skip to the 6:30 mark to see this thing in action. It’s actually a pretty ingenious mechanism. I understand that its no easy feat to make a bolt action function reliably with magazines that were designed for a semi-automatic. However, the end result is a bolt that is more mechanically complex than normal. If the appeal of bolt action rifles for you is ruggedness and durability, the MVP hinged bolt is not a step in the right direction. You’re trading the strength of bolt for the convenience of magazine compatibility.
For what it’s worth, the hinged bolt didn’t break on me or cause any serious issues (other than the lack of smoothness in the action that I mentioned in the video), and I don’t know of any widespread problems with the bolt among other Mossberg customers. But as it stands, the design is still relatively unproven, whereas the Ruger is using the same bolt they’ve had on their M77 rifles for ages, and there’s a lot of evidence that it’s not going to fall apart on me.
Of course, we can’t forget that the Ruger’s ruggedness comes at a price — about $300 tacked on to the MSRP, to be exact. Whether that’s worth it will depend on what you expect out of a bolt gun.
Author’s Pick
Naturally, you’re going to want to know which of these two rifles I would pick, if given the choice. Honestly — neither. Try as I might, I can think of no reason I’d want to own a bolt action rifle chambered in 5.56. I will admit that the “mini-scout” idea has a certain appeal. And that’s why I have a CZ 527 chambered in 7.62×39. At 5.87 lbs unloaded, it’s significantly lighter than either the Mossberg or the Ruger, and it still has iron sights and compact 5-round detachable box magazines. Like 5.56, the 7.62×39 ammo is cheap and plentiful, and the caliber is bit better suited for hunting medium game, at least inside 250 yards or so.
If you told me I had to pick a .223/5.56 rifle for this exercise, there’s a .223 version of the CZ 527, but unfortunately it’s only available with a 1:12 twist barrel. That limits the viable bullet weights to a range I’m not really interested in. So my second choice would be an AR-15. Seriously… it’s not difficult to put together an AR that weighs around 7 lbs and is still capable of the kind of accuracy as these bolt guns. To get that weight and accuracy combo, you’ll have to spend more than you would on the Ruger GSR, but the end result is a much more versatile rifle.
If you’re in the market for a 5.56 bolt action carbine, you probably have some very specific reasons for not wanting a different caliber or a semi-auto. If that’s the case, either the Mossberg MVP Patrol or the Ruger Gunsite Scout are solid options.
I use .223 rifles for training. Currently left and right handed 527's, but these weren't available when I needed to do the training. I'm still put off by Ruger's absolute negativity about magazines over 10 rounds. That one factor alone would push me to another brand until Ruger, which makes quality firearms, comes to reality.
I use .223 rifles for training. Currently left and right handed 527’s, but these weren’t available when I needed to do the training. I’m still put off by Ruger’s absolute negativity about magazines over 10 rounds. That one factor alone would push me to another brand until Ruger, which makes quality firearms, comes to reality.
Bill Ruger was the one responsible for Ruger’s 10-round magazine limitation. He’s been dead 12 years and the company is now being run by completely different people who are enthusiastic supporters of standard 10+ capacity magazines. Time to move on.
I have the mvp patrol in 7.62, and I find it to be quite a handy rifle. I looked at both rifles, and while I like the Ruger, I could not bring myself to spend the $350 price difference for it. I didn't feel there was enough that was quantifiably better about the ruger, and having shot both, I liked the overall feel of the mvp more.
I immediately noticed he didn't mind a heavy trigger and did mind forward balance. Most really good riflemen uses weapons with 3lb or less triggers, wgt bal to front for stability and would have detailed group sizes when working on this type weapon. Most 223's are accurate but only a fair choice as a Hunting Rifle.
Bill Ruger was the one responsible for Ruger's 10-round magazine limitation. He's been dead 12 years and the company is now being run by completely different people who are enthusiastic supporters of standard 10+ capacity magazines. Time to move on.
I have the mvp patrol in 7.62, and I find it to be quite a handy rifle. I looked at both rifles, and while I like the Ruger, I could not bring myself to spend the $350 price difference for it. I didn’t feel there was enough that was quantifiably better about the ruger, and having shot both, I liked the overall feel of the mvp more.
I immediately noticed he didn’t mind a heavy trigger and did mind forward balance. Most really good riflemen uses weapons with 3lb or less triggers, wgt bal to front for stability and would have detailed group sizes when working on this type weapon. Most 223’s are accurate but only a fair choice as a Hunting Rifle.
I have one of the 300 Real Ones in .308 I will sell. It is unfired and complete. This is the only NIB one for sale anywhere so expect to pay a premium but it’s a real SteyrJeff Cooper Scout. Nothing is better.
I dunno ’bout that. I have a nifty little .308 Ruger RSI with bottom metal for AICS mags, and a VX-II on it. As far as I’m concerned it’s the bees knees. The reason I dig it so much is that the barrel is 18.5″ instead of 16″, so you end up leaving a bit less on the table with .308. Granted it’s still a 300 yard gun with 150 gr, and the thin barrel means it strings as it heats, but it’s a scout rifle. You shouldn’t be firing a lot of rounds or sniping anyhow. It’s fine out to 600 yards on torso sized targets, and it actually comes with iron sights on the rifle in case the combination of Leupold scope and Ruger rings isn’t reliable enough. It’s got a cobra sling, but if I was to put a Ching sling on I think I’d be pretty close to the Cooper Ideal. Plus the Mannlicher stock makes it look classy as hell.
The CZ Carbine 223/5.56 is avalible in 1:9" twist.
The CZ Carbine 223/5.56 is avalible in 1:9″ twist.
Interesting news! Unfortunately, the new CZ-USA website has eliminated all product specs and details, so we’re left guessing about this kind of thing.
Interesting news! Unfortunately, the new CZ-USA website has eliminated all product specs and details, so we're left guessing about this kind of thing.
The reason Ruger didn't opt for an AR style mag is because the M77 actions claw extractor.
The reason Ruger didn’t opt for an AR style mag is because the M77 actions claw extractor.
I have both a .223 and the .308 in the Mossberg. Love the handling on both, and the ability to use AR mags
I have both a .223 and the .308 in the Mossberg. Love the handling on both, and the ability to use AR mags
Have either company considered getting on the 300 black out train? I have shot the Ruger.308, both suppressed and not, great shooting gun, and on the short list. But wouldn't 300 black out kinda meet in the middle?
Mossberg announced a .300 BLK version of the MVP Patrol a while back, but as far as I know they have not yet seen the light of day. For people who have been wishing for a 7.62×39 bolt gun that takes AK mags, a .300 BLK bolt gun that takes AR mags would be an interesting alternative. If you had it SBR'd with a 9-inch barrel and suppressed, it would be pretty sweet for… I dunno, something.
I would take them both.
Have either company considered getting on the 300 black out train? I have shot the Ruger.308, both suppressed and not, great shooting gun, and on the short list. But wouldn’t 300 black out kinda meet in the middle?
Mossberg announced a .300 BLK version of the MVP Patrol a while back, but as far as I know they have not yet seen the light of day. For people who have been wishing for a 7.62×39 bolt gun that takes AK mags, a .300 BLK bolt gun that takes AR mags would be an interesting alternative. If you had it SBR’d with a 9-inch barrel and suppressed, it would be pretty sweet for… I dunno, something.
I would take them both.
I have a Spikes 14.5 LW upper w/pinned DynaComp, on a PSA lower. Whole setup cost me $700. Just over six pounds with irons
I have a Spikes 14.5 LW upper w/pinned DynaComp, on a PSA lower. Whole setup cost me $700. Just over six pounds with irons
That would be good as i have the 1:12 version and 55gr are really the heaviest I can go to keep sub moa. But 69gr still shoot ok out of it. They are great light guns. I do wish I had brought the 7.62×39 also.
Did I miss the part of the review were the reviewer actually shoots the rifles and writes a summery of the results…???? I did not see it and thus to me this review is not complete, and useless for my needs.
Did I miss the part of the review were the reviewer actually shoots the rifles and writes a summery of the results…???? I did not see it and thus to me this review is not complete, and useless for my needs.
Yes, you missed it. Try the 8 minute long video that appears after the third paragraph just beneath where it says “Watch the Video Review”.
Yea, but Chris, you could have said something about accuracy in the text. Don’t be obtuse. Not everyone can see videos for several different reasons.
Awesome. I just tried to play the video and there is no sound. I’m using a Galaxy S5, so it’s not my fault.
Shane Lollers Sorry man, not sure why the sound doesn’t work for you. Works fine on my S4. You can try tapping the video after it starts playing and then tap the “YouTube” link in the top right corner to open it in the YouTube app. I probably should have done a better job of explaining it, but in this case the review *is* the video… the rest of the blog post is extra information to complement it.
It worked on YouTube.
Yes, you missed it. Try the 8 minute long video that appears after the third paragraph just beneath where it says "Watch the Video Review".
Yea, but Chris, you could have said something about accuracy in the text. Don't be obtuse. Not everyone can see videos for several different reasons.
Awesome. I just tried to play the video and there is no sound. I'm using a Galaxy S5, so it's not my fault.
Shane Lollers Sorry man, not sure why the sound doesn't work for you. Works fine on my S4. You can try tapping the video after it starts playing and then tap the "YouTube" link in the top right corner to open it in the YouTube app. I probably should have done a better job of explaining it, but in this case the review *is* the video… the rest of the blog post is extra information to complement it.
It worked on YouTube.
A reason I’d have for one is to have a bolt gun that takes 5.56, not just .223. I own a rra ar15 and have plenty of 5.56, I shoot 13 different calibers already and have no interest in stocking a special loading for one gun. Especially since it is so close in appearance, I once had a 7.62 x39 get loaded in a 5.45 x39 mag, (large pile of ammo many mags too much chit-chat, oops). So I don’t feel like getting a 5.56 rd stuck in a tight .223 chamber. Bolt and lever guns appeal to me as nostalgic recreational toys, I hunt with AK’s as they ar more practical (I’ve got them in 4 different calibers for all occasions). Bolt guns are just fun sometimes though.
The compatibility with cheap common mags that I already own is also a huge plus…
I like the simplicity and ruggedness of a bolt and I want to be able to shoot 5.56 because of the availability of ammo. The mag is is a big issue to me and I don’t see me shooting thousands of rounds so
I’m thinking of the MVP
Just wonder how the Ruger American Rifle (the Ranch version in 5.56/.223) would compare against the two. It looks like the main difference is the magazine, since the Ranch appears to only has a 5 round rotary magazine available.
I see a bolt action in 5.56 NATO as (potentially) more accurate, stronger, and more reliable with fewer moving parts and less to go wrong; easier and less costly to repair; less expensive to purchase; and easier to clean and maintain. In addition, semi-autos are illegal for hunting in my jurisdiction. And I don’t want the hassle and expense of purchasing and reloading another caliber and keeping .223 and 5.56 ammo segregated when I already have a Stagg 3T and both 5.56 and .223 ammo on hand. I want a 22 to 24 inch barrel with my bolt action 5.56 to reach out with accuracy to maximum range for varmint hunting and target shooting. Magazine interchangeability with my AR would also be very desirable, and I prefer a synthetic stock in a somewhat traditional hunting style, not a bench rest stock. I want a bolt action rifle in .556 that meets all my criteria. So I guess i will wait for someone to make one just for me.
Thanks for un unbiased honest representation of the rifle. I am in the market to purchase a scout rifle and have been looking at reviews on Savage, Mossberg and Ruger rifles. It appears that most of the guys doing reviews should never have picked up a scout rifle in the first place. They either want to burn through 30 round magazines and never leave home without 1000 rounds or want something capable of sub MOA accuracy at 1500 meters and a scope that isn’t night vision capable or at least 32 powers isn’t worth mounting. Your review was refreshing and honest, especially about the expectations of a scout rifle as a general purpose rifle. Thank you for the time you put into it and the info you presented.