Hope I didn't put the cart ahead of the horse!
Oh great! One day after ordering a brand new 4X4 .270, you find info on an improved, adjustable trigger.
I've been contemplating on a new rifle for my son (15, about 100 lbs) for a couple of months now, for Mule & Whitetail deer and eventually shorter range elk.
I narrowed my caliber choices to either a short-action .308 or the long-action .270; I already own an A-bolt in .270 Win and would shoot it at literally anything in North America inside 300 yds. It is an incredibly accurate gun, with a scientist-like friend of mine who reloaded some rounds for me that produced three-shot groups that cover a dime (more/less same hole accuracy).
My budget wouldn't support another Browning, and I definitely wanted a rifle under 7 lbs with a detachable magazine, so I was considering the following models:
Remington 770 Sporter
Savage 10/110 GCNS or 16/116 FCSS
Tikka T3
Mossberg 4X4
I quickly ruled out the Remington for two simple reasons:
1. I actually discovered more Negative feedback from current owners than positive, despite the VERY attractive price (around $350-$380).
2. I could only find the 770 pre-equipped with a scope. Over the years, I've found it better to actually spend less on the gun, and MORE on the optics in achieving premium accuracy. To each his own on that one.
I heard almost nothing but very high regards for both the Savage and Tikka, with their prices in the $500-$550 range, depending on stock, barrel, etc. I was actually leaning towards the Tikka until I started reading more about the Mossberg 4X4 & ATR 100 and the independent reviews given by their owners. With mostly all good reports, and a price of $100 to $150 less than the Savage & Tikka, I began the arduous task of finding the specific model I wanted.
For 2008, Mossberg introduced a 4X4 "synthetic laminate" model (#265** series) in the blued-matte barrel with the skeletal stock and it really looks sharp in the picture. Like all the other 4X4's, it came in the six long-action calibers. I contacted several sporting goods stores in Washington State and beyond, including several online sites (Able Ammo, Bud's, etc) and none of them had even heard of this product line. After four different conversations with the folks at Mossberg corporate, I finally determined that they produced very few of this model in 08', scattering them abroad very modestly. I did get my hands on one of the distributors that they had shipped to and was able to find one in the .270 I desired (26502). After connecting the distributor with my FFL dealer, my new rifle.....er, my SON'S new rifle will be here w/in two weeks, well in time for a great surprise Christmas present.
The one occasional negative I did hear on the 4X4 was in inconsistency in the trigger pull. I felt that for $400, I could spend another $30-$50 to have a gunsmith fine tune it for me, should the need arise. I wonder if the new edition Lightning Bolt adjustable trigger would have been worth the wait? Time and practice at the range will tell.
I'm new at posting pics on message threads, but if it works, here's a pic of the model we ordered.
Where did you find/hear that Mossberg is going away from the "skeletal" style stocks in the 4X4 next year?
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