Mossberg 100 ATR

I don' know much about the ATR. The .243 is plenty powerful for deer if you shoot well. A .308 is better IMO and is usable on larger game like Elk and Moose as well. I have three synthetic stock bolt guns and about five in wood. I like wood better all things considered.

I am not too familiar with the Mossberg, reviews are mixed.. most are happy with what they are... a budget hunting rifle... as to the .243.. it is plenty for any deer you will encounter.... for a strictly hunting rifle, I am just as happy with synthetic as wood.. doesnt really matter.. synthetic will be easier to maintain, often lighter, and more rugged.. also, there is less worry about scratching and dinging it up.... but that is a personal choice.. in a low cost gun, I would probably opt for the synthetic.... IMO however, the marlin and stevens bolt actions are worth looking at as well... their reps are considerably better in terms of accuracy... in fact, the marlins recently had a write up ( i forget the magazine) where an average of 5, 5 shot groups ranged from under and inch to something along the lines of 1.6 (?) inches with everything from GMM to Core lokts.

I've got an ATR 30-06 and it's very accurate for a $250 rifle...I did a write up in 07 when I picked it up...might be floating around here still.

what willy said...

I wouldn't trust one, as some of the early ones had a problem with the bolt coming unglued (was press-fit). Last report I heard they had resolved the issue, but it left a bad taste in my mouth. I would, instead, look into the Marlin XS-7 (or XL-7 if you decide on a long action).

WRT the chambering, I am a big fan of the 7mm-08Rem. as it affords good trajectory, and enough power for clean kills, even when presented with an imperfect quartering shot (the .243Win. is marginal is such conditions), and has less recoil than rounds like the .308Win., .270Win, or .30-06Spfd. That said, either of the two listed (as well as the .270Win. and .30-06Spfd) will take down a deer just as well if the rifleman does his part.

Compare that ATR side by side with a Savage and you'll go with the Savage. Much smoother action and heavier bolt. You can probably still find something w/o the accutrigger so price would be about the same as the ATR.

I would pass on the Mossberg. For similar money you could get a Marlin XS7 or a T/C Venture. The Savage with accu-trigger is a great rifle as well, but more money than the others. I have a T/C Venture in .243 and I have Savages in .243 and .308. All are great rifles. The Venture is my favorite of the group. It's guaranteed to shoot 1 moa and has a lifetime warranty. You won't get that with a Mossberg. As to caliber, the .243 is adequate, but the .308 is the perfect deer round in my humble opinion. Others will argue their caliber is better, but I feel the .308 has the best mix of accuracy, knockdown power at reasonable ranges, and tolerable recoil. The 7-08 would be a great round as well, but you'll pay more for ammo.

The 7-08 would be a great round as well, but you'll pay more for ammo.

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Eh, for hunting cartridges the difference is a drop in the bucket (and often there isn't any at all), and for target use the advantages of the 7mm-08Rem. (better trajectory, better BCs, and lighter recoil impulse) outweighs that single disadvantage and is cheaper IF you reload (otherwise you'll have trouble finding suitable target cartridges).

In my neck of the woods, Winchester Power points for my .308 are $18 a box. Same ammo in 7-08 is $25 a box. Since the 7-08 doesn't catch up to the .308 untill somewhere near 300 yards (way past typical hunting ranges), I would save money and get the .308. Just my opinion. We're all entitled to one!

In my neck of the woods, Winchester Power points for my .308 are $18 a box. Same ammo in 7-08 is $25 a box.

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Hmm, around here there is little to no difference in price for hunting ammo (big difference in plinkin' ammo though, and virtually no factory match rounds available for the
7mm-08Rem.). Anyway, I think we can agree that both have a propensity to making four legged critters fall down dead'r a doornail, that is if the rifleman does his job.

My local Walmart sells the new Savage Edge models for $268.00 which seems like a good buy according, to the reviews I've been reading about them.

Don't buy the bs about Mossberg 100-ATR bolts; whatever issue they had is long gone or it would be all over this board like stink on a monkey.

i got one in 270 win and love its operation and accuracy. For hunting, its a good deal

IMO the ATR bolt was smoother out of the box than my Savage's. The newer ATR's have an adjustable trigger now making them an even better value. The stock with molded trigger guard and sling studs is the only really cheap part of the rifle.

Earlier this year and last year you could catch the Marlin XL7 on sale for $259-$279...I think those days are gone but for an under $300 rifle that was a really good deal. It wasn't available when I grabbed my ATR from WalMart.

Here's my ATR today:
Painted the stock first:


Then decided to paint the whole thing and give it a dusty look (live in AZ) :

New Gun

I just bought a 270 package gun and scope at Academy. They had some newer versions like mine with a flutted barrel and some older versions too. The older ones are not flutted it seems. They were nice enough to boresight the scope on it and it was on the paper first shot. $299.00 with a 3x9x40 Barska scope.

Check out "shooting with nephew" thread

I have one of the Mossberg ATRs in .243. I wrote my latest short range report in the above noted thread.

I will be glad to tell you what I know about mine. I believe my first range experience with it (not being able to get it to sight in properly) was user error--I screwed up.

Yesterday it performed well--except for two light primer strikes on some expensive hornady ammo. No such issues with federal, rem, winch, monarch.

And a 243 is plenty adequate for deer, at least deer around here (Texas). We are looking at an animal that weighs around 80 to 105 pounds field dressed.

thanks

The Mossberg is an OK rifle for the money. The problem is that the Marlin XS7 and Stevens 200 are much better rifles for a similar price. I'd recommend a Marlin XS7 in 7mm-08 or 308.

I have a Stevens in 7-08. It is a great gun for the money but the mossy 270 holds its own with the lightening trigger.

"the Marlin XS7 and Stevens 200 are much better rifles for a similar price."
This needs some explaining. What makes them better?

Col. Plink said:

"the Marlin XS7 and Stevens 200 are much better rifles for a similar price."
This needs some explaining. What makes them better?

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Much better fit and finish. The Mossberg is the latest incarnation of a rifle that started out as the Raptor, then was picked up by Charter Arms. It was **cheap** with not much effort put into fit or finish. The Mossberg version is much improved and is an OK rifle, but the Marlin is much better made, with well finished parts and an overall more solid feel. Compare them side by side and you'll see what I mean.

i have one in 270, very accurate, due to the "lightning" trigger and free-floated crowned barrel. My first fired was group was less than an inch---with reloads. Also, I wouldn't recommend the 243 either, as for the same price you can get something that will open more door for you. If anything else, and you are just white-tail hunting, a 270 or 30-06 will give you alot more power for whitetails.

The Mossberg version is much improved and is an OK rifle, but the Marlin is much better made, with well finished parts and an overall more solid feel. Compare them side by side and you'll see what I mean.

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I agree, the workmanship on the Marlin as well as the Stevens (save for that horrible stock) is much better.

If anything else, and you are just white-tail hunting, a 270 or 30-06 will give you alot more power for whitetails.

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Yeah, because lesser cartridges can't kill 'em dead enough.

The .243 is plenty powerful for deer if you shoot well.

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The operative phrase being, "if you shoot well", the 243 has its following, and it will definitely turn off a whitetail, but you do have to do your part, as in passing on long or steep angled quartering shots, so a caliber with more 'authority' would probably do you better.

As for the ATR, as of late, we have not had any returns or complaints, but in all fairness, we have not sold many ATR's lately.

If it were I, I might head on over to the Savage or Marlin camp and check out the Stevens 200 or one of the Marlin X-Series rifles, emphasis on the Stevens 200!

The calibers...the 270, 30-06, 308, and the most excellent 7mm-08 are tops for whitetail, with the 308 and 7mm-08 offering a significant increase in performance for little increase in cost or recoil.

the most excellent 7mm-08 [is] tops for whitetail

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Yep. Now the .30-06Spd. and .270Win. (amongst other '06 derivatives) will do fine, but the 7mm-08Rem. (as well as the 6.5x55mmSwede and .260Rem.) is as good as they come for a dedicated deer killin' machine IMO (I like a bit more...see the '06 case size...for Elk and above).