Mossberg 100 ATR...any good?

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Yes I read your post. Just because it's accurate doesn't mean it's anywhere near the same quality as the Savage or Marlin guns that are in the same price range. Just like the Remington 770's. They are pretty much crap when it comes to quality, but they often shoot halfway decent groups. The Mossberg is a huge step up from the 770, but it's no where near the quality of the Marlin or Savage rifles in that price range. I've also never used one with the new trigger, but the old style trigger is horrible compared to the accu trigger on the Savages. That's something else a lot nicer on the Savage, and Marlin has a similar trigger. You also get the ability to change barrels easily and quickly on them, where as not so on the Mossberg. Plus you don't have to worry about a bolt blowing apart in your face. Who knows if those reports really happened or not, or if they were the owners fault or the guns, but it's not a chance I really want to take when I can get something better for similar money anyway.
 
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The Mossberg may shoot as well as anything on the market, for now. These rifles have been around for several years under at least 3 different names. All have failed because of poor long term quality. Mossberg wanted too put their name on a rifle and bought the rights to a gun with a checkered history.

That is what's not to like.
 
The OP asked about a rifle, I happened to have owned one (with surprisingly good results, especially for the price). I can't speak to every other rifle on earth, just the one in question. Take it for what it's worth but it's not conjecture.
 
jw, that sort of budget might be better spent on a used rack. Hashed it out in another thread not long ago dealing specifically with used purchases. Short of "splurging for a T/C Venture at around $430 I don't think you'll find a rifle that meets the criteria for accuracy, safety, durability and good looks at your price point, the Marlin being a potential exception (I've not heard reports on the durability portion as yet).

Here's a pic of my latest $300 used find in 30-06, a Win. Mod. 70 circa 1994ish with what it did on my third three-shot group (I brought 10 rounds to zero the scope and check function).

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It's survived nearly a decade, looks great and shoots as well as I do. I'll consider it money well spent though I did ponder the T/C and Savage for a few dollars more. I can't wait to see what this thing does when I find the right load for it.
 
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The Savage package at Walmart meets all those criteria and is right at $400 with a scope. Everyone I've shot or seen has shot sub moa groups, they have an amazing factory triggers, and are just super reliable safe guns. If it wasn't for the Savage and the Marlin I'd say look on the used rack too as the other options in that price range just aren't so hot. However, with those two, I see no reason to look at used unless you just want an older wood stocked rifle or something.
 
Well my Marlin XL7 cost me $249.00. I could have put a Banner Scope on it for $80.00. That would be better glass, and a better gun for about the same as your ATR combo.

I choose to put a Bushnell 4200 on the XL7, so my scope cost more than the rifle, and I promise it is probably the most accurate rifle for $250 I have ever shot or seen. The rifle is a winner. Could have just been pure luck, but I don't think so. I reload for all my guns, except shotguns and this rifle. Shooting Winchester Supreme 115 grain BT, which is the Combined Technology bullet, this XL7 will honestly shoot 3 shots into 1 hole. I have done it many times, and I can post a 200 yard target of 10 shots that you can cover with a quarter. I can do this with this rifle and round combination repeatedly. So for now it would be a waste of time to reload for this gun.

So, yes, I think the XL7 is a better buy for the money compared to the Mosseberg ATR. It isn't pretty, it isn't fancy, but it shoots true, and that is all that matters. It also has an adjustable trigger that you can set down to 2 lbs. I am not sure about the ATR.


So for $250 and a $300 scope. I am at $550 for my .25-06 Marlin XL7. Well add $50 for the Talley Light Weight Mounts also. So $600.00 for the gun, but the gun shot so well with my Bushnell 3200 I thought I'd splurge a little, and get a 3x9 for it. After all it is a .25-06. Putting the 1.5-4.5x32 on it for the first few hunts because it is all I had available at the time, and didn't have money for a new scope, but once I saw the guns ability to shoot so true. I didn't mind putting a scope on the gun that cost more than the rifle.
 
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How do you define "much more gun for his money"? Did you read my post?
Yes, I read your post. Nobody said the Mossberg is inaccurate. It's just not as well made as the Savage and Marlin. The Mossberg used to be a rifle called the Raptor, which was really crudely made. Then Charter Arms bought the design when Raptor deservedly went out of business. Charter improved it a bit, then Mossberg bought it when Charter dropped it. Not a proud lineage. The Mossberg version is better made than either of its previous incarnations, but Savage and Marlin have raised the bar higher than the Mossberg can reach.
 
I have ATR-100 in .30-06, 2004 vintage. It will do its part when you do yours. I am able to consistantly get sub-2" @ 100 yds with most cheap commercial SP ammo. With GOOD ammo and steadier hands than mine, will do under 0.75".
 
Eb, care to let us in on who made that $250 deal on the Marlin? I'd buy a pair at that price. Even Bud's is listing them at $314 and then there's the transfer fee, when they're in stock round here they want $350 or more. Sounds like you won the bargain hunters olympics.
 
My buddy owns a gun shop here in MI and I'm pretty sure he's selling the Marlins for $279. Might have been $289, but I know it was well under $300. Any place charging $350 is ripping you off unless it's the scope package.
 
@Skylerbone

I bought it at Academy about a year and a half ago. I had no idea that they XL7 had gone up so much. Regular back then was $279, but they had a special for $249.00 that day.
 
Yep, I've seen the onsale quite a cheap in Academy sales flyers. I'd have bought one except for the fact that we don't have an Academny nearby. They also had two Steven's 200's I'd have loved to bought for like $179 or something like that a while back. They have some great deals.

Our local gun shop sells the Marlin for $309, or that's the price listed on it, but they are often fairly high on stuff.
 
I also have the ATR in 30.06 that I purchased new in 2007.
Pros: Pretty good rifle for the money (I think I paid $225 out the door). Always works and fairly accurate.
Cons: Trigger pull seems a little gritty and the swivel mount tabs are weak and can break (mine did).
 
Mossberg ATR .243

I have the .243 Mossberg that I traded for awhile back. It still has the Mossberg scope on it (inexpensive 3-9x). I sighted it in with Hornady and it shoots around a 2 inch group in my unsteady hands. Someone more skilled would likely do better.

All that aside, what I wanted it for was to introduce my sons to deer hunting this year. As you can see from the picture (if I managed to attach it), the rifle performed just fine. My son doesn't really care what name is pressed into the barrel, just that he got his first deer with it--and I really don't care either, and I am a certified "gun enthusiast."

Bottom line--get what you want, or can afford--and get it out there and enjoy the experience.
 

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I wasn't trying to call anyone out on the Marlin price, I was just shocked that Bud's would be that high (don't have an Acadamy near me, never even seen one). Still tempting at the sub $325 price point, anyone know if New Haven has shut down yet? (Marlin was nabbed by the same clowns running Remington and planned to move the operation, last I heard, possibly to KY or even overseas).

Hboy, congrats to your son on his first deer and to you for getting him to that milestone.
 
I concur with other comments about alternatives to the Mossberg ATR in .270. Just tried to sight in a nephew's Christmas gift (not from me). Managed to get 1.75 in. group with 130 gr hunting ammo. Not satisfying for someone with an accuracy fetish. Oh well, hope the kid likes it and doesn't wound too many.
 
I concur with other comments about alternatives to the Mossberg ATR in .270. Just tried to sight in a nephew's Christmas gift (not from me). Managed to get 1.75 in. group with 130 gr hunting ammo. Not satisfying for someone with an accuracy fetish. Oh well, hope the kid likes it and doesn't wound too many.

1.75" is as good or better than many popular lever 30-30 rifles will shoot. Plus what ammo did you try 1 or more??? I wouldn't count your 1 subjective test netting 1.75" groups as a bad thing. Maybe you tried the wrong ammo. Maybe that really is the best your ATR will shoot...still a decent deer rifle. Just don't take it to a rifle match.
 
I was thinking the same thing. While those groups aren't worth bragging about, you certainly won't be missing or wounding any deer as a result of them.
 
I bought a long-action .30-'06 Mossberg ATR a couple of years ago and have been very satisfied. I put a Banner 4 X 12 on it and shoot 1.5" groups at 100 yards, with 180 grain ammo. I recently bought a box of Remington 220 grainers and launched a few downrange. Definitely more oomph in the recoil, but the group was still fairly tight. Don't figure on using them for anything smaller than moose or elk, though. Overall, I'm quite happy with the ATR.
 
I bought 3 of the atrs when my buddys gunshop was going out of business. I got them cheap. Two 243s for the grandsons and an 06 for a freinds daughter. The only one i put serious time behind was the 06 and its a tack driver. Probably the best shooting 06 ive ever owned. Between myself and her theres probably at least 500 rounds though it now and its taken at least 10 deer. Not the prettiest gun around and not the best fit and finished gun around but a good serviceable rifle for not much cash.
 
Right, so we've established that its performance is as good as a Marlin that has to be found on a screamin' deal to be in the same price range...
 
It's been a month and a half roughly since the OP and we're still arguing.

Accuracy and performance are two different things. A Silverado can travel 100mph but at that speed I would hardly consider its performance the equal of say the Audi A6 at the same speed. An off road comparo might tip the balance elsewhere. Accuracy without control means little and if it breaks, even less.

I still like the Marlin or T/C for an inexpensive rifle, a solid used Win. or Rem. if budget is tight. If the OP doesn't mind the feel of the Mossberg there seems enough conviction to think it will suit his purpose.
 
I love my Mossberg and I own a Stevens too. I like the Mossy better in some ways and the Stevens in others. At 69 I no longer believe in status symbols but in tools that work. Mine works for me.
 
The only downside I have noted has been the Savage wrist - I don't like the feel of the stock. The Mossberg, on the other hand felt very nice coming to shoulder. If I needed a reasonably priced new gun, I'd surely consider it.

There's a whole discussion on the boards over at TexasHunting or something on how to clean-up the trigger and get the pull you want. There's also info on improving the bolt. Mossberg uses the cross-pin to center the firing pin. There was some problem with early cross pins being to soft which lead to bolt failures. That was worked out quite a while back. So as long as it's a new production rifle, I'd say go for it :)
 
I have zero marlin bolts but have at least a dozen marlin lever guns and have owned at least 20 others in my life. I will have to say this to the guys claiming the marlins quality control is so much better, I have seen more crappy guns come out of marlin in the last 5 years or so then about any other manufacture. Marlins quality control has taken a big dive lately. Maybe there bolt guns are better, I dont know, like i said i dont own one. But i kind of chuckle at guys that think they have some kind of a higher quality gun because they picked a marlin over a mossberg or savage. I recently bought a savage edge in .243 for the last of my grandsons that needed a rifle. Its a decent gun for the money but im not seeing where its one bit better then the mossbergs i bought for the other kids. One of my grandkids has a howa in 243 that i picked up used. Now that gun just feels like a higher quality gun then all the others mentioned and arent much more money.
 
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