Mossberg ATR100 Rifle Review

[guncollector]

confirming--it's a great low-priced rifle

I bought one 270 win. several months ago. About $360 combo. I shot it today, impressive tight group with the cheap-looking scope. The trigger is better than the Remington 700. I could not shot well with my Remington 700 combo which come with a nice scope. I did killed a big buck over 200 yards last Christmas. But if the buck was smaller, I would have missed it.
I just love the nice Whitetail lightning Mossberg. A solid gun with Walmart price. I found out it was on sale for $300 now as the combo price in Dick's Sports. I went there bought another two, one is 270 win, and another one is 30.06. I will test out the same caliber 30.06 with the Mossberg and Remington, see which one shoots better!

Two ATR100 rifles price= one Remington 700 price! And I could carry with two different calibers 270 and 3006 into my hunting spot. I might install a better scope onto the 270 so I could shoot 130 grains bullets beyond 250 yards...two thumbs up!!!
As someone said, the bullets do not care about the surface finishing on the gun!!!

 

[Col. Plink]

Heck no! Sold mine to someone who was pleased as punch to get it for what I paid with tax. So I rented a rifle for awhile, shot it in, and made a friend selling it. Not bad for nothin! I may get one in .243 just to have that long-range funster in the closet for cheap.

 

[Offfhand]

Your rifle has a great scope and good mounts, you deserve to be proud.

 

[Chuck E]

Mossberg Whitetail lightning

I just this past week purchase a Mossberg Whitetail lightning 308 from Dick's. I have a long standing aversion to Mossberg (I am 69) as my first shotgun was a Mossberg bolt action .410. It fell apart, and for a 10 yr. old boy that was heart wrenching. I did not even think you could give me one. I decided that I may be in the need for an Obama "if push comes to shove" rifle. I am an old Marine M1 Garand nail driver with a 30-06. That was my first choice but really looking at what I was wanting this rifle for, and .308 is a NATO cartridge (30-06, U.S. only). I really wanted another CZ but $739.00 bare gun was too steep for my reasoning. The Savage on sale combo .308 was $359 with great history of accuracy but You need to replace/rework the trigger. I was mad at myself the whole trip home for being so cheap. BOY WAS I WRONG!!!! That new trigger of theirs is fantastic, and the rifle consistency and accuracy just cannot be beat out of the box. MOVE OVER SAVAGE!!! At least two of my old stand-by rifles just bit the dust. My ugly notched rifle butt (hate that) Mossberg and I will be on the road seeking out those 150 yard and beyond coyote shots. I have not fired it rapid fire and only used CHEAP Academy Monarch .50 cents at a pot with 1.5 inch and less groups at 100 yards, those coyotes are in trouble. That Remington SPS is good but not this good nor anywhere as cheap. Almost jumped on a $580 SPS without a scope a couple of days earlier. Saved by the bell. $299.98 combo is a garage sale price without one compromise other than finish and blueing.

 

[sleepyone]

good review. great deal on the setup. happy hunting!

 

[goredsox]

tasco provided some of the "mossberg" scopes, but I believe lately they've switched to barska (sadly)... neither is a leupold (or even bushnell)... but the barska is truly a P.O.S.

 

[Col. Plink]

kind of sad I sold my 30'06 now, but I may console myself with a 308.

The 'lightning' refers to the new easily adjustable trigger, yes? (it actually has a lightning bolt in the trigger lever?)

 

[Chuck E]

I have no idea who made the scope on my new Mossberg Whitetail Lightning, but it is no P.O.S. It is no redfield or Leopold judging by the finish etc. The optics are clear as a bell and the adjustments are accurate. I Ran a box of shells through the gun making adjustments as I saw fit and watched the bullet move as instructed by the scope. Put the gun in the car and drove the back roads (gravel and bumpy). Came home took the gun out and checked the sighting on the back yard targets. Right on the money. So what more can you ask? No one will be admiring my new rifle or the scope from looks, but none of them will be out shooting me or keeping tighter groups. Not bad for a $300 combo against their fancy looking $1000 plus stuff. I have those to, in my case. Pretty to look at and admire. I shoot my mossberg to make the long kills now. I AM SOLD on this darn thing. My lil CZ is still a darn good heavy barrel gun and probably hold a tighter group. Well, I hope so, I paid through the nose for it, and it ain't pretty either.

 

[Col. Plink]

I have to agree. On the cold shot my ATR 100 30'06 would touch the bullseye crosshairs from 100yds w/ factory Federal Powr Shock 180-grain softpoints and a $50 Centerpoint 3-9x32. But it did have Leupold rings, OOHLALA!

 

[BushyGuy]

Really its the scope that made the rifle able to shoot nice groups like that, put a cheap ass scope on it then it will do worst. nothing beats a Leoupold scope! Atr100 is crap i wouldnt use it in hunt for a big bruiser buck , i want a rifle thats dead on SUB-MOA cuz if you see the biggest buck you ever seen in front of you, i aint gonna risk it with a 300.00 rifle.

best bet is buy a Tikka Lite in .308 then i would feel much more confident if i see a nice rack.

 

[Col. Plink]

So a $50 scope on a $250 rifle that can put $.75 30'06 ammo ON THE DOT at 100 yds shouldn't be trusted to kill a deer? Get real...

 

[no4njnk]

Went to go look at a .308 today and must have seen a bad one. The stock looked like it needed to be refit since most of the area around the bolt handle had lost its paint. The Marlin is by far a better looking gun.

 

[kb2zya]

I had a cheap mossberg atr-100 30-06 from walmart for a few years and it shots good.I got a $299 whitetail lightning 243 youth stock for my wife and the new LBN trigger it real nice upgrade!!!! light pull and wood stock w/3-9 x 40 scopei love dicks

 

[elmcintosh]

I just bought one in 30.06 cal and already the sling swivel attach point broke letting my rifle fall on the ground landing on the scope