Mossberg Patriot "fun"

So 5 years ago a good friend of mine wanted to start deer hunting for the first time. He didn't have a big budget and didn't want to invest alot of cash in a new outdoor hobby (already tied up most of his money in fishing gear haha). So he browsed the entry level rifles and picked what, to him, was the most classic looking... a Mossberg Patriot in a wood stock chambered in .270. He was also getting married that summer (another reason his budget was tight). So us groomsmen put together the cash and bought it for him.

After a few 3 years of shooting "patterns" instead of groups I finally convinced him to let me see if we could figure this gun out with handloads. It definitely helped, but when I say help, I mean shrunk 6" groups to 2-3". His confidence was further shaken that deer season after missing a deer at under 100yds. Enter this year... I offered to bed his rifle... I had personally never studied the inside of a patriot before, but after I did I am still amazed (not in a good way) at what they designed. That plastic magwell/bedding block is a complete joke and the wood stock felt kinda soft.

I could never get a repeatable torque on action screws, so I added brass pillars front and back.


Then the rear screw was still inconsistent due to the plastic trigger guard, so I made a new one from aluminum bar stock (the finish turned out ok, but I'm a farmer with no lathe or mill, not a fulltime maxhinist).

Finally... consistent action torque... and wouldn't ya know... after a seating depth tweak as well... shooting maybe a little over 1 inch groups now. Turned out pretty good, but had this not been a gun with alot of sentimental value to him, I would have encouraged him more to replace it haha.

 

That`s unacceptable IMO to have to do all that to a gun in order for it to even approach acceptable precision /accuracy. I remember a rifle review where two guys were shooting " budget " rifles. The Mossberg Patriot that they had, while being the best looking rifle in the group, shot horribly. For budget money in a hunting rifle, can`t beat a Savage for out of the box accuracy IMO.

 

I may have tried sending it back to Mossberg but everybody likes a project and a challenge overcome.

So, great job.

 

I have found tho too that when it doesn't like a loading it REALLY doesn't like it, and it hates shooting warm could practically watch it start stringing when it heats up.

 

Firstly nice stock work. Secondly the patriot has probably one of the thinnest barrels I’ve seen on a deer gun. It makes the Ruger American or Axis look like a baseball bat.

 

I have been through this. The Patriot plastic mag well insert is a problem. I think somebody needs to make it in aluminum as an aftermarket option. The actual barreled action on those is pretty good. I also switched out the trigger. Glad you helped your buddy. Boyds makes a replacement stock and mag setup which is much better.

 

Nice work! Im sure your buddy appreciates it, and it turned out well.

I went about bedding my wifes .243 a bit differently, bedded the plastic insert to the stock. Torque is set at 45/30 with no issues.
I cant honestly say if it was helpful or not, as the gun was never shot before doing the work.

It does shoot quite well though, with both loads I tried running right around moa. Ill eventually do some load development and try get it down under 1".

 

Yep same here. I picked up a Patriot with walnut and chambered in 270 Win a few years ago. I made one handload for it, tested it and it shot great so I put it into the deer hunting rotation. Haven't shot anything with it yet but I have no concerns at this point. I will agree with others though that the plastic bottom components are crap and it would be great if there was an after-market upgrade drop-in option.

OP - nice work on the bedding and custom trigger guard. Hope your buddy gets some redemption with this rifle on his next deer opportunity.

 

From Boyds:
ATTENTION CUSTOMERS : Mossberg Patriot SA AI Mag Assembly kits are available on the Accessories page, Part# A09164
These are for their (Boyds)stock I believe.

 

I think it may be time to send that rifle down the road and get something else.

 

I looked into the Revere but ultimately passed because 1.) I hate accutrigger style triggers & 2.) I hated how much slop there was in the bolt. Looks like I made the right call.

 

Finally got 'er under 1 moa! Ya ya ya I know its not a 5 shot group