Can it be true...MRC is GOB and CZ is stopping the 550

[BeeMaa]

First of all...credit to @Newboomer for the information.
Just wanted to start a new thread and not hijack another one.

Is it possible that Montana Rifle Company is going out of business?
I had suspicions when they were supposed to release something new in Dec 2019 and didn't.

The rumors of CZ stopping production of the 550 Safari action have been around for a while.
Now has it finally happened?

If this is the case and both of these statements are true...
It could me a big blow to those looking for an (affordable) African DG rifle.

 

[cpr0312]

MRC was slated to have a booth at DSC and didn't show, and @Newboomer said they didn't show at SCI either. Not sure about CZ's 550. If both are true, at least there will still be one tried and true DG affordable and reliable manufacturer (from my personal experience).... Winchester and it's Model 70 in .375

Ruger, Kimber, and Sako also have options that many guys are more than happy with.

 

[sestoppelman]

CZ site only shows the 2 magnums in 550, American and Euro style, no std cals.

 

[BeeMaa]

The realm of the "double square bridge" is quickly becoming a 5-digit investment.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Sad. My MRC has been a real performer and is more accurate than I am capable of.

 

[fourfive8]

Same here- sad! Well, if true about MRC, that didn't take long. Aug of 2018 IIRC, the new CEO came on here and said the turnaround was in progress. https://www.africahunting.com/threads/montana-rifle.40107/page-4

I bought one of their actions a few years ago for a build and the rifle turned out fine. Seems the options for serious hunting rifles or actions south of 5 figures continue to diminish- not a good thing.

 

[Tanks]

...

I bought one of their actions a few years ago for a build and the rifle turned out fine. Seems the options for serious hunting rifles or actions south of 5 figures continue to diminish- not a good thing.

There are still Defiance machine actions which are great.
https://defiancemachine.com/actions/deviant/deviant-hunter/

You can order them with CRF option.

 

[ve7poi]

Defiance also makes a super controlled round feed action as well with model 70 Safety and a great trigger

 

[CAustin]

Sad news. I have a friend that want to sell enough MRC products to become a preferred dealer. Guess not now!

 

[Newboomer]

Double checked with CZ at the SCI show today. No more 550 actions except what's in stock. I think I kinda lucked out by talking with them when I found about MRC folding. Emailed MRC and cancelled my order and got a confirmation email back.

 

[BeeMaa]

Double checked with CZ at the SCI show today. No more 550 actions except what's in stock. I think I kinda lucked out by talking with them when I found about MRC folding. Emailed MRC and cancelled my order and got a confirmation email back.

Appreciate the update.
Glad you were able to get an order in with CZ for your 404J.

 

[Neil Molendyk]

CZ, any reason given as to why production ending? Cost of production, lack of sales?

 

[Pheroze]

Granite Mountain are also top quality actions.

 

[Newboomer]

The explanation I got from MRC was that they closed for "restructuring" and for the show season to reopen by 15 Feb. I thought they just did that about a year or so ago. Too iffy for me. I might or might not have gotten my rifle.

 

[crs]

If there really is sufficient demand there will be sufficient suppliers.
If there is NOT sufficient demand, the number of suppliers will diminish.
Basic marketing.

 

[YancyW]

MRC would have to build a hell of a rifle for them stay in business as long as they have, because it damn sure wasn't customer service that kept them going.

 

[Major Khan]

From the looks of things , it would appear to me that the market for large game rifles will now predominantly be taken up by Winchester and their Model 70.
They are the only company who appears to be going strong .
I also do believe that the Heym Magnum Mauser action rifles will also get popular now .
Also , l do not intend to hijack this thread. However , l have been wondering for quite some time :
Why has the Dakota Model 76 bolt rifles never really caught on with any of our African Hunting Forums members ? They appear to come in quite an extensive array of classical big game calibres .

 

[Bullthrower338]

From the looks of things , it would appear to me that the market for large game rifles will now predominantly be taken up by Winchester and their Model 70.
They are the only company who appears to be going strong .
I also do believe that the Heym Magnum Mauser action rifles will also get popular now .
Also , l do not intend to hijack this thread. However , l have been wondering for quite some time :
Why has the Dakota Model 76 bolt rifles never really caught on with any of our African Hunting Forums members ? They appear to come in quite an extensive array of classical big game calibres .

The Dakota 76 is quite popular, but the price of them is restrictive much more so than the CZ, Winchester and others. Their Traveler model, which is a switch barrel is a wonderful choice for the international hunter.

 

[Tanks]

...
Why has the Dakota Model 76 bolt rifles never really caught on with any of our African Hunting Forums members ? They appear to come in quite an extensive array of classical big game calibres .

They have priced themselves out of the market. Base rifle without optional stock, checkering, inlet etc., etc. is $8,995. By the time you are done almost $11K-12K

I can get a custom rifle built with an action and barrel of my choice, Turkish stock or better, all put together for less than $6K. Synthetic or laminate stock is more like half that.

 

[Hogpatrol]

Some of the prices on factory built guns are obscene and overpriced for what the parts and labor cost. From this chair, paying for a name is a fool's game. It's the Indian, not the arrow. YMMV.