Montana Rifle Company Returning in 2023?

[BeeMaa]

Cool! Did they say anything about making their African or PH rifles again?

I spoke with one of the owners at length at the SCI 2023 convention. He said that they currently offer short action calibers, with long action (30-06 size) coming later this year (2023). Magnum actions (300WM) will be next he said it would be unlikely that they would have them ready by SCI 2024. He's thinking sometime in summer/fall 2024 for the magnum action, the PH action (458LOTT) will follow that.

I got the feeling from them that they have learned considerably from the mistakes of the past. They much prefer to stay in their realm and only make additions at the speed they want. There are no more cast actions, everything is forged and CNC milled and as @meigsbucks said, with an integral Picatinny rail. Accuracy from their current prototypes are better than 0.5 MOA in the short action calibers.

In short, it's gonna be a little bit before we see a full length PH action from MRC.

 

[Captain Munro]

At least they still might be making a PH action! That's good news. The pic rail could be nice for mounting a red dot on a heavy hitter like the Lott.

 

[Fryeguy]

Here are some pics of the actions. They did say they were still working on a few things. The recoil lug is a separate piece also, it is machined nicely to fit bottom of action.

 

[Doug3006]

I wish they would ditch the integral pic rail. Ruins the look of an otherwise good looking rifle.

 

[Fryeguy]

I agree about pic rail. I asked about it. It is machined lower into action to keep height down, if I explained it properly. They end up using the pic rail to hold it while machining he said. I also asked when a 9.3x62 would be available. He said the more people email them about it the more likely they are to chamber them. I requested the same thing from Kimber in the Caprivi rifle. His comment was the same!

 

[Captain Munro]

Sadly, things without pic rails and other tacti cool things just don't sell well enough these days.

 

[Captain Munro]

I agree about pic rail. I asked about it. It is machined lower into action to keep height down, if I explained it properly. They end up using the pic rail to hold it while machining he said. I also asked when a 9.3x62 would be available. He said the more people email them about it the more likely they are to chamber them. I requested the same thing from Kimber in the Caprivi rifle. His comment was the same!

Is Kimber planning on adding any chamberings to the Caprivi? Right now, they only have the 375 H&H.

 

[Fryeguy]

I asked about it. He said they were ramping up to start production on them again. I told him I loved my 375 and would love to have a 9.3x62 in a rifle set up similarly to the caprivi, maybe a little lighter, heavier than the classic model and have the sights and barrel band.

 

[Fryeguy]

So I think if more people asked the better odds there are of special runs

 

[BeeMaa]

Is Kimber planning on adding any chamberings to the Caprivi? Right now, they only have the 375 H&H.

Funny enough...I also spoke with them about this very subject at SCI 2023. The answer is no.

The Caprivi and Talkeetna will only be offered in 375H&H and even then, in limited runs as they see fit. I asked specifically about a 458LOTT, and was disappointed. Ahhh well. Back to my Blasers...

They did say that going to the shows is a way for them to gather information on what hunters want and that this type of input can make a difference in production. You would think at SCI they would have gotten a number of such requests.

 

[Marc Ret]

I wish they would ditch the integral pic rail. Ruins the look of an otherwise good looking rifle.

Agreed. Had an 80s mohawk flashback when I saw it.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

That’s good news for anyone that wants what I would call a semi-custom rifle. I really like mine in .416 Rigby. It is a beefy rifle and very accurate.

Please could you post some pictures HA?

 

[Hunt anything]

Please could you post some pictures HA?

Here you go Kevin.

 

[Doug3006]

Agreed. Had an 80s mohawk flashback when I saw it.

I just don’t understand why they would go to the expense of creating an action with one. I’ve never heard anybody complain about add on rails that are attached via screws. For people who want one, it can be installed in minutes and will hold zero just as well as an integral rail.

 

[MedRiver]

That integral rail looks like they are trying to compete with Defiance and the like but a Model 70/Mauser style should have more Classic stying IMO.

 

[Doug3006]

If they ever get around to manufacturing a safari rifle and it has that abominable rail, I’ll pass.

 

[BeeMaa]

Having some kind of integral base would be a nice addition on a safari rifle, Picatinny is a bit too much IMO. If they machined dovetails with a stop like Sako or the CZ550, I think it would look pretty good. And it eliminates the need for bases between the rings and action.

 

[Hunt anything]

Having some kind of integral base would be a nice addition on a safari rifle, Picatinny is a bit too much IMO. If they machined dovetails with a stop like Sako or the CZ550, I think it would look pretty good. And it eliminates the need for bases between the rings and action.

My MRC does have integral base like the CZ but I wanted a red dot on mine. That is if I remember correctly. I haven’t had it out of the safe in a while. Ammunition is too expensive so I’m hoarding what lit bit I have.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Having some kind of integral base would be a nice addition on a safari rifle, Picatinny is a bit too much IMO. If they machined dovetails with a stop like Sako or the CZ550, I think it would look pretty good. And it eliminates the need for bases between the rings and action.

Or machined Talley bases

 

[BeeMaa]

My MRC does have integral base like the CZ but I wanted a red dot on mine. That is if I remember correctly. I haven’t had it out of the safe in a while. Ammunition is too expensive so I’m hoarding what lit bit I have.

The thing about the "new" MRC is that they are not locked into what they have done in the past...nothing. They are in a unique position of being a company with such a dedicated fan base, but still went out of business a few years ago. Their team is committed to a quality product and my interpretation of their philosophy is to under promise and over deliver. Their answers were honest and to the point, with no measure to tolerance for mucking about. IMO it looks like MRC has a bright future ahead. I wish them all the best.