Mossberg’s NEW MVP Scout

We can trace the beginnings of the scout rifle concept to about 1966. That’s when COL Cooper penned an article entitled “The Carbine Compromise.” In it he discussed various carbines of the day and a semi-custom carbine he had built on a Remington Model 600. This rifle and later variants became the foundation of the scout rifle as we know it today.

Cooper’s carbines and what he wrote inspired a number of pseudo scout rifles from major manufacturers. Today we have the Steyr Scout Rifle, the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle, the Savage Scout Rifle and numerous scout rifle options from various custom smiths. What was once simply a cult like endeavor has become, more or less, mainstream, and for 2015 Mossberg has gotten on board with the MVP Scout.

The first time I picked up a Mossberg MVP I suggested that Mossberg offer a Scout version. All the rifle needed to fit the general, though now bastardized, description was a scout scope mount and open sights. In fact, I created two pseudo scouts using Mossberg MVPs as a base rifle on my own and called them CURs (Conditional Utility Rifles.) I’d like to think I could take some of the credit for the introduction of the Mossberg MVP Scout but, without substantial royalty payments, the bragging rights are useless.

At any rate it is here. And, the question for the pure scout rifle aficionados is how close does it come to Cooper’s specifications?

Cooper felt that a scout rifle should be chambered for a moderately powerful cartridge like the .308 Winchester and the Mossberg MVP Scout is. He also felt that the carbine should be no longer than one meter. The MVP Scout measures 37.5 inches long. Cooper’s scout rifle definition had a weight restriction of between 6.6 and 7.7 pounds when field read. The MVP Scout has an advertised weight of 6.75 pounds without scope.

As for sights there is some confusion as to Cooper’s intent but as expressed in his book, To Ride, Shoot Straight, and Speak the Truth, he was clear that a forward mounted “scout” scope was integral to the concept. He also held that reserve iron sights were desirable. With the new rail that extends 1/3 of the way out the barrel, a scout type scope can easily be mounted on the Mossberg MVP scout, pushing the weight close to Cooper’s limit. Integral to this rail is an adjustable rear aperture sight that works with a fiber optic front sight.

In addition to very closely meeting Cooper’s specifications, the MVP Scout comes standard with front and rear sling swivel studs so you can attach the shooting sling of your choice. It has short rail sections on the left and right of the forend to allow for the attachment of what Cooper called a “leopard light.” And, it has a threaded muzzle with a flash hider and a soft, one-inch butt pad

Will it meet Cooper’s 2 MOA accuracy requirement? We can only speculate but based on my experience with a number of MVPs and other Mossberg rifles, this should not be an issue. I should be getting one of the first off the production line and we shall soon see. If it shoots like the other Mossbergs in my safe, I’ll not be sending it back.

Mossberg will be offering two versions of the MVP Scout. One as described above and another that comes with a overly large and needlessly ugly, long eye-relief scope of questionable manufacture and a sling. Suggested retail will be between $ 777.00 and $ 940.00. Street prices should be 10% to 20% less. I’d bypass the scoped model and purchase my own Burris Scout Scope and Galco Safari Ching Sling and never look back.

If shooters are fortunate Mossberg will soon offer the MVP Scout in .223 Remington, .300 Blackout and ideally in .25-45 Sharps as well. I’d like to seem them simply add a scout rail option to their other new rifle, which they are calling the MVP LR.

One things for sure, if you like scout rifles, the time has never been better. And, if you are untrusting of Mossberg’s bolt action centerfire rifles you should get over it. They are reliable and fine shooting arms. Last summer my son and I took 12 head of African game with Mossberg’s new Patriot bolt-action rifle. But, as they say, that’s another story.

It should come as no surprise that Mossberg collaborated with XS Sights to pull this off. After all, they are the premier scout rail manufacturer. In other news – if you care about shotguns at all – XS Sights is growing its relationship with O.F. Mossberg & Sons and expanding the selection of factory-installed sights available on Mossberg Tactical Shotguns with XS Sight Systems Upgrades.