{"id":8612,"date":"2014-03-18T17:57:13","date_gmt":"2014-03-18T17:57:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ramworks.net\/blog\/?p=8612"},"modified":"2015-12-07T20:55:32","modified_gmt":"2015-12-07T20:55:32","slug":"express-yourself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/express-yourself\/","title":{"rendered":"Express Yourself"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"What
What does that say on the barrel?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nothing like a new gun, except maybe a new, old gun with some personalized customization. Maybe one even chambered for a new cartridge. I\u2019ve been working on two projects for the last several months and both are based on Mossberg\u2019s MVP Predator rifle<\/a>. I\u2019ve been a fan of the MVP since it was introduced; I like the idea of a bolt-action rifle that uses AR magazines. It\u2019s almost as cool as an AR that uses AR magazines.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been working these rifles into what you might call a pseudo scout type rifle. Now, while I like a lot of what COL Cooper said, I\u2019ve never really bought completely into the scout rifle concept. This is whey the two rifles I\u2019m working up would probably best be described more like, multi-purpose utility rifles. I don\u2019t necessarily think an army scout would carry one but if you\u2019re looking for a one rifle answer to a lot of questions, I think you\u2019ll like these because they involve a lot of neat kit like XS<\/a> and fiber optic sights, an EOTech MRDS<\/a>, a sweet go switch from Timney<\/a> and something cool from Lasermax<\/a> and Surefire<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"If
If a cartridge will work in an AR magazine and if it has a rim diameters of 0.378, it should also work in an MVP.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I can\u2019t give it all away here; one rifle will be featured in the GUNS Annual<\/a> and the other in an upcoming issue of Rifle Firepower<\/a>. One is sort of a do it yourself project while the other needed professional help, which is why I turned the project over to Jerry Dove at Dove\u2019s Custom Guns<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So, consider this a teaser if you will.<\/p>\n

I had a little help with the do it your self rifle too; I sent it out to the Sharps Rifle Company<\/a> and had them install a 20-inch, .25-45 Sharps barrel. Now, before you all start with all the neophobia<\/a> comments like, \u201cWe don\u2019t need a new cartridge.\u201d Or, \u201cWhat will it do that another cartridge cannot.\u201d Keep in mind that you could say that about any cartridge, well, except maybe the .22 LR.<\/p>\n

More than anything else, cartridges allow us to express our individuality. Do you really believe there is a practical difference in the .270 Winchester and the .280 Remington? Shooters find comfort and inspiration in a 25 fps advantage or a 5-degree tweak of a case shoulder. Some even get all twitterpated over a different lead angle that has been cut into a chamber. Truth is, we could all get through life, hunting and shooting anything, anywhere, with only about five, almost antique cartridges. No fun in that.<\/p>\n

But back to the tease, I ran a few handloads through the .25-45 rifle today and found that 70 grain Sierra BlitzKing<\/a> bullets would squirt out of the 18.5 inch barrel at 3150 fps and that five shots would cluster into nice one inch groups. 90-grain Sierra BTHP<\/a> bullets had a muzzle velocity of about 2850 fps and groups were just a tad larger. These were just first tries too; imagine what some tweaking of these loads might produce. (Hey, handloaders like to twitterpate too!) With these two loads this rifle will have some multi-purpose utility.\u00a0\"MVP-2\"<\/p>\n

One thing I proved today is that since you can pick up a new Mossberg MVP Predator<\/a> for about $ 500, and a used one for a little less, these rifles make great project guns. You can install a new barrel for a couple hundred bucks and as long as the cartridge you choose will work in an AR 15 magazine and, has a rim diameter of 0.378, you\u2019ll have a new rifle that expresses your personality a little more clearly. The modern human is all about individualism, right? Isn\u2019t that why you got that tattoo of a naked Donald Duck on your left butt cheek?<\/p>\n

What can you do with a Mossberg MVP Predator<\/a>? Well, you\u2019ll just have to read the articles to see. You might be surprised what a little hillbilly engineering can produce. I\u2019m going to have two rifles that are equally adept at home defense, gopher whacking, deer hunting or even head shooting zombies at 300 yards. I might even get out the spray paint and then carve my name in the stocks with a butter knife; cause there\u2019s nothing like a custom rifle. (A custom rifle chambered in a new and unique cartridge may cost more than a tattoo but it does not hurt as much, well, unless its a .458 Lott. Why would anyone want a .458 Lott?)<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Things I’ve seen while carrying a Mossberg MVP.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nothing like a new gun, except maybe a new, old gun with some personalized customization. Maybe one even chambered for a new cartridge. I\u2019ve been working on two projects for the last several months and both are based on Mossberg\u2019s MVP Predator rifle. I\u2019ve been a fan of the MVP since it was introduced; I like the idea of a bolt-action rifle …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2509,2522],"tags":[481,535,536,537],"class_list":["post-8612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-defense","category-hunt","tag-25-45-sharps","tag-customizing-the-mvp","tag-mossberg-mvp","tag-mvp-scout"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5hujZ-2eU","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":13174,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/mossbergs-mvp-the-perfect-project-rifle\/","url_meta":{"origin":8612,"position":0},"title":"Mossberg\u2019s MVP \u2013 The Perfect \u201cProject\u201d Rifle","author":"gunwriter","date":"April 5, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"For a rifleman there are few things as appealing as a custom rifle. Yeah, being stranded on a deserted island with Dave Navarro\u2019s girlfriend is an appreciable fantasy, but that\u2019s not going to happen. The primary appeal of a custom rifle is that it is built just they way you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DEFENSE"","block_context":{"text":"DEFENSE","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/defense\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"MVP-1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/MVP-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/MVP-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/MVP-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/MVP-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13031,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/mossberg-mvp-scout-vortex-scot-scope-combination\/","url_meta":{"origin":8612,"position":1},"title":"Mossberg MVP Scout \/ Vortex Scout Scope Combination","author":"gunwriter","date":"March 1, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Mossberg has teamed with Vortex optics to offer several package rifles. One is the MVP Scout with the\u00a0new Vortex Scout Scope.\u00a0The Mossberg MVP Scout is a compact, lightweight, bolt-action rifle well suited to general purpose use. The fact that you can now get it from the factory with a serviceable\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DEFENSE"","block_context":{"text":"DEFENSE","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/defense\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"MVP-4","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/MVP-4.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/MVP-4.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/MVP-4.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/MVP-4.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11775,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/what-is-a-scout-rifle\/","url_meta":{"origin":8612,"position":2},"title":"What is a scout rifle?","author":"gunwriter","date":"June 25, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Do you know the answer to this question? Or, do you just think you know the answer?\u00a0Maybe the more important question to ask is, can the scout rifle be definitively defined? Conducting research and experiments to support my upcoming book, The Scout Rifle Study, I\u2019ve spent the last two years\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DEFENSE"","block_context":{"text":"DEFENSE","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/defense\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Scout-1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Scout-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Scout-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Scout-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Scout-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11070,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/mossbergs-new-mvp-scout\/","url_meta":{"origin":8612,"position":3},"title":"Mossberg’s NEW MVP Scout","author":"gunwriter","date":"January 20, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"We can trace the beginnings of the scout rifle concept to about 1966. That\u2019s when COL Cooper penned an article entitled \u201cThe Carbine Compromise.\u201d 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\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DEFENSE"","block_context":{"text":"DEFENSE","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/defense\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Guns & Ammo Photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Carbine_Compromise_1966_Jeff_Cooper_F.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Carbine_Compromise_1966_Jeff_Cooper_F.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Carbine_Compromise_1966_Jeff_Cooper_F.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/Carbine_Compromise_1966_Jeff_Cooper_F.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13688,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/the-ultimate-scout-rifle\/","url_meta":{"origin":8612,"position":4},"title":"The Ultimate Scout Rifle","author":"gunwriter","date":"July 25, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 It could be argued there is, only has been, and ever will be, one true Scout Rifle. Cooper referred to all of the Scout Rifles he created as prototypes and proclaimed the Steyr Scout Rifle the best personal rifle in the world. You see, Cooper did not own the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DEFENSE"","block_context":{"text":"DEFENSE","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/defense\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"SS-1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/SS-11.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/SS-11.png?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/SS-11.png?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/SS-11.png?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12021,"url":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/trijicons-mro-and-the-warthog-whacking-wonder-gun\/","url_meta":{"origin":8612,"position":5},"title":"Trijicon’s MRO and the Warthog Whacking Wonder Gun","author":"gunwriter","date":"August 17, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Trijicon has a new entry in the miniature red dot sight market. It\u2019s called the MRO which stands for \u201cMiniature Rifle Optic.\u201d As expected, this sight is primarily intended for the AR and similar carbine platforms but when I opened the box, memories of shooting warthogs in Africa passed through\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DEFENSE"","block_context":{"text":"DEFENSE","link":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/category\/defense\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"MRO-2","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MRO-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MRO-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MRO-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/MRO-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8612","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8612"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8612\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12764,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8612\/revisions\/12764"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8612"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/empty-cases.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}