The Mossberg Patriot LR (long-range) TACTICAL bolt action rifle beat more expensive competing rifles during a 2023 rifle shootout. It demonstrated exceptional accuracy, adaptability and ergonomics in a budget design.
Shooting is an ever-more popular pastime, with a slew of firearms and shooting accessories hitting the market post-covid. However, it’s not cheap – like many things worth pursuing. So, an affordable rifle equally suited to hunting and sports shooting holds considerable appeal for new and experienced riflemen alike.
Outdoorlife.com awarded the rifle a Great Buy Award for 2023, terming it a “budget gun punching above its weight class.” After we got our hands on the Patriot LR, it was easy to see why.
An exciting variation on a familiar design
Mossberg’s Patriot line has grown considerably since its 2015 release. More than a run-of-the-mill line extension, the new Patriot LR TACTICAL is available in 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Winchester and 6.5 PRC-chambered models.
Obvious choices for UK shooters, the .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor calibres were favourites during testing, based on Mossberg’s two-lug push-feed steel action. Each gun respectively featured 22” and 24” medium-bull carbon barrels, 11-degree match crowns and Field Stock chassis systems.
The rifles’ heavy barrels didn’t negatively affect manoeuvrability – at 8.75 lb, the Patriot LR TACTICAL still proved easy to carry and position in a variety of settings.
The LR TACTICAL’s user-adjustable Mossberg LBA (Lightning Bolt Action) trigger mirrors previous Patriot models, offering between 2 and 7 pounds of pull. A large bolt handle adds to its efficiency, while the fluted bolt works with acceptable (if not remarkable) smoothness.
All about accuracy
The LR TACTICAL is especially suited to long-range precision shooting. Its fully adjustable chassis delivers outstanding performance that belies its price tag. Shots are reassuringly stable thanks to v-Block aluminium bedding.
During testing, both calibres delivered a .247” five-shot group using Federal 140gn Berger Hybrids: the closest grouping results out of a large pool of rifles under scrutiny.
Comfortable shooting
The rifle offers outstanding usability: the magazine release lever is comfortably positioned next to its oversized trigger guard. Handling is smooth and reliable thanks to a vertical, robustly-textured straight-wrist grip.
Buttstock LOP (length of pull) is adjustable between 13.5 and 14.25” using one of the three .75” included spacers. Shooters can also adjust the stock to their preferred cheek height up to 2” using an integrated tension dial.
Impressively versatile
A 5/8×24 tpi thread makes adding a suppressor simple – it’s equally easy to make optical elevation adjustments with the 20 MOA Picatinny rail. Both features add to the gun’s supreme usability in hunting scenarios.
The gun’s Magpul M-Lok-compatible front end makes using M-Lok accessories a synch, with well-positioned slots at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock.
Using a detachable AICS-style magazine, the rifle accepts third-party AICS-style calibre-specific magazines. Reloading is impressively quick and easy with the well-thought-out paddle magazine release.
Combining high-quality components in a design that’s as adaptable as it is eye-catching, it’s easy to see why the pleasingly affordable Mossberg Patriot LR TACTICAL is one of the top long-range rifles on offer for 2023.
