Mossberg MVP Predator Utility Rifle Review

I came across the Mossberg MVP Predator rifle (in 5.56/.223) recently and have had the opportunity to use it in the field as well as at the range in a bench rest setting.  This line from Mossberg has a few variations depending on your needs or desires.  They come chambered in a native 5.56 NATO as well as 7.62, and of course shoots .223 and .308.  I am shooting the  5.56/.223.  It has a 1:9 twist rate and handles heavier bullets well.

They offer the MVP in several styles:  from "Tacti-cool" to Varmint hunting and my favorite . . . the utility rifle called the "Predator".

Mossberg Predator

 Mossberg Varmint

The Predator comes with a shorter 18 1/2" fluted barrel and a very cool spiral fluting on the bolt.  The MVP series takes standard AR magazines.  To me, the mag that comes with it seems a bit cheap.  I recommend replacing it.  The mags are a bit loose in the stock, but they feed pretty flawlessly.  The action seems a bit loose and sloppy, but like the magazine, works very well

The Predator version is a bit shorter and lighter than standard hunting rifles and is a pleasure to carry and shoot.

In the field, the Predator is weighted well.  It rides effortlessly on my shoulder as I walk through the rugged canyon like terrain of my land near Del Rio.  I really like that I can carry 10 rounds with me in the AR style magazine without needing to find a place to put the extra rounds.  For me, I find it a great choice for dispatching hogs, coyotes, etc..   The predator comes in a 1:9 twist.  In my bench tests this barrel stabilized bullets all the way up to and including 75 grain hollow point boat tail match bullets.

The Varmint model is set up a bit more like you would expect it to be by the name.  It also has a longer barrel and more target-esque style stock.

On the bench the Mossberg MVP Predator (5.56/.223) performed to my satisfaction for what I want it to do.  I tried a variety of hand loads as well as a few factory rounds.  

It seemed to really like slightly heaver bullets ranging from 60gr to 69gr.  It is not a target rifle, though I have no doubt that one could achieve sub MOA groups with a little experimentation with various ammo or cartridge components.  

I shot less than an inch with a slightly fast, 69 grain Barnes BTHP Match Burner bullet.  I am confident that with more dialing in this gun could shoot tighter groups than I achieved.   As it is, out of the box it certainly shoots very acceptable groups for a hunting/utility rifle.  I really do like the gun and plan to collect another in 7.62/.308 someday.  For ease of use and convenience, I love it.  I realize that the groups shown in the photos are not terribly impressive.  However, this gun has really tightened up it's groups since then.  It easily shoots sub MOA. 

The test gun did not like all ammo, but did like Federal with Sierra Match King in a 69 grn bullet.  It liked the remington 62 grain ammo the least.

The MVP comes with a nice spiral flute on the bolt as well as a fluted barrel. 

Summertime Kayak Bass Fishing Techniques That Work!

A good fishing Kayak is one of the best recreational investments that I have made.  Compared to a bass boat it is pennies in a jar regarding expense.  It's often much easier to get on the water, and you can explore waterways that you would never be able to see in a bass boat.  I have owned both and for me, it's the kayak over a bass boat, canoe or any other vessel.  We can expand on that in another article, but first I want to talk about what we are here for . . . to put fish in the boat.

In the deep summer months the water temp can get so hot that it sends fish into the deepest depths in larger bodies of water.  That makes them a little harder to get to.  But in smaller, more shallow bodies of water like the San Gabriel River there often is no deep water to get to.  That's where I seem to find the fish that I can get in the boat.

Bass, especially a larger ones, are basically lazy and want to do as little as possible to get the nourishment needed to survive. Knowing this, we can better understand how to best offer it a meal with a hook in it.  The key here is SLOW.  How can you offer something that is easy prey and also convincing?  Presentation, color and texture are key.

 Forget about all the color combinations and bright colors, etc.  I have found that there is nothing more dependable than earth tones.  Choose colors that belong in nature, especially for slow fishing.  I like watermelon seed or colors of like kind.  Browns, olive drab greens and the like belong in the environment and have always worked better for me in most water conditions.   

Presentation is key.  If you "PLUNK" your worm and weight on top of a waiting bass you had better hit him in the head with the bullet weight and knock him out because he is likely to be gone before the worm settles before him.  The lightest weight you can get away with and a gentle touch is needed.  Most of the energy of the cast, pitch or flip should be expended by the time the bait touches the water.  This requires accuracy and skill.  I often like to drop the worm and weight on the bank, a rock or log and then gently slide it forward and let it silently enter the water where the bass is likely waiting.  I try to find, shaded places that are difficult to get to and offer as much cover as possible.  It's hot and they are looking for a comfortable hiding place that will likely yield a bite to eat without chasing it down.  Bottom line is to put your bait into the water as gently and quietly as possible. 

Let it sink, let it sit.  I have caught many summer fish by letting the worm sink and sit for 30 seconds to a minute.  I may be answering a text if I have my phone or picking a back lash out or who knows what.  But it pays to let that worm sit for a while after it settles.

Work it SLOW.  The shallow water summertime bass usually doesn't strike hard. Usually just a spongy resistance or the line moving across the water.  Become sensitive to all resistance on the line and set the hook  a little more often.  Some will be grass and some will be bass! 

Use you kayak to get back in those hard to get to places and enjoy the beauty.

Boston! Night Ranger! An evening bridging a 70's legend with the Rock God Era of the 80's.

It was 1977.  I was 9 years old.  One day, my mom came home with a wonderful contraption.  It was an all in one, Hi-Fi stereo!  It had a turn table for vinyl,  an AM/FM radio tuner and an 8 track deck.  DAMN!  I said "now all I need are some records!"  Mom, being ever so cool, suggested we jump in the 1965 Ford Falcon and tear out to the Gibson's.  For the younger readers that was our version of Walmart and was the size of a hardware store.  Bigger than a Dollar store but MUCH smaller than today's big box stores.

I came skidding up to the record isles in my stripped tennis shoes and knee high tube socks. I knew nothing about the day's music.  But I was drawn to two album covers.  Boston, Boston and The Eagles, Hotel California.  I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

When we got home I couldn't wait to get these new records spinning.  It was a difficult choice as to which one would be first.  Honestly, I don't remember that choice.  What I do remember is that both of those albums planted a seed of music in me.  That seed grew into a big ol' oak tree that has shaded my soul as well as the souls of my children and will likely be a legacy of love for music for generations to come.

I'll discuss Boston in this article though The Eagles were equally relevant in my life.  I would blast that album (Boston, Boston) out of my bedroom window everyday as me and my friends played outside.  I remember washing the car in the drive way with my family and how clean and happy the song "More Than a Feeling" made me feel.  I remember staying up late scrubbing through each song and spazing out to the guitar solos and the awesome harmonizing guitars. I remember interrupting my dad watching his football games to share some new and wonderful discovery of an element of one of the songs on the Boston albums even though I had heard every song hundreds of times.  That album marked me.  It left a mark and that's what music SHOULD do.

So . . . on July 20th 2014 Night Ranger opened for Boston and it was awesome!  Night Ranger did all of their old favorites and brought me back to when I was 17 years old.  They put on a great show with lots of energy and played for us as if it was the biggest show of their careers. They also played some new stuff.  I really enjoyed their performance and appreciate their art.

BOSTON!  It's only Tom Schultz now.  But he found a damn good guitar player and a great band overall.  I have to say that, in my opinion, the weakest link was the new lead singer.  He did put on a good show, but was not really qualified to carry the vocal weight of the Boston repertuar.  I felt that "More Than a Feeling" should have been puled from the line up until they can develop the tools to deliver that one.  DON'T GET ME WRONG, I loved the show and am so glad that I got to see them, but there were a few flaws that were no problem to overlook.

My son Sam and I at the show. Sam bought the tickets as a fathers day gift to me.  What a gift!

If you find yourself in the path of this tour and you are a fan, go to the show.  It will take you back and make you smile.

Tourism Campaign for Matagorda County, Texas

A campaign created to promote tourism in Matagorda county.