Magnum Deluxe
Mossberg’s Patriot Revere Combines .300
Win Mag Power With Old-School Aesthetics
The Mossberg Patriot Revere will prove a game getter for Mark in .300 Win Mag.
Today’s long guns continue to amaze me. Attractive, accurate rifles wearing affordable price tags seem to be a common theme and this certainly holds true at Mossberg. It’s never too early to start planning for fall hunting seasons and I was shopping for a rifle to hunt various big game species.
During the recent SHOT Show I was impressed with the variety of offerings by Mossberg. While I didn’t have any firsthand experience with these fine looking guns, several close friends have shared many positive remarks. So, I started taking a closer look and really liked their Patriot Revere models. For an analog guy living in a high-tech world, there is something inspiring about blue steel and fine looking wood. I placed my order for a .300 Winchester Magnum thinking this should handle about anything on my current radar screen.
After receiving the new Patriot Revere, I was not disappointed in the least with the premier grade European walnut stock. Simply put, it was beautiful. It features a nice cushioned butt pad that will be welcome when shooting off the bench or in the field. A distinctive rosewood grip cap with a contrasting maple spacer and a monogrammed “M” certainly added a touch of class. A portion of the fore-end and grip has fine line checkering providing a secure gripping texture. Plus, it just looks good to boot. The oil finish on the Revere stock blends perfectly with the richly blued steel of the action and barrel. The rosewood fore-end tip is also bordered with a contrasting maple spacer and pleasing to the eye. If you appreciate fine wood, the type you could easily find on a custom gun, then you’re going to enjoy this piece of craftsmanship on the Revere.
The 24-inch barrel balances well and features a recessed crown. Several features stand out on this model including the adjustable trigger that can be adjusted from 2 to 7 pounds. My trigger broke crisp and clean slightly over 3 pounds, so I didn’t need to make any adjustments. The straight bolt handle is checkered and provides a firm gripping surface. The bolt features spiral fluting and the effect enhances the overall ascetics of this fine-looking rifle. The Revere features Mossberg’s push-feed machined-steel action as found in other Patriot models.
The 2-position safety does not lock the action so you can load and unload the firearm with the safety on. The bolt release is straight forward and functional consisting of a 1-piece blade situated directly behind the left side of the receiver. The triggerguard is not integral with the magazine well, but is actually separate, made of polycarbonate. The 1-piece polycarbonate box magazine fits the well like a glove. These super-strong, lightweight magazines are a welcome design in my opinion. I’ve dropped metal magazines before and the results were not pretty.
The polycarbonate box magazine holds 3 rounds of .300 Win Mag.
The Patriot Revere wasn’t picky with any of the loads tested. At 100 yards, the Black Hills 165-grain GMX
load (left) would put meat on the table, as would the Federal Premium topped with a 165-grain Nosler Partition.
The new Patriot Revere comes without sights but Weaver-style scope bases are mounted and ready for scope installation. I mounted a Burris Fullfield E1, 3-9x40mm scope and it matched the Patriot nicely with its sleek profile. The elevation and windage knobs have been upgraded and offer distinct clicks. The optical clarity is bright and provides a clear, sharp image. With recoil of .300 Win Mag, durability was essential and I found the Fullfield E1 to be tough as nails. This Burris E1 is a darn nice scope for any hunting rifle and backed by the Burris Forever Warranty.
No question the Patriot is a fine looking long gun, but the real test would be at the range. I was eager to find out how accurate the .300 Win Mag would be in this package. Several factory loads were shot including Hornady’s 150- and 165-grain GMX, Black Hills 165 GMX, Fusion 165 and Federal Premium 165 loaded with Nosler’s Partition. In addition, I had several handloads consisting of Nosler brass, Sierra’s 155- and 168-grain TMK, over IMR and Hodgdon powders. With a decent cross-section of ammo, it was time to get to work. After initial sight-in, all groups were shot at 100 yards. My good shooting buddy John joined me with both of us taking turns shooting 3-shot groups.
First, we found cartridges load in the magazine with ease—no fumbling around trying to make rounds fit properly. The polycarbonate box magazine holds three rounds of .300 Win Mag. The bolt cycles smoothly and empties ejected flawlessly. After mounting the Burris scope, the rifle tipped the scales around 8.5 pounds and recoil didn’t pound us during a lengthy shooting session. The Patriot didn’t seem picky as any of the loads we tested could definitely be used for hunting. All of the factory loads with 165-grain bullets were running fairly close in velocity and accuracy. Handloads with Sierra bullets also performed satisfactorily. Recoil was what you’d expect from a .300 Win Mag, but not overbearing. Shooting a few steel plates offhand from 100 yards or so was accomplished with most shots ringing hits. The rifle mounts to the shoulder and points quickly without issue. At the end of our shooting session we both felt the Patriot would make an ideal big-game rig.
Overall I am very pleased with the Patriot Revere. This rifle will be available in several calibers including .308 Win, .30-06, 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Win, .243 Win, and .300 Win Mag. It appears to me the new Mossberg offers custom gun attributes in a production rifle wearing an affordable price tag. This is a very attractive-looking firearm performing well on the range and I know it will be efficient in the hunting arena. While this may have been my first experience with a Mossberg rifle, I guarantee it won’t be my last.
The Patriot Revere comes in an upscale, attractive premium-grade European walnut stock. The fore-end (below)
is fitted with a rosewood tip.
The bolt release is located on the left side of receiver (above), and the bolt’s gas shield protects inadvertent release
of the bolt as well as protection from escaping gas. A 2-position safety is on the right side for the strong-hand thumb
(below). It does not lock down the bolt, so the rifle can still be cleared with the safety on.
Patriot Revere
Maker: O.F. Mossberg & Sons
7 Grasso Ave.
North Haven, CT 06473
(203) 230-5300
www.mossberg.com
Fullfield E1
Maker: Burris,
331 E. 8th St.,
Greeley, CO 80631,
(888) 440-0244,
www.burrisoptics.com
Magnification: 3X-9X
Objective Diameter: 40mm
Eye Relief: 3.1 inches
Adjustment Range: 50 MOA elevation & windage at 100 yards
Click Value: 1/4 MOA
Tube Diameter: 1 inch
Weight: 13.0 ounces
Overall Length: 12.2 inches
Reticle: Ballistic Plex E1, Price: $335
Action: Bolt action
Caliber: .300 Win Mag (tested)
Capacity: 4
Weight: 7 Pounds
Barrel Length: 24 inches
Length: 44.75 inches
LOP: 13.75 inches
Sights: None (Weaver bases)
Barrel finish: Blue
Stock Finish: Premium walnut, oil finished
Price: $823
The Burris Fullfield E1 3-9x42 scope proved rugged and inexpensive—a perfect choice for a .300 Win Mag.
Burris Fullfield E1 3-9X
When searching for a scope compatible with the Patriot .300 Win Mag, I definitely wanted an optic capable of withstanding punishing recoil. I also wanted the optic to match the rifle in appearance. For a hunting rifle, I didn’t need or want all the bells and whistles associated with those big, high magnification tactical scopes, and I didn’t want to cash in a CD to buy it. After looking over the variety of scopes offered by Burris, I selected the Fullfield E1. There are several variations of this model including a 2-7x35mm, 3-9×40, 3-9×50, 4.5-14×42 and a 6.5-20×50. Keeping things simple, I chose the 3-9x40mm and its sleek profile fit the Patriot Revere perfectly.
At first peek through the scope I was impressed with the clear, sharp image presented. This is not a high-dollar scope but the clarity was eye-pleasing. The adjustable windage and elevation turrets were sleek and the positive steel-on-steel adjustments proved repeatable. The scope is waterproof and the nitrogen-filled tube prevents internal fogging even in inclement weather. While doing chores around the farm, I looked through the scope in early morning and late evening conditions and was very pleased with the light gathering capability. The multi-coated lens enhanced visibility in those low-light situations. The Burris Ballistic Plex E1 reticle features windage and elevation dots so hunters can reach out yonder even in windy conditions. The crosshairs were fine enough to get serious with accuracy, yet large enough I could see clearly if shooting in the shadows or though dark timber.
Wearing eyeglasses every day, I really appreciated the easy, fine-focus adjustment ring. It allowed me to quickly focus the eyepiece to my corrective lenses. When my friend John shot the Patriot, he simply adjusted the eyepiece to his needs and continued shooting.
The most essential criteria for this scope—especially fitted on top of a .300 Win Mag—was durability. Would it hold up after many rounds of serious recoil? Well, it did during our evaluation. The scope is housed in a 1-piece tube with an internal assembly double spring-tensioned for shock proofing. Burris states the scope is resistant to a lifetime of heavy recoil and after considerable shooting of the big mag, I can’t argue. I have heard other shooters state the Fullfield E1 is built like a tank and it may well be. The good news for anyone purchasing this optic is it’s backed by the Burris Forever Warranty—a good deal regardless of how you slice it.
