.375 Ruger Mossberg Patriot Born Again

[stagpanther]

Last week I received a heads-up from taylorce1 that a used MDT Oryx chassis for my Patriot action was up for a good price of $275.00 at EuroOptics. I purchased my original Mossberg rifle fitted to a laminate stock some years ago and was less than impressed by the flimsiness (IMO) of features for what is a seriously heavy recoiling cartridge. Although I did bed the stock and reinforce some of the weak areas--it has slept undisturbed in a gun safe for quite some time.

I have lots of MDT chassis--but this is my first Oryx, and though I doubt I'll ever use the .375 Ruger very much I thought I'd put one together out of curiosity.

Although the stock is listed as used--it looked almost new except for a couple of small dings on the edge of the barrel channel just aft of where the barrel lug seats and a few very superficial scrapes on the inside of the chassis. It could easily pass as a "near new" demo. Great price IMO.

There's only one feature of this stock which I find is value-depreciating annoyance; I don't know if all Oryx chassis are like this one--or it's just a feature of this particular Patriot model, but the rear action screw sits underneath the magazine release lever. You'll need a punch and short pins to swap the lever and spring out when you need to access the main action screw. I didn't see it mentioned in the user's manual; maybe there's a secret decoder-ring way of doing it but I don't know what it is. That said, it's pretty easy to do--but not the kind of thing you'll be able to do tool-less out in the field.

Will do some test firing soon, not sure the Bushnell Engage scope will survive.

[stagpanther]

Took it out for a function test--shoots fine but the scope rings (obviously) are too low and the LOP is a tad long but easy fixes. I did eventually find a seperate leaflet in the box entitled "special instructions" for Mossberg LA; so it does tell you how to remove the magazine latch--it doesn't mention "cause you won't get the action on or off otherwise."

[taylorce1]

Like I stated, it was never my intention to get you to spend money. It was simply a question about fixing issues with the Patriot rifle. I also have an interest in trying a chassis on a rifle, but rifles in the double digit weight range aren't my thing.

I will be interested in how your rifle will perform now. Hopefully, it will start providing solid results for you. Your 375 Ruger has definitely evolved differently than mine.

[stagpanther]

Like I stated, it was never my intention to get you to spend money. It was simply a question about fixing issues with the Patriot rifle. I also have an interest in trying a chassis on a rifle, but rifles in the double digit weight range aren't my thing.

I will be interested in how your rifle will perform now. Hopefully, it will start providing solid results for you. Your 375 Ruger has definitely evolved differently than mine.

Relax my friend--it was 100% my decision--you simply let me know there was a good deal to be had, and I thank you for that. This rig barely tips the scale at 9lbs--which may sound like a heavy rifle--but you'll feel it when firing it. I'm not criticizing you or MDT (I have lots of their chassis and they are great)--and I know you followed along and wanted to help when I had the initial issues with the OEM Patriot.

[stagpanther]

Replaced the scope and rings and fixed the LOP issue. Rifle handles quite nicely and I'm liking the Oryx; would definitely consider it as a base for other rifles that are intended to be hunting rifles but still have good features for precision bench work; you still get a solid metal chasis holding the action and is ARCA-ready and takes AICS magazines; I'm using a 3.75 300 WM for this one. About the only thing I would consider changing to the "as delivered" configuration is to a more vertical pistol grip--but that's a personal preference thing. At their low price-point MDT's Oryx is a value-packed competitor to less-expensive traditional wood/synthetic stocks IMO.

[taylorce1]

I need to get out and shoot my .375 Ruger, I just haven't figured out a scope yet. I used to have a VX-III 1.75-6X35 on it, but it was always a little short for the action. While I still have that optic and could install a rail, my eyes are liking a little more power these days. If it has an illuminated reticle I could probably get away with the lower power, so maybe an LPVO in 1-8X24 like I put on my .30-30 would work.

My rifle bare weighs right at 7lbs for the bare rifle right now. I'm hoping to keep it around 8.5 lbs scoped. It's definitely getting harder to find lighter weight optics I like these days.

[stagpanther]

I need to get out and shoot my .375 Ruger, I just haven't figured out a scope yet. I used to have a VX-III 1.75-6X35 on it, but it was always a little short for the action. While I still have that optic and could install a rail, my eyes are liking a little more power these days. If it has an illuminated reticle I could probably get away with the lower power, so maybe an LPVO in 1-8X24 like I put on my .30-30 would work.

My rifle bare weighs right at 7lbs for the bare rifle right now. I'm hoping to keep it around 8.5 lbs scoped. It's definitely getting harder to find lighter weight optics I like these days.

It's kinda hard figuring out which way to go with a 375 Ruger--do you want to make it a close-in really dangerous game rifle quick to bear and fire--or a more "toned down" big game rifle out to moderate range.

[Shadow9mm]

I had a factory stock patriot, awful rifle. Your looks pretty good, chassis and new barrel shoot make it a great gun.

[stagpanther]

Yeah--plastic mag well to provide major action support in a heavy-kicker is, well, duh. It's the original action/barrel fitted to an Oryx stock.

I loaded up 4 "full house" cartridges today of 270 gr speer hot cores driven by 73 grs of RL 15 and was immediately reminded of the one of the good things about the original Boyds stock--it has a Pachmeyer decelerator buttpad; the Oryx comes with just a solid rubber pad like you would find on a typical AR stock. Enhanced ouch factor and reminded me to pull in to the shoulder. Shot just under 2" at 115 yds--nothing to write home about but still is going to do the job on game.