Mossberg MVP Patrol Professional: Rifle Review

When we think of a typical sniper’s engagement, our minds instantly drift to super-long distances, but police marksmen often operate in urban environments where shots are much closer, like inside 300 yards. Here the higher velocities provided by long barrels aren’t necessary, and iron sights can sometimes come into play.

Mossberg’s MVP rifle has been tweaked to meet these needs, and now we have the MVP Patrol Professional—a tactical bolt-action rifle made for rapid deployment and intermediate-distance engagements.

Available in 5.56 NATO, .300 BLK and 7.62 NATO, these rifles are among Mossberg’s law enforcement offerings, accessed from the main site via a link at the top left corner or LawEnforcement.mossberg.com. You can also ask your local dealer to request a Patrol Professional from their distributor.

These rifles accept AR-pattern magazines and can also accept M14/M1A mags. This is helpful because many departments already have these on hand, and it also allows for convenient ammunition sharing in the field.

Handiness

I chose the 7.62 NATO, as I have a soft spot for carbine-length firearms that sling full-power ammunition. At a shade over 37 inches, the Patrol Professional rivals most of my AR-15s, while coming in a bit shorter than nearly all my AR-10s.

The polymer stock kept the weight right about there, too, despite making a small concession for the bull barrel. This is a fair trade, as it provides accuracy while helping to reduce the point-of-impact shift between a cold bore and follow-up shots.

I was thrilled to see that iron sights come standard, and Mossberg went the extra mile to include a fiber-optic front post. This is helpful for hastening acquisition while aiding in low-light conditions overall.

The MVP also features a pre-mounted Picatinny rail with a channel that allows for use of the iron sights without having to remove the rail. Therefore, mounting an optic in quick-detach rings lets you switch to the irons in the case of a scope failure.

Feeding System

The MVP Patrol Pro’s feeding system is unique. The two-lug design is enhanced with a pair of nubs that can slide a cartridge off either side of a detachable box magazine. Mossberg calls this the Dual Push bolt design, and it contrasts with the company’s Dual Drop system, which folds away during operation and is native to the versions that feed only from AR-15 mags.

This rifle also has a dual latching mechanism to accept both M14 and M1A styles of magazines. I like that the engineers had the foresight to cut the magazine release flush with the mag well, because these have a tendency to get bumped during transit. I’m also a fan of the rocker-style, push-to-fire safety that serves lefties and righties equally well.

Like most of Mossberg’s catalog, the MVP includes the user-adjustable Lightning Bolt Action trigger system. By removing the stock, you can dial it for your desired pull weight. My sample had a measured range of 2.9 to 6.8 pounds and arrived at nearly the lightest setting. As I trust my trigger discipline, I cranked it down the rest of the way for testing.

For range work, I mounted a GPO Centuri Compact in a pair of Talley Modern Sporting Rings. I selected the new Black Hills 110-grain TSX load, which was developed specifically for government and law-enforcement carbines like the MVP Pro.

Recoil and Reliability

I didn’t have any M80 ball on hand, but Federal’s 150-grain American Eagle load is darn close, so I added that into the mix. And because match-grade fodder is the best way to explore a firearm’s capabilities, I selected Hornady’s 168-grain hollowpoint.

All three types of ammunition fed and fired well, with the Hornady Match barely out-grouping the others. I was thankful for the included flash hider, as both that and the Federal ammo created a bit of a fireball due to the shortened barrel. But the Black Hills load did not, since it was designed explicitly for guns like this.

Recoil was stout but manageable, and a good muzzle brake would be a welcome addition where noise and dust signature aren’t a concern. I shot the gun from both a rest and a bipod, and found it to be great and generally easy to handle.

I ended my day by firing the MVP Pro from the offhand position, as well as kneeling with improvised support. The shorter rifle was markedly easier to balance than lengthier options, which is another important point to consider. You won’t find a shooting bench in the field, so being able to steady your gun with less is paramount.

Thumbs Up

Overall, I think Mossberg did an excellent job with this update, as it retains the features that made it a hit in the first place, while adapting to the needs of the modern shooter. This makes it a handy tool for the professional, as well as a worthwhile hunting implement.

Mossberg MVP Patrol Professional Specs

• Type: two-lug bolt-action centerfire
• Caliber: 5.56 NATO, .300 BLK, 7.62 NATO (tested)
• Capacity: 10+1, detachable box magazine
• Barrel: 16.25 in., 1:10 twist, threaded 5/8x24 w/A2 flash hider
• Overall Length: 37.5 in.
• Weight: 7 lb.
• Finish: Tungsten Cerakote
• Stock: synthetic, straight comb
• Trigger: single-stage LBA adjustable; 3.0 lb. pull (measured, as received), 2.9 lb. pull (as tested)
• Sights: fully adjustable rear notch, fixed fiber-optic front; Picatinny rail
• Safety: two-position rocker
• Price: $847
• Manufacturer: Mossberg, lawenforcement.mossberg.com

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