Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical in 6.5 Creedmoor, by Thomas Christianson

With one of the most comfortably-shaped ergonomic stocks I have ever used, an excellent trigger, and a 22 inch free floating threaded bull barrel, it is not surprising that the Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical in 6.5 Creemoor offers excellent accuracy.

Weighing in at 8.8 pounds not counting optics or ammo, the rifle is no featherweight. That makes it your friend while absorbing recoil, but less so if you need to haul it under your own power into the boonies.

With a manufacturer suggested retail price of $1,085 at www.mossberg.com at the time of this writing, it represents a excellent value for medium to long range still hunting of medium-sized game.

Background

More and more of the rifles that I have been testing recently are chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. I favor the cartridge because of its relatively mild recoil, flat trajectory, and wide availability in a variety of loads.

There are uses for which other chamberings may be more appropriate. I am not adverse to smaller-caliber, more-lightly-loaded cartridges for shooting squirrels, or for larger-caliber, more-heavily-loaded cartridges for hunting Alaskan brown bear. But for most medium-sized game, the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge seems to offer a nice balance of power, recoil, and accuracy.

More and more of the rifles that I have been testing recently are bolt action. I enjoy semi-autos, pumps, lever actions, and a host of other designs, and they all have their place. But for ease of use, maintenance under field conditions, and strength of design, the bolt action has a growing place of affection in my heart.

Because of all that, when I ran across the Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical in 6.5 Creedmoor I was interested. I had reviewed a standard Mossberg Patriot Predator in .243 Winchester, back in 2021. I had been particularly impressed with the excellent trigger and the smoothly operating bolt of that model. I wanted to see what a better stock, bull barrel, and 6.5 Creedmoor chambering brought to the package. I contacted Mossberg to see if they could loan me a sample for testing and evaluation. They were kind enough to agree.

First Impressions

In addition to the rifle, bolt, and magazine, the box contained a length-of-pull adjustment kit, a cable lock, directions for adjusting the length-of-pull and the cheek-riser, a manual, an NRA application, and two different NSSF firearms safety booklets.

The stock shouldered well right out of the box, with the right dimensions to allow for exceptionally comfortable dominant hand positioning. My positive first impression of the stock was strongly confirmed during range use. I feel that this outstanding stock is one of the best features of an excellent design. The included sling studs, the adjustable length-of-pull, the practical cheek-rest, and the versatile flat-dark-earth coloring of the stock complement its excellent ergonomics. M-LOK slots allow the mounting of accessories like lights, bipods, and similar equipment.

I like detachable steel magazines and appreciate standardized designs, but I must admit to some ambivalence regarding AICS magazines. I would have been more enthusiastic if Accuracy International had designed their chassis magazine as a double stack rather than as a single stack. Less magazine hanging below the stock means less magazine to snag on surrounding undergrowth and other obstacles.

The oversized bolt handle is easy and comfortable to grip. Like the Predator model that I previously reviewed, this bolt operated with buttery smoothness.

I commend Mossberg for preinstalling the optics rail. It is a bit frustrating to unbox a new rifle and discover that you need to order bases and then wait for them to arrive before you can mount your scope. It seems to me that any rifle that does not include iron sights should include an optics rails as a matter of course.

Like all other Mossberg-branded firearms, the rifle is made in the USA.

Reading the Manual

The manual is 28 pages long including the front and back covers. The version that I received was really written for earlier Patriot models and so was not entirely accurate in a few details related to the newer LR Tactical model. For example, it instructed removing the magazine by pulling a front-mounted magazine-release-latch rearward. With the AICS magazine of the LR Tactical, the rear-mounted magazine-release-latch is pushed forward instead.

Other than a few small errors like the one mentioned above, the manual contained a host of useful information:
∙ The excellent lightning bolt-action-trigger-system can be adjusted from approximately 2 to 7 pounds.
∙ The manual recommends no further disassembly than removing the bolt from the barreled action, and the barreled action from the stock.
∙ There is a good section on function testing.
∙ The manual appropriately mentions fingerprints and condensation as potential sources of corrosion.
∙ The 2-year limited warranty applies only to the original purchaser, explicitly does not cover normal wear and tear, and is voided by the use of handloaded ammunition.
∙ There is a helpful exploded diagram and parts list for standard Patriot models that is mostly applicable to the LR Tactical model.
∙ The rules of safe firearms handling are listed in an easily visible location on the back cover of the manual.

Trigger Pull Weight

I measured the trigger pull weight by taking five measurements with a Ready Up Gear Digital Trigger Pull Weight Gauge. Weights ranged from a low of 1.39 pounds to a high of 1.79 pounds, with a median of 1.46 pounds and an average of 1.52 pounds.

Mounting a Scope

I mounted Leupold Rifleman medium rings on the optics rail, and then mounted a Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9X40mm Hunt-Plex scope in the rings. I set the eye relief, adjusted the integrated cheekrest on the stock, leveled the scope, and tightened the rings evenly.

Precleaning

It is generally wise to clean a new rifle before firing to remove any excess oil and grease as well as any residual dirt left over from the manufacturing process.

I did the cleaning with OGRE Manufacturing Enviroclean FA Gun Cleaner, followed by a light film of Break Free CLP. I found the Patriot LR Tactical to be relatively dirt, grease, and oil free during this preliminary cleaning process.

Range Session 1

It was a slushy, gray day in late January. The temperature was 40 degrees Fahrenheit with no discernible breeze. The powdery snow of recent frigid weeks was dissolving into piles of heavy, watery mush. Snow fleas were darkening the surface of the remaining snow, dotting the surface of my paper as I attempted to take notes, and producing smudges as I inadvertently crushed them with my hand as I wrote.

I placed a target stand in front of the backstop on the improvised range behind my pole barn. I then set up a table 25 yards away from the target, positioned a lead sled on the table, and set the rifle in the lead sled.

I bore sighted the rifle, and then loaded a single round of Winchester 125 grain open tip Target and Practice ammo. The first shot struck 1.5 inches to the left and 1 inch above the point of aim. I loaded 2 more rounds to give me a 3 shot group that was 0.49 inches in size.

The stock was among the most comfortable that I have ever used, with the ergonomic handgrip providing an outstanding angle on the trigger. I felt like the stock worked with me rather than against me throughout the range session.

The trigger was likewise outstanding, surprising me with its crisp break throughout the range session.

The cheekrest shifted on me a couple of times early on. The retaining screw needs to be extremely tight to prevent slippage, particularly if one leans on the rest.

I adjusted the scope, loaded 3 more rounds of the Winchester ammo, and shot a 0.74 inch group near the center of the target. This was adequate to assure that I would be on paper during further testing at the local rod and gun club.

I packed up the rifle, ammo, and range equipment, returned to the house, and cleaned the rifle in preparation for the next range session.

Range Session 2

I traveled to the 100-yard range of the local rod and gun club. At the range I loaded and fired a single round of Winchester 125 grain open tip Target and Practice ammo. The bullet struck about 2 inches high and 4 inches to the left of the point of aim.

I adjusted the scope, and then loaded another single round of the Winchester ammo. That bullet struck near the point of aim, so I loaded and fired two more rounds. This produced a 0.49 inch group. That was the best 100 yard group I have ever fired, so I was pretty happy. I am not the best bench rest shooter in the world, so a group this good for me is a testimony to the ease of use of the rifle. I also fired 3 shot groups with Sellier & Bellot 142 grain HPBT, Norma Whitetail 140 grain SP, and Hornady Match 140 grain ELD Match. My second-best group was 0.99 inches with the Norma ammo. My worst group was 2.37 inches with the Sellier & Bellot ammo.

It is amazing how the same ammo can give radically different results in different rifles. For example, in a Christensen Arms MHR that I tested recently, the Hornady ammo gave the best results, while the Norma ammo gave the worst. The moral of the story is that when you test a new rifle it is a good idea to use a variety of ammo to get an idea of what the rifle likes best.

I then returned home and gave the LR Tactical a final cleaning in preparation for returning it to Mossberg.

Conclusions

The Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical is highly accurate, with a outstanding stock, and a great trigger. At 8.8 pounds without optics, it is a bit on the heavy side. If you anticipate hiking a moderate distance to a stand where you will sit until the medium-sized game that you are hunting presents itself at 100+ yards, then this rifle may be an excellent choice for you. But if you are going to pursue game up and down ridges at high altitude, then I recommend selecting a lighter gun.

Disclaimer

Mossberg was kind enough to loan me a sample of the Patriot LR Tactical for testing and evaluation. Ready Up Gear had previously provided me with a sample of their trigger pull weight gauge. OGRE Manufacturing provided me with a sample of their Enviroclean FA Gun Cleaner. Christensen Arms had previously loaned me a sample of MHR in 6.5 Creedmoor. I tried not to allow the kindness of any of these vendors to interfere with the objectivity of my review, and feel that I have succeeded. I did not receive any other financial or other inducement to mention any vendor, product, or service in this article.