It wasn’t that long ago that you really had to do your homework to find an affordable bolt gun that could shoot 1 MOA or better. Those days are long gone, though, and one of the most affordable and impressive examples of what’s available now for just a few hundred dollars is Mossberg’s Patriot Synthetic rifle.

This isn’t your typical bare-bones bolt gun. Mossberg packs a lot of premium features into a rifle that you can find selling for less than $400. A lot less.

The Patriot Synthetic is chambered in a dozen calibers ranging from 22-250 up to 450 Bushmaster. (Long action calibers add another $18 to the MSRP.) The synthetic stock is free-floated and the 22 or 24-inch barrel (depending on.caliber) is fluted, threaded, and has a recessed match crown.

The Patriot Synthetic’s 90-degree action has a spiral-fluted bolt that cycles smoothly and feeds reliably. On top of that, the Patriot Synthetic has a user-adjustable trigger that can be set from 2 to 7 pounds. Shooting quality ammunition, the Patriot Synthetic routinely produces 1 MOA or better results.

That, of course, is exactly what you’d expect from a good hunting rifle. What’s remarkable is the Patriot Synthetic’s price. The MSRP for short action calibers is $482. Long action is $500. But that’s MSRP. Retail prices are much, much lower. The Mossberg Patriot Synthetic is widely available under $400. We found it selling as low as about $340. That’s an absolutely screaming deal on a very nicely equipped, accurate rifle that’s as accurate as you’d need any hunting rifle to be.

Specifications: Mossberg Patriot Synthetic Rifle

Caliber: Twelve available (6.5 Creedmoor tested)
Action: Bolt
Capacity: 5+1 rounds
Barrel Length: 22 inches
Twist: 1:8″
Overall Length: 42.25 inches
Length of Pull: 13.75 inches
Weight: 6.5 pounds
MSRP: $482 ($500 long action calibers)

– Jeremy Siwek, Shooting News Weekly