American
.22LR
464 SPX Initial Review
Picked up my SPX from the FFL today. Haven't shot it yet but in reality I'm sure it shoots about the same as any other 464 other than how it feels in your hands because of the stocks.
One reason I wasn't afraid of buying this gun is that it's obvious that the factory wood stocks will fit this gun just fine. The flash suppressor and fiber optic sights would be the only real difference otherwise as far as I can tell.
Overall it's about what I expected, your typical Winchester 94 top ejection style .30-.30 lever action rifle in essence. So on to the stocks which is what this really boils down to.
First, here is what you get in the box in addition to the normal paperwork.
You get some rubber rail covers to make things a little easier on your hands, however, either Mossberg needs to make these one notch longer or shorter as it's short on one end and long on the other. A sharp pair of scissors or a blade can easily shorten them to at least make it symmetric.
Second, the forestock seems to be made of wood, haven't removed the rails yet but instead of simply installing inserts in the wood alone they also (I assume) use the normal holes in the barrel clamps which may need some very thin spacers to give a more level mounting surface. If you replace the stock you will probably want to replace the clamp as it may get a rub spot on it from the rails... my assumption again. This creates a problem as you are bolting flat rails to a very uneven surface and the rails are slightly curved because of this. Might make installing a mount difficult, haven't tried just yet. Also, the forestock is a bit uneven side to side in thickness so it makes things worse. Mossberg needs to think this through a little better.
A little thin on this side and has some scarring in the wood prior to staining/paint.
Honestly, what am I going to mount up front? Probably a light if anything and that's it. My instinct is to mount it underneath so keep scope glare down. More on that in a minute.
Flash suppressor. Looks like your Type 1 Mod 0 plain jane AR suppressor to me, no welds or pins, takes a 3/4 wrench but I need an extra set of hand to crank down it but I'm sure it screws off. Want to add a suppressor? I'm sure you can. Load you up some subsonic rounds and go harass some pigs or whatever...
Ok, the adjustable stock is an ATI piece just like what they offer for most of their other replacement stocks and the same as my 500A Scorpion I just installed.
One thing I found interesting is this:
A bit odd to have this plastered on a gun stock.
My bet is that ATI has filed for a patent and you will be able to order this piece for your 464 then add any adjustable M4 style stock you want.
Collapsing the stock makes it pretty easy to transport/store, not quite a take down but camp rifle like although I doubt I'd try to shoot it like that.
I haven't decided what kind of scope I'll mount on this, I have a few sitting around but will obviously need to order up a mount for it first.
The hammer already has a hole for an extension, 464's may all have this I don't know but at least it's there regardless.
Anyway. Maybe this will answer a few questions and give some a better view of the SPX. I'm glad I bought it and will certainly add/subtract/customize it over time.
It will go well with my newly refinished 15 year old 500A.
Picked up my SPX from the FFL today. Haven't shot it yet but in reality I'm sure it shoots about the same as any other 464 other than how it feels in your hands because of the stocks.
One reason I wasn't afraid of buying this gun is that it's obvious that the factory wood stocks will fit this gun just fine. The flash suppressor and fiber optic sights would be the only real difference otherwise as far as I can tell.
Overall it's about what I expected, your typical Winchester 94 top ejection style .30-.30 lever action rifle in essence. So on to the stocks which is what this really boils down to.
First, here is what you get in the box in addition to the normal paperwork.
You get some rubber rail covers to make things a little easier on your hands, however, either Mossberg needs to make these one notch longer or shorter as it's short on one end and long on the other. A sharp pair of scissors or a blade can easily shorten them to at least make it symmetric.
Second, the forestock seems to be made of wood, haven't removed the rails yet but instead of simply installing inserts in the wood alone they also (I assume) use the normal holes in the barrel clamps which may need some very thin spacers to give a more level mounting surface. If you replace the stock you will probably want to replace the clamp as it may get a rub spot on it from the rails... my assumption again. This creates a problem as you are bolting flat rails to a very uneven surface and the rails are slightly curved because of this. Might make installing a mount difficult, haven't tried just yet. Also, the forestock is a bit uneven side to side in thickness so it makes things worse. Mossberg needs to think this through a little better.
A little thin on this side and has some scarring in the wood prior to staining/paint.
Honestly, what am I going to mount up front? Probably a light if anything and that's it. My instinct is to mount it underneath so keep scope glare down. More on that in a minute.
Flash suppressor. Looks like your Type 1 Mod 0 plain jane AR suppressor to me, no welds or pins, takes a 3/4 wrench but I need an extra set of hand to crank down it but I'm sure it screws off. Want to add a suppressor? I'm sure you can. Load you up some subsonic rounds and go harass some pigs or whatever...
Ok, the adjustable stock is an ATI piece just like what they offer for most of their other replacement stocks and the same as my 500A Scorpion I just installed.
One thing I found interesting is this:
A bit odd to have this plastered on a gun stock.
My bet is that ATI has filed for a patent and you will be able to order this piece for your 464 then add any adjustable M4 style stock you want.
Collapsing the stock makes it pretty easy to transport/store, not quite a take down but camp rifle like although I doubt I'd try to shoot it like that.
I haven't decided what kind of scope I'll mount on this, I have a few sitting around but will obviously need to order up a mount for it first.
The hammer already has a hole for an extension, 464's may all have this I don't know but at least it's there regardless.
Anyway. Maybe this will answer a few questions and give some a better view of the SPX. I'm glad I bought it and will certainly add/subtract/customize it over time.
It will go well with my newly refinished 15 year old 500A.