FINAL REVIEW: Fierce CT Rival 300 PRC Leupold VX-5HD 3-15x44 

It's hard to loose a floor plate. You could have a magazine fall out while in the brush and ruin your hunt. I see a floor plate as a plus actually. 👍🙏✌

Thanks for the honest and great review.

Scope height is perfect like this. Leupold makes the best scope covers. Alumina covers screw inside the ocular and objective. They have magnets and o ring, much better than any plastic junk you have to put on any other scope make.

They also do a model with a magazine. FP in the model name is for floor plate, XP is for Xremovable Pmagazine. Yeah, that does not quiet work, but you get the idea.

Great video Jay!

Just built a 300 wsm with 20” barrel and put in xlr magnesium chassis with folding stock. Super compact and light weight.

Thanks! Fierce does make the Mountain Reaper which is the same action and barrel in a folding chassis. You may be able to just get the chassis swapped on. I believe the Fierce Custom shop will also do a shorter 300 PRC carbon barrel but maybe not as short as you want. They’ll certainly cut down their spiral fluted barrels as short as you’d like.

Fierce does sell a folding stock rifle (mtn reaper) for about 800$ more and most of their guns you can choose between an 18 all the way to 26in barrel. For you if you’re only planning on shooting out to 4-5hundred yards a 20-22 inch barrel would be more than capable. (That would definitely keep the overall rifle length down). And their new Rival has an option to get a detachable box magazine if you want that or you can save a couple hundred and stick with the floor plate. Definitely an amazing gun, and great value for the top shelf components at that price point when compared to the industry. (Weatherby backcountry 2.0 3.3k, everybody is 1 moa guarantee ect…) but does everybody need that for mountain hunting? Absolutely not, a Bergara or Tikka would probably do just as well at those distances and save some coin. If you want a badass rifle though with awesome components and a industry leading guarantee that you can shoot out to 1000 yrds+ the rival and especially the new version is a phenomenal choice. Excellent review, appreciate the content!

Have had my ct rival in 300 prc for two hunting seasons. Wolves , deer, antelope,elk . It has been used and looks like the day i took it out of the box. For a big guy it fits me well and shoots well. My rifle was special ordered with a shorter barrel which i liked. Would i buy another? Yes. Was eager to take out hunting after using it on a range and was more than pleased with rifle also liked the location and flush cups with a neoprene sling. Overall highest rated gun in the gun vault for hunting rifle.

I have the same rifle on a MDT HNT26 with the folding stock; it looks and feels great. And it shoots awesome.

Tikka 300WSM with a 21" CarbonSix prefit and a Mesa stock and the Leupold. Just about as good as you can get for a mountain rifle. I had the same problem during Spring Bear last year and decided on the short carbon barrel. Totally worth it and way less than the semi-custom factory rifles out there.

Sweet review Jay! Definitely a sexy gun, could see the benefit if a folding stock for sure!

5 year review of my Fierce Fury in 28 Nosler.....it's still driving tacks, with Hornady ammo as well as hand loads. Lots of one shot kills on Pronghorn beyond 500yds, Mule deer, African game up to Kudu and Blue Wildebeest sized animals in the mid 300yd ranges as well as Nyala (Mule deer sized) at beyond 700yds. I would agree regarding barrel length for some styles of hunting (mine is 26"+brake) but if you're planning on consistently long shots on game or steel you can wring out max velocity with slow burning powders. I've got the Zeiss V4 in 6-25x50 which dials nicely and dependably with a solid stop at zero MOA, and I tend to use the reticle to discern level as well as holding for wind. Would I ever part with this rig? Not on your life!

Best argument I’ve heard for the floor plate (other than weight savings) is that there is less to go wrong. You can’t accidentally drop your magazine when boonie busting or not seat the mag all the way by accident. You load your rounds at the start of the hunt and they’re not going anywhere. 🤷🏼‍♂️

Have a look at the MDT HNT26 stock. I prefer a floor plate to a DM...you can't loose the plate and to unload just dump the plate. The less that can go wrong, the less that will go wrong! CT Rival owner here too, 7 SAUM, 24" barrel Thanks for the review.

Nice review Jay, interesting to hear your thoughts on the floor plate. I have a tikka and on two different hunts in sub zero conditions in Yukon and northern BC the mag was knocked out and on one occasion the cold brittle plastic cracked rendering the shitty plastic tikka mag useless as the spring didn't have enough tension to work properly with the bullets being seated. Going forward I would get a hard metal or custom mag box if that's an option the 100 plus dollar tikka replacements are not worth it and you never have to worry about that if you run a floor plate.

Totally agree with you. Nice rifle, nice action. But too long and no detachable mag. In this case I recommend get a custom action, custom barrel and stick it in a MDT HNT 26 Chassi. Or keep action and change out floor plate to a mag one and the MDT Chassi.

Great review with lots of particular examples and points made. To be fair though, the price of the Fierce includes the $2,000 Leopold scope with it mounted and sighted in whereas the price of the Tika is without the scope and rings included. Fierce does offer a detachable magazine version which is $200 more than the floorplate versions.

Also, I agree the floorplate is a big annoyance. I believe the main benefit is weight. Sometimes it’s also magazine length, especially for reloaders who like to load bullets long. Personally, I prefer a detachable magazine as well.

How are you attaching it to your tripod? Are you using the javalin adapter to arca? For the sling try a blueforce gear(Get the padded). the quick adjust is really nice for various reasons. You will have to cut off some material to make it shorter but you have to either way to fit it to yourself. A MDT HNT might be in your future. They cost a arm and a leg tho.

I have the same rifle,I wish they would have came with a 22" barrel option,I took my muzzle break off and just use the thread protector,so it's actually 24" instead of 26 with the brake.Have u looked into the Mountain Reaper from fierce it has a folding stock and it is supposed to be lighter than the original.

You should pick up the mountain Reaper chassis from Fierce it folds and has detachable mags....I love my Reaper

I am 63 years old. I carry a 10 lb rifle with 26" barrel using a Kifaru gun bearer. I live and hunt the mountain West about 60-70 days a year. I have no problem whatsoever "busting brush" or carrying my rifles. Maybe I come from a tougher generation?😁

Good video on final thoughts. Sounds like new scope mounts are in your future. Haha.

So I have this exact rifle except mine isn’t ct in a 22” barrel and have some questions about the scope ring combo, are those med rings? Also how’s the eye relief considering that’s a long action and scope adjustment is limited?

I strongly prefer the floor plate vs magazine. It seems you need a folding stock with a shorter barrel. Buyers remorse. I do agree the tikka t3x are amazing, especially for the money

Beautiful rifle. Maybe one of the short action magnums would also be a good look. Could shave a few inches even before a folder.

You need the fierce mountain reaper! I just got the 300 prc it is amazing, the titanium action once broken in super smooth. Then after breakin and zero 40 rounds I’m shouting .35” groups

Greetings from Vancouver. This was precisely the review I was looking for on this rifle. Looking at the specs I had concerns about the barrel length and you confirmed that it's not ideal for the intended use. Think I'll pass on this rifle and just order a 20-22in carbon barrel in 300PRC and spin that onto one of my existing rifles instead.

What Talley Rings are those? Low or Medium..? -Thanks! Sweet Setup

You could’ve went with a 22” barrel. But if you only plan on shooting 500 yards and under might as well get a gun under $1000. Fierce is basically a custom gun and is made for long range but still lightweight to be packed around

she is pretty. floor plate is so you dont loose your mag in the field or forget it. also sliding in and out of saddles you want smooth

Ok, valid points. With all of this being said, it sounds like you just picked the wrong rifle. All of your gripes would have seemed more easily resolved with a MTN Reaper rifle.

What about the Fierce Mtn Reaper seems like it has everything you want

What did you think about the titanium action? Was it still somewhat smooth?

For $5,000, it shouldn’t have any negatives!

You mentioned 5 animals with a 300 Win Mag and ELDX ammo, all DRT. Would you elaborate on the animals and the shots?

I’ve been doing a a lot of research on folding stocks because I also live and hunt in BC. This is the build I’m doing 👊 MDT HNT26 CHASSIS SYSTEM with folding option ( BC Company 👍) Action - Defiance Rukus GA Hunter diamond flute. 7mm PRC ( spoke to the guys at defiance for over an hour going through all the options) Proof Research carbon barrel 22”

Great review , it’s a hard sell to buy a $5k rifle when a $1k rifle can do essentially the same job.

Why didn’t you buy a shorter barrel with the gun ? If you need a short gun for mountain hunting I would have figured that out before buying it ?

One more comment, Omer will sell you a Leupold 44mm alumina lens cap which threads into the objective bell instead of having to fit over top of it.

What colour combo is this rival?

You may have your gun figured out, but if $$$ isnt’ too much of a problem, check out the MDT HNT 26 stock. (Get the ARCA Rail, and Foldable Stock.)

Are those low rings?

I just got a Rogue, also from Precision Optic. I've heard so much good things about Fierce and how they are so much better than Christensen arms. But honestly, the finish on the Rogue is so much worse than the finish on my Christensen arms Ridgeline fft. the CA stock is smooth like silk, Fierce stock feels like it left the factory unfinished. The action of the Fierce is also not as smooth as CA, tho that might be due to the tighter tolerances? The worst thing is, that the trigger they put in the Fierce is squishy!! I can't believe it, it is squishy!!! Like there is sand in the trigger, mushy and squishy! The trigger tech trigger is much better in the CA. Why did Fierce had to try something different? Just stick to the norm and slap a trigger tech in there. plus, Fierce totally lied about their rifles' weights!!! My short action, according to their website, SA 22" barrel is 5.8 lb, LA 22" is 6.1 lb, and my SA 22" is 6.1 lb. At the end of the day, looking at the Fierce's stock finish and carbon barrel's "graphics" of the rogue, it just looks like a *cheap Gunwerks knock-off* and I hate nothing more than cheap knock-offs.

Wait is the floor plate not hinged?

Fierce mtn reaper. or get the reaper chasis from fierce

Nightforce NXS glass doesn’t touch a VX5HD

Your elk skull is on wrong so flip the heat bracket so it won’t fall off

I’ve just heard so many negatives about fierces accuracy though…

Get a mag and watch it get lost “busting brush” that’s why I don’t have riffles with them. Belly fed only for me.

But do u like it as much as your Bow ? 😂

floor plate! i hate them stupid mags

I wouldn't sell it, just go buy another rifle with folding stock. Get a Bergara Mglite, sig cross, etc.

Bergara crest for the win!

FIERCE the worst customer service off all time, surprised your rifle even came with rifling in the barrel!!!!

What Hight are your Talley rings? I have this same scope to put on my 7MM REM MAG by Weatherby. Thanks for your time!

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍