The new 4x4 is chambered for .25-06, .270 Winchester, .30-06, 7mm Remington Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, and .338 Winchester Magnum. The rifle features a free-floated, button-rifled barrel with a recessed crown. Magnum rifles, like the review gun, come with a 24-inch tube while standard calibers come with 22-inch barrels. The barrel is devoid of sights, but Weaver-style bases are affixed to the receiver at the factory.

Available finishes for the new 4x4 are matte blue and Mossberg's proprietary Marinecote, which is a satin nickel finish that is corrosion resistant.

The entire barreled action is finished in Mossberg's proprietary Marinecote. Marinecote is a satin nickel finish and is both attractive and corrosion resistant. It is a pleasant contrast to the sample rifle's black stock.

The 4x4's futuristic stock is the most notable difference between the 100 ATR and the 4x4. Its rakish lines, vented forend, and skeletonized buttstock give it a distinctive appearance. The buttstock also has what can best be described as Mossberg's 21st-century interpretation of a Monte Carlo cheekpiece and what I describe as a "real" recoil pad. On the synthetic stock two polymer sling swivel attachment points (you can't really call them studs) and the trigger guard are integral, molded-in parts. (Laminated- and walnut-stocked 4x4s are available.) The magazine catch is recessed into the stock just ahead of the magazine.

As futuristic-looking as it is, the 4x4's stock has some old-school handling qualities. A thin wrist and trim forend contribute to its lively feel. The unusual Monte Carlo-esque cheekpiece aligned my eye perfectly with the Simmons 3-9X ProHunter scope that I mounted on the review rifle thanks in part to its relatively short, 13.25-inch length of pull.

The 4x4 is based on the Mossberg Model 100 ATR bolt action.

The Simmons ProHunter series features a rugged one-piece tube, high-quality optical glass, and HydroShield lens coating. I particularly liked its eye relief, which is a constant 3.75 inches throughout the power range. On the range I was also impressed with the scope's adjustments, which moved the advertised quarter-inch per click.

The 4x4's synthetic stock is innovative with its skeletonized buttstock

Shooting The 4x4
Before I get into the results of putting the 7mm Magnum Model 4x4 through its paces at the American Shooting Centers near Houston, I want to say that I am not recoil sensitive, but I realize that many shooters are, so I try to take note of the recoil of every gun and cartridge combination I review. I generally don't find the 7mm Remington Magnum's recoil objectionable in sporter-weight rifles. With the scope, a full magazine, and one of Blackhawk's new Mountain Slings attached, the 4x4 weighed in at exactly eight pounds, so I was not expecting it to recoil excessively. However, I was surprised to find that recoil was even less than I had expected!

Monte Carlo-style cheekpiece, effective recoil pad

The 4x4's excellent recoil pad was a key ingredient in minimizing recoil, but I believe two other factors greatly contributed to its light recoil. First, the skeletonized buttstock is not as stiff as a conventional stock. I believe the resulting flex soaks up a fair amount of the recoil. Second, in my experience, Monte Carlo cheekpieces have always seemed to help minimize recoil in hard-kicking rifles. As unconventional as it looks, the 4x4's stock is an especially effective and comfortable example of the design that really seems to help tame recoil.

Integral trigger guard, and recessed magazine catch located just ahead of the magazine well.

I started my shooting review with Federal's 160-grain Nosler Partition load. I've had mixed results over the years regarding accuracy with Partitions, but they've always performed well on game. I planned to hunt with the 4x4, so I wanted to use Partitions after testing "flavor of the month" bullets almost exclusively for the last few years. I was not disappointed. The rifle drove the first three rounds into a neat little triangle that measured just 0.65 inch. Subsequent groups proved the Mossberg's preference for this load--the average for five groups was an impressive 0.72 inch.