Black Creek Labs' MRX Bronco Howitzer: Compact Backcountry Protection

Prospectors, geologists and other people working in the backwoods of Canada have few options for self-protection from wildlife. Legally, it is sometimes possible to get a handgun carry permit if you're working in areas with wolves, bears and other dangerous animals—but it is neither easy nor convenient. As a result, you see many people resorting to 12 gauge shotguns for wilderness protection. Shotguns have some advantages, but also some drawbacks and considerable inconvenience, due to their length.

Black Creek Labs now has another solution: The bolt-action MRX Bronco Howitzer carbine.

Like its field artillery namesake, the Howitzer is a compact package with a lot of punch. It's available with either a 9.5-inch or 12.5-inch barrel, and the rifle can be folded down to 19 inches, small enough to fit in a sensibly-sized pack. When folded, Black Creek Labs' patent-pending safety wedge (when installed) can lock the rifle in the Safe position, so it cannot be fired. and the stock itself captures the bolt handle, to keep it from being forced open.

The Howitzer uses Black Creek Labs' two-piece Bronco Adaptable Chassis System, with a 7-inch fore-end. The action itself is their proprietary MRX Supershort design, using a three-lug bolt with 60-degree throw. An optics rail is mounted over the action. A TriggerTech REM700 field trigger comes standard. The Howitzer is compatible with AR-15 magazines, and also Black Creek Labs' proprietary 20-round MRX magazines.

This new carbine will come chambered in .223 Wylde, .300 Blackout and 7.62x39. Using proper ammo, Black Creek Labs says shooters can expect 1.5 MOA accuracy from the rifle. As for pricing? It appears to be in the $1,550 range.

The new rifles should be in retailers' hands very soon, although like many made-in-Canada firearms, we would expect the sooner you get your order in, the better. Black Creek Labs can only make these rifles so quickly, and demand is building up for domestically-built product as out-of-country channels shut down.