Imagine standing at the crossroads of two brilliant rifles. Tsk, tsk. But in your defense, it’s pretty easy to get torn up between the Sig Cross and the Christensen MPR.

How can one look at the masterpiece crafted by experts at Sig Sauer, and not be fascinated? After all, Sig Sauer has become the stuff of firearms legend.

On the other side, we have the Utah-born Christensen MPR, a true American maverick. Innovative firearms were always a Christensen Arms thing.

We adore both rifles in all honesty. But in this battle, only one of them can win. So read on to know which one of these beauties is the one for you…

Table of Contents

Size and Appearance

Let’s have a quick look at the dimensions first:

	Sig Cross	Christensen MPR
Length	36.5/38.5″	42.75″
Barrel length	16.0/18.0″	12.5 to 14.5″
Weight	6.48/6.79 lb	8 lbs

The Sig Cross looks like something of a cross between AR-15 and a traditional bolt-action rifle. A fairly modern, but conventional design with clean lines gives it a decent look.

With parts like the muzzle brake furnished with black nitride, the rifle gives off sleek, pristine vibes.

The larger and sturdier Christensen MPR also boasts of a pretty non-traditional design. Therefore, if you want your rifle to stand out tall, here’s your guy.

A unique chassis system and adjustable length of the pull add to the functional versatility and appearance of the rifle. And so do the M-Lok slots, which add sprinkles of practical panache.

Feel in Hands

We will start off with what we already know; the Christensen MPR is the bigger guy here. It’s heavier, and it’s larger. And that is exactly how it will feel different from a Sig Cross.

The Sig is way more compact. The rifle is lightweight and easy to handle, therefore, most avid firearm enthusiasts typically prefer it.

But as mentioned previously, the Christensen also boasts of an adjustable pull and comb height. So you can always customize it to suit your needs. The unique chassis and the front-end (pretty cool itself!) also give it a solid feel.

However, depending on your taste, you may even be a fan of the sleek carbon fiber running along the slim parallel sides of the MPR. Feels pretty solid if I say so myself!

Specifications and Features

Sig Cross:

Stock: One incredibly useful feature of the stock is its ability to collapse over the receiver, adding to its portability. It can also act as a bolt lock.
Adjustable pull and comb: You can adjust the heights of the pull and comb for comfortable use.
Receiver: Unlike typical AR pattern rifles, it boasts a one-piece receiver to help with accuracy.
Chassis: The Cross usually accompanies a lightweight, folding aluminum alloy chassis. The design is skeletonised, adding rigidity and modularity. It also has a Picatinny rail on the top for mounting optics.
Trigger: What you’ll find on the Cross is a two-stage trigger, which can significantly improve accuracy and performance.
Warranty: Sig Sauer offers a lifetime warranty for most of its rifles, including this beauty.
Magazine: You get detachable box magazines for easier reloading.

Christensen MPR

Barrel: The barrel is now steel. And you know what it does? Cut the cost down!
Receiver: A two-lug-bolt-action receiver which adds smoothness, safety and strength.
Extractor: The C-clip extractor reduces bolt movement, is more durable and improves accuracy.
Chassis: The MPR has a unique chassis system and obviously a good action-to-chassis fit. Disassembly is now much easier if you ever need to dry out the components after a rainy practice (without any consequences).
Adjustable pull and comb height: The MPR, too, is quite versatile and adjustable
Portability: The Chassis can fold and the rifle immediately becomes 25% smaller.
Stock: folding, with locking hinge and Magnelock Technology; LOP adjustable 12.5″ to 14.5″
Misc: A Picatinny mount atop the handguard, with six flush-cup mounts.
Warranty: Christensen Arms offers a warranty, but some people complain about the management and experience.

Shooting Experience and Accuracy

Both rifles have almost equal accuracy. They compete with each other well in this regard as both tend to spew accurate shots at 100 yards or more within 1 MOA.

If we nitpick, we can say that the Christensen MPR is actually a bit more accurate. But the individual shooting experience will still vary. Also, at particularly long ranges (more than 300 yards or so), the MPR fares even better.

However, if your hunt is just 100-200 yards away, there is almost no difference.

Their weights may also influence the shooting experience. In Cross’s defense the shorter barrel, lightweight and compact design has a devoted fanbase.

Pertinent to mention here is that the Sig Cross is also infamous for having safety issues including unintentional discharges, and trouble with the safety indicator. So many would call the MPR a safer decision.

Conceal Carry and Draw

The Christensen MPR and the Sig Cross are heavy rifles, so you can’t conceal them while carrying. However, both feature a foldable chassis, so you can reduce their length (from 36″ to 28″) and improve portability.

Reload and Magazine/Clip

The Sig Cross and the Christensen MPR are bolt-action rifles. Both also use detachable box magazines. Therefore, their mechanisms are also almost the same. Neither of them possess magazine clips or semi-automatic systems.

They operate manually and you have to cycle the bolt between shots to chamber a new round. First the bolt is lifted, pulled towards the rear, extracted and the spent casing is ejected. Then it’s pushed forward to feed a new round and then lowered to lock.

The Cross rifle comes with a 5-round DBM as standard. But for both of them, options may vary with specific models.

Price and Value for Money

Comparing apples to apples, the 308 Win caliber 20 Barrel Sig Sauer Cross costs $2000 at both Guns.com and Brownell’s, our recommended retailers. You can click here to buy from Guns.com or click here to buy from Brownell’s.

I think this is not a bad price for a gun that is lightweight with a short barrel, a one-piece receiver, a folding aluminum alloy chassis, and a two-stage trigger.

The Christensen MPR with same calibre and barrel is priced at around $2500 at Guns.com and is not available on Brownell’s. Considering that it features a steel barrel, a two-lug bolt-action receiver, a unique chassis system, a folding stock for improved portability, and an M-Lok handguard, it is appropriately priced.

Both rifles provide a good value for money. However, the Christensen MPR would be my choice here, since it is a much safer, much more accurate rifle for not much extra money. The $500 difference might be considerable for most gunners but I will still argue that the MPR is a better choice.

You can buy it from Guns.com, since it frequently offers rebate on the price. Also, it is a reliable place to get your firearms from since they offer only certified guns and support local gun stores. Here are the links for your convenience:

Christensen MPR 308 Win 20 Barrel (Discount Link)
Christensen MPR 6.5 Creedmoor 22 Barrel

Conclusion- Which One Should You Get?

Let’s get this off first: both are excellent rifles. Accuracy? They’re both dead on. But there’s a significant difference in their prices so if you are on a budget and intend to save, you can always opt for the good old Cross. But mind you, the safety issues hamper the desirability of the rifle quite heavily.

Also, if you want to shoot at longer ranges, then I suggest the Christensen MPR. Some experts even believe that for longer ranges, no rifle tops it (especially above 300 yards or more). Thus, Christensen MPR would be my personal choice but you won’t be in the wrong for choosing otherwise.

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