MRA Renegade MKII .223 Wylde: The Perfect Rifle for Varmint Hunting and Range Training

For Canadian shooters, finding a modern, versatile rifle that’s both hunt-ready and built for serious range time hasn’t always been easy, especially since the firearms landscape shifted in recent years. The MRA Renegade MKII .223 Wylde answers that need head-on. Designed and manufactured in Canada by Maple Ridge Armoury, it’s a non-restricted, straight-pull rifle that delivers modern sporting ergonomics, genuine accuracy, and the kind of build quality that holds up to thousands of rounds.

Whether you’re chasing coyotes across a winter field, knocking down varmints on the farm, or burning through a case of ammo at the range to sharpen your fundamentals, the Renegade MKII is built to do both jobs well. Here’s a complete look at what makes it special and why it belongs in the safe of any Canadian hunter or shooter.

What Is the MRA Renegade MKII?

The MRA Renegade MKII is a novel, spring-assisted, straight-pull, magazine-fed rifle. The heart of the design is its unique, manually operated bolt carrier group that you cycle with a quick pull and release of the charging handle, getting you right back on target. It is intentionally designed not to be capable of discharging ammunition in a semi-automatic fashion, and the design is not derived from any restricted or prohibited firearm. Because of this, it meets the legal standard of a non-restricted firearm under the Canadian Firearms Act (FRN#198524). The charging handle can be effortlessly swapped to either the left or right side, making it equally comfortable for left- and right-handed shooters.

Made in Canada by Maple Ridge Armoury

The Renegade MKII is designed and built in Canada by Maple Ridge Armoury, a company that has earned a strong reputation among Canadian shooters for quality and innovation. The receiver and bottom metal are CNC-machined from solid billets of 6061-T6 aluminum, the handguards are machined from extruded and laser-inspected 6061-T6, and all aluminum parts get a durable Type 3 hardcoat anodizing. The bolt carriers, bolts, and barrels are all hardened with ARCOR Nitride for exceptional durability and corrosion resistance. Every MRA product is backed by a hassle-free limited lifetime warranty.

Built for the Field: The Renegade MKII as a Hunting Rifle

The Renegade MKII isn’t a range toy. It’s a genuine working hunting rifle, and the .223 Wylde chambering makes it ideally suited to several of the most common Canadian hunting pursuits.

Ideal for Varmint and Predator Hunting

The .223 Wylde is one of the best varmint and predator cartridges available. It’s flat-shooting, accurate, and carries enough energy to cleanly take coyotes, foxes, groundhogs, and other small predators and varmints at the ranges these animals are typically encountered. For the farmer dealing with coyotes on the back forty or the dedicated predator hunter running calls on a winter morning, the Renegade MKII is purpose-built for the job. Its quick straight-pull action also allows for fast follow-up shots when a second coyote shows up behind the first.

1 MOA Accuracy with Quality Ammunition

Accuracy is where the Renegade earns its keep. The button-cut, ARCOR Nitride-hardened barrel is capable of 1 MOA accuracy with quality ammunition, which means roughly one-inch groups at 100 yards. That’s more than enough precision for ethical shots on varmints and predators well past 200 yards, and it puts the Renegade in the same accuracy conversation as dedicated bolt-action hunting rifles.

Lightweight, Fast-Handling, and Field-Ready

In its 12.5-inch configuration the Renegade MKII weighs in around 5 lbs 9 oz without a magazine and measures just 27.75 inches with the stock collapsed, making it easy to carry in the field and quick to shoulder in tight spaces like a blind or a truck. The free-float MRA V1 M-LOK handguard lets you mount a bipod, sling, light, or other accessories exactly where you want them, with M-LOK slots at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions and QD sling sockets on both sides.

.223 Wylde: Run Both .223 Rem and 5.56 NATO

The .223 Wylde chamber is optimized to safely and accurately run both .223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition. That flexibility means you can buy whatever quality ammo is available and affordable without worrying about compatibility, which is a real advantage for high-volume hunters and shooters in Canada.

Built to Train: Why the Renegade MKII Is an Exceptional Practice Rifle

Here’s where the Renegade MKII truly stands apart from a traditional hunting rifle. It’s one of the best training platforms a Canadian shooter can own, and that training value is what makes it a rifle you’ll actually use year-round, not just during season.

Low Recoil and Cheap Ammo for High-Volume Practice

The single biggest barrier to becoming a better shooter is trigger time, and the two things that limit trigger time are recoil and ammo cost. The .223 Wylde solves both. Recoil is mild enough that you can shoot all day without developing a flinch, and .223/5.56 is among the most affordable centrefire ammunition available in Canada. That combination means you can put hundreds of rounds downrange in a session without punishing your shoulder or your wallet, building real, lasting marksmanship skills in the process.

Familiar Ergonomics That Build Transferable Skills

The Renegade MKII uses a familiar modern sporting rifle layout, including a standard pistol grip, collapsible stock, and controls that fall naturally to hand. The fundamentals you build on this platform, including sight picture, trigger control, breathing, and follow-through, transfer directly to every other rifle you own. It’s an ideal rifle for new shooters learning the basics and for experienced hunters maintaining their edge in the off-season. Pair it with structured shooting practice and you’ll see measurable improvement.

A Barrel Built to Last 30,000+ Rounds

Training hard means shooting a lot, and a rifle built for training has to have a barrel that can take it. The Renegade’s button-cut, ARCOR Nitride-hardened barrel boasts a proven lifespan of over 30,000 rounds without any loss of precision. That’s a barrel built to be shot, not babied, which is exactly what you want in a dedicated trainer.

The Straight-Pull Action Reinforces Good Fundamentals

Unlike a semi-auto that fires as fast as you can pull the trigger, the straight-pull action requires a deliberate cycle between shots. This naturally reinforces good habits like follow-through, target re-acquisition, and shot-by-shot discipline, the same fundamentals that make you a more effective and ethical hunter in the field.

The Canadian Advantage: Non-Restricted and Built at Home

Beyond its performance, the Renegade MKII offers advantages that matter specifically to Canadian shooters.

What “Non-Restricted” Means for You

Classified as non-restricted under the Canadian Firearms Act (FRN#198524), the Renegade MKII gives you the freedom to use it in most locations where hunting and sport shooting are permitted, without the transport and storage restrictions that apply to restricted firearms. You can take it to the range, into the field, and to Crown land the same way you would any standard hunting rifle, with only a standard PAL required.

CNC-Machined Quality and a Lifetime Warranty

This is a rifle built to a quality standard, not a price point. The CNC-machined 6061-T6 receiver, ARCOR Nitride-hardened internals, and certificates of conformity that MRA requires for raw materials all add up to a rifle that’s built to last and backed by a limited lifetime warranty. When you buy Canadian-made from a company like Maple Ridge Armoury, you’re also supporting the domestic firearms industry.

Multi-Calibre Convertibility: One Rifle, Many Roles

One of the Renegade’s standout features is its convertibility. The platform can be readily assembled to shoot .223 Rem, 5.56x45mm, .300 BLK, 7.62×39, 6.5 Grendel, .350 Legend, .450 Bushmaster, and many other cartridges by swapping the appropriate components. That means one rifle can serve as your varmint gun, your training rifle, and, with the right calibre conversion, a larger-game setup, all from a single receiver. No other rifle on this list offers that kind of versatility.

Choosing Your Renegade MKII Configuration

The Renegade MKII comes in a few configurations, and choosing the right one depends on how you plan to use it.

Barrel Length	Best For	Notes
12.5″	Truck gun, blind hunting, tight spaces	Most compact and manoeuvrable, fast handling
16.1″	All-around hunting and training	The do-everything choice, balanced velocity and length
19″	Maximum velocity, longer-range work	Best ballistic performance, ideal for open country

For most Canadian hunters and shooters wanting one rifle that does everything well, the 16.1-inch barrel is the sweet spot. It balances manoeuvrability with the velocity needed for accuracy at distance. Choose the 12.5-inch if compactness is your priority, or the 19-inch if you’re focused on maximum range performance.

Complete Rifle vs Receiver Kit

The Renegade MKII is available as a complete, ready-to-shoot rifle or as a receiver kit that lets you build your own non-restricted rifle using MRA’s proprietary parts alongside compatible third-party components. For most buyers, the complete rifle is the simplest path. The receiver kit is ideal for shooters who already have compatible parts or want to customize their build from the ground up.

Pairing It with the Right Optic

The Renegade’s flat-top receiver and Picatinny rail accept any optic. For varmint and predator hunting, a low-to-mid magnification scope or an LPVO works well. For precision training and longer shots, a higher-magnification scope makes more sense. Our team can help you match the right glass to your intended use.

Get Your MRA Renegade MKII at Victory Ridge Sports

The MRA Renegade MKII .223 Wylde is one of the most versatile non-restricted rifles available to Canadian shooters, equally at home in the field and on the range. At Victory Ridge Sports, we proudly stock Maple Ridge Armoury rifles because they represent the best of Canadian-made quality. Based in Barrie, Ontario, our team of active hunters and shooters can help you choose the right configuration and optic for your needs, with expert advice, competitive pricing, and free shipping on orders over $250 CAD Canada-wide.

Shop the MRA Renegade Rifle MKII .223 Wylde →

FAQ

Is the MRA Renegade MKII non-restricted in Canada?

Yes. The MRA Renegade MKII is classified as a non-restricted firearm under the Canadian Firearms Act (FRN#198524). Its novel straight-pull, spring-assisted design is not derived from any restricted or prohibited firearm, so it can be owned and used with a standard PAL in most locations where hunting and sport shooting are permitted.

Is the MRA Renegade a semi-automatic?

No. The Renegade MKII uses a manually operated, spring-assisted straight-pull bolt action. It is intentionally designed not to be capable of semi-automatic fire, which is part of what keeps it classified as non-restricted in Canada.

Is the Renegade MKII accurate enough for hunting?

Yes. The button-cut, ARCOR Nitride-hardened barrel is capable of 1 MOA accuracy with quality ammunition, meaning roughly one-inch groups at 100 yards. That’s more than accurate enough for ethical shots on varmints and predators well past 200 yards.

What can you hunt with a .223 Wylde in Canada?

The .223 Wylde is excellent for varmints and predators such as coyotes, foxes, and groundhogs. Always check your provincial regulations, as the .223 is not legal for big game like deer or moose in most Canadian provinces, though some provinces now permit .22 centrefire cartridges for deer.

Can the Renegade MKII shoot 5.56 NATO?

Yes. The .223 Wylde chamber is specifically designed to safely and accurately fire both .223 Remington and 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition, giving you maximum flexibility in ammo selection.

Does the MRA Renegade take AR-15 parts?

The Renegade uses a proprietary receiver and bolt carrier group, so the upper, lower, and BCG are not AR-15 compatible. However, the fire control group, furniture, and many other components are standard and can be replaced with a wide range of drop-in parts widely available on the Canadian market.