The ML Kodiaks and the Kodiak Mk IV are as far apart in quality as what the price of them suggests. They are still not 10% the quality of what an English double is though. But, bearing in mind, they do fill a niche for those that want to get started.
I had no idea that they were making them in .450 3 1/4...
I had one re-chambered to .450 3 1/2 no.2....which is a better round for the Kodiak...lower pressure...and it shot better than any rifle I've ever had my hands on. Now, bearing in mind that mine may have been out of rare luck, and I always chalked it up to that.
I don't care if they have a cross-bolt now or not....the choice of the no. 2 cartridge is a better one. The frame size is lacking, at least in my mind, for the pressures the 3 1/4 produces. If they would bump it up to a 12 gauge frame size it would be ok, and would also solve the barrel contour problem.
I have no idea how they regulate them, although I heard they begin with laser bore sighting and fine-tune from that point in some way only they know of. Although this is just hearsay.
I would be tempted to buy another, if I were not into the bore-rifles now.
But I still think they should move up to a 12-gauge frame size. And the barrel contours need work, as they are a bit barrel heavy, but I found that, with the one I had, this 'at least' made for excellent leveling and follow-through.
Could not resist commenting, as it's interesting to me that Pedersoli says they have offered them now "for few years" and I've never heard a thing about it.