Bergara Factory Stocks

[jlorensen]

Merry Christmas!

I'm looking at Bargara as a new whitetail rig. I can't find much info on their factory stocks, and I'm wondering if they have pillars installed, a bedding block, or if the action just mates up to the synthetic material??? I'm looking hard at the B-14 Wilderness Ridge model.

It's been a while since I've purchased a new hunting rig, so I'm also open to your overall thoughts on Bergara.

Thanks!

 

[Char'ed Cuterie]

I've had a Ridge OEM stock (it comes with the Ridge SP), but honestly I took the thing off and tossed it first thing - I was just after the barreled action for a project, so I can't recall if there were pillars in that stock. The HMR stock has pillars, for sure.

The Bergaras are popular on the ground out where I am, but have a rough reputation online. Of the ones I've handled or worked on, all of them came with overspray on the inside of the stock (removed with some sandpaper wrapped around a socket from an automotive tool set), all of them came from the factory with loose and oily action screws and scope base screws (pulled, degreased, and re-torqued to correct), all of them crater firing pins due to factory OEM firing pin channel slop (expected but disappointing, stick to large rifle primers and steer clear of max pressure handloads), and one of them fumbles ejected cases pretty reliably even after going back to Bergara and getting a new bolt assembly.

You'll hear even worse things with a quick search of this forum, and elsewhere.

All of them I have experience with were fine shooters, no issues with the barrels in them for their intended use. I've run an HMR barrel pissin' hot with short 12rd stages in local matches in the summer, and did experience reduced barrel life as a result - completely expected for the barrel profile in question.

They are Remington 700 compatible (stocks, triggers, scope bases) economy options that are usually available locally at reasonable prices and perform exactly as you'd expect for the price. If you are willing to do a little of your own QC, pull EVERY fastener to degrease/retorque prior to testfire, and are willing to send it back if you get a bad one? They'll do.

 

[diggler1833]

I'd probably look at a Tikka instead, and I say that as a Bergara Premier Approach owner.

Mine shoots well. Killed a few deer with it too. Mine however has a short firing pin protrusion, which won't pop CCI primers reliably...so I switched to Federal and the problem went away. I think that I also had an off-center fit in the barrel channel that I had to sand down when I had the factory Grayboe stock on it. And regardless of what magazine I run, it won't feed rounds 2 or 3 reliably either without having to half-run, back out, and then run the bolt home.

I worked around the issues, but for a $1,500+ rifle it shouldn't have any to begin with.

 

[jlorensen]

I appreciate the insight! One on my goals is to buy something a little nicer than the "normal" deer rifles I currently have. The search continues..............

 

[Kayakfish1]

I currently have a hmr in 6.5 cm, I’m very satisfied with it….granted I’m not a very experienced lr shooter or run it all the time but it’s done everything I’ve asked it to do much better than expected for the price I paid for it.
I’m wanting to pick up a 300 (probably prc, maybe win mag) in the near future and I’m planning on getting the wilderness sierra when I do…..wanting a magnum cartridge for a few reasons, mainly because I want a magnum rifles, also because my plan is to go out west for elk at some point in the next few years and would like to have plenty of time to learn the rifle and cartridge.

 

[kravi]

I've got a new Bergara B-14 HMR in 6.5cm, bought in early November. Probably only have around 300 rounds through it now. On mine, there was no overspray on the stock (which I replaced anyway with an MDT Oryx) - and the stock was actually quite good. It did have an alluminium bed as well. It is a "functional" rifle. It can get cranky loading rounds occasionally (where I'll need to pull the bolt back on failure to load, reseat the round with my finger, and then close it). I'm getting roughly .75 MOA out if it with 5 shot groups, but the rifle is more mechanically accurate than I am (I'm new to precision shooting and prepping for an NRL hunter in April). I don't know if I got lucky on QC, but mine is pretty good for an $850 rifle.

I'd also, as someone else said, strongly suggest a Tikka. I've got a Tikka T3X lite in 308 as a hunting gun, and it is pretty great.

 

[Turkeytider]

I can’t comment on the Bergara guns since I’ve never owned, shot or even held one before. Since others are chiming in regarding Tikkas, allow me to put in a word regarding the T3X Super Varmint. I have one in 6.5 Creedmoor that I am enjoying VERY much. Just wish I could do it better justice as a marksman. Typical Tikka, very well made, smooth action and very good accuracy out to 500 yards, our club range limit currently. The SV does have some heft to it. That’s probably good for calibers with a real punch, but if you’re going to be putting in miles on a hunt, a lighter gun might be better. What the SV would be, however , is an excellent stand/ blind hunting rifle.