I have been able to get my hands on one of these and have been able to put it through its paces. So I will give my review which pretty much mimics KOD.
For starters this is a heavy gun, and I like that. The gun has a nice even matte finish and I very much like the stock. Some people have complained it's a little small in the grip department but fits me well. But where this gun shines to me is from the operating stand point. The action is control found feed and it does it beautifully. As many other posters have stated you simply can not feel the bullet being chambered, it's amazing. It is equally as smooth as my Vudoo no doubt about that. It is a 90 degree bolt throw and I like others wiah it were a 60 but it was designed around the 700 action so there it is. Loading the magazine is an absolute dream. The magazine is smaller than the vudoo but it is still a large magazine and easy to use. And I mean easy. I like the magazine over the Vudoo bc you dont have the side buttons to push down and fumble with. Loading 10rds in the mag is no problem. In fact the magazine and the smoothness of the action and feeding are my favorite things about the gun.
As for the stock, it has a semi flat forend more narrow than most but still makes for good use in bags or on a rest. And I like the gray and black speckled finish. The speckles are smooth and not rough feeling. Stock is adjustable for both LOP and cheek piece.
The barrel is a heavy tapered contour and does have a match chamber engraving bullets down to the second ring bit still is smooth enough it does not mar or scratch the bullet. When closing the bolt you feel everything tighten up. There is however no problem in extracting a live round so for you match prs goers thumbs up in that department.
I have had the rifle for a little over a month, it has been cleaned 3 times and the bore is smooth. Not nearly as smooth as my Vudoo but very uniform and consistent. I cant exactly say the barrel is choked but mine feels like it. It seems to get tighter at the last 3 to 4 inches of the muzzle. The crown is excellent showing a perfect star pattern at the end of a range day.
The trigger as been previosuly stated leaves a little too be desired. It is a good trigger when adjusted all.the way down and I have replaced my trigger with a Trigger Tech Special. The factory trigger would go down to about 2lbs and I was still able to shoot some very good groups with it. in fact replacing the trigger did not help my groups like I thought it would. Cleaning the barrel before my most recent testing showed a bigger improvement. As for the aftermarket trigger, mine is the model that goes down to 1.5lbs and I have had no issues with it at all through 250 rounds. Including KOD I know of 3 people who have all had the TT Diamond all three had the exact same trouble with the firing pin falling upon bolt closing. All 3 have also replaced with the new Elftman 700 trigger and so far 2 of 3 love it. I may do the same.
As for reliability, the rifle and mag have been 100% from day one. No issues of any kind whatsoever.
Accuracy, this where the proof is in the pudding. A fellow poster and good friend FrankR is going to post pics for me later this evening. But I have tested this rifle head to head agaisnt an Anschutz 64mpr, and a kidd super grade. They run right together. The Bergara has been shot more. And from what I see likes a slightly wider variety of ammo. Now I have not been able to test the ammo variety Kiss Of Death has. Quite jeailous of his ammo variety. But I have tested 2 lots of sk rifle match, 2 lots of sk std plus, 4 lots of cci std velocity, one lot of rws sub sonic, and 2 lots of lapua center x. What I expect to see when I take this gun out is a dime sized 5 shot group. I do get one that wants to poke out from time to time. I did not clean between brands of ammo but did shoot 5 to 8 from changing from one to the other. The gun is a very forgiving gun for me to shoot. The weight helps that. With a mueller 8x32x44 set at 32x and some cheap rings the gun weighs over 12lbs. All testing was done on newer windless days or nights and benches using sand bags front and rear.
I have a paticular good lot of cci and of sk std plus and good lot of sk rm. And with those I see an an avg of dime sized groups. I have not yet put calipers on anything. Now enter center x. Inhave one lot thatbl is a little faster than the other. And with that lot my groups shrank again. It seems to really like that paticular lot of ammo. And left me in awestruck of what I saw. On my lunch break now and headed back but will elaborate more later. For anybody on the fence about one of these, buy it. I have yet to read a bad review anywhere on the rifle. I have also tested 3 cz 457s and a tikka t1x. I had an exceptional cz 457 precision trainer that I wish I had kept but sold it to a fellow on here. Short of that gun the bergara has been my favorite sub Vudoo gun.
For starters this is a heavy gun, and I like that. The gun has a nice even matte finish and I very much like the stock. Some people have complained it's a little small in the grip department but fits me well. But where this gun shines to me is from the operating stand point. The action is control found feed and it does it beautifully. As many other posters have stated you simply can not feel the bullet being chambered, it's amazing. It is equally as smooth as my Vudoo no doubt about that. It is a 90 degree bolt throw and I like others wiah it were a 60 but it was designed around the 700 action so there it is. Loading the magazine is an absolute dream. The magazine is smaller than the vudoo but it is still a large magazine and easy to use. And I mean easy. I like the magazine over the Vudoo bc you dont have the side buttons to push down and fumble with. Loading 10rds in the mag is no problem. In fact the magazine and the smoothness of the action and feeding are my favorite things about the gun.
As for the stock, it has a semi flat forend more narrow than most but still makes for good use in bags or on a rest. And I like the gray and black speckled finish. The speckles are smooth and not rough feeling. Stock is adjustable for both LOP and cheek piece.
The barrel is a heavy tapered contour and does have a match chamber engraving bullets down to the second ring bit still is smooth enough it does not mar or scratch the bullet. When closing the bolt you feel everything tighten up. There is however no problem in extracting a live round so for you match prs goers thumbs up in that department.
I have had the rifle for a little over a month, it has been cleaned 3 times and the bore is smooth. Not nearly as smooth as my Vudoo but very uniform and consistent. I cant exactly say the barrel is choked but mine feels like it. It seems to get tighter at the last 3 to 4 inches of the muzzle. The crown is excellent showing a perfect star pattern at the end of a range day.
The trigger as been previosuly stated leaves a little too be desired. It is a good trigger when adjusted all.the way down and I have replaced my trigger with a Trigger Tech Special. The factory trigger would go down to about 2lbs and I was still able to shoot some very good groups with it. in fact replacing the trigger did not help my groups like I thought it would. Cleaning the barrel before my most recent testing showed a bigger improvement. As for the aftermarket trigger, mine is the model that goes down to 1.5lbs and I have had no issues with it at all through 250 rounds. Including KOD I know of 3 people who have all had the TT Diamond all three had the exact same trouble with the firing pin falling upon bolt closing. All 3 have also replaced with the new Elftman 700 trigger and so far 2 of 3 love it. I may do the same.
As for reliability, the rifle and mag have been 100% from day one. No issues of any kind whatsoever.
Accuracy, this where the proof is in the pudding. A fellow poster and good friend FrankR is going to post pics for me later this evening. But I have tested this rifle head to head agaisnt an Anschutz 64mpr, and a kidd super grade. They run right together. The Bergara has been shot more. And from what I see likes a slightly wider variety of ammo. Now I have not been able to test the ammo variety Kiss Of Death has. Quite jeailous of his ammo variety. But I have tested 2 lots of sk rifle match, 2 lots of sk std plus, 4 lots of cci std velocity, one lot of rws sub sonic, and 2 lots of lapua center x. What I expect to see when I take this gun out is a dime sized 5 shot group. I do get one that wants to poke out from time to time. I did not clean between brands of ammo but did shoot 5 to 8 from changing from one to the other. The gun is a very forgiving gun for me to shoot. The weight helps that. With a mueller 8x32x44 set at 32x and some cheap rings the gun weighs over 12lbs. All testing was done on newer windless days or nights and benches using sand bags front and rear.
I have a paticular good lot of cci and of sk std plus and good lot of sk rm. And with those I see an an avg of dime sized groups. I have not yet put calipers on anything. Now enter center x. Inhave one lot thatbl is a little faster than the other. And with that lot my groups shrank again. It seems to really like that paticular lot of ammo. And left me in awestruck of what I saw. On my lunch break now and headed back but will elaborate more later. For anybody on the fence about one of these, buy it. I have yet to read a bad review anywhere on the rifle. I have also tested 3 cz 457s and a tikka t1x. I had an exceptional cz 457 precision trainer that I wish I had kept but sold it to a fellow on here. Short of that gun the bergara has been my favorite sub Vudoo gun.
