I’ve read more than a few comments asking for a review of the Bergara B-14 I’m here to give the people what they want The Spanish rifle company cut its teeth as a premium barrel maker and they still fabricate barrels for several American gun companies you’d recognize But they also build their own complete rifles and their quality parts and attention to detail has earned them a dedicated following of hunters For this review, I got my hands on the B-14 Ridge Carbon Wilderness “Ridge” is the sub-category of hunting rifles underneath the larger “Wilderness” series and “Carbon” indicates the carbon-wrapped barrel Bergara claims that their B-14 action is "super smooth," so I set out to put that to the test. First impressions were positive. I received this rifle with several other review rifles, including a Ruger American Gen II and a Savage Axis 2 Unboxing the three bolt-action long guns side by side the Bergara’s smooth action really stood out The Bergara costs twice what the Ruger and Savage do Action smoothness also tends to be overvalued and bolt guns get smoother with time and wear But cycling this Bergara feels smoother than many other (more expensive) bolt guns I’ve owned over the years A smooth action contributes to faster followup shots and makes the entire shooting experience more enjoyable the B-14 isn’t one of those glass-like actions that seize up the moment they encounter a speck of dirt and even though I didn’t get the chance to hunt with this rifle One of the days I took this rifle at the range, the temps dropped to 17 degrees (which is cold for us here in East Texas), the head-on north wind whipped around at 20 mph, and the snow and sleet came in flurries. The gun I built on this Aero action iced up and refused to close on factory or reloaded rounds and I never ran into any cold-related reliability or accuracy issues You northerners hunt in even more extreme conditions but I was pleased with how smooth the action remained even with frozen rain whipping around The simplicity of the bolt is part of what makes it reliable and it’s slightly fluted to save a little weight It also uses a sliding plate extractor and a coned bolt nose and breech which ensures smooth feeding and extraction of the cartridge I never had any issues with feeding or extraction in my entire time testing and shooting the rifle To further test the reliability of the action A rational person would brush the dirt off the bolt before shoving it back into the receiver it could handle anything the real world might throw at it I cycled through several rounds of live ammunition and didn’t experience any failures to feed or extract The bolt ran along the rails and locked up tight even though I could feel the grit through the handle introducing that much dirt into the trigger mechanism is a recipe for disaster for any bolt gun and after a few rounds the sear failed to engage properly with the firing pin mechanism Dusting off the bolt and blowing out the trigger solved that problem but I stopped shooting it until I had the chance to give it a thorough cleaning but what about Bergar’s signature component Unlike gun makers that source their barrels from other companies this 22-inch barrel is Bergara’s proprietary carbon-steel blend that solves a problem other carbon-wrapped barrels suffer from The theoretical benefit of wrapping a steel barrel in carbon fiber is that you get the consistency of a heavy profile barrel without the associated weight That helps the rifle maintain a reliable point of impact even during long shot strings without having to lug around a bull barrel some carbon fiber barrels don’t actually handle heat like a heavy barrel does They trap the heat between the steel core and the carbon wrapping which makes the point of impact change even more drastically Bergara attempted to overcome this challenge by using a stainless steel mesh between the barrel and the carbon wrap to better dissipate heat They also use a labor-intensive manufacturing process that ensures the center wrap carbon weave is aligned directionally true to the center of the barrel’s bore Both features mitigate shot-to-shot variation as the barrel heats up and helps ensure that your first cold bore shot is on target The results of my accuracy testing didn’t blow the doors off (more on that below) but I did notice that the center of each group didn’t change much from group to group Some rifles I’ve tested shoot decent groups but the center of each group shifts drastically As the barrel heats up and cools down again and again This can be caused by a variety of factors I didn’t see that with this Bergara barrel Plus, no matter how the rifle shoots, that carbon fiber wrapping saves a few ounces. This rifle clocks in at 6.5 pounds without a scope and 8.5 pounds with Sig Sauer rings and a WHISKEY6 3-18x scope which is good news if you opt for a higher-power cartridge than the 6.5 Creedmoor The rifle’s reasonable weight is part of what makes it a great-shooting piece It’s comfortable to shoulder and fire from the standing position but the recoil is easy on the shoulder even without any kind of muzzle device Slap a muzzle brake or a suppressor on there (which I did) and you’ve got an extremely comfortable handy rifle that can take pretty much any big game animal in North America The trigger helps a lot, too. It’s crisp and consistent, and definitely won’t be the reason you whiff a shot. The weight can be adjusted between 2.8 and 4.4 pounds (per the owner’s manual) using an external screw located just forward of the trigger My trigger weight scale indicated the trigger on the model I received was breaking just a hair above two pounds Bergara makes rifles with detachable box magazines That’s one of my only gripes about the rifle’s feature set I realize there are strong opinions on both sides of this debate and I get it–blind box mags with hinged steel floorplates stay snag free in the woods and you never have to worry about forgetting a magazine in the truck and a flush-fitting detachable mag won’t snag on anything the B-14 Ridge Carbon Wilderness is a durable functional rifle with a great feature set and an attainable price point The sample I received wasn’t terribly accurate only one of three Sig Sauer loads averaged less than an inch and that was the match ammunition shooting three-shot groups three-shot groups with factory match ammunition even though it didn’t shoot either of the hunting loads as well I also didn’t use every type of ammunition available Bergara recommends Hornady’s 140-grain ELD Match or 143-grain ELD-X bullets and you may be able to find something your rifle really likes I would have liked to see a little more consistency especially with those 120-grain copper bullets Monolithic bullets aren’t always the most accurate especially with some federal properties considering a ban on traditional lead ammo Bergara rifles live in a sweet spot between high-end and budget that a lot of folks really appreciate The B-14 Ridge Carbon Wilderness isn’t a cheap rifle but it’s attainable for many hunters and it comes with a suite of features you’d expect on long guns in the $2,000+ range Whether you’re happy with the gun’s accuracy depends on your individual standards I’ve spoken with B-14 owners whose guns shoot sub-MOA with most kinds of ammunition so whether you get a normal hunting rifle (like this one) or a real tack driver can be a luck of the draw situation Maybe that’s not good enough for you but with Bergara’s extensive barrel-making pedigree I’d say it’s a better bet than most you’ll find in the gun world To pick one up for yourself, head on over to Scheels These days the selection of well-made bolt-action rifles sized for medium to large-frame hunters is about as diverse as it has ever been Folks can stroll into most sporting goods stores and find a good fit right off of the rack But finding quality guns configured specifically for small-framed shooting-sports enthusiasts can be more of a challenge In 2024, Bergara Rifles stepped into the compact hunting-rifle market with the release of the B-14 Stoke series of bolt actions this company was originally launched in 1999 to manufacture high-quality barrels that were incorporated into CVA muzzle loaders Bergara has used its cutting-edge CNC machinery and modern manufacturing processes to become a supplier of barrels to a variety of major manufacturers and to launch its own factory-complete B-14 rifles based on the Remington 700 action These guns have been so well received that some folks say that the Bergara platform is an improvement upon the original This company also sponsors the Bergara Academy in Montana a long-distance shooting and training facility with classes for new and seasoned rifle enthusiasts alike My attention was drawn to the B-14 Stoke because unlike many of the rifles sized for smaller shooters it hasn't been dumbed-down nor is it an entry-level configuration for younger hunters who outgrow their first rifles and set them aside the Bergara offering is a full-feature hunting rifle intended to be a primary use rifle that just happens to be more compact This makes it a much better fit for folks who enjoy the great outdoors but are unlikely to get any taller in the future inspired by the Remington 700 Short Action design has earned a reputation for being well made and providing smooth is treated with a matte Graphite Black Cerakote finish The top of the receiver is drilled and tapped to be fitted with standard short-action Remington 700 one-piece optics rails These rails are not provided with the rifle but Bergara does offer their own Premier/B14 SA rails for $99 This rifle's ejection port and bolt handle are on the right side of the receiver with a bolt assembly release lever located on the left side The two-lug bolt assembly features a sliding plate extractor and the bolt nose and breech have been coned for smooth cartridge extraction and feeding which protrudes visibly from the rear of the bolt assembly drops out of sight when the rifle is fired The shortened bolt handle has a 90-degree throw and is capped off with a knurled aluminum knob A rocker-style two-position safety lever is mounted in the receiver just behind the bolt handle It is pressed forward towards a red-dot on the receiver to set it into the FIRE position or pulled back towards a white dot to set it into the SAFE position It's worth noting here that the safety will not lock back into the SAFE position unless the firing pin is cocked All Stoke barrels are made from 4140 chromoly steel with a No The muzzles are threaded at 5/8×24 TPI with a knurled thread protector provided Barrel lengths and the bottom metal's configuration are determined by the caliber of ammunition selected and 7mm-08 ship with 20-inch barrels and internal box magazines fitted with M5 hinged floor plates Customers can also select 16.5-inch barrel models chambered in .223 Rem. .300 BLK or .350 Legend with detachable AICS magazines and ambidextrous magazine release levers mounted to the front of the rounded polymer trigger guard The single-stage steel bow trigger is deeply curved and adjustable for a trigger pull around 2 to 4 pounds The rifle sent for this range test had the trigger set to 2 pounds 15 ounces and felt terrific to work with right at that setting The trigger's arc of travel was just 0.125 inches with no take-up and a crisp its quality was right in line with the attention to detail and the level of craftsmanship exhibited by the rest of the rifle The Stoke's sporter-style synthetic shoulder stock contributes to this rifle's handy The gun I worked with weighed in at 6 pounds 5.2 ounces with the optics rail and empty magazine installed This stock's length-of-pull (LOP) has been trimmed down to 12.25-inches out of the box Three 0.25-inch thick polymer spacers are provided that can be fitted in between the stock and the soft rubber recoil pad to increase the LOP to 13 inches The Bergara team did not stop with simply cropping the stock key external dimensions have been adjusted throughout The comb has been engineered for small-stature individuals so that less recoil energy is transferred to the shooter's cheek and to improve their eye alignment with the scope The forend is two-inches shorter than usual with a narrower profile better suited to smaller hands The matte black stock's other features include textured grip surfaces front and rear sling swivel studs and a light tan web finish that looks sharp while contributing to the stock's textured surface After considering the various options, I requested a Stoke chambered in .300 BLK with the 16.5-inch barrel and a removable polymer AICS magazine. In this case, it turned out that the provided magazine would hold up to seven rounds of .300 BLK ammunition. This was an ideal configuration to pair with a recently acquired Silencer Central Banish Backcountry .300-caliber sound suppressor This particular suppressor can comfortably handle a variety of .30-caliber rounds since this particular bolt action is chambered in one of the few calibers designed specifically for use with a suppressor the Backcountry is designed for hunting endeavors in which every ounce of gear counts this fixed-length model is 5.5-inches long and weighs just 7.8 ounces Six user-serviceable baffles work to reduce decibel levels to 135 dB is compatible with the rifle's muzzle threading Flat Dark Earth or OD Green with prices starting at $1,099 (not including the tax stamp) The Stoke's in-house optics rail was topped off with a Meopta brand Meopro Optika5 2-10x42 mm riflescope using a set of Warne MSR flat-top quick release rings This gun proved to be utterly reliable with all of the ammunition tested including loads ranging from paper punchers to premium hunting hollow points Off of the bench this rifle is about as handy and well balanced as they come the clean feel of the controls and the just-right texturing of the stock make it a pleasure to handle And because this gun is light weight and compact attaching the 7.8-ounce Backcountry to the Stoke's 16.5-inch barrel gave the gun a heft and swing comparable to that of a 20-inch barrel This rifle is listed with this the company's sub MOA guarantee This does not mean that the gun will be able to shoot groups at or below 1.047-inches with absolutely every commercial or home-rolled load available using all bullet weights and styles with anyone who happens by pulling the trigger But the potential for tight groups will hopefully become evident in the course of a more formal evaluation like this one in which an essentially random selection of ammunition brands and bullet types are put to the test Bench-rested accuracy testing was conducted at 100-yards by firing three, three-shot groups into paper targets using two subsonic loads and one supersonic load without the suppressor installed. Then a fourth three-shot group was fired for each load through the Backcountry to see how it would affect the group sizes. A LabRadar LX chronograph was on hand to measure average bullet muzzle velocities for 10-shot strings Its best group measured 1.07-inches with an average of 1.17-inches The load that made the sub MOA grade was Hornady's Subsonic 190-grain Sub-X polymer tip traveling at 1031-fps for 449 ft.-lbs This round yielded a best group of 1.03 inches At this point I have no doubt that with a bit more experimentation with additional loads (and someone else mashing the trigger) that the Stoke can comfortably print even tighter groups than those shown here The Bergara B-14 Stoke is certainly a welcome addition to this company's top-notch line-up There's nothing else quite like picking up a rifle that's a just-right fit for you But there's more to this gun than fitting a particular body shape light weight and caliber options also make it an ideal bolt gun for use as a truck The Benelli Lupo HPR was designed to bridge the gap between extreme long-range shooting and hunting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is the latest partner to join the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation’s (OSCF) “Fill A Bag While Filling Your Tag” program This week on #SundayGunday we test-fire the Revel Classic a new-for-2025 lever-action rimfire rifle available from Savage Arms and models in .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire and .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire will be available this summer ultra-tight-choked turkey guns can make bagging a bird more probable when the range is long—as long as you understand their drawbacks Looking for ways to hit the road this fall Check out these gear options for the travelling hunter The Ultimate Firearms Destination for the Gun Lifestyle Home » Guns » Gun Review: Bergara Hunting Match Rifle (HMR) Many years ago the Ruger Precision Rifle hit the scene and changed how we view factory rifles There were many compelling things about that rifle but the most important was the price tag – $999.99 Other rifle manufacturers took notice and have since started a trend of more affordable Bergara thought the market needed something like a custom barreled action dropped into something like a McMillan A5 that cost somewhere around $1000 and needed no other work – with those requirements in mind they introduced the Hunting Match Rifle (HMR) Bergara assembled a group of employees to help design a rifle that they would be willing to actually own and shoot The end result is a harmonious marriage between shooter and accountant that seems to satisfy all.  I first shot the HMR at SHOT Show 2017 Range Day it was nice and comfortable and I had no problem hitting enormous torso-sized targets at a quarter-mile I've shot it informally at both paper and steel and formally at a weekend precision rifle class The pile of dirty brass in my reloading room tells me that the total round count is approaching 700 rounds Most of my measured five-shot groups across a range of factory ammo types resulted in .7 to 1.1 MOA I shot six back-to-back five-shot groups that measured under .9 MOA I took the HMR and a much more expensive Remington 700 wearing a 308 Win chambered Rock Creek barrel and a McMillan A5 I put 250+ rounds through both rifles over the course of two days and came away impressed with the HMR especially compared to a worked over Remington 700 though chambered in a nearly dead and archaic cartridge At three times the cost of the HMR– I'd expect it to do that updated to address some common issues and problems with the factory 700 action including it's (lack of) left-handedness.   Word on the internet is that a stressful pull on the bolt might break the flimsy stock stop on a 700 resulting in the bolt being yanked right out the back Bergara addresses this by integrating a much stronger bolt stop right from the start No need to fumble around near the trigger to release the bolt press the big lever on the left-hand side of the action Assuming your 700 knob isn't one of those that's filled with air pockets from poor casting you can pay a gunsmith to thread it and screw on a big knob from somebody reputable Bergara threads the handle and screws on their own big knob right from the factory A two lug coned bolt is advertised to offer smoother I had no issues feeding from the supplied magazine they send with the gun You'll also notice that Bergara has elected to punt the puny 700 style extractor for something with a bit more strength This is another common upgrade your gunsmith will happily charge you for though they'll likely go to either a Sako or M16 style extractor.  but it's arguably a bit nicer than the stock 700 and worked fine during the duration of this review.  Bergara fixed every issue that the bean counters at Remington created but it is MUCH better than a factory 700 and I'd argue is a much better place to start if you're planning upgrades down the road.   Like most short action rifles you'll see at a weekend match Bergara includes a 5-round Magpul magazine a nod I'm sure to the lower profile required for a hunter Bergara's bottom metal is well thought out and seems to eschew a big single lever like Badger's M5 in favor of a lower profile ambidextrous paddle style I like it and didn't find that it caused any issues with magazine changes Bergara has elected to go with a curved trigger vs the much more tactical flat-faced triggers you see in today's market Bergara's manual says the trigger is adjustable from 2.8 to 4.4 pounds and is set a notch above 3.5 lbs from the factory The trigger that came in this gun originally measured at 6 pounds I called Bergara and they sent me a new one that measured at 3.5 pounds The replacement trigger adjusted within the range specified and passed a drop test You shouldn't though because it's a perfectly fine trigger and doing so will disqualify you from Production class in PRS.   I own one dedicated match rifle and it wears a McMillan A5 But I've hunted with that rifle and found that the A5 is a poor stock for a hunting rifle Compromises must be made and Bergara did a fine job You have to lower the cheekpiece to remove the bolt for cleaning Fix this by either marking your perfect adjustment on the pillar or taking a Dremel to the cheekpiece The cheekpiece requires no tools to adjust for comb height and is symmetrical so no adjustments are necessary for support side shooting My face seems to demand a higher than normal comb on all rifles but I had no issues adjusting the cheekpiece for usage with a 50 mm objective scope in a set of tall rings.  Length of pull is modified using spacers between the stock and the buttpad you can purchase additional spacers from Bergara for $5 The buttpad is squishy and helps soak up the recoil of 6.5 Creedmoor The buttstock is what's popular in the precision rifle game for shooting off a rear bag with your hand-hooked in on the stock A pure hunting stock would smoothly transition from butt to grip and have no hooks that could snag on branches or gear this is a match rifle that sometimes hunts the forend tapers nicely while providing a flat bottom like a match rifle There's some nice texturing for your fingers and the end result is a stock that's pleasing to shoot offhand Bergara has thoughtfully molded in QD swivels on both sides of the buttstock and the forend – great for carrying the rifle flat across your back on a long hike No QD swivels or pic rail on the bottom of the forend Bergara put two traditional swivels to match the traditional one on the buttstock.  Bergara calls this a #6 taper in their literature which I assume is a Krieger #6 Heavy Bull Sporter It's a profile that manages to be beefy enough for match use while still cutting enough weight that you won't hate yourself when you bring it on a hunt the barrel is ever so slightly off-center in the stock Not unless you have crippling OCD and this sort of thing sends you into a spiral The real star of the show is something you can't see That is unless you peel off most of the stock to expose the fat chunk of aluminum that comprises the skeleton of the HMR stock The reason chassis are the hotness in PRS/NRL but it's very rare to see in a mass-produced firearm and rarer still is one that hits the streets for less than $1000 Bergara offers the short action HMRs in a variety of barrel lengths and chamberings for both right and left-handed shooters Oddballs include a 1:9 twist 22-250 and a 20-inch 1:24 .450 Bushmaster Most commercial rifles in 22-250 use a much slower twist – 1:12 or 1:14 That 1:9 should be fast enough to stabilize bullet weights up to 80 grains Competent reloaders can safely push 75 gr bullets to 3000+ fps there's a 24-inch 1:9.5 twist 7mm Rem Mag and left and right-handed 26-inch 1:10 twist 300 Win Mags offered in a dizzying variety of long and short action chamberings as well as left and right-handed versions Who is it for: Those looking to dip their toes in precision rifle competitions Hunters who care about a shooter oriented rifle.  RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles.  Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession.  editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate and driven by real-world experience.  Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. I’ve got a Bergara HMR Premier Pro in 6.5 :PRC and its the best shooting factory rifle I own .It shoots a 0.25 MOA all day every day I will have it Blueprinted when my barrel is shot out I shoot it alot,almost daily and I shoot it in competition.The barrel has around 3000 rounds through it now so Im about to put on a heavier made Bartlein Left Hand Gain Twist on it Save my name & email in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" I've got a Bergara HMR Premier Pro in 6.5 :PRC and its the best shooting factory rifle I own .It shoots a 0.25 MOA all day every day At SHOT Show 2025 we learned of a new series of Bergara Micro Rimfire (BMR) rifles giving the precision line a new "X factor." The BMR-X series of purpose-built bolt-action rimfires have two new offerings in the lineup yet offer up performance gains that are appealing to hunters and target shooters alike Kicking off the series is the Bergara BMR-X Steel Although the Steel version is host to many notable features its action is based off the BMR announced in 2021 the new gun’s #6 profile barrel is a fat one which offers the rigidity needed for precise shot placement while also adding weight and stability to the platform blast diverter or muzzle brake is no problem With the BMR-X Steel there’s a user-friendly stock one that was drawn from the company’s BXR semi-auto rimfire stock Much like many of this rimfire rifle’s centerfire counterparts Bergara provides length-of-pull adjustments at the back end and ergonomic enhancements can be found elsewhere throughout such as a flat-bottom fore-end to ride bags smoothly a tail hook for rear support and vertical grip for shooters to assume an unimpeded natural shooting grip You’ll also get multiple sling points to pick from when needed whether it be the socket-type or traditional stud Bergara's BMR-X rifles feature many of the same performance upgrades while differentiated by barrel type as seen above with the carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel of the BMR-X Carbon Both the BMR-X Steel and the new BMR-X Carbon share the latest stock design mentioned above the two new offerings boast performance upgrades such as having match chambers and an externally adjustable trigger While the BMR-X Steel is better suited for precision work its new Carbon sibling announced in 2025 is better suited for small game hunters and their quest for a balanced rifle that can be carried for hours while delivering high precision capability The new Bergara BMR-X Carbon leaves the factory with the company’s premium carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel and because of this space-age composite upgrade it comes at nearly one pound lighter than its steel-barreled equivalent Both the BMR-X Steel and BMR-X Carbon will be available in .22 Long Rifle Barrel lengths for all models are set to 18” and have 1:16” rifling except for .17 HMR; 1:9 will be the standard there All BMR-X rimfires will be equipped with a pre-installed 30 m.o.a Magazines are detachable boxes and have capacity for five and 10 rounds Bergara’s all-new BMR line for 2025 will have MSRPs starting at $719. For more information, visit Bergara.Online Long respected for its world-leading military small arms through its American factory and engineers shooters—and the new Concealed Carry 9 mm Luger micro pistol is poised to quicken it Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens Despite a slight decline in demand for new firearms the industry’s economic impact rose from $90.5 billion in 2023 to $91.7 billion in 2024 Kahr Arms has been most well-known for its single-stack line of concealed-carry pistols the company is moving into the double-stack market with its new Premium X Series Henry's Special Products Division has officially released its first line of unique offerings in its HUSH series of suppressor-ready lever-action rifles Built primarily from thick 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum is an incredibly robust and stable gun rest designed for use with pistols and long guns alike The new product announcements are starting to pour in from manufacturers after the New Year and as SHOT Show 2025 is quickly approaching Bergara debuted their new variant of the “Bergara Micro Rifle,” the enhanced rimfire series of the BMR-X The new BMR-X rimfire series from Bergara is going to give you even more enhancements than the BMR lineup previously offered You can get multiple barrel lengths (16” or 18”) multiple barrel profiles (Steel or Carbon Fiber) and they will be available in three common rimfire cartridges (.22 LR This rifle would not only make a good out-of-the-box precision rimfire candidate, but also a very nice and handy hunting rifle. Squirrels beware! As always, let us know all of your thoughts about Bergara and the New BMR-X Rimfire Series in the Comments below Editor | AllOutdoor.comWriter | OutdoorHub.comWriter | TheArmoryLife.comWriter | Tyrant CNCWriter | MDT Chassis SystemsSmith & Wesson Certified ArmorerGlock Certified ArmorerFirefighter/EMSCity CouncilmanInstagram: strength_in_arms More by Adam Scepaniak by Susana Polo a new series from Spurrier and Bergara inspired by classic “portal fantasy,” set on a floating city in an endless ocean “Mar has a secret,” reads Dstlry’s summary This would be an inconvenience if his life wasn’t already such a drag and the beast-haunted twilight halls below a troupe of anarchic magpies with all the answers but none of the questions.” While two rather different projects, Coda and Step by Bloody Step came at fantasy worldbuilding by direct routes. Coda, and its sequel, were rather self-aware stories, hovering between epic celebration and parody. Step by Bloody Step, on the other hand, was a wordless, almost fable-like exploration of one character’s strange journey through a fantastical setting. Mischief seems like it just might bridge those modes. Dstlry was able to share five preview pages from the first issue of the series, which you can see below: A Mischief of Magpies #1 hits shelves in April, with three double-sized (48 page) issues to start, with the potential for more. Check below to see the book’s four wraparound covers, from Bergara (first and third), Fabio Moon (second) and Bilquis Evely (fourth). The best of Polygon in your inbox, every Friday. For the past couple seasons my elk hunting partner included a lightweight, skeletonized, PRS-looking rifle with an overall weight below 10 pounds. Although space-age looks do not turn me off, the chance to test and hunt with Bergara’s latest Nutrisystem rifle The appearance of the rifle resembled those of seasons prior the Ridge Carbon Wilderness veneer is the only traditional aspect of the rifle It incorporates a host of Bergara’s latest innovations along with Bergara-proven components that this expanding company has been noticed for going on a decade The reason you first consider the Ridge Carbon Wilderness is weight savings Whittling that weight down below 7 pounds arrives from several factors The Ridge Carbon Wilderness for testing arrived in the .300 Winchester Magnum caliber I admit to nudging Bergara for the heftier caliber for a future elk rendezvous This easily includes them in the mountain rifle category but embrace the weight savings whether walking to a whitetail stand or while stalking pronghorns across sagebrush flats Since my rifles serve double, triple and more duties, I outfitted the Ridge Carbon Wilderness with a Sig Sauer SIERRA6 BDX 3-18x44mm riflescope and sling In the mountains I tend to leave the bipod off for additional weight savings but with the riflescope and a full magazine of three .300 Winchester Magnum cartridges Despite less life ahead of me than behind me I can still manage that weight while hiking up to 8 miles a day in the mountains along with a full pack The first thing you notice about the rifle is its conventional look and feel The stock is described as “American style” with a sleek profile and easy to shoulder feel Remington-like checkering aids in a firm pistol and forearm grip on the stock The entire stock features Bergara’s SoftTouch finish for added comfort Weight savings can be felt in the composite stock which Bergara terms a “proprietary blend.” Regardless of secrets one look and a test aim of the Ridge Carbon Wilderness will have you thinking about cycling a few cartridges through the system It wholly adds to additional weight savings while preserving accuracy Built in the Bergara barrel plant in Bergara 6 carbon fiber-wrapped barrel embedded with stainless steel strands The benefit of this carbon and steel innovative process is seen in rapid heat dispersion Heat from the shot is transferred from the chamber down the barrel for efficient temperature control This technology ensures bullets impact in the same location from a cold bore as one heated with several shots my old-school tradition prods me to shoot five to 10 rounds and then clean the barrel for a gradual path to accuracy I still follow that rule and it allows the barrel to cool between shooting sessions I was shooting in summer heat that does not always facilitate quick cooling It did not seem to matter as groupings stayed on course throughout shooting sessions Although some believe the heart of a rifle is the barrel most point toward the action or launch pad as the headquarters for accuracy Bergara united the Ridge Carbon Wilderness with their proven B-14 action that has Remington 700 features throughout with a Bergara uniqueness Rugged begins to describe the 4140 chrome-moly action with one-piece construction A sliding plate extractor guarantees cartridge feeding with smoothness you would expect from a pricier rifle Cartridges are fed effortlessly through the breech and extracted via a hinged floorplate 7mm PRC and 6.5 PRC models hold three in the magazine compartment while the 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester hold four a Cerakote Sniper Grey finish guards the action Removing the bolt is simple by pushing a bolt-release lever then giving the bolt an effortless rearward tug Bergara’s proprietary Performance Trigger serves as launch control on the Ridge Carbon Wilderness The trigger is factory set at 2.5 pounds and broke cleanly at that weight confirmed by my trigger tension scale just clean sendoffs to your projectile of choice and highly adjustable for personal preference Trigger weight changes do not require firearm dismantling Access the Allen key screw through the trigger guard A two-position toggle thumb safety on the rifle’s right side initiates sendoff The rifle includes a Quake rifle sling and thread cup for the barrel in addition to an Omni muzzle brake with better deals likely from online shopping you receive out-of-the-box precision in a featherlight rifle package Over the last few years, Bergara has moved from being an unknown company in the United States to being a staple on gun store shelves Their lineup is expansive and includes all sorts of rifles The newest models are optimized for precision rimfire shooters There are two new BMR-X rimfire rifles in the lineup this year one with a steel barrel and one with a carbon fiber barrel These differ from the existing BMR series by having more target-oriented stocks and heavier barrel contours Bergara uses a match chamber on these barrels A 30-moa scope mount is standard for scope mounting while maintaining more available elevation adjustment on the scope The BMR-X also includes a 10-round magazine for additional capacity which is helpful when running a match stage But precision rimfire competitors are not the only group that benefits from the features of the BMR-X Versions in .22 WMR and .17 HMR are also coming which is great news for varmint hunters as well Those shooters also need precision and heavy barrel profiles that stay accurate through high round counts More by Daniel Y This week, we’re showcasing a lightweight chassis rifle that combines accuracy, ergonomics and packability to produce one heck of a mountain hunting rig: the Bergara Premier Series MgLite magnesium chassis system—the Element 4.0 from XLR Industries—the MgLite comes fully featured with a weight-reducing carbon-fiber pistol grip a carbon-fiber buttstock and an adjustable carbon-fiber comb the chassis weighs just 28 ounces and it still houses all the adjustability to provide a custom fit ensuring that your rifle and optic meet your eye and shoulder at exactly the right place the MgLite features a built-in bubble level and a 1.5-inch dovetail for ARCA-Swiss compatible components on the underside of the stock The chassis accepts AICS-pattern detachable box magazines—three or five round depending on caliber—and since the XLR chassis design provides a multi-point radial-cut inlet there is no need for action bedding or V-block type foundations And perhaps the most notable feature of the MgLite is which reduces the package down to an extremely packable 33 inches in length Mated to the stock is the Bergara Premier Action which closely resembles one of the most popular bolt-action rifle designs of the modern era Bergara adds to that two-lug system a floating bolt head which produces a more consistent and concentric lockup without the need for custom tuning stainless-steel bolt body features a cone-shaped nose for smooth feeding and a sliding plate extractor the non-rotating gas shield and the bolt shroud are fully Nitrided for extreme durability as well as its self-lubricating properties This system requires a 90-degree throw and provides a generously sized handle for operation Bergara rounds out the fire-control system with an ultra-smooth user adjustable Trigger Tech trigger which can be tuned from near 1.5 pounds to 4 pounds of pull weight Our test rifle’s trigger was sitting right around 2.5 pounds from the factory Bergara employs a completely new proprietary barrel system called CURE Bergara’s CURE barrels weave stainless strands with carbon-fiber to manage heat And because it dissipates heat better than any other carbon-fiber barrel though depending on the caliber you choose barrels range from 22- to 24-inches in length Every MgLite barrel is topped with an Omni muzzle brake making the MgLite fully adaptable to suppressed hunting Bergara offers the Premier MgLite in fan favorites such as the 6.5 Creedmoor and twist rates for Bergara’s CURE carbon barrels are optimized respectively Bergara provides a 1 MOA guarantee with factory-made match-grade ammunition and we’ve had shooters achieve even better results than that Considering the total package weighs in from 6.6 to 6.8 pounds depending on your caliber choice and can be folded into a pack-ready compact package this may be the ultimate rifle for high-altitude sheep hunters it’s just as handy in the Eastern whitetail woods For more information on the Bergara Premium Series MgLite rifle, visit Bergara.online/us becoming a prominent name in the long-range precision market The Bergara B14 Squared Crest Carbon Rifle was provided for this review by Bergara and it will be returning back to them after this review is over. I have been taking this particular rifle to the range for the past several months and currently have 300 rounds through the rifle. All ammo for this review was provided by Hornady The B14 Squared Crest Carbon Rifle has a very sleek and modern design that is just so hot right now The first thing that stands out is its carbon fiber barrel which is a big improvement in weight savings even compared to the standard B14 Squared Crest this will reduce the overall weight of the rifle by nearly a pound The carbon fiber wrap over a steel core barrel ensures rigidity and strength while significantly reducing the overall weight of the rifle While I have unfortunately not had a chance to take the B14 Squared Crest Carbon on any hunts up to this point its lightweight characteristics make it a great option for that use set The rifle's action is built on Bergara's B14 action known for its smooth operation and reliability In the 300 rounds put through this rifle for this review The bolt operates with a buttery smoothness The stock of this rifle is also pretty cool Made from 100 percent carbon fiber and manufactured using CF-RTM technology This means that the manufacturing process assembles dry carbon fibers by hand with an injection resin According to Bergara: “We have incorporated a carbon spine throughout the stock providing greater rigidity and strength sets a new standard in being the best choice for carbon stocks.” My big takeaway from all this is that this stock is super light but rigid and I found that to be very true in my testing this is another area where the B14 Squared Crest Carbon truly shines The combination of the carbon fiber barrel and the precision-engineered action results in great accuracy The rifle is capable of sub-MOA (Minute of Angle) groups right out of the box according to Bergara I've included one of my best 5 shot groups at 100 yards below (I really wish I did not pull that last shot.) When it comes to the end of the barrel of this gun your options are pretty much unlimited with plenty of aftermarket options to choose from But unless you are planning on attaching a suppressor to this rifle you might just stick with the factory Omni brake as I found it helped reduce the recoil significantly Being a brake I was also happy with the overall noise signature One drawback though is if you shoot from a prone position you are going to kick up a lot of dirt given its omnidirectional design The thick rubber butt pad also helped soak up a lot of the recoil and kept the shooting experience comfortable even when I was throwing several boxes of Ammo down range The rifle is chambered in a variety of popular calibers My particular rifle is in 6.5 Creedmoor and I'm very happy with this chambering I am also happy to see that Bergara is offering this rifle in so many calibers The B14 Squared Crest Carbon Rifle comes equipped with a user-adjustable trigger allowing you to fine-tune the trigger pull to your preference The range is from 1.5 - 3.5 pounds and from the factory will be around 2 pounds I did not adjust the trigger weight as 2 pounds felt pretty perfect to me The trigger is pretty awesome and very light and the trigger breaks cleanly and consistently Handling the B14 Squared Crest Carbon Rifle is a pleasure thanks to the carbon fiber barrel and synthetic stock makes it easy to carry and maneuver and there are several spots along the stock for sling attachment The Bergara B14 Squared Crest Carbon Rifle is a remarkable firearm that combines cutting-edge materials with exceptional craftsmanship and lightweight design make it an outstanding choice for hunters and precision shooters alike The rifle's accuracy and reliability ensure that it will perform at the highest level be it the range or on a once-in-a-lifetime hunt in the Rocky Mountains and compatibility with a wide range of optics and accessories this rifle is a great example of what Bergara can produce If you're in the market for a high-performance rifle that delivers on all fronts the Bergara B14 Squared Crest Carbon Rifle is an excellent choice and it won't let you down -Former Army Photographer / Videographer -Current Aviation Student -Future in debt due to Firearm collection More by Patrik O Bergara is now offering a range of actions for builders who want to spec out their own rifles Both actions and barreled actions are available in a variety of configurations it should be very easy to find the parts to finish off one of these builds First up is the Premier Action These actions are the heart of the Bergara Premier Series rifles These are 416R stainless steel actions with double ejectors and a spiral-fluted bolt body Bergara offers both short-action and long-action models The short-action model comes with standard or magnum bolt face options and the long-action model comes with a magnum bolt face Both the bare actions and barreled actions are available for order direct from Bergara now ​  @BallisticAviation  is visiting the Bergara booth to check out the latest iterations of the popular and affordable precision BMR (Bergara Micro Rimfire) bolt-action rifle The new BMR-X series aims to help people build their own competition-level rimfire rifle by including a new adaptable stock and the option for either a #6 heavy taper barrel or a lightweight roll-wrapped carbon fiber barrel TFB Official Apparel Sponsor is 5.11 Tactical: https://www.rb.gy/mzdc5p PLEASE check out our Patreon and Subscribe Star pages if you enjoy our program We give away hundreds of dollars of gear a month to our supporters www.patreon.com/tfbtv www.utreon.com/c/tfbtv www.subscribestar.com/tfbtv NOTE: These giveaways are not affiliated with or in any way endorsed by YouTube and TFBTV is solely responsible for the giveaways mentioned in this video and this description No purchase required for gear worth over $250 https://www.facebook.com/TheFirearmBlogTV/ https://www.instagram.com/TFBTV/ https://www.reddit.com/r/tfbtv/ -   Ventura Munitions - www.venturamunitions.com -   Blue Alpha Gear - www.bluealphabelts.com -   Top Gun Supply - www.topgunsupply.com Reloader SCSA Competitor Certified Pilot Currently able to pass himself off as the second cousin twice removed of Joe Flanigan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ballisticaviation/ More by Luke C. It is HAAM Music Monday, powered by FVF Law. Known as the powerhouse lead singer of the Selena tribute band Stephanie Bergara is launching her solo career With unforgettable vocals and lyric storytelling She stopped by the studio to share more about her journey into solo music and where we can catch her performing this upcoming HAAM Day We are able to spotlight local music every Monday thanks to FVF Law FVF provides the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians with year-round support, volunteers, and donations to help HAAM further its mission--to provide affordable healthcare for low-income working musicians with a focus on prevention and wellness FVF Law truly believes in the power of live music as one of Austin's most valuable resources and they are dedicated to supporting the artists who make that music SHOT Show 2025: The Hispanic-American manufacturer Bergara is adding two new models to the successfully launched BMR (Bergara Micro Rimfire) rifle series The new features can be recognised by the X in the model name which is also the main difference to the previous BMR series and alludes to the new stock type adopted With its BMR-X bolt-action rifles, fed by 5- or 10-round magazines and equipped with a barrel with a threaded muzzle, manufacturer Bergara is targeting discerning hunters and sport shooters who like the proven Remington 700 platform or Bergara's B14R series models but do not want to spend too much money the two new BMR-X Steel and BMR-X-Carbon models with 51-cm barrels and an overall length of just 88 cm are priced well under 800 euros: 749 euros (stainless steel version) and 779 euros (carbon steel) The new synthetic X stock has been specially developed for precision shooters improves handling and provides a natural stance that helps the shooter in longer shooting strings the flat fore-end enhances the contact with the bearing surface and avoids the canting that is so important to achieve consistent accuracy the high cheekpiece reduces neck muscle fatigue as does the variable adjustment of the stock LOP with spacers to adapt the rifle to any shooting position The differences can already be guessed from the name: the BMR-X Carbon weighs only 2.4 kg with its carbon fiber-coated barrel (23-mm diameter) This makes this version suitable for precision shooting while the lighter BMR-X Carbon should appeal mainly to hunters who carry the rifle over their shoulder Deutschlandinfo@vsmedien.de International contact to all4shooters.com:info@all4shooters.com The international editorial team General Terms and Conditions Terms of Use Colophon Contacts Privacy Policy Posted in: Comics, Current News | Tagged: , Simon Spurrier and Matias Bergara's A Mischief Of Magpies comic book launches from Dstlry in their April 2025 solicits anbd solicitations Simon Spurrier and Matias Bergara's A Mischief Of Magpies comic book launches from Dstlry in their April 2025 solicits and solicitations As well as Miles Gunter and Patrick Mulholland's Knife… The break of a trigger. The fall of the rifle’s striker. Wait a bit…a puff of dust. A scurrying prairie dog. A miss. But not by much, and the next .22LR round from the Bergara BMR Carbon rifle would be already on its way Image courtesy JWT for thetruthaboutguns.com I’ve found prairie dog “hunting” with a .22LR to be one of the best overall marksmanship challenges available moving targets of varying size at a range of distances You’ll be shooting too fast and at too many targets to use a laser range finder on each target you can challenge yourself by getting out past the 400-yard line you’ll be challenged at every distance from 50 to 250 yards So If I want to test myself and a rimfire rifle Ever since my first prairie dog hunt a few years ago I’ve been quite a few times now since then and each year I meet a few friends in Wyoming for a dedicated two-day hunt I brought the Bergara BMR Carbon rifle with me The BMR Carbon is Bergara’s crossover rimfire rifle. It’s great for rimfire varminting and designed to fit under the $1,200 MSRP price point (to include both the rifle and scope). It’s also a solid choice for competition in the NRL22 Base Class. With its 18″ barrel and light weight I seriously doubted it had the chops for longer range varminting or competition The day I was to leave for Wyoming was a hectic one and I barely had time to sight in the rifle before I had to get in the truck and head north the very poor groupings forced me to bring two rifles I was looking at 4-inch groups and larger at 100 yards using CCI Standard Velocity ammunition With the big change in environmentals from central Texas to southeastern Wyoming that little gun was printing a lot of 1 MOA groups I would soon be getting regular hits on prairie dogs at 200 yards and beyond my 5-round 50-yard groups were all just under 1″ with readily available and inexpensive CCI Standard Velocity ammunition Newly-acquired Lapua Center-X ammunition really showed what this rifle can do printing extremely consistent .5-inch groups under the same conditions the BMR Carbon just needed a bit of warming up Part of the reason for that accuracy is a darn good factory trigger It’s user-adjustable and with the turn of a hex wrench I was able to dial it down to a few ounces shy of 3 lbs the Bergara BMR is compatible with most aftermarket triggers I can directly confirm that it works with Jewell Timney and Trigger Tech aftermarket triggers The other part of the rifle’s accuracy comes from the barrel itself Bergara started out as a barrel company and they take pride in their quality This particular version is their twill-weave carbon fiber tube wrapped around micro-grooved steel with the entire gun weighing in at just 5 lbs those of you considering using a BMR for competition should probably choose the stainless barrel version instead as the $90 you’ll save would probably be better put to use toward the highest quality optic you can afford The stainless barrel will only add about half a pound to the rifle’s total weight No matter which barrel you choose, the BMR comes threaded and ready for whatever silencer you may choose. For this gun I put on an Underground Tactical “Little Puff” model for almost all of the shooting The only time I took the silencer off was to measure groups but a silenced precise rimfire rifle is an absolute joy the loudest thing I heard was the sound of the striker falling after I pulled the trigger as misses appear as nothing more than dirt kicking up around the animal I had several instances of prairie dogs jumping over to inspect where the round had struck the sand near them Since the bolt has a 90 degree throw and short travel along with virtually no recoil to take the shooter’s eye out of the glass follow-up shots on the curious critters were quick and — more often than not — lethal Included with the BMR are two single stack magazines, one 5-rounder and one 10-rounder. They slip right in with a solid push, and pop right out with the press of the ambidextrous paddle release. You can find additional magazines online for about $35 I now have well over 500 rounds through it…probably closer to 700 The vast majority of that was shooting CCI’s 40gr Standard Velocity ammo and a 50-round box of some ancient mystery load marked only “Olin Corporation” that chrono’ed at a little over 1,400 fps Most of that shooting was done with the Little Puff silencer attached and I didn’t clean the gun That is outstanding reliability in a rimfire although most of the issue with rimfire reliability is in the ammo If I had any complaints about the BMR at all The lack of bedding wasn’t much of a concern as there was very little recoil to move the gun around inside of it it’s the geometry itself wasn’t ideal you’re likely going to have to install high rings on the stock 30 MOA base as I did with the Nightforce SHV I used for the prairie dog shoot and throughout this review meaning for most shooters the cheek-stock weld is a bit precarious that’s easily fixed with an aftermarket adjustable cheek piece or but the action doesn’t put the round perfectly in line with the bore upon entry so there is a concern that a soft lead bullet may deform a bit upon entry For the last several years I’ve gone out on hunts with guide Cole Kirchefer and I’ll continue to do so as long as he’ll take my money The number of vermin Cole has available for targeting in Wyoming and Nebraska is simply staggering I always do a two-day hunt. I love shooting, but by the end of the second day, I’m almost tired of it. Almost. Smacking those little devils at 250 yards with the BMR Carbon rifle never really gets old either Bergara BMR rifle is an excellent value and website in this browser for the next time I comment and insights to help you stay informed on the latest trends in gun culture Stories of adventure and the coolest product releases delivered straight to your inbox The Bergara Premier Series rifles are basically custom rigs that you’re not allowed to pick the colors on The barrel is better than production grade the stocks used are high quality Grayboe fiberglass or AG Composites carbon fiber the action is Bergara but it’s essentially a really nice custom Remington 700 style and the trigger is made by TriggerTech The bolts are fluted and some of the models feature fluted and threaded barrels These guns literally have all the features people have been using to customize Remingtons for the last 30 years or more The Highlander that Bergara sent me was the first Highlander they built in 300 PRC They told me to put it through its paces in Africa and that’s just what I did Before leaving for Africa, I had Superior Ammo work up a load. I wanted to shoot the heavy Berger 230 grain Hybrid OTM to take advantage of the cartridge’s horsepower and the rifle shot a group average of .626” with the load we settled on. That’s damn good for a 230 grain bullet moving at over 2,900 feet per second. The first shot I took in Africa with the Highlander happened when a buddy and I lay prone in the dirt next to one another. We ranged his Kudu at 550 yards and my waterbuck at 475. Both were nice mature animals, so we agreed to shoot with my friend firing on the kudu at my report. A waterbuck is a big animal. I’d say it’s similar in size to an elk and they’re known for being very tough. Shot placement is key. I fired my Highlander with my friend shooting his Bergara custom at the sound of my shot. I heard both bullets strike the animals, and watched my waterbuck go down where he stood. I shifted slightly to watch the kudu as he ran down the mountain toward the waterbuck before he cut left and died 30 yards from my animal. There wasn’t an animal I shot at on that trip that escaped the Bergara…including an ostrich that was well over 1,000 yards away. Another friend even borrowed my rifle to shoot his own kudu on the last day of the trip. The rifle did it’s job exceedingly well. Here’s my conclusion. If you follow the Field Ethos Sunday Q&A you’ve seen me recommend the Bergara Highlander almost every time someone asks what their first long range hunting rifle should be. It’s because I’ve put several of them through their paces and know them to be supremely accurate killing machines that can take a lot of abuse. I haven’t found a single thing I don’t like about these rifles. Very accurate. Very durable. Custom features and not overly heavy. This is one of the few rifles that I can’t think of anything I’d change. I 100% recommend this one. Stories of adventure and the latest product releases delivered straight to your inbox Subscribe to the Field Ethos Print Journal This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. The Bergara Premier Approach gets a thumbs up from me. most firearm enthusiasts—except the few who have visited the city in north Spain—had never heard of Bergara It’s not one of those organized European-tour destinations has now made the name a familiar one among precision shooters and hunters who demand unfailing performance without breaking the bank Bergara’s emergence as major player in the industry began modestly in 1999 when BPI was established and purchased famed muzzleloader manufacturer CVA The company thrived and learned that the barrel was the most important ingredient in any quality gun the company added PowerBelt bullets to its offerings captured 60 percent of the muzzleloading market followed shortly after by DuraSight Scope Mounts the company catalog included most of the hardware needed for blackpowder Bergara Barrels was established that year in Bergara which is in an iron-ore-rich area with a tradition of metalwork and deep history of sword making The factory wasn’t filled with anvils and blacksmiths along with stringent quality-control systems to ensure every barrel made was up to modern standards The factory’s staff brought with them another asset—years of knowledge and experience you can’t buy Benchrest Hall of Famer Ed Shilen was hired to assess and refine the process and ensure everything that went out the doors was capable of printing tiny groups The barrels first appeared on CVA’s top-of-the-line muzzleloaders and it didn’t take long for word of their accuracy to spread MSGT Dan Hanus (Ret.) had just left the Marine Corps where he served as chief instructor and production chief at the famed USMC Precision Weapons Section at Quantico He brought with him 22 years of experience in designing maintaining and improving the precision rifles used so effectively by our troops on the front lines of freedom To say the reception was a warm one is understatement Today, the company offers a complete line of accurate rifles that perform and wear those famed barrels. Jeff Johnston’s factory tour in 2016 explains the detail that goes into everyone one of the company’s guns The company also runs the Bergara Academy in Montana which provides training in long-distance shooting for enthusiasts of all skill levels Bring the Adventure Home | 1871 Club Print Membership Now Only $35 - Delivered Right to Your Door, Subscribe Today Though relatively new to the market, Bergara rifles have earned a reputation as high-quality firearms. After a review of one of the first of the Bergara B-14 Rifles Editor Dave Petzal said they are “damned near perfect.” And we selected the Bergara Premier MG Lite as the best precision rifle of the year The Squared Crest sort of bridges the gap between Bergara’s traditional hunting rifles company that’s also the parent company of CVA and Dead Air Armament—Bergara is a firearms manufacturing company located in Bergara The brand has earned a strong reputation for producing high-quality rifle barrels all of which have been engineered through consultation with legendary American barrel maker Ed Shilen Bergara’s new B-14 Squared Crest shot well with a variety of factory ammunition The B-14 Squared Crest is marketed as a mountain hunting rifle and uses the same action as all the other B-14 rifles which features a new design that uses 100-percent carbon fiber and a carbon spine throughout the stock for additional strength and rigidity The stock is adjustable for length of pull from 13.75 to 14.50 inches by the addition or subtraction of two spacers between the thick rubber butt pad and stock and a near vertical pistol grip that fills the hand well It’s also outfitted with three traditional sling swivel studs and four QD sling swivel sockets The two-lug bolt is fluted and fitted with a lunger style ejector and a 90-degree extractor is integral in one of the bolt lugs There’s an easy-to-access bolt release on the left side of the action and the rifle comes out of the box with a 20 MOA Bergara scope rail and the handle is more than 3/4 inch in diameter which leaves little clearance between it and some of the larger magnification throw levers that come on many modern riflescopes The rifle’s free-floated barrel is fluted and varies in length depending on chambering—the 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Win measuring about 7/10 of an inch at the muzzle and the trigger broke very crisp at 2.0 pounds right out of the box A five-shot detachable AICS magazine is standard with the Bergara B-14 Squared Crest rifle Stock: Carbon fiber with a carbon spine and adjustable length of pull MSRP: $1,699 (Sportsman’s Warehouse Bergara’s MG Lite rifle looks like a heavy-weight precision rifle it weighs less than many popular bolt-action hunting rifles Senior editor Mathew Every and shooting editor Richard Mann on the range discussing the pros and cons of Bergara’s new B-14 Squared Crest rifle Like all the new rifles we tested , the Bergara B14 Squared Crest was outfitted with a 4.5-14X40 Leupold VX-3HD All of the bench shooting and most of the off-hand shooting was done with a suppressor Several rounds were fired with the factory supplied muzzle brake which did slightly reduce recoil but was also obnoxiously loud The rifle was reasonably well configured for off-hand/field shooting the safety was intuitive to deactivate when snap shooting and the near vertical grip did a good job of sort of naturally positioning the thumb comfortably along the side of the stock We had to nitpick to find much wrong with this rifle The rear sling swivel stud on the forend sits a bit too far back as it interfered with the grip of the support hand With the two QD swivel attachments on each side of the forend it seems a short rail for a bipod would have been ideal as would the elimination of both sling swivel studs which also has two QD sling swivel stud mounts—there was no need for the common sling swivel stud there The stock was also very smooth/slick in hand so some texturing at the grip and forend would have been appreciated The trigger was exceptional, and the ambidextrous magazine release dropped the magazine free with a simple press with the trigger finger or thumb of the support hand. The action was mostly magically smooth, but it was a bit stiff to open when shooting the Barnes ammo We also experienced a few hang-ups when single feeding the rifle on top of the inserted magazine during the benchrest testing NOTES: Reported muzzle velocity (VEL) standard velocity deviation (SD) and muzzle energy (ENG) were established by firing 10 shots over a chronograph with the screen posited 10 feet from the muzzle Reported Accuracy/Precision was determined by firing multiple five-shot groups with each load from a sandbag rest at 100 yards using a 4.5-14X40 Leupold VX-3HD riflescope set at maximum magnification Missing an adjustable comb and rail interface for bipod or tripod attachment Backcountry hunters are conscious of every ounce so it’s worth noting that Bergara advertises the B-14 Squared Crest at 6.9 pounds this will vary depending on chambering and barrel length With the exception of the Premier line of Bergara rifles the Squared Crest is the one of the most expensive rifles Bergara offers Clearly what you’re paying for with the Squared Crest is the new super stiff Bolt-action rifles that cut weight are hot right now and the Bergara B-14 Squared Crest is a perfect adaptation of this current trend is the kind of hunter and shooter who wants to extend shooting capabilities while maintaining a manageable weight with a great trigger and a smooth action.” the Squared Crest could be one of the best factory offerings in this modern era of target-style hunting rifles I’d be excited to show up to any hunting camp © 2024 Field & Stream All rights reserved My father taught me to shoot when I was little All of which left a legacy of love for precision shooting While I have a lifetime of experience with rifles in calibers from .17 Remington Fireball to .50 BMG, I’d never shot a rifle with a Spanish-made barrel. So I jumped at the chance to precision test the Bergara B-14 HMR (hunting and match rifle) in 6.5 Creedmoor Without accessories, the Bergara B-14 HMR weighs-in at 9.15 pounds. It measures 41.5 inches in overall length and features a five-round AICS box magazine The 22-inch 5/8-24 threaded barrel is perfect for mounting a suppressor The B-14 HMR’s stock is molded with a mini chassis for consistency They provide otherwise avoidable inconsistencies along the stock surface Three quick detachable sling swivel studs are also mounted in the stock with two on the muzzle end to accommodate both a sling and a bipod The stock features an adjustable cheek piece The molded stock has enough adjustment options to accommodate shooters of almost any size and shape While that might not make a great deal of difference for hunting the forend should be at least 2.25 to 3.00 inches wide for match shooting I removed the rear sling swivel in front to allow smooth movement on a Caldwell rest to enable uninterrupted recoil for testing The Bergara B-14 HMR’s receiver accepts 700 Remington short action rails and scope bases I fitted the rifle with a Leupold 6.5-20x 50mm Long Range scope — a known quality (hence a good fit for this testing) Bergara sets the B-14 HMR’s adjustable trigger at a consistent This particular Bergara B-14 HRM had already sent a lot of rounds downrange, so I gave it a good scrubbing. I did the same before ammunition changes. I fired two shots before data collection, except when I was using a LabRadar chronograph I shot all group and chronograph testing rounds from a Caldwell front rest and a rabbit ear rear rest I fired all shots over 250 yards from a pre-loaded bi-pod with no rear rest the B-14 HMR’s crisp trigger broke cleanly I shot the rifle to 600 yards with Federal ammunition in 12 miles-per-hour wind the average velocity was 2753 fps; the extreme spread 68 fps; the standard deviation 28.9 but the Federal ammo shot like the SD was a lot lower I don’t have the ballistic coefficients for this bullet but they are similar to a 140 grain Berger VLD hunting projectile The two holes on the right represent my first group I moved .5 MOA left and .25 MOA up to achieve a .26 center-to-center group (.276 outside-to-outside) group That’s an exceptional result for a previously used rifle — or any rifle shooting factory ammunition Next up: Hornady’s 140 ELD Match ammo I shot four shot groups at the above target at 100 yards from the Caldwell rest The average speed was 2733 feet per second the extreme spread 40 feet per second and the standard deviation 17.0 I put the B-14 through its paces to 1000 yards with the Hornady ammunition in a seven mile-per-hour right to left wind With a 100-yard zero the following elevations: Bottom line: Bergara has built impressive accuracy into a rifle billed as a combination hunting/match gun this is essentially a Remington 700 style/based action My understanding is a 400 yard target reduced for 25 yards Which I guess would make it a 1600 yard target everything about the math of this article is a wreck Not being a rifle guy this is beyond confusing to me seems like it went from a MOA gun at 250 yard to a 5MOA gun at 500yds Doesnt make sense in my pistol shooting mind because some people don’t know the difference between elevation and group size the adjustments that were made to the scope to hit at the ranges listed I was thinking there has got to be a few mistakes Why does the rifle shoot 1 MOA at 250 yards then even a larger circular area probable beyond that? Bbl made in Spain with a thru plant cost of $25 to $100 I had a Savage 308 that went from sub moa at 100 yds to 12″ at 300yds They are built by former Marines in Georgia Some of the Bergara rifles are built in Georgia, but according to the Bergara web site, the B-14 line is produced in Spain. And they are not all retired Marines; some are Army or DoD. Same source. http://bergarausa.com/Bergara-barrels-Process.php none of the deleted comments seemed particularly critical There was nothing critical about what I said I merely asked at what range was the rifle actually shot at Did the author shoot the rifle merely at 100 yards or did he actually shoot it out at 1000 yards This is the confusing part… “I put the B14 through its paces to 1000 yards with the Hornady ammunition in a seven mile-per-hour right to left wind With a 100-yard zero I achieved 2.5 inches at 250 yards 18.00 inches at 750 yards and 26.5 inches at 1000 yards.” or anything really I just wanted clarification… I’ve been reading this website almost daily now for 3 years on my lunch break I normally recommend it to people as being fairly straight forward… Why delete my comment Thats kind of dumb… And even though the article was edited it still doesn’t clearly state if the rifle was only shot at 100 yards or 1000 yards I came back to see if there were any changes or additional comments too I was critical of the author’s statements in reference to MOA not changing with distance Your comment may have been stuck in the filter Or disappeared down some black hole of which I know not But rest assured that it’s no holds barred around here — save flames (ad hominem attacks) This is not a once – in -a- while occurrence TTAG has deleted many comments of mine and entire articles from the likes of Sara Tipton (about not voting) and Firearm Concierge (about voting for the Hillary because it was better for business.) And it’s slipping in quality in other ways as well. I may just delete my short cut to this web page You don’t want to see more cargo pocket dumps What about irresponsible gun owners (that aren’t actually the owners of the guns?) /sarc Yeah the writing on this article is almost incomprehensible VERY unclear what ranges this guy was shooting at what targets and what results he was getting no mention as to the size (ie # of shots) of his groups Lot of difference in a 3 shot sub-moa group vs a 5-shot Then theres the lack of any other real discussion about the gun itself… basic list of features and thats it what other calibers/configurations is it available in that would explain the lack of consistency and information The target photos look like Appleseed targets At Appleseed we teach 1 minute of angle (MOA) = 1 inch at 100 yards (I know it is 1.04 inch) So 1 MOA would form a 1 in diameter circle at 100 yards Since the angle progresses in a linear fashion I think I got the gist that the rifle can shoot accurately and produce respectable groups I applaud the effort and appreciate the work that Mr I would like to know the group sizes at 500-1000 yards I unlike others understand 26.5 MOA at 1000 yards is the adjustment in elevation not group size It is heavy for a dual purpose rifle but it is competitive with the Tikka ctr To busy looking for that Russian collusion connection Could someone please give me details on that scope mount I’m currently looking for a scope mount for the HMR in .308 with a scope tube of 30mm tengo una montada en mi Bergara B14 HMR 308w y estoy muy conforme En el rifle Bergara B14 HMR calibre 308 w se debe usar municion de 175 grain thank you for taking the time to provide this information I am purchasing the B-18 HRM next week in 6.5 Creedmoor and I am trying to understand the best fit for a rail Which Remington 700 Rail in particular did you use If you are purchasing a Bergara B14 HMR The scope rail I would choose would be a Weaver /Picatinny 20 MOA Short action This would provide your scope the elevation needed to shoot at distance The B14 series bolt-action rifles from Bergara have been on the market since 2015 The all4hunter.com team has already tested several versions of the bolt-action rifle series the Spanish barrel and gun manufacturer brings out its first version with a carbon fiber stock is now pushing forward with the B142 Crest which the new Bergara rifle can primarily follow its destiny when hunting in the high mountains and in very extensive hunting grounds In addition to the .308 Winchester variant the Bergara catalog lists the new B142 Crest in 6.5 Creedmoor Both versions are available with 20-inch (51 cm) or 24-inch (61 cm) barrels the 6 RH rifling ensure that in the barrel the bullet rotates on its own axis  once in every 10 inches (254 mm) the new B142 Crest models are the same – all four versions come with a recommended retail price of 1,998 euros (price may be different in your country due to VAT and import duties This is made using the CF-RTM process (Carbon Fiber-Resin Transfer Molding) the carbon fibers are assembled by hand in a special mold and then injected with liquid resin and the whole results in a very tensile and rigid component after curing which Bergara calls a "monocoque" in reference to the term used in Formula 1 racing The monocoque stock of the Bergara Crest is modeled at its rear end in a rich Monte Carlo design and is topped off by a fairly soft rubber recoil pad about three inches thick The straight back of the buttstock is designed to be suitably high for aiming with a scope It is somewhat wider on both sides in the upper third so that both right-handed and left-handed shooters will find adequate cheek rests here a trough-shaped recess ensures that the rifle can be supported stably at the rear with an ear bag or the shooter's arm The flanks of the grip fall out evenly on both sides and are an ideal fit for average-sized hands Like the stocks of the B14 HMR and Wilderness versions the new carbon stock comes with two interface types for attaching straps or accessories While the manufacturer screws in a classic sling swivel on the underside of the buttstock This allows a bipod to be attached at the front in addition to the sling there are attachments for QD sling swivels on both sides The carbon stock receives its gray-spotted camo finish by hand the unpainted matte black carbon surfaces and the brush dots applied in two shades of gray complement each other very well The pattern is reminiscent of modern urban camouflage patterns and should also serve its purpose in the rocky high mountains there is also shadow: the surface of the stock turns out quite smooth and offers wet hands only little grip The gray tones of the stock go very well with the Sniper Grey Cerakote coating which protects the barrel and action from mechanical and environmental influences Bergara screws the free-floating barrel into the action and packs a solid recoil lug in between Bergara relies on the typical B14 two-lug bolt in the style of the Remington 700 The Bergara bolt opens at a 90-degree angle and has an ejector in the recessed bolt face as well as a short extractor claw embedded in the left lug the bolt is still provided with spirally arranged milled flutes These so-called “ice grooves” were originally intended to keep the bolt of military rifles operable even at extremely low temperatures or in the event of heavy contamination hunting rifle manufacturers have realized that they can also save a few grams in weight the latter also applies to the six flutes on the semi-light barrel which is still 17.8 millimeters in diameter at the muzzle The improved heat dissipation thanks to the increased surface area of the barrel is likely to play a subordinate role in a gun for long-range and mountain hunting The manufacturer embeds the Crest's action directly into the carbon stock There it is held by two M6 screws that pass through the frame of the trigger guard Directly in front of the trigger guard is a magazine release lever that can be operated from both sides and easily reached with the index finger of the shooting hand Ammo feeding is provided by an AICS-compatible polymer magazine that can hold three cartridges in either .308 Winchester or 6.5 Creedmoor the test gun in .308 Winchester with 51-inch barrel and muzzle brake weighs 3,325 grams and has an overall length of 1,050 millimeters it can be extended to 360 or 370 millimeters Because Bergara based the action dimensions and mounting holes of the B14 series on those of the Remington 700 aftermarket mounting bases or rails compatible with 700 short action systems will also fit the Crest which was previously only offered in the two aforementioned standard calibers Picatinny rails specifically designated for both the long and short B14 actions are available The rugged steel rails are priced at 109 euros each and come from the Italian manufacturer Contessa On the left rear of the B14 receiver is a rocker-type bolt release Bergara positions the ribbed lever head of the two-position safety which can only be engaged when the lock is cocked and acts exclusively on the trigger Bergara installs the in-house Performance trigger The externally adjustable single-stage trigger is also found in the sporty models of the Basque gunmaker the trigger pull scale showed an average of just over 750 grams in conjunction with the absolutely crisp and smooth-breaking Performance Trigger should convince even the hunter who is otherwise used to a set trigger was mounted on the Contessa picatinny rail which was previously screwed to the receiver the Crest had to prove itself with a total of seven factory cartridge types there were no problems here in terms of function: all cartridges used n the test were fed cleanly ignited flawlessly and were then ejected without a hitch The trigger lived up to its name and performed in match quality helped the Crest hit the 100-m target with a five-shot group that was clearly more than adequate for hunting­The testers achieved the best group with the 165 gr RWS Hit Evo Green with a diameter of 31 millimeters As for the largest grouping achieved by the Crest it was in the form of a 78-mm group with another of the total of seven test loads But even that is enough for the preferred big game hunting in the mountains The soft rubber pad already absorbs some of the recoil before it reaches the shoulder making the Crest very comfortable to shoot It is a well-known fact that the safety of a B14 can only be operated silently with practice which unfortunately also applies to the new Crest The bottom line is that with the new B142 Crest Bergara brings a relatively light and absolutely usable hunting tool to the market in the usual good quality of this manufacturer at a very reasonable price of under 2,000 euros for the class of carbon stock rifles the Spanish manufacturer puts a bold exclamation point as far as pricing for carbon fiber stock rifles is concerned and redefines the entry-level price in this category You can find more information about the Bergara B142 Crest on the Bergara website Deutschlandinfo@vsmedien.de International contact to all4shooters.com:info@all4shooters.com 2023Bergara’s B-14R Carbon is ideal for NRL 22 matches or as a trainer for a centerfire precision rifle _We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › Most hunters grew up with a .22 rifle. For me, it was a Winchester Model 61, but for many gen-Xers, it was a Marlin Model 60 or a Ruger 10/22. Regardless of your generation, it’s unlikely you grew up with a .22 rifle like the Bergara B-14R Carbon The Bergara is not your run-of-the-mill .22 rifle precision shooting machine—and one of the best shooting .22 rifles I’ve ever fired SEE IT Weight: 8.1 pounds (advertised) 8.29 pounds (actual) Bergara carbon fiber wrapped w/1 in 16 twists Action: B14R (left-hand version in .22 LR only) Bergara offers a full line of rimfire rifles that includes two semi-automatics and four bolt-actions the four options include two BMR and two B-14R rifles The BMR rifles are of a more traditional design and are compact and lightweight when compared to the B-14R rifles The two B-14R rifles have a long-range precision-rifle vibe Both the BMR and B-14R rifles are offered with either a steel or carbon barrel The buttstock on the B-14R Carbon has a quick-adjust comb The cylindrical action used on the Bergara B-14R is dimensionally identical to a short-action Remington 700 right down to the action screws and recoil lug This makes the action compatible with aftermarket Remington 700 stocks the action will also accept Remington 700 scope bases and aftermarket Remington 700 triggers the B-14R comes with a single-stage Bergara trigger which tripped crisply and consistently at 2.5 pounds The 18-inch barrel is a carbon fiber wrapped 4140 chrome moly Bergara barrel with a match chamber and the muzzle is threaded at a ½-28 pitch The stock is identical to the stock used on the Bergara centerfire B-14 HMR rifle which is a popular rifle for long-range shooting the B-14R rimfire could effectively serve as a sub-caliber trainer This stock features an adjustable length of pull with spacers and a quick-adjust comb to help your eye find the center of your optic while maintaining a good cheek weld There are also two forward sling swivel studs – one for a sling and another for a bipod – and a single rear stud The stock also has quick-detach sling sockets on the right and left side The grip is at nearly 90° and the rifle feeds from an AICS-sized I tested this rifle during our 2022 riflescope test I mounted every riflescope we evaluated the B-14R so I could evaluate the adjustment capabilities and precision of the optics I evaluated 18 different scopes and fired more than 400 rounds of Federal Gold Medal Target I picked this load because it delivered the best precision in the test rifle and the average for all groups fired with all three loads was a respectable 0.618-inch it’s not the best performance I’ve seen from a .22 rifle A Vudoo Gun Works Raven I once tested averaged less than 4/10ths of an inch for 15 groups with three different loads a new Vudoo rifle will cost more than twice as much as the Bergara B-14R Carbon That’s an important decision because $1500 will buy a lot of .22 LR ammunition and/or a very nice riflescope Just as important as on-target precision is reliability The rifle didn’t have a single hiccup during the whole test or after the 100 extra rounds I fired beforehand NRL22 matches the MSRP of your rifle and riflescope combination cannot exceed $1200.00 That places the B14 R Carbon in the Open Class right out of the box But its configuration and capability for fine precision should allow you to perform admirably there not all of us like to participate in formal competitions; we’re happy to impress ourselves or our friends while plinking at the range you should be able to show off rather spectacularly with the B-14R The Bergara B-14R Carbon was used to test all the riflescopes in the Field & Stream 2022 Riflescope test and this rifle has some application there as well Though once you add an appropriate optic to the rifle it would be a bit too heavy and cumbersome for traipsing through the squirrel woods this rifle would be a terror out to the ballistic limits of the .22 LR—or the 17 HMR and 22 WMR **Read Next: The New .22 Competition Craze there’s one undeniable fact: Every hunter needs a good-shooting .22 rifle The Bergara B-14R Carbon may not have the nostalgic appeal or off-hand nimbleness of the Marlin model 60 or Ruger 10-22 that your daddy grew up with—it’s more of a Gen-Z rifle for the new millennium But it does have the ability to deliver extreme precision on target and offers a lot of adjustability for shooter comfort Much ink has been spilled by the modern gun writer about the sanitization and sterilization of today’s modern rifle But as I sit here rediscovering recently-christened Nobel laureate Bob Dylan I can’t help but quote the man – “the times they are a changin’.” today’s masses desire (and buy) plastic stocked But as manufacturing and marketing caught up someone had the wise idea to put a solid bolt action with a good button rifled barrel in a plastic stock with a good trigger and sell it for something slightly more than a song and a dance but Ruger and Mossberg have gone hog wild with the concept Perusing the shelves of my hometown gun shop the walnut stocked guns are few and far between while the shelves are dominated by these plastic fantastics Bergara’s Woodsman is assembled in the same factory as the identically chambered LRP Elite I reviewed earlier this year So what does the Woodsman give you for $300 more than the price of a Ruger American Rifle Predator edition I fully recognize that a rifle case doesn’t make a damn bit of difference in the field but this is every bit as nice as some of the Plano hard cases I’ve seen I wouldn’t trust it for TSA approval and a quick rain shower on the way home proved that it will keep the rifle dry in the bed of a truck The second thing you get for the extra samolians is a very nice Remington 700 style action There are some subtle differences between the two but those familiar with the placement of controls will recognize the B-14 action for what it is; a somewhat updated version of the venerable favorite Should you ever choose to replace parts like the stock Bergara tells me that the B-14 should mate up nicely with Remington 700 spec parts And should you ever need or choose to rebarrel the work will be very familiar to your gunsmith Where the Remington 700 extractor is sometimes credited with being a little weak Bergara has chosen to upgrade to a slightly more substantial claw extractor I found it to be functional in kicking spent cases out of the action reliably The only time I was able to trip up the ejection process was giving a quick enough flip of the bolt to get some bounce at the end of the stroke it was about only about one in every ten cases that did a little flip and stayed in the action One other quirk I found was that the firing pin hole was a bit oversized leading to primer cratering in factory and handloaded ammo This never presented any reliability issues but it was a curious thing that led to an evening of Googling bushing firing fins and whether primer cratering is a good indicator of overpressure I conferred with Bergara’s folks at the Texas Firearms Festival who indicated they know about the issue and don’t consider it a problem Further validating this was that I got primer cratering at very low powder charges in my hand loads well before I started seeing ejector swipe and sticky bolt lift The factory loaded cases that I re-sized and de-primed didn’t have any loose primer pockets which I’ve found to be quite common in the factory Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor brass the controls are well laid out and similar to those familiar with the Remington 700 Where Bergara has changed things: on the bolt shroud and bolt knob There isn’t really anything wrong with the 700 bolt It’s just that the Bergara bolt features both an exposed portion to let you know it is cocked as well as a bright red stripe The tactile and visual cues that your gun is cocked and ready to fire are definite improvements The bolt knob is oversized by most hunting rifle standards and shaped really well. The lollipop on the end of a stick style feels really close to the bolt knob on the Accuracy International AT that I tested earlier this year which is as ringing an endorsement as you can make it feels great in the hand and works really well The B-14 trigger is an absolute joy, on par with many of the custom 700 triggers I’ve had the opportunity to sample. The manual indicates that it’s adjustable but I saw no reason to fiddle with it as it consistently broke at a hair over four pounds – perfect for a hunting rifle The B-14 features an ever-so-slightly recessed target crown which if you’re not going to thread the barrel is a perfect way to finish a hunting barrel It protects the crown from scratches and dings About that muzzle threading though; I wouldn’t even mention it otherwise but Bergara is owned by BPI who also owns Dead Air Silencers It seems almost criminal that this gun isn’t threaded to accept a silencer or even a muzzle brake I shot a variety of factory loads from Hornady and Winchester through the B-14 and found that the 140 gr and Sierra Match King shot in the general neighborhood of 1.1-1.25 MOA for five shots I never really got it to do much better than that though every now and then I’d sneak a five shot group just barely under 1 MOA I would call this a 1.25 MOA rifle…perfectly adequate for hunting purposes I’ll detail my reloading process with this rifle in a separate article but I was pleasantly surprised to see that using a Berger 140 VLD I was able to easily achieve sub minute five shot groups with two different powders It seemed to take a more immediate liking to 40.1 grains of H4350 as you can see above that’s contingent on the shooter doing his or her part Most of my developed handloads using the Berger 140 VLD came in right around the 3/4 MOA size for five shot groups Bergara also makes this rifle in a composite stock and calls it the B-14 Hunter Doing so knocks $125 off the MSRP…and isn’t something you should do I say that because the walnut on this rifle looks so damn good The picture above was the best I could manage but it doesn’t capture how good the wood looks in direct sunlight Here’s what the B14 isn’t: a cheap beater bolt gun that borders on disposable there are about a thousand other rifles that will fit the bill quick handling sporter with a great trigger And looks great in a cabinet or on the wall as well I have rifles that are more accurate than the B-14 in the safe But if I wanted to don a red flannel hat with some ear flaps and take to the woods on a crisp winter morning in search of an elusive whitetail buck Everyone should own at least one rifle wearing a wood stock Plastic stocked rifles are cold hard and emotionless In a world where bolt action rifles have become a race to the bottom on price and quality it’s refreshing to see something that is beautiful yet functional at the same time “In a world where bolt action rifles have become a race to the bottom on price and quality it’s refreshing to see something that is beautiful yet functional at the same time.” That sir is the most apt and succinct statement on the current state of the industry that has ever been packed into a single sentence that while the “plastic fantastic” rifles can be and often are used for hunting it is NOT their primary purpose for existing Bolt action rifles with crappy or fantastically beautiful wood stocks are primarily suited to hunting (even in the hands of a sniper) but wholly inadequate when facing a prey that tends to shoot back with ANY semi-automatic rifle Else the Russians would still be manufacturing and using Mosin-Nagants and the Marine Corps would be demanding a new shipment of Springfield ’03s in 30.06 “Perusing the shelves of my hometown gun shop the walnut stocked guns are few and far between while the shelves are dominated by these plastic fantastics.” I can’t even begin to express how angry I get when I go into either of my LGSs and see a rack full of Ruger’s POS lowest common denominator “American” rifles but not a single Hawkeye I bought one in 5.56 as a cover for all the .223/5.56 ammo in the house when I expected Hillary to win In fact I named my Ruger America Ranch Rifle Hillary in honor of the failed Democratic nominee “…I named my Ruger America Ranch Rifle Hillary in honor of the failed Democratic nominee.” What did that poor gun ever do to you for you to do *that* to it But a rifle that shoots very well at all ranges I’ve used it at I bought a “meat” rifle to hunt with Any rifle that you can change the point of impact on by putting different levels of pressure on the fore-end is by definition a POS The rifle is still way less pricey than an M77 but will take game “The rifle is still way less pricey than an M77…” Only if you consider $70 less to be “way less pricey” Spend the extra $70 on the vastly superior Hawkeye and get a good rifle out of the box And it sells for a good reason – it shoots “good enough” to put meat on the table and there are plenty of people out there who don’t need anything more walnut stocks are beautiful and composite stocks are cold If your view of a rifle is more akin to a beautiful work of art If you view of a rifle is more akin to a tool Full disclosure: I have a rifle with a beautiful walnut stock … I would not sell it unless I was facing imminent starvation I am reluctant to ever take it out and shoot it God created linseed oil for one reason — to waterproof walnut rifle stocks but the products I recommend are the highly purified and refined linseed oils: bulk linseed oil takes way too long to dry for most stock work The military used to use a more refined linseed oil in huge tanks and they’d just immerse their stocks completely in the tank then haul the stock out and let it drip-dry in a warming box to cause the stock to “sweat” off the excess and dry the surface to no longer be tacky Most people won’t be sweating & drying their linseed oil the bulk BLO you get at Home Depot or other home improvement places will dry to a tacky finish will any of those products work on a stock that is already/partially finished I have found That a lot of OEMs selectively forget to seal the barrel channel when they inlet the stock or occasionally I have to re-seal one after releaving the barrel channel myself to remove pressure points/free float If you want to seal the barrel channel as quickly as possible with the least hassle don’t allow this stuff to slop over onto the top or sides of the stock as you will see a varnished spot where it fell PCO is great for repairing scratches on high-gloss finished guns as well People despair when they come into my shop with a big ol’ scratch running down the stock – and I smile put them at ease and tell them “there it will be all right…” because I have PCO with which to repair these problems The linspeed/tung oils need many coats or immersion to really seal wood I’ll cut linspeed 50/50 with mineral spirits and then slather it onto the stock for a half hour Shouldn’t take you more than four hours but only so long as you can used the word Rigid in their description Any composite stock that isn’t rigid is garbage due to the simple fact that you can change to point of impact so easily by holding it differently That has been my experience with the Ruger “American” Most of the plastic stocks on the sub-$600 rifles are you can reef down on a sling when shooting and cause the forearm to touch the barrel They’d become another source of annoyance and contempt for me because customers cheap out on buying a rifle my stock has warped (or insert other reason here)” and they come to me wanting me to fix the wretched mess for less money than they paid for the whole rifle It’s like the ChiCom Rem870 knock-offs – if they’d spent more on their original purchase By the time I’ve added enough of my skill and materials to remedy their stock’s problems they might as well have plopped down $1K for a proper rifle to begin with rigid/stiff synthetic stock starts at $350 and goes up to $1K+ as much as the entire plastic-fantastic rifles cost There’s a big difference between a true composite stock made out of aramid fiber/fiberglass/carbon fiber + resin with pillars or some sort of bedding block (B&C and the cheap injection molded plastic Tupperware stocks that can be bent by hand or when you load up a bipod and get soft when left in the sun that all the mass retail market bottom dwellers at big box stores are wearing under the name “composite” A properly bedded and sealed wooden stock will be better than that by far and be even with a true composite stock in 90% of real world conditions only falling short in the most extreme l/harsh conditions out there Quite a bit of the factor in the quality of a wood stock is the choice of wood One has to choose the blank for the proper grain flow we machine out some slots and drop in some carbon fiber strips the same ones used by luthiers to stiffen the necks of guitars and stringed instruments Stiff-as-synthetic forearm in a wood package As for the difference between the junque stocks that the big manufactures put on their plastic-fantastic rifles and a real synthetic stock (McMillan The price for a proper synthetic stock is almost as much as this entire rifle the grain flow on this particular stock isn’t optimal You want to see the grain flow “uphill” as you move from the wrist to the forearm tip This stock’s wood appears to not consistently flow uphill in the forearm Can it be that a Spanish firearms company is making America great again For the price of a plastic fantastic you can find a decent but slightly beat up $800-900 rifle with a reasonably good wood stock you don’t have to worry about getting scratched and dinged There are tons (literally) of high quality used firearms out there in the used gun market eg The quality of even the most modest field grade Winchester Model 12 is miles ahead of the quality of any pump action shotgun under $1K made today The Belgian made Auto 5’s make what Browning is shipping today under the “Auto 5” name look… sigh even the quality of an original 1950’s Rem 870 is miles ahead of what Remington makes today When I look around the firearms market today what I see is a market that’s increasingly churning out products that are so poorly finished that I often want to hurl them across my shop When I open up a brand new shotgun and they can’t even be bothered to de-burr parts that have been stamped out of plate steel it’s an infuriating sign that the industry is rapidly achieving the same level of contempt for their customers that US auto companies had for their customers in the 1970’s when doors didn’t stay closed because the door wasn’t aligned on the hinges properly at the factory I can’t remember the last time I bought a NIB gun I’ve bought a bunch of guns in the last year but none of them have been of new manufacture one of my favorite and most cherished rifles I own is a Pre trigger gate Remington 700 VLS that came off the used rack at Cabelas They do get a lot of garbage but every so often there is a real gem hiding there One of my weekend rituals involves visiting the gun library at my local Cabelas and surfing local forums to see what people are trying to get rid of I never understood how people can part with these beautiful rifles I occasionally flirt with the idea of selling my Remington but promptly talk myself out of it A month or two ago I passed on an absolutely stunning New Haven CT made Model 70 Winchester Super Grade that someone was selling on a local forum for a song trying to fund a SCAR17 I wanted to tell the guy he was being extremely foolish that’s a rifle his kids and grandkids would have fought over I found a mint condition early 1950’s lever .32 Winchester Special at Cabelas by chance I’d been looking for one for almost 20yrs but all I could find was over priced beat up I know what you mean by passing down a beautiful rifle to kids and grandkids The syn guns won’t mean shit to them but my Great Grandfather’s double barrel Parker Bros shotgun handed down to me will Personally I like both synthetic and wood stocks and own both My recent acquisition of a Remington 700 SBS Compact in .243 Win came with a synthetic stock so it’s not just Mossy and Savage doing that Personally I find that stock to be too short and… well generally not fantastic which will also be synthetic but with the custom color should have much more personality than a plain black plastic stock I think it depends on what you’re doing with the rifle honestly I’m customizing that 700 for a very specific reason: weight I’m doing that for a very specific reason Nothing against wood but when I’m going to try to lug the thing plus ammo and everything else I need 35-50 miles in two days the few pounds the synthetic stock cuts off the weight means quite a bit in terms of carrying it and really doesn’t affect the recoil that much if the replacement is well made I even get that wood has some specific attributes that have yet to be duplicated by synthetic materials wooden hammer handles have superior vibration-dampening ability compared to fiberglass we have moved on from wooden stocks for the same reasons we moved on from flintlocks and black powder but the latter has undeniable practical superiority we have moved on from wooden stocks because wood is expensive and plastic is cheap as sh!t And plastic stocks can be made by some minimum wage dolt who pushes the green button on the machine Modern materials and manufacturing processes have made the Second Amendment available to the masses a new barrel on this rifle will not be like a Rem700 barrel It will be more like that of a post-64 Winchester 70 I don’t know why they didn’t use the type of extractor used on the post-64 Win70 rather than what they have there which looks to compromise the right bolt lug much more than the post-64 Win70 extractor did The action does not appear to use a washer for the recoil lug; I’m guessing the front ring is a tad longer than a Rem700 action and has the recoil lug integral to the receiver Remington’s use of a fat washer for a recoil lug has always annoyed me It’s just one more thing a guy has to deal with when truing up an action the receiver is a coned breech (so yeah basically the same as the push feed winchesters) with an integral recoil lug I also remember reading somewhere that the receiver is made in house and is already blueprinted so a re-barrel should be infinitely easier than working on a factory Remington take off with a coned breech and an integral recoil lug I don’t know how far we can torture the marketing phrase “Remington 700 compatible” any more Re-barreling: The stock Rem700 is pretty easy to re-barrel then measure the bolt nose for diameter and protrusion and now polish the edges of the chamber and bolt nose recess On the coned breech rifles (like a Springfield ’03 or Win70) you do all of the above except for cutting the bolt nose recess but then you have the cone-cutting operation in there before you come out of the lathe You need to cut the cone deeply enough so that you don’t have excess clearance but you don’t want the bolt nose rubbing on the cone – so you sorta have to “sneak up” on the dimension you don’t need to cut the extractor notch; on a ’03 or 70 you need to then mount the barrel into the receiver put in a flat stock transfer punch (of sorts) to mark where you need to cut the extractor notch mount it vertically on an angle plate hanging off the edge of the mill table you could get one of PTG’s fancy-pants notch cutters and do the job whilst holding the barrel horizontally in your mill vise with some v-blocks and aluminum/brass sacrificial material Other guys have ground Woodruff key cutters to do the job American walnut stocks and synthetic stocks are both good in their own way It’s a good time to be a shooter and a gun owner The knob on the bolt handle is removable and designed for multi-use After it’s drilled for finger holes you can go bowling with it but decided I wasn’t going to rip on them about it it can be replaced by a steel or aluminum knob My bergara is bad would not recommend them at all Bergara’s newest rifle models (Crest were present at Industry Day At The Range 2023 as well as SHOT Show proper All three of these new models have threaded barrels First up we have the B-14² Crest It is a lightened version of the standard B-14 HMR Bergara dropped weight from the standard HMR by fluting the barrel and incorporating a carbon fiber stock That stock is inspired by current HMR stock but has a fixed cheekpiece a vertical spine of carbon fiber sits in what would be the fill material of other stocks The 6.5 Creedmoor Crest shaves 2.7 pounds from the weight of a standard B-14 HMR B-14² Crest Specifications (6.5 Creedmoor): [SHOT 2023] Close-up on the Crest carbon fiber stock The B-14 Ridge Carbon maintains the same stock as the Ridge Wilderness model but incorporates a carbon fiber barrel Weights for the Ridge Carbon range from 6.4 pounds for the .308 model up to 6.7 pounds for the .300 Win Mag B-14 Ridge Carbon Spcifications (6.5 Creedmoor): B-14 HMR Carbon Specifications (6.5 Creedmoor): TFB and TFBTV’s coverage of SHOT Show 2023 is proudly sponsored by 5.11 Tactical. Click here to check out their new products On rifles like this I always find it odd when they exclude a seemingly obvious chambering that they clearly have everything for which perhaps more than any other offering from Bergara proves its considerable capabilities as a rifle maker The HMR abbreviation stands for Hunting and Match Rifle At a little more than 9 pounds with a 22-inch 5 contour barrel chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor the HMR isn’t too heavy or bulky for carrying through the foothills Several features of the HMR’s adjustable stock and its compatibility with AICS-pattern detachable box magazines not to mention its heavier-than-average barrel All this comes at a price of not much more than a grand The bottom of the B-14 receiver joins with a magazine well that permits the use of detachable box magazines. The magazine well, paddle-type magazine release and trigger guard are all part of one robust bottom-metal unit, which fits neatly in the stock and secures to the barreled action via two screws. Bergara includes one, five-round Magpul PMag with the HMR and it’s part of the reason why the company claims all its B-14 rifles are capable of sub-MOA accuracy 5 contour barrel on the HMR as a “lightweight varmint” profile It measures .7 inch just behind the 5/8x24-inch muzzle threads the stock is what lets the HMR cross over into precision territory an aluminum mini chassis molded into the polymer stock from pistol grip to fore-end provides a solid consistent bedding interface for the barreled action Three sling-swivel studs (two on the fore-end) and four quick-detach sling-swivel cups (two on each side) provide lots of options for attaching a sling or bipod The stock’s adjustable comb height and length of pull also aid accuracy; you’ll shoot better with a rifle that fits you than with one that does not Loosening a large thumbscrew on the side of the buttstock permits raising the comb more than 1.25 inches Four polymer spacers allow a length-of-pull range of 13.25-14.5 inches A near-vertical pistol grip helps isolate the trigger finger while a hook on the bottom edge of the buttstock is useful in steadying the rifle with the support hand while shooting from a bipod Yet Bergara didn’t snub the “H” in HMR The stock doesn’t have the clumsy feel of some target guns and the widths of the fore-end and buttstock resemble those found on hunting rifles Also consider the 22-inch barrel of my sample: long enough to get decent velocity to help with holds during a match but short enough to be maneuverable on a hunt but the overcast subdued any hint of a sunrise ahead A small band of bulls fed at a laser-zapped range of 903 yards my heart sunk as I doubted I could close the distance to get to a comfortable shooting range before they melted back into the timber refuge A glance to my right brought another near heart attack as more bulls began streaming from behind timber at manageable shot distances. I dropped to my knees and crawled through the snow, easily cradling the lightweight frame of the Bergara Premier MgLite I slid my backpack up to the stump’s top and snuggled the rifle into a crease of the bulging pack A peek over the top revealed that two of the closer bulls were on alert while the largest of the trio continued to feed in the dawn light Would my cover be blown before I could flip off the safety and send a bullet downrange Living in Wyoming and hunting across the West I certainly appreciate the shooting performance ruggedness and lightweight features of modern hunting rifles most of my hunting has been fulfilled with rifles of standard weight while still providing accuracy with a tough character my attitude about hunting with heavier rifles has altered I am on a constant hunt for easier avenues during the hunt Testing the Bergara Premier MgLite would determine if it provided a lightweight-rifle alternative while delivering accuracy and ruggedness as advertised One look at the firearm and I immediately thought of a Star Wars blaster rifle This rifle takes a page from PRS-style shooting competitions that test speed and accuracy between competitors Bergara offers a Premier Competition rifle that displays many of the elements found on the MgLite Whereas the Premier Competition weighs in at 12.7 pounds, the MgLite dazzles at an incredible 6.7 to 6.8 pounds depending on the caliber. Outfitted with a sling, a SIG Sauer SIERRA6BDX 3-18x44mm riflescope and a full magazine of .300 Winchester Magnum cartridges It was an absolute joy to carry into the mountains while routinely tackling 2,000-foot ascents at elevations of 10,000 feet Bergara launched the new MgLite for hunters in a targeted selection of calibers including the 6.5 Creedmoor .308 Winchester and .300 Winchester Magnum The 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC have a 1:8” right-hand twist while the .308 Winchester and .300 Winchester Magnum have a 1:10” right-hand twist the reason for the Weight Watchers feel and Star Wars look is in its skeletonized frame Bergara went beyond to cradle its proprietary barrel and action with an XLR Element 4.0 magnesium chassis but indestructible tan chassis supports the fully free-floated barrel M-LOK slots are designed into the sides and bottom of the chassis You grip the rifle firmly with an ultra-lightweight carbon-fiber pistol grip A folding carbon-fiber buttstock with adjustable comb completes the rig and is ideal for minimizing size You may not realize how tall a rifle is slung on your shoulder but attach one to your backpack and try snaking through trees Fold the MgLite stock for instant profile reduction A recoil-absorbing pad fits neatly at the rear of the space-age stock a strategically placed bubble level above the pistol grip gives you instant updates on your horizontal hold That tool is imperative for long-range accuracy and aids in mounting optics The new CURE Carbon Barrel deserves its own article but helps check accuracy off the list Bergara shaved weight by an innovative process of teaming carbon with steel via a mechanical and thermodynamic process Using Bergara’s proprietary ColdBore technology engineers weaved continuous strands of stainless steel into the carbon fiber to maintain straightness and stiffness this process transfers heat from the chamber via the barrel in a consistent and efficient manner bullets impact the same from a cold bore as a warm one You can order an MgLite barrel in either a 22- or 24-inch configuration giving the rifle a manageable overall length of 43 to 45 inches All barrels arrive threaded ⅝-24-inch with an Omni muzzle brake attached Gun aficionados have embraced the Bergara Premier action It functions smoothly designed around a two-lug system independent floating bolt head and a cone-shaped bolt nose that ensures cartridges advance without hiccups The bolt is fluted for additional weight savings threaded bolt handle for added weight reduction The remainder of the action frame is finished in a black Cerakote graphite finish Removing the bolt is simple by pushing a bolt release lever and a rearward tug The Bergara Premier action is fed via Bergara proprietary polymer detachable AICS-style magazines It allows speedy emptying of cartridges for safe transportation A two-position safety guards the TriggerTech Frictionless Release trigger technology The trigger is factory set at 3 pounds and broke cleanly just clean sendoffs to your projectile of choice—and it is highly adjustable for personal preference A unique element of this trigger is when on safe you can still unload a chambered round unlike many models that lock the bolt while on safe If there is one negative on the overall rifle it would be the consideration you need to have handling the hollowed Tapping or hitting the frame can result in a noticeable “clinking” sound I adjusted my attention and handled it with more purpose when unslinging or moving through thick cover Taking a moment to confirm I was on the largest of the bulls, I exhaled to time my shot for the steadiest sight picture. Autopilot engaged; I sent the 200-grain ELD-X bullet on its way of energy dropped the bull in his tracks and a follow-up insurance round ended my Wyoming elk season the barrel was not catching on the rack of the 6-point bull cradled over my shoulders Lightweight is the best weight in the backcountry Some readers are probably familiar with the late and influential writer and hunter the man responsible for immortalizing the .270 Winchester cartridge and the “sheep rifle.” A sheep rifle was lightweight and had naturally pointing stock chambered in a flat-shooting caliber that was capable of 1-m.o.a Such a rifle was to make it easier to trudge through sheep country: all rocky and rugged backcountry at altitude anyone who wanted such a rifle had to hire a gunsmith to work it over O’Connor’s concept seeped into the industry arguably influenced how modern hunting rifles ship from the factory Image courtesy of Bergara The Squared Crest uses Begara’s take on the quintessential push-feed is to contemporary bolt-action rifles as the Mauser 98 action was to the classics of yesteryear including O’Connor’s beloved pre-'64 Winchesters the Bergara B-14 Squared Crest is a lightweight hunting rifle Because the Squared Crest weighs only 6.8 lbs empty and includes a plethora of modern bolt-action rifle enhancements this Bergara comes with pretty much everything it needs out of the box to stalk game in any environment Stock And BarrelThe B-14 action on the Squared Crest includes a fluted bolt with a “tactical” bolt knob and oversized safety The fluting on the bolt body not only makes for a more visually striking rifle as these make it easier to work around mounted optics in the field Like other contemporary bolt-action rifles the Squared Crest also accepts AICS-format magazines all ship with a five round capacity polymer factory mag The good thing about sticking to the industry wide Remington 700 footprint and AICS scheme means that plenty of upgrades and customizations to the Bergara Squared Crest are available The receiver itself is drilled-and-tapped and finished in Sniper Grey Cerakote Ignition on the Squared Crest comes by way of a single-stage Bergara Performance Trigger (BPT) which is externally adjustable between a weight range of sub-2 to -3 lbs It’s set at the factory to break on the lighter side allowing the shooter to easily actuate the trigger precisely The Squared Crest’s action and barrel are bedded to a modern monocoque rifle stock fully made from carbon fiber the stock is buttressed by a full-length carbon spine while all voids are filled with resin the stock has an attractive gray carbon-fiber camouflage finish and counts on four different quick-detach cups The underside of the stock has three different swivel studs two found near the front of the fore-end and a single one at the rear The two front swivel studs can be swapped out and a rail section can be installed in place for bipods and accessories The stock is outfitted with a soft and grippy rubber buttpad in addition to a shim-based adjustable length-of-pull system The Squared Crest’s stock has all the hallmarks of a typical precision rifle stock The fore-end is fairly wide and squared-off and this makes it easier to support the rifle rest or bags The high comb allows for an easy and consistent cheek weld and the rear corner of the toe dips slightly lower and flatter for rear-bag support my favorite detail on the stock is the fact that the pistol grip area has a symmetrical palm swell which makes it conducive to more precise shooting by allowing the shooter to rest their thumb on the same side as their other fingers the shooter will not contort their thumb and thus avoid tensioning the stock-wrist and twisting the rifle off alignment with the target As Bergara offers the Squared Crest in a handful of calibers (6.5mm Creedmoor its barrels are either 20" or 22" and come with rifling twists of 1:8" or 1:10" Barrels are free-floated and built from 4140 chrome-moly steel these barrels are fluted and tapered ahead of the chamber area down to the 5/8x24 TPI threaded muzzle the Squared Crest ships with a 360-degree Omni-Brake and a thread protector is included in the box its barrel is also finished with a Sniper Grey Cerakote that complements the furniture Outfitting My Squared CrestMy Squared Crest is chambered for 6.5 mm Creedmoor with the 20" barrel The synergy between a rifle and its sighting system is one of the most important aspects of rifle shooting I mounted my FFP Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18X 44 mm (with the PR1 reticle) this Mark 5HD variant makes sense atop this rifle Its magnification range is more than adequate for the types of [hunting] shooting to be done with the Squared Crest The Squared Crest’s stock lines up perfectly when combined with medium-height Leupold Mark 4 aluminum rings Both the scope and the rings sit on a factory installed Picatinny 20-m.o.a Jack O’Connor’s favorite sheep rifle was his .270 Winchester No 2 mounted with a fixed 4X Leupold Mountaineer riflescope O’Connor would appreciate all the modern features of this scope and rifle Shooting The B-14² CrestI shot the rifle prone at 100 meters off a rest with front and rear bags I included three different 6.5 mm Creedmoor factory hunting rounds including Sierra’s 105-grain Prairie Enemy Federal’s 140-grain Fusion and Hornady’s 129-grain American Whitetail the Squared Crest is quite accurate with my sampling of factory 6.5 mm Creedmoor Because a group merely measures the two extreme impacts in a shot string it alone doesn’t tell the whole story between the rifle and its ammo The extreme impacts in a group do help to paint a “back of the napkin” picture but they don’t necessarily account for a given load’s true shot dispersion Although the American Rifleman protocol calls for five-shot groups and my data is based on them I couldn’t help but notice how tightly the Squared Crest printed 3-shot clusters It bears mentioning because most hunting situations involve less than three rounds hunting rifle barrels are optimized for portability with its barrel flutes and sporter barrel contour The Squared Crest was reasonably accurate with the selection of factory cartridges I had on hand There’s little doubt that this rifle is capable of even better performance and can be extremely precise in the right hands with good ammunition the 129-grain Hornady American Whitetail loaded with the company's storied Interlock bullet performed the best overall The 140-grain bonded Federal Fusion bullet also demonstrated excellent capabilities but fliers opened up groups more so than the Hornady cartridge The 105-grain Sierra Blitzking loaded in Sierra’s new factory round it was the warmest cartridge with the highest muzzle velocity shot dispersion consistently printed fliers that skewed group sizes to an average of 1.44 m.o.a the Sierra Prairie Enemy’s mean-radius still averaged out to 0.52" I wouldn’t hesitate to shoot any of these three loads in the field The Takeaway6.5 mm Creedmoor isn’t exactly known for its recoil and the combination of the Omni-Brake and generous rubber butt-pad made the recoil from the 141 rounds I fired feel imperceptible while fully prone The Squared Crest fired and cycled all cartridges without incident; pertaining to the action my only real “complaint,” if you can even call it that is that I wished the safety was less stiff when actuating the carbon fiber stock’s modern profile lends itself well to shooting from different positions the rifle becomes top heavy and depending on the position extra care should be taken to keep the rifle balanced I think the rifle would have been better off outright shipping with a Picatinny rail section on the fore-end instead of the sling studs The only thing that this review lacks are “notes from the field” as I haven’t had a chance to yet hunt with it it’s difficult to find much to complain about the Bergara B-14 Squared Crest I can’t stress enough how well it prints three-shot groups This rifle is not only ready to hunt our continent out of the box The Bergara Squared Crest is far from O’Connor’s wood-stocked No Bergara B-14² Crest SpecificationsManufacturer: Bergara (Spain)Importer: BPI OutdoorsAction Type: bolt-Action centerfire rifleChambering: 6.5 mm Creedmoor (reviewed) .308 Winchester and .300 Win MagReceiver: 4140 steelBarrel: 20" or 22" 1:8 or 1:10 TwistStock: carbon-fiber monocoque; Sniper Grey Cerakote finishSights: none; drilled and tappedTrigger: single-stage pullOverall Length: 40" or 43.5"Weight: 6 lbs. 2022Bergara’s MG Lite rifle looks like a heavy-weight precision rifle You could argue that the current extreme interest in long-range shooting really kicked off in 2015 after the movie American Sniper became such a hit this desire to reach way out and touch things with rifles has migrated into hunting new rifles that I like to call crossover rifles have emerged you have traditional bolt-action rifles with features to help them perform at longer ranges and you have long-range precision rifles configured to serve the hunter Bergara’s Premier MG Lite falls into the latter category .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } No, the MG Lite rifle does not look like a hunting rifle, but its lightweight and folding stock make it very compatible with hunters who hike deep into the backcountry and want to be able to shoot at whatever distance might be necessary. Still, during the 2022 Field & Stream Rifle Test we evaluated the MG Lite as a precision long-range rifle and after all our probing and shooting we felt it was the best new long-range precision rifle for 2022 that we tested had we assessed this rifle as a hunting rifle In the pound-for-pound/accuracy evaluation Trigger: Trigger Tech (adjustable) Frictionless Release Technology 2.25-pounds as tested Stock: XLR Magnesium chassis w/folding stock Capacity: Detachable magazine (3-5 round capacity aftermarket 10-round magazines also available) Available Chamberings: 6.5 Creedmoor (tested) the MG Lite has a two-lug bolt with a floating bolt head to allow for better lug engagement The radially fluted bolt also has a cone-shaped nose to aid with smooth feeding and the bolt is fitted with a 90-degree extractor that’s integral to one of the lugs—similar in design to the post-64 Winchester push-feed actions Two plunger-style ejectors are standard and the action which accepts Remington 700-style scope basses is housed in an XLR Element 4.0 chassis stock that retails for more than $500.00 by itself This chassis has an 11.5-inch forend with an ARCA rail on the bottom and M-Lok slots on both sides The rifle is set up to feed from AICS-pattern The unique folding stock on the Bergara MG Lite makes this rifle easier to pack in and out of hunting locations What really sets this rifle apart is the folding stock On the right side of the buttstock—just to the rear of the chassis—there’s a button that unlocks the buttstock allowing it to fold 180 degrees This shortens the rifle’s length by 10.25 inches which is interchangeable with other AR15-style stocks the chassis and the buttstock together weigh only 28 ounces 22-inch CURE barrel—24 inches with the 300 Winchester Magnum—which is of course threaded and the rifle comes with a multiport brake There’s also an adjustable Trigger Tech trigger that broke cleanly with no take-up at 2.25 pounds And one of the features we found unique and very practical for shooting at distance was the built-in level The Bergara MG Lite’s radially fluted bolt is fitted with a 90-degree extractor similar to the one on the post-64 Winchester Model 70 push feed bolt you’ll be astounded at how little it weighs in relation to what you would expect based on its looks You’ll also be very pleased at how this rifle shoots from a bench or off a bipod/tripod; the ARCA rail allows for precise positioning of two or three-leg supports and the flat-bottom forend meshes nicely with sandbags You’ll also be very happy when you start punching holes in targets because this rifle will shoot—it is a solid sub-MOA performer What mostly surprised us is how well the rifle performed during the practical hunting drill It balanced well and was light enough to snap to the shoulder The vertical grip’s similarity to an AR seemed natural to us the location of the safety combined with the grip and shape of the stock was a bit awkward Senior editor Matthew Every commented that he, “…wouldn’t hesitate to take this rifle hunting, and it would be perfect for field-shooting matches like NRL Hunter .” He felt it was ideally configured as a precision rifle you could effectively hunt with I firmly agree with Every regarding the precision shooting matches and grudgingly admit that even though it looks like a sniper rifle for a starship trooper it could be effective and practical as a hunting tool The ARCA rail that is integral to the chassis stock on the MG Lite Read Next: The Best New Rifles of 2022 The Bergara MG Lite is an impressive rifle that will put your bullets where you want them to go whether you’re competing in a match or hunting If your true passion is shooting at great distances and getting hits especially if you’re a sometimes hunter and want to compete and hunt with the same gun However, if you’re primarily a hunter and on a budget, but want to play the long-range game on occasion, this rifle might cost more than you’re willing to pay. To fill the crossover role—from hunting rifle to precision rifle—I prefer a more traditional rifle with some precision shooting features, such as the Savage Model 110 Magpul that we also tested Already have an account? Log in here "A Night with Ryan Bergara," hosted by the Campus Activities Council Speakers Bureau Former Buzzfeed personality Ryan Bergara will speak on April 4 at an event held by the Campus Activities Council Speakers Bureau The CAC Speakers Bureau is allowing anyone to submit possible questions for the moderated Q&A with Bergara. More information about the event can be found on the CAC Speakers Bureau’s Instagram page He is most well known for his career at Buzzfeed from 2014-19 Students pay about $14 in fees that support the Daily If you're not a student and value our work Bergara co-founded Watcher Entertainment in 2019 with Madej and ex-Buzzfeed employee Steven Lim Bergara created “Mystery Files” and “Ghost Files,” succeeding "Buzzfeed Unsolved” through Watcher Entertainment In addition to “Mystery Files” and “Ghost Files,” Bergara co-hosts other shows like “Puppet History” where puppets are used in a comedy game show about important people and events from history Bergara also hosts “Are You Scared?” a horror series where he reads scary stories to his co-host Madej “A Night with Ryan Bergara” will be held at 8 p.m on April 4 at the Reynolds Performing Arts Center in Holmberg Hall Kylie Caldwell and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story Students pay about $14 in fees that support the Daily. 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