Bergara B14 Wilderness owners?

[Joel]

Any of you folks pull the trigger on a Bergara B14 in one of the Wilderness formats? If so how do you like the stock/cerakote job? Are they holding up okay?

Would love to see pictures if anyone was willing to share. Talk me into or out of one lol.

 

[ShrtRnd]

I took a serious look at their Terrain, Ridge and HMR models.

Everything I was interested in Cal wise was between 9-10lbs without optics mounted. I dropped the idea pretty quick after that.

I get the LRH fad of late and admittedly I’m guilty of wanting to try it, but a rig like that would be a b*tch to carry for a day. Not sure I’d wanna lug that around unless I had a wide open area to cover with an easy walk/hike in. I have a near unfired 700 HB Varmint turned 700 Police that could fill in if I really wanted to do it anyways.

If… I was going to go that route weight wise and didn’t already have the HB Varmint/Police, I’d try to source a Rem 700 Sendero or a Tikka Varmint with their wider Cal selections over the HBV/P model.

 

[mikeyb]

I'm also interested, but they don't make the model I really want - a Wilderness Hunter in .30-06. .308 yes, .300 Win Mag yes, but no .30-06 in the lineup. They're about the lightest of the B14 line, coming in right around 7 pounds. Talleys plus a Viper HS 2.5-10 would be about 8 pounds 3 ounces or so. Fine for a hunting gun.

 

[Joel]

What? A long action and no 30-06? Weird!

I'm after a Hunter model too yeah.

Thanks ShrtRnd I should have specified which one

 

[ShrtRnd]

What? A long action and no 30-06? Weird!

I'm after a Hunter model too yeah.

Thanks ShrtRnd I should have specified which one

No worries, my fault for assuming you were after the other models.

 

[Joel]

No worries, my fault for assuming you were after the other models.

Either way, thanks for weighing in (har har). It helps all the same...mighta bought a ridge but eh, really don't need the extra ounces at all. The regular Hunter comes with a magnum or slightly heavier barrel contour as it is. More than enough.

 

[ShrtRnd]

I really wasn’t fussy on the Stocks on those models either. Not as bad as the typical tupperware stuff, but certainly not as workable/manageable as say a B&C or HS. It is a 700 footprint iirc so lots of options in that dept if one wanted to change it up.

 

[Joel]

I really wasn’t fussy on the Stocks on those models either. Not as bad as the typical tupperware stuff, but certainly not as workable/manageable as say a B&C or HS. It is a 700 footprint iirc so lots of options in that dept if one wanted to change it up.

At least that, yeah!

I'm good with the ones they come with for a do most things hunting rifle...just hoping the paint doesn't quickly wear/scrape off if you actually use the thing lol. Can't rule out the upgrade though

 

[mikeyb]

What? A long action and no 30-06? Weird!

I'm after a Hunter model too yeah.

Thanks ShrtRnd I should have specified which one

Yeah it seems to be a less common chambering in the Bergara lineup. The plain B-14 Hunter is available in .30-06, but heaven forbid I want the fluted bolt and painted stock! I've even got scope mounting options and a Triggertech with no bolt release in the drawer, it's like I'm *supposed* to buy one.

Anyways I have another Dikar-made rifle and it's been excellent, but also hefty. I might just go for the regular Hunter and paint the stock myself.

 

[Joel]

Sounds like its fate then! Damn shame they dont just chamber the Wilderness in such a popular cartridge for you though...but sounds awesome either way. Is the Triggertech a big step up from the factory Bergara trigger? Kinda just debating putting one in a 700 too.

 

[ShrtRnd]

Is the Triggertech a big step up from the factory Bergara trigger? Kinda just debating putting one in a 700 too.

Just grab a Primary and dump it in either platform. For what they cost it’s a worthy upgrade imo

 

[Joel]

I kinda like the Bergara triggers as is. Have replaced 700s in the past tho!

 

[Canuck65]

I used to have one and really liked it. Very accurate, stock didn’t feel cheap and hollow. I wanted a different chambering so I ended up selling it and buying a M70ew, but honestly, I can’t say the Winnie is really all that much better.

 

[Joel]

Cool, was it a Wilderness series, Canuck?

 

[Unholysavage]

I've got a HMR wilderness in 300 PRC.
Out of the box it needed the paint removed from the aluminum bedding block, but after that it shot well. It shot factory 225 eldm ammo under 0.8" at 100m (5x5). Fireforming handloads shoot under 0.65" at 100m (5x5). Better than I was expecting, and seems to be consistent from cold bore to warm. There's a decent chance that it will be a sub-1/2 moa shooter.
The trigger is OK, mine measured 3.5lbs out if the box with a slight amount of creep. I replaced it early on with a TT diamond, but it would be fine on a hunting gun.
Bolt is very smooth, approaching Tikka levels. It feeds effortlessly, to the point where it's hard to feel it pick up the round. That impressed me for a fairly inexpensive factory rifle, especially considering the size of the cartridge.
Bergaras have a reputation for weak ejection, but mine didn't have that issue. I'll keep an eye on it as the round count climbs.
For the money I paid I'm happy. I'd happily buy another Bergara, but after fondling a Pro version that's likely what I'd go with. Much less bolt slop than the B14, it honestly felt similar to my custom actions.

 

[Joel]

Happy yours worked out for you so well!

A Wilderness Hunter is inbound...would rather a graphite black barreled action with that stock but we'll see

 

[mikeyb]

I've got a HMR wilderness in 300 PRC.
Out of the box it needed the paint removed from the aluminum bedding block, but after that it shot well. It shot factory 225 eldm ammo under 0.8" at 100m (5x5). Fireforming handloads shoot under 0.65" at 100m (5x5). Better than I was expecting, and seems to be consistent from cold bore to warm. There's a decent chance that it will be a sub-1/2 moa shooter.
The trigger is OK, mine measured 3.5lbs out if the box with a slight amount of creep. I replaced it early on with a TT diamond, but it would be fine on a hunting gun.
Bolt is very smooth, approaching Tikka levels. It feeds effortlessly, to the point where it's hard to feel it pick up the round. That impressed me for a fairly inexpensive factory rifle, especially considering the size of the cartridge.
Bergaras have a reputation for weak ejection, but mine didn't have that issue. I'll keep an eye on it as the round count climbs.
For the money I paid I'm happy. I'd happily buy another Bergara, but after fondling a Pro version that's likely what I'd go with. Much less bolt slop than the B14, it honestly felt similar to my custom actions.

I've been on a waitlist for a Bergara Premier barreled action from a US-based vendor, I also made the mistake of handling one and thought "holy crap", they are nice! I've been falling asleep dreaming of hunting with a Premier fluted barreled action in .30-06 in a Grayboe Trekker, Triggertech trigger, Wyatt box mag with Grayboe floorplate, Razor LHT in Talley ringmounts. In my mind it's barely 8 pounds ready to hunt.

My wallet says "hell no", though. We'll see if common sense wins out here or not.

 

[Joel]

Life's awful short not to have the rifle you're dreamin of Common sense shlommon sense.

 

[Joel]

So, this happened. Just had to see what they are like.

Nice rifle. The painted stock and cerakote finish are very nice. Triggers better than a factory Tikka, but otherwise I think I am stickin with the plastic Finnish wonder if anyone takes this off my hands. If not I don't mind rockin it for this season either.