Bergara rifle that best threads the fine line between hunting and long range rifle?

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Northern Shooter

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On my quest to find on a new long range target rifle that I can also hunt with I believe I have settled on Bergaras B-14 series of rifle.

I really like the looks and features of the HMR model but at 9.5lbs dry, its weight leans more heavily towards the PRS style shooting than hunting.

I'm looking for another option similar to the HMR, but a few pounds lighter would make for a better hunting setup.

I see they may have released just that at Shot Show this week with the new carbon models.

The new HMR Carbon weighing 7.5lbs (vs 9.5lbs) may just be the perfect balance I am looking for. As expected it comes with a noticeable price increased.

I'm looking to have the rifle chambered in either 7mm PRC, 300 PRC or 338 WM.

What other options from Bergara or other manufacturers should I look at.

BUDGET $1500-$2000.
 
Wilderness Terrain in 300 PRC and lift weights (get a decent sling too). Standard Rem 700 platform with a decent trigger. Gunsmiths won't touch Browning triggers - not sure if there are any after market options.

7mm PRC brass from higher quality manufacturers won't be available for years.

Barrels are consumable - why pay for a fancy barrel that will need replacing after a couple thousand rounds (or less).

I see there is one is stock at Bullseye North for $1700 + tax.
 
Northern Shooter said:
On my quest to find on a new long range target rifle that I can also hunt with I believe I have settled on Bergaras B-14 series of rifle.

I really like the looks and features of the HMR model but at 9.5lbs dry, its weight leans more heavily towards the PRS style shooting than hunting.

I'm looking for another option similar to the HMR, but a few pounds lighter would make for a better hunting setup.

I see they may have released just that at Shot Show this week with the new carbon models.

The new HMR Carbon weighing 7.5lbs (vs 9.5lbs) may just be the perfect balance I am looking for. As expected it comes with a noticeable price increased.

I'm looking to have the rifle chambered in either 7mm PRC, 300 PRC or 338 WM.

What other options from Bergara or other manufacturers should I look at.

BUDGET $1500-$2000.
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As far as PRS goes that unicorn does not really exist
It's not going to be fun to shoot 100 plus rounds in a day in a faster paced setting.. It is also just too light to spot your misses(key in PRS)
You've got a good chance of breaking targets and some matches wont let you run that caliber for that reason.
While I do consider barrels consumable Not ideal for barrel life, you would burn it up pretty quick if you were going to matches regularly.
 
Yeah sounds like a bit of a unicorn to perfectly match the needs of each. Perhaps I should revise my PRS shooting to "long range plinking" as that's the most of what It will be doing, smacking gongs way out. I don't currently compete in any organized shooting sport but I'd like to have the option to in the future.

Also 300PRC is not allowed in certain PRS competitions due to damaging targets? I would have thought that cartridge would be popular in that sport.
 
Northern Shooter said:
Yeah sounds like a bit of a unicorn to perfectly match the needs of each. Perhaps I should revise my PRS shooting to "long range plinking" as that's the most of what It will be doing, smacking gongs way out. I don't currently compete in any organized shooting sport but I'd like to have the option to in the future.

Also 300PRC is not allowed in certain PRS competitions due to damaging targets? I would have thought that cartridge would be popular in that sport.
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Nope, 6MM rules and some 6.5 for a combination of precision and recoil. Spotting your own shots is key. Most shooting takes place 300-900M not from prone, plus over 100 rounds a day in any larger recoiling calibre is a bit much.
 
NaviDave said:
Wilderness Terrain in 300 PRC and lift weights (get a decent sling too). Standard Rem 700 platform with a decent trigger. Gunsmiths won't touch Browning triggers - not sure if there are any after market options.

7mm PRC brass from higher quality manufacturers won't be available for years.

Barrels are consumable - why pay for a fancy barrel that will need replacing after a couple thousand rounds (or less).

I see there is one is stock at Bullseye North for $1700 + tax.
Click to expand...

Timney makes a nice trigger for the xbolt
 
NaviDave said:
Wilderness Terrain in 300 PRC and lift weights (get a decent sling too). Standard Rem 700 platform with a decent trigger. Gunsmiths won't touch Browning triggers - not sure if there are any after market options.

7mm PRC brass from higher quality manufacturers won't be available for years.

Barrels are consumable - why pay for a fancy barrel that will need replacing after a couple thousand rounds (or less).

I see there is one is stock at Bullseye North for $1700 + tax.
Click to expand...

That's my main concern with these new PRC rounds, being able to source factory ammo. It looks like there is a trickle of the 6.5 and 300 but 7PRC is still likely a ways off before it becomes a regular on store shelves.
 
I've always just bought the Mcarbo trigger spring kit - I've had it in 3 X-bolts and took all of them to right around 2 pounds. The Timney trigger is only a pre-order currently.

Think about what kind of shooting you'll do the most. Plan for that. A competitive long range target rifle will be a terrible hunting rifle. And a good hunting rifle chambered in .300 PRC will be a slobber-knocker as a target rifle. You could always swap the rifle from a hunting stock into a chassis, but it's still going to kick way too hard for serious competition (can't spot your misses) and serious fun (just too much recoil as well as expensive, even with reloading).

If you are interested in a Bergara for a long range hunting rifle that can also ring steel (but not win matches) then the Ridge/Wilderness Ridge is probably the best combo of barrel contour, weight, and just overall flexibility. Low 7 pound range is fine, sure it's not a featherweight but you can also shoot one in .300 mag for more than a box without getting punch drunk. You can add a brake for steel plates at 1km. Not a terrible do-all option, bot available in .300 PRC and while not in 7mm PRC, 28 Nosler is cooler anyway. Who cares about barrel life?

I believe I will be buying one of the Carbon Ridge rifles in .300 WM when they are available, depending on the field reviews.
 
ShrtRnd said:
On my short list to look at, but the aftermarket stock limitations have me wondering..
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Just think about what you are getting for your money...
Bergara cheap line is a Spanish cast receiver for $1500-$2000. Barrels are not bad, but not as good as you could get custom, really they are on par with every other production rifle.
If you really want something nice, built properly, grab a custom action and barrel on the 700 footprint, won't cost you a whole lot more and you know you are getting your money's worth, and all the aftermarket you can handle.
I wouldn't drop any money on a Spanish cast receiver, I'd buy an old beat up 700 for $600 and build from there.
 
ShrtRnd said:
On my short list to look at, but the aftermarket stock limitations have me wondering..
Click to expand...

Longbow said:
Nope, 6MM rules and some 6.5 for a combination of precision and recoil. Spotting your own shots is key. Most shooting takes place 300-900M not from prone, plus over 100 rounds a day in any larger recoiling calibre is a bit much.
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Dude has a point here.
Have a buddy that shoots 1000-1500m with a 300Win, it works well and IF you need that energy down range it makes sense.
He recently migrated to a 6.5x47 for punching targets, recoil is nothing, hits you can see, way better for barrel life.
 
Hitzy said:
Dude has a point here.
Have a buddy that shoots 1000-1500m with a 300Win, it works well and IF you need that energy down range it makes sense.
He recently migrated to a 6.5x47 for punching targets, recoil is nothing, hits you can see, way better for barrel life.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how to compare barrel life between various cartridges other than hearing 6.5 will burn one out quicker than .308.

Are magnums and higher pressure rounds more susceptible to shorter barrel life?
 
Northern Shooter said:
I'm not sure how to compare barrel life between various cartridges other than hearing 6.5 will burn one out quicker than .308.

Are magnums and higher pressure rounds more susceptible to shorter barrel life?
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High pressure, overbore, bullet bearing surface, barrel quality and bore treatment, cleaning practice, lots of things contribute to shorten barrel life.
Overbore is probably the first thing to shorten barrel life for accuracy, that's pushing whatever small caliber with a large powder charge case in the simplified term, big case, small bore, lots of heat in the throat.
220 Swift would be an example of overbore.
A near straight wall big magnum case like a 460 Wetherby mag won't have the same issue, so it's not a magnum only issue.
And one guys shot out barrel that went from 1/4" groups to 1/2" isn't the same as the next guys 1" groups that went to 1.5". Very subjective of when a barrel is done.
 
I might just suck it up and get the HMR for long range plinking and deal with the extra weight when hunting with it. I could always have a dedicated long range scope that I could swap out with a lighter hunting rig for those scenarios. I'd also lose the bipod when hunting to shave off another few ounces.
 
Recoil with 300 PRC in a Wilderness Terrain is not bad with a brake. The radial brake reduces recoil by a third. The M11 brake I purchased from Jerry @ Mystic reduces recoil by at least half. No brake is tolerable if standing; you are going to get beat up shooting without a brake on a bench.

I always wear double hearing protection with magnums when target shooting. I am hoping the Active8 headband muffs (without extra foam plugs) will be able to handle the noise produced by the stock brake while hunting.

The Bergara stock is decent with adjustable cheek rest. No real chassis options for 3.85" ($1300 for an MDT ESS is TGH and probably too heavy for hunting use).

300PRC dies, brass, powder and bullets are available - you are SOL without a good primer stash. Factory ammo is also available (212 ELD-X, 225 ELD-M and 190 CX).
 
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