After a long wait I finally received my new Christensen Arms Mesa chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. As I continue to shoot and decide on a final load that I will settle on, I will update the shooting progress to get a better knowledge of the accuracy potential of this rifle.
The gun in my opinion is very good looking and I really like the fluted bolt, bolt handle and bolt knob. The stock is very stiff leaving no worries about it flexing and contacting the 22" free floated barrel. The barrel has a very thin profile, and after shooting a 5 shot string the barrel mirage was really starting to show. The dark grey Cerakote is done well and looks good. It also comes with a muzzle brake installed and a thread protector is provided for when the brake is removed. Since I feel that a 6.5 Creedmoor doesn't need a brake, I removed it. After a little break in the bolt travel got very smooth. The Trigger Tech trigger is great. It is easily adjustable by use of a tiny Allen wrench inside the trigger guard. The rifle seems to be marketed as a lightweight rifle, but make no mistake, it's not all that lightweight. As far as hunting rifles go, I would say it's weight is average. The bare rifle weighed in at 6.75lbs. After I mounted a Leupold VX3 4.5-14x40 in Weaver Grandslam bases and Burris low rings (not the lightest option out there) it weighed a hair under 8 lbs. With the limited shooting I've done so far, factory loaded Nosler 140gr Ballistic Tips are shooting just under 1" at 100 yards, and my handload of 142gr Sierra Matchkings are under 3/4" at 100 yards, and under 3" at 300 yards. Overall I'm happy with it, other than wishing it was a little lighter. Also another thing that I'm not fond of is the recoil pad. As much as I love Limbsaver pads, and how well they work, this one came with the Limbsaver Aircell pad that I do not like the looks of. BUT, it works and that's what matters.
The gun in my opinion is very good looking and I really like the fluted bolt, bolt handle and bolt knob. The stock is very stiff leaving no worries about it flexing and contacting the 22" free floated barrel. The barrel has a very thin profile, and after shooting a 5 shot string the barrel mirage was really starting to show. The dark grey Cerakote is done well and looks good. It also comes with a muzzle brake installed and a thread protector is provided for when the brake is removed. Since I feel that a 6.5 Creedmoor doesn't need a brake, I removed it. After a little break in the bolt travel got very smooth. The Trigger Tech trigger is great. It is easily adjustable by use of a tiny Allen wrench inside the trigger guard. The rifle seems to be marketed as a lightweight rifle, but make no mistake, it's not all that lightweight. As far as hunting rifles go, I would say it's weight is average. The bare rifle weighed in at 6.75lbs. After I mounted a Leupold VX3 4.5-14x40 in Weaver Grandslam bases and Burris low rings (not the lightest option out there) it weighed a hair under 8 lbs. With the limited shooting I've done so far, factory loaded Nosler 140gr Ballistic Tips are shooting just under 1" at 100 yards, and my handload of 142gr Sierra Matchkings are under 3/4" at 100 yards, and under 3" at 300 yards. Overall I'm happy with it, other than wishing it was a little lighter. Also another thing that I'm not fond of is the recoil pad. As much as I love Limbsaver pads, and how well they work, this one came with the Limbsaver Aircell pad that I do not like the looks of. BUT, it works and that's what matters.
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