Bergara B-14 Hunter -- Your thoughts/possible issues?

[Brydawg512]

I am the person that started that other thread about my problems with my Bergara rifle. I am sure there are more Bergara rifles made that have no problems than ones that have problems. But from seeing pictures of others primer strikes on cases (and the primers being cratered) I can tell you that the firing pin hole is an issue with a lot of them. Whether it's enough to pierce primers or not is dependent on how big that hole is which is scary.

I could have sent my rifle back to them and they most likely would have found nothing wrong with it and sent it back or they could have replaced the bolt but I didn't want to take that chance when I can spend $143 and be done with it. Should I have to spend $143 more to fix the problem? No, but it is what it is. Can I recommend another one? I can't really because of my problems and what I had to do. But there are more people shooting these rifles than me and a lot of them have had no problems. So take that for what it's worth. Take all the info and formulate an educated decision from it.

The action is super smooth, the trigger is ok and the thing shoots really good. I mean really good.

100 yards with a 215 Gr Berger.

View attachment 131186

If you don't mind me asking, did Gre-tan give any idea of the turnaround for the bolt? I looked on their website and it said something about 12-14 weeks. Is this something than any reputable gun smith can fix or is this best suited by a company like Gre-tan? Thank you.

 

[the hunter]

Lot of the problems are because people are using small primers and not changing the firing pin.
When they do that it could happen to any rifle when the right pin is not used.

 

[Korhil78]

I'm definitely not using small primers in a 300 win mag.

Brydawg, Im pretty sure there are many smiths that can do it out there. I just went with him because he really was dialed in with what he was talking about on the Bergara. His actual time is about 9 weeks. The reason I went ahead and went with him is because that is in the summer and I hardly do any shooting in the summer because I live in the SW desert and temps get into the 100+ a lot.

The only reason I knew that the firing pin assembly comes back and hits the shroud is because the piece of the shroud came back and hit me in the cheek. It didn't hurt me in anyway but scared me a little. I think on the Remington 700, the assembly is pinned which would be nice.

 

[bigngreen]

Lot of the problems are because people are using small primers and not changing the firing pin.
When they do that it could happen to any rifle when the right pin is not used.

You can't just change a firing pin diameter without altering the bolt by bushing the pin. I fire small primer brass in three rifles and they work fine, I very other rifle brand works fine!

I'm surprised how many issue the Bergara has with that shroud, I ran into a couple just this month and it has a cheese ball shroud. I've talked to four guys just recently who have been changing shrouds on multiple chamberings. I haven't found anyone to make a quality one but someone will as the market is there for a quality shroud.

 

[Korhil78]

If you look at my pics on the thread I started, even the new and improved machined shroud that they made is not steel. It's some kind of mixed metal. If they machined a quality steel shroud and fixed the firing pin hole issue. You would have a huge winner.

 

[the hunter]

You can't just change a firing pin diameter without altering the bolt by bushing the pin. I fire small primer brass in three rifles and they work fine, I very other rifle brand works fine!

I'm surprised how many issue the Bergara has with that shroud, I ran into a couple just this month and it has a cheese ball shroud. I've talked to four guys just recently who have been changing shrouds on multiple chamberings. I haven't found anyone to make a quality one but someone will as the market is there for a quality shroud.

I know that, some people don't want to take the time and money and do that, so when the rifle brakes they just blame the gun.

 

[the hunter]

I'm definitely not using small primers in a 300 win mag.

Brydawg, Im pretty sure there are many smiths that can do it out there. I just went with him because he really was dialed in with what he was talking about on the Bergara. His actual time is about 9 weeks. The reason I went ahead and went with him is because that is in the summer and I hardly do any shooting in the summer because I live in the SW desert and temps get into the 100+ a lot.

The only reason I knew that the firing pin assembly comes back and hits the shroud is because the piece of the shroud came back and hit me in the cheek. It didn't hurt me in anyway but scared me a little. I think on the Remington 700, the assembly is pinned which would be nice.

I said a lot, not all. Most of the complaints are form people using the small primer with the large pin.

 

[bigngreen]

I said a lot, not all. Most of the complaints are form people using the small primer with the large pin.

None I've talked to have been small primer rounds.
Even if it was an issue no other manufacture has it.

 

[gusd]

Should this possible issue scare me away?

To answer that question I would say yes.
My experience being a few years ago I bought a Sako 85 finnlight. I didn't know at the time they have a problem ejecting spent casings, not on all the 85's just a random few well I got one of those few. Long story short I got rid of it after lots of frustration, time, and money trying to fix it.

 

[TRG65]

I have a B14 in 6.5 Creedmoor. When I used Lapua small primer brass it pierced primers and one popped the bolt shroud out of alignment. Since I had GreTan bush the firing pin, I haven't had any problems.

This was a Rem 700 issue with small primer 308 or 6.5x47.

Otherwise the action was smooth and the trigger good for a production rifle.

 

[berger21]

I owned a Sako A7 and just could not keep it consistent. I currently own two Bergara's, 7mm mag and a 300 wm both in the Ridge line. Both are great shooters and I shoot nothing but reloads. They are very well balance with great triggers. Best rifles I have owned as far as balance and shooting and I've had many.

 

[RoyB]

I bought a B14 Hunter a few weeks ago. 6.5 Creedmoor.
Using Lapua small primer brass with FED 205 primers, with 40g IMR4350 under various 140g bullets. Have fired over 200 rounds and have not noticed and strange primer issues.

First time I ever heard of changing firing pins based on rifle primer size. Can someone direct me to some reading on the subject.

Rifle is amazingly accurate even with a hunter weight barrel. Very pleased. White tails beware next season!

 

[the hunter]

I have a B14 in 6.5 Creedmoor. When I used Lapua small primer brass it pierced primers and one popped the bolt shroud out of alignment. Since I had GreTan bush the firing pin, I haven't had any problems.

This was a Rem 700 issue with small primer 308 or 6.5x47.

Otherwise the action was smooth and the trigger good for a production rifle.

Three out of five of the complaints that I have read have been due to this, people not modifying their rifle the right way to take these small primers. Not a problem people did not know at the time, but don't blame it on the gun.

 

[bigngreen]

If your gun can't function correctly with small primers it is a gun issue, especially when bushing the bolt is the solution. Poor manufacturing is a gun issue!!

It's now a known issue with a Bergara, same as Rem or Win, pierce primers of any kind get the bolt bushed!