Bergara Wilderness Ridge or Savage 110 High Country

[NorCalRiceGuy]

I'm stuck between the Bergara Ridge and the Savage 110 High Country, Chambered in 300 win mag (I am kind of considering 6.5 PRC but have already picked up several boxes of 300 win mag), I am stationed in Fairbanks Alaska so it would be used for Caribou, Moose and Bear. I perviously had a Bergara Ridge in 30-06 but could not get it to hold groups so I sent it to Bergara this past March and they were still trying to work the accuracy issue out with it as of today (has been hard for them to get ammo to shoot it) they said the best they could get it to group was 1.5" so they offered a refund and I took it due to Caribou season opening August 10th I gotta get a good LR rifle in my hands. My budget is right around $1200 so I looked at the Christensen Mesa but have heard some horror stories. All in-put is welcome because I am just starting to get my feet wet in long range hunting ( Alaska hunting is way diffrent then Kentucky) The scope that will be on the rifle is a Vortex Viper HS 4-16x44 BDC reticle

For What It's Worth - My Bergara Ridge in 300WM came with a #5 contour barrel and with the weight of the scope, which ironically is the same as you plan to use, topped out at 13+ lbs. Not exactly a mountain rifle. I love the way it shoots but if I had to do it over, I would likely opt for a Savage 110 High Country.

 

[T3ninja]

If the savage won't shoot it's simple enough to slap a new barrel on with minimal tools. Yeah you'll be out a little more money on the new barrel, but it's a rifle that you can customize yourself without relying on a smith or waiting months.

 

[NorCalRiceGuy]

If the savage won't shoot it's simple enough to slap a new barrel on with minimal tools. Yeah you'll be out a little more money on the new barrel, but it's a rifle that you can customize yourself without relying on a smith or waiting months.

Great point and it truly is an easy barrel switch. I did it with an older Savage 110 C that went from being a .30-06 to being a .280 AI. Since I recently bought another 280 AI in Savage AXIS II, I'm now thinking of turning the old rifle back into a .30-06 to see what it will do with Hammer Bullets. Plus, I miss having an '06 in my stable of rifles, old workhorse that it is and has always been.

 

[wasskeet]

Another vote for Tikka. I have 3 Tikka's t3s, 3 x-bolts, 2 Bergara and 2 Savages. The Tikka will consistently shoot better groups with multiple factory ammo choices. X-bolt is second. Then Savage and lastly the Bergara's. Selling both Bergara rifles and buying a Rem 700. At least I can easily gunsmith on a Rem 700 and make it a shooter. I'm comfortable with that platform.

Is the Bergara that much different than a Rem 700? From what I understood, they had much in common.

 

[NorCalRiceGuy]

Is the Bergara that much different than a Rem 700? From what I understood, they had much in common.

You are correct. The Bergara is based off of Rem700 profile. From what I've read, I believe some items are even interchangeable.

 

[rjriflehunter]

Another vote for Tikka. I have 3 Tikka's t3s, 3 x-bolts, 2 Bergara and 2 Savages. The Tikka will consistently shoot better groups with multiple factory ammo choices. X-bolt is second. Then Savage and lastly the Bergara's. Selling both Bergara rifles and buying a Rem 700. At least I can easily gunsmith on a Rem 700 and make it a shooter. I'm comfortable with that platform.

Nice thanks for the comment, what's your best shooting caliber in the tikka? what savages do you have?

 

[rjriflehunter]

For What It's Worth - My Bergara Ridge in 300WM came with a #5 contour barrel and with the weight of the scope, which ironically is the same as you plan to use, topped out at 13+ lbs. Not exactly a mountain rifle. I love the way it shoots but if I had to do it over, I would likely opt for a Savage 110 High Country.

What kinda groups are you seeing out of your ridge? It's nice to know you would go for the high country, it's just something about it I feel like I wont be disappointed, just super cautious now because I thought I would be happy with the Bergara! Everyone is talking about tikka so I am definitely gonna check them out.

 

[rjriflehunter]

If the savage won't shoot it's simple enough to slap a new barrel on with minimal tools. Yeah you'll be out a little more money on the new barrel, but it's a rifle that you can customize yourself without relying on a smith or waiting months.

Nice to know that!

 

[Kmccord]

I know you are snake bit on the Bergara, I purchased two in the B14 HMR, one in 7mm Rem Mag and the other in 6.5 Creed, the 7 Mag was accurate out of the box, easy to develop a load, the 6.5 Creed, I am having issues with the 140 Hybrid, I have some 130 VLD to try and some Hammer Bullets on the way, I think I can get it down to .50 MOA. If I cannot, I plan to have it re-barrelled with either a Bartlein, Brux, Krieger or Hart. I have not heard of any issues with Browning or Tikka, you have a lot of options at your finger tips, good luck on your search. The 7mag I have it down to .50 MOA, it is the Grandson rifle, the 6.5 with 140 Hybrid range from .945 to 1.65 MOA at 100yds.

 

[NorCalRiceGuy]

What kinda groups are you seeing out of your ridge? It's nice to know you would go for the high country, it's just something about it I feel like I wont be disappointed, just super cautious now because I thought I would be happy with the Bergara! Everyone is talking about tikka so I am definitely gonna check them out.

Sub-0.5" shooting 178gr. Absolute Hammers resulted in a 1 shot kill on a cow elk at 200 yrds. in Montana last Nov. off of shooting sticks. Bang, flop, DRT.

 

[rjriflehunter]

Sub-0.5" shooting 178gr. Absolute Hammers resulted in a 1 shot kill on a cow elk at 200 yrds. in Montana last Nov. off of shooting sticks. Bang, flop, DRT.

Man that's awesome! I still have not closed the door on another Bergara but I was pretty dead set on getting the high country if it got enough good recommendations, but now I'm considering the tikka pretty hard

 

[rjriflehunter]

I know you are snake bit on the Bergara, I purchased two in the B14 HMR, one in 7mm Rem Mag and the other in 6.5 Creed, the 7 Mag was accurate out of the box, easy to develop a load, the 6.5 Creed, I am having issues with the 140 Hybrid, I have some 130 VLD to try and some Hammer Bullets on the way, I think I can get it down to .50 MOA. If I cannot, I plan to have it re-barrelled with either a Bartlein, Brux, Krieger or Hart. I have not heard of any issues with Browning or Tikka, you have a lot of options at your finger tips, good luck on your search. The 7mag I have it down to .50 MOA, it is the Grandson rifle, the 6.5 with 140 Hybrid range from .945 to 1.65 MOA at 100yds.

Thank you sir, there are tons of options like you said but I can only have one . I'd love to give Bergara another try but I am just cautious haha. It sounds like your having pretty decent luck with em tho!

 

[NorCalRiceGuy]

Man that's awesome! I still have not closed the door on another Bergara but I was pretty dead set on getting the high country if it got enough good recommendations, but now I'm considering the tikka pretty hard

I hear nothing but good about Tikka. Don't think you can go wrong there.

 

[Raudy707]

Is the Bergara that much different than a Rem 700? From what I understood, they had much in common.

They are very similar yes but I have only tinkered with the Rem 700, Tikka's and Browning trigger springs. I'm just most comfortable and familiar with the Remington.