I had bought the Bergara Wilderness 14 HMR long range ,Target in 300 PRC, Had a 26"heavy barrel and with scope ready to go ,weighed 14.35 pounds. It was a beauty,shot great had decent MV and Accuracy with LRT and 225 Hornady's,I just got tired of lugging it around,at 76 years young was too heavy. I took it into Scheels and traded for there 300PRC Ridge west River ,complete it weighed 9.2 pounds ,but was not sure of the 24" Barrel. To be fair I took the same load out in Full length sized cases with same powder charge ,seating length and sighted in along with running through my 2 crony's at the same time. Very,Very much surprised at it shot tighter groups,was faster,87.5 LRT ,Fed. 215 Mag Match ,225 Hornady old rifle shot 2852 ave, 3/4 " 3 shots, New rifle same of everything shot 2906,2908,2907,all 3 were 3/8 center to center, 9 shots it was sighted in . I had been told that with Super slow powders you could get up to 100 fps per inch loss, I was worried .... But now it was the best trade I have ever done ,yea it cost me 250 but was worth it and it is very comfortable to shoot and carry. Both rifles I had put the self timing break on and had the Trigger tech diamond on that I put on, Pete
New Rifles: The Good, the bad, the ugly
- Thread starter jbronner13
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I get the old saying "only accurate rifles are interesting". However, I also believe life is too short to carry ugly and heavy rifles with slow twist barrels. Finding a factory rifle that checks all the boxes is difficult.
I usually use the 150s for breaking in. I'm about 65 into the breaking period now. A few more to go. So far, I really like it. Stay safe and have fun.
I had always been a Bergara fan, just to darn old to be luging a 14 plus pound rifle around. I have had the 6.5 prc but just love heavy long pointed 30 cal bullets. I found out the hard way with brass though,no unprimed so I bought 5 boxes of 225 Hornady Match ammo,my old bergara hated them, as a factory load velocity was not consistent, so pulled the remaining 4 boxes,dumped powder and started hand loading them. I had very mixed results,after about 70 down the barrel I figured out that neck tension was the culpret,found some Lapua and problem went away.But it was still a 14pound rifle so traded it as I said to Scheels, used the same load same seating depth and Wala it magically shot into 3/8" groups and was around 50 fps faster with no bolt resistance and round primers,The Hornady brass was so soft I had to neck trim every other shot,the Lapua has gone through its 6 th neck sizing with 1 trim, Pete
Upsidedownjack
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- Dec 28, 2017
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I also bought a Bergara in the HMR-PRO IN 300 WM. After putting a used Lupi 4X14X50 scope on it and just sighting it under the first 25 rounds was shooting way better than my older Winchester 70 featherweight 300 WM. Love the Gun,
these were a Small bore, reduced for shooting at 50'. Shot at 100 yds! With less than 100 rds down range.
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Norbear
New Member
My most accurate and fun to shoot rifle is my Bergara HMR Pro in 6.5 PRC with NX-8 Scope. It is very heavy to say the least. I ordered a CA Ridgeline in 300 WSM without seeing one before. It was my biggest regret. Tiny bolt handle and it is always hard to work. Can't get a decent group with a M46H on the muzzle.
I am eying the Kelbly's Nanook MG rifle in 338LM. Does anyone have experience with that unit?
I am eying the Kelbly's Nanook MG rifle in 338LM. Does anyone have experience with that unit?
I'm seriously looking at the Proof Element MTR in 7 PRC.
I'm also excited about the Springfield Amory Way Point.
I've owned neither brand but looking forward to holding and possibly owning one soon.
Also been considering an MPA PMR Hunter... I do own a competition MPA and absolutely love it, just not sure if I want a chassis rifle for hunting. Weight may be a challenge with the MPA as well...
It's great to have so many options, just need me some cash now!
jbronner13
Well-Known Member
The shop by me had a Fierce Mountain Reaper in 7 PRC…..it was a very nice looking rifle, Bix'n Andy Trigger, super light. If I was a western hunter I'd buy one for sure.
I can honestly tell you that a 8 1/2 pound rifle is the very most you want to travel with,either in the Missouri Breaks or the Beartooth ,when you hunt there it is a minimum of at least 5 to 6 miles of hunting,not on flat corn fields but Sage brush ,Buck brus wild roses high brass and an eye and ear always for .....you guessed it Rattle snake,I have come upon more than 100 during my 20 + years of living,working and hunting there,most of all you always wanted a lite rifle that would meat on the table out to 400 yds, on the first shot, sure you can make a bullseye at 1000, but if you ever had a animal walk as you squeezed the trigger you knew you had some hard work ahead of you and there is no pleasure in see's big wet eyes looking at you in it's final moments, Pete
jbronner13
Well-Known Member
Fierce Reaper| Bolt Action Rifles | Fierce Firearms
fiercearms.com
6.6 lbs, add a scope and rings and you are looking at just under 8lbs total. Don't know much about their accuracy but Fierce has a good reputation as far as I have read. I think these light weight chassis rifles check a lot of boxes for folks out west. If I had to pick one gun for my hunting here in New England, that Sig Sauer Cross in 308 is very enticing if they fit it with a 20 inch barrel.
Boatninja
Well-Known Member
Buy an American Rifle Company action, all are CRF and build up your own. Once you own a custom rifle you will probably never buy another off the shelf rifle.
I was having same thoughts as yourself a few years ago, it took me about a year of saving and to acquire all the components and once assembled I now have a once in a lifetime rifle.
Colt has one they have just announced, looks like a very heavy use of CZ parts though.
www.shootingillustrated.com
An Official Journal Of The NRA | First Look: Colt CBX Precision Rifle
The Colt CBX Precision Rifle is a bolt-action rifle that's optimized for the long-range game.
Old Hickory 45
Well-Known Member
The last "official word" by Savage I read, claimed by Savage, is having shipping issues per orders. This results in late deliveries. Like everyone else that has a Savage A17 .17WSM Sporter (lefty friendly) ordered a year ago, I am still waiting for delivery.
