Bergara rifles

[Cowtown guy]

We are thinking of carrying the Bergarra line of rifles at the shop. I am looking for opinions from people that have used them.
They have sent a test rifle that I will be playing with on Monday and it seems pretty decent so far.
Any folks here played with one before?

[Robmcleod82]

Nice looking rifles but the price point is a little high, especially with the dollar where it's at. the action looks to be a well finished savage. Probably sell more kimbers if you stocked them.

[Bushrat]

Don't look anything at all like a savage to me.

On another note the Bergara website is useless, goes on and on for pages+videos about its barrels and how they are made, Virtually nothing about the action other than a few not very good pictures of complete guns. I spent 20 minutes looking for information on the action and found barely a mention of it, the trigger or anything about it. There is a 1 minute video by a magazine writer that shows a good image of the receiver but really no information about it on their site. It looks similar to the dozens of Remington type clones to me.

[sns2]

Originally Posted by Robmcleod82

Nice looking rifles but the price point is a little high, especially with the dollar where it's at. the action looks to be a well finished savage...

I am fairly certain that while Bergarra's actions are proprietary, their footprint is an exact match of the Model 700, even to the point that you can use Remington aftermarket stocks.

What is the price point going to be?

[double gun]

What shop are we talking about?

[double gun]

Originally Posted by Robmcleod82

Nice looking rifles but the price point is a little high, especially with the dollar where it's at. the action looks to be a well finished savage. Probably sell more kimbers if you stocked them.

A savage/tikka love child.

[elkhunter11]

At those prices, they are going to have a tough time breaking into the market.

[Robmcleod82]

Originally Posted by double gun

A savage/tikka love child.

Yup exactly. Floating bolt head kills it for me, nothing like engineering something to cheat crappy tolerances.

[Cowtown guy]

Looking at carrying the B14 model.
Price point would be in the $1200 range.
Glenn took the loaner apart and it's pretty much identical to a 700. The trigger looks the same too. They offer a Timney trigger on a few models. I'm thinking it is likely a 700 drop in trigger.
The shop isn't a sponsor so I can't post the name as it is against the rules.

[Robmcleod82]

at that price point I would imagine they would sell. It appears as if they have a couple different actions.

[southernman]

I am in NZ at the moment and the Bergarra, single shots are very common and at least one or two, on the shelf in most, hunting stores,
the chatter above seams to surest a bolt rifle, what type action, are you talking about ?

[elkhunter11]

I was looking online at the models that started at over $3000 US. They look like decent rifles, but at that price, they are in a tough market.

[fenceline]

I would to get one like interchangeable barrel systems and Begerras is very cool. I want one lets see 257 wby , 300 win. And 375 ruger
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k63WaLyxvgo

[rem338win]

They seem to be a very well thought out rig, and they are making some splash in the US (B14 Timber model specifically). The quality of the wood, fit and finish etc. are definitely in the $1200 range. The folks with guns in hand are comparing the quality to the older two lug Sakos.

I'd be interested in one eventually under those circumstances; their barrels are very good shooters.

Some detractors (as seen hear) haven't seen one and are making obscure comparisons already.

I'd say engineering an action for production that combines popular and effective features with modularity is smart.

[Cowtown guy]

Ed Shilen has been involved with the barrel making process too. That can't be all bad.

[Bowie]

Seems like an expensive t/c dimension

[sns2]

Originally Posted by Cowtown guy

We are thinking of carrying the Bergarra line of rifles at the shop. I am looking for opinions from people that have used them.
They have sent a test rifle that I will be playing with on Monday and it seems pretty decent so far.
Any folks here played with one before?

No, I haven't. However, you can tell your boss I will happy to buy one from the first shipment. I've been wanting to try one for a while.

[double gun]

Originally Posted by rem338win

...Some detractors (as seen hear) haven't seen one and are making obscure comparisons already.

I'd say engineering an action for production that combines popular and effective features with modularity is smart.

Don't take my comment as negative (or positive). When a new action is seen I like to try and visualize how/why they designed it that way and from what other actions they pulled ideas.

I haven't seen one or even heard of them before this thread.

[Robmcleod82]

Originally Posted by rem338win

They seem to be a very well thought out rig, and they are making some splash in the US (B14 Timber model specifically). The quality of the wood, fit and finish etc. are definitely in the $1200 range. The folks with guns in hand are comparing the quality to the older two lug Sakos.

I'd be interested in one eventually under those circumstances; their barrels are very good shooters.

Some detractors (as seen hear) haven't seen one and are making obscure comparisons already.

I'd say engineering an action for production that combines popular and effective features with modularity is smart.

please explain how an action with a floating bolt head is not like a savage??? At a $3000 us price range I don't want a design built to cheat crappy workmanship. But hey if that's what your into that's fine. A $1200 Rem knock off with nice blueing and nice wood is something I could get behind.
As far as bolt action rifles go there is really nothing new, it's all been done before.

[sns2]

Originally Posted by Robmcleod82

please explain how an action with a floating bolt head is not like a savage??? At a $3000 us price range I don't want a design built to cheat crappy workmanship. But hey if that's what your into that's fine. A $1200 Rem knock off with nice blueing and nice wood is something I could get behind.
As far as bolt action rifles go there is really nothing new, it's all been done before.

Rob, can you please post a link that talks about it being a floating bolt head. I have looked like crazy and can't find anything that speaks of that. Everything I've read says it's a Rem knock off with three lugs, and a Sako style extractor.

[double gun]

Originally Posted by sns2

Rob, can you please post a link that talks about it being a floating bolt head. I have looked like crazy and can't find anything that speaks of that. Everything I've read says it's a Rem knock off with three lugs, and a Sako style extractor.

You can see the cross pin in all the pictures.

[Robmcleod82]

The b14 action is a Rem knock off, the premiere action has the floating bolt head. Just look at the catalog on their web page it tells all.

[sns2]

Originally Posted by Robmcleod82

The b14 action is a Rem knock off, the premiere action has the floating bolt head. Just look at the catalog on their web page it tells all.

I was looking B14

[rem338win]

Originally Posted by double gun

Don't take my comment as negative (or positive). When a new action is seen I like to try and visualize how/why they designed it that way and from what other actions they pulled ideas.

I haven't seen one or even heard of them before this thread.

I didn't at all buddy. Your original analogy was well put, and I spoke on it.

The person that keeps repeating knock off and talking like a floating bolt head is a bad thing is rather amusing.

I hate all of these mauser knock offs. Anything that pushes a cartridge with a bolt out of a box magazine, forced up by a follower, and causing the cartridge to enter a chamber is a goofy knock off. Knock offs, all of them.

Its a good looking, relatively simple design that was engineered to use a trigger and bases that interchange with the most popular bolt action out there instead of a proprietary (read more expensive) either. And they also used round steel to machine from instead of bar stock because it costs less, decreasing the consumer price point. Sooo ludicrous. Must hate it.

[Robmcleod82]

Originally Posted by rem338win

I didn't at all buddy. Your original analogy was well put, and I spoke on it.

The person that keeps repeating knock off and talking like a floating bolt head is a bad thing is rather amusing.

I hate all of these mauser knock offs. Anything that pushes a cartridge with a bolt out of a box magazine, forced up by a follower, and causing the cartridge to enter a chamber is a goofy knock off. Knock offs, all of them.

Its a good looking, relatively simple design that was engineered to use a trigger and bases that interchange with the most popular bolt action out there instead of a proprietary (read more expensive) either. And they also used round steel to machine from instead of bar stock because it costs less, decreasing the consumer price point. Sooo ludicrous. Must hate it.

If one is going to the effort to build a custom action why would you not build it to a Accuracy level that does not require a floating bolt head? If you copy a Remington footprint so as to take advantage of the huge aftermarket what would you call it if not a knock off? Like I said earlier there isn't anything new in bolt action rifles it's all been done before. But hey if your looking for an argument I'm happy to give it to you

[tchardy1972]

Originally Posted by Robmcleod82

If one is going to the effort to build a custom action why would you not build it to a Accuracy level that does not require a floating bolt head? If you copy a Remington footprint so as to take advantage of the huge aftermarket what would you call it if not a knock off? Like I said earlier there isn't anything new in bolt action rifles it's all been done before. But hey if your looking for an argument I'm happy to give it to you

I may be wrong. (It's happened once before) but I believe big horn makes an action with a floating bolt head and they are becoming quite popular down south. I believe the reason they are catching on is because the bolt head can easily be changed along with a barrel to swap between different cartridge familys.

[Robmcleod82]

Originally Posted by tchardy1972

I may be wrong. (It's happened once before) but I believe big horn makes an action with a floating bolt head and they are becoming quite popular down south. I believe the reason they are catching on is because the bolt head can easily be changed along with a barrel to swap between different cartridge familys.

Yep bighorn, and there is another outfit doing it as well but the name eludes me.
That would be a reason to do it that actually makes some sense, but I'll still choose a fixed or one piece bolt any day.

[gitrdun]

Originally Posted by Cowtown guy

Looking at carrying the B14 model.
Price point would be in the $1200 range.
Glenn took the loaner apart and it's pretty much identical to a 700. The trigger looks the same too. They offer a Timney trigger on a few models. I'm thinking it is likely a 700 drop in trigger.
The shop isn't a sponsor so I can't post the name as it is against the rules.

Dang.....I hope that he can put it back together now.....

[Bergerboy]

Originally Posted by Robmcleod82

Yep bighorn, and there is another outfit doing it as well but the name eludes me.
That would be a reason to do it that actually makes some sense, but I'll still choose a fixed or one piece bolt any day.

What is the downside of the floating bolt head?

[Robmcleod82]

More moving parts and the fact that it's purpose is to cheat poor tolerances.