Talk me out of it… Bergara Crest

[Ag 96]

I’m on the hunt for another short .308 since my daughter has commandeered my Springfield Waypoint. Truth be told, I’ve never been in love with that rifle anyway. It’s finicky and just too light for me. I prefer a heavier gun but it’s perfect for her.

I found a Bergara Crest (steel barrel) today on sale for about $1300. It has a lot of features I like… good, ergonomic stiff stock, more of a midpoint in weight (6,8 lbs) once a suppressor and scope are added, and the 700 footprint and trigger once I start customizing it.

However, all the reviews in the lack of accuracy and QC problems have me a little leery. Anyone have much experience with the Crest? My other consideration is a Tikka CTR but I can’t find one locally.

[tpepper70]

I've had multiple different Bergaras, no Crest tho, and all have been excellent rifles that shoot better than I can. Tikka rifles are real nice as well so don't think you could go wrong with either.

[Dbap]

The CTR will be more accurate. I hunted with one for 8 years with great results, finally started losing some accuracy after about 1500 rounds and I didn't want to chase the possible solution. I bought a Bergara B14, Ridge West River. It shoots good, but not as good as the CTR. That said, the Bergara is a lot lighter and way handier to hunt with. I like it.

[Ag 96]

Well, I took a chance on the Bergara. I have some glass and rings on the way, and have my eye out for a few different suppressor models to come back in stock. Hopefully it’s a shooter.

[TXPlugger]

I bought the Crest with 24" steel barrel in Sept in the 7PRC. The long magazine has been my only complaint, so I purchased a 3 round mag which I like as it only extends down about 3/4". Smooth action, crisp trigger. Really enjoying it thus far but only have about 25-30 rounds down the tube at this point.

[Buddylee]

Let us know what you think. It’s a good looking gun for the price point.

[Ducks-n-Bucks]

Any more feedback on these guns? I have been eyeing the Carbon Crest in 7 PRC. Might end up with the steel fluted barrel if I can’t find the carbon easily.

[Ag 96]

I’ll let y’all know how it does… haven’t had a chance to set it up or shoot it yet, but should get to it at the end of the week. I’ll probably load up a couple of my favorite 308 recipes this evening for the first trials, and mount the scope after the festivities tomorrow.

[Ag 96]

Well, I ran the first rounds through it yesterday. I topped it with Zeiss V4 that I found on sale at Redhawk rifles. Shot decent (just under 1” at 100) with 150 gr Accubonds over 44.4 grains of Varget at 2.855 COAL. I had some various factory loads and a few other hand loads to try, but family Christmas got in the way.

The only issue I found was that the rounds didn’t want to feed from the Bergara plastic AICS mag, but a little work with a file on some sloppy seams from the molding of the magazine fixed that. There’s certainly more work to be done but, so far, so good, with a load chosen at random.

[Ag 96]

Smacked a big pig at first light with the new bergara. He came out right after I got in the stand… note to self: do NOT shoot this 308 without a suppressor on it or ear muffs. Sweet Jesus.

Nine deer trying to figure out how to get to corn with that pig laying there.

[Ag 96]

Follow up on the Crest. I haven’t spent a lot of time working up a load for it because I was waiting in my suppressor to get here. Got my DeadAir Nomad XC ti in yesterday.


I ran a few rounds through it this morning with a 150 grain Accubond load that my daughter’s waypoint likes (as much as that finicky rifle likes anything).

I’m impressed.

First 3-shot group shows a 1”x2” POI shift.


Second group after an over correction on the POI shift.


5-shot rapid group to see how it handles the heat (which is always a problem with that Springfield).

I am very impressed with both the suppressor and the rifle so far. The only issue I’ve run into was the junky polymer mag not wanting to reliably feed. Slapped a metal MDT mag without a bind plate and it’s much better. Plus I can now stretch out the COAL closer to the lands.