Bergara B14 HMR accuracy test

[sir shovelhands]

I am about like you. I am debating a new rifle just to have another caliber to work with.

Narrowed it to 3.

6.5 Creed
.375 Raptor
.450 Raptor

I was pretty excited about the 45 raptor, but my friend got one and had hell getting it to work right. Straight wall cases don't seem to feed great in the AR, plus you have to mod the hell out of your mags and it uses 452 bullets instead of 458s.

I'd love to see a 458 bullet in a bottleneck case for the AR10 that packs enough powder to rival the 45-70. I'd get a 10-12" SBR in that to throw 500-600 grain subsonics.

[meltingfeather]

I am about like you. I am debating a new rifle just to have another caliber to work with.

Narrowed it to 3.

6.5 Creed
.375 Raptor
.450 Raptor

Ha! It's a sickness, ain't it? Just much more fun and rewarding.

Watch that Lapua brass- tiny flash holes. Heard of more than one person not realizing that and breaking decapping pins.

GTK... will do.
I just got a batch for a 6mm-284 wildcat I'm working on and was very impressed with the quality, but I haven't worked it any yet.

[Outbreaker]

I was pretty excited about the 45 raptor, but my friend got one and had hell getting it to work right. Straight wall cases don't seem to feed great in the AR, plus you have to mod the hell out of your mags and it uses 452 bullets instead of 458s.

I'd love to see a 458 bullet in a bottleneck case for the AR10 that packs enough powder to rival the 45-70. I'd get a 10-12" SBR in that to throw 500-600 grain subsonics.

Look at the .375 Raptor, less modification of the magazines (will still work with .308 win) and hitting hard. Slight shoulder (about like a beefed up .300 blk).

[Sleepy]

Watch that Lapua brass- tiny flash holes. Heard of more than one person not realizing that and breaking decapping pins.

Not to hijack but I just got 100 Lapua cases for my .243 and 100 for my 7-08 and plan to start sizing up and doing some load work up this weekend. How would I prevent breaking the decapping pins? Just don’t want to screw something up. PM me if you’d like.

[Outbreaker]

Ha! It's a sickness, ain't it? Just much more fun and rewarding.

GTK... will do.
I just got a batch for a 6mm-284 wildcat I'm working on and was very impressed with the quality, but I haven't worked it any yet.

It is a sickness. I have been doing it for about 40 years. Dad started me when I was young. Supervising me while I was making his recipes. In the last 20 I have become almost OCD with it. Using my scientific training and getting the toys to control and measure what I needed.

Next toy........LabRadar

[Hudson05]

So what's the most accurate rifle out of the box right now in everyone's opinion? I've been thinking about the B-14 Timber. I really want a tack driver that isn't too heavy to stalk with. Or should I just go to APR?

[Sleepy]

So what's the most accurate rifle out of the box right now in everyone's opinion? I've been thinking about the B-14 Timber. I really want a tack driver that isn't too heavy to stalk with. Or should I just go to APR?

From what I’ve seen, pick your price. Seems like you can get dang near a 1/2” gun from $300-$$$$ ?

[sir shovelhands]

Look at the .375 Raptor, less modification of the magazines (will still work with .308 win) and hitting hard. Slight shoulder (about like a beefed up .300 blk).

Yeah I emailed back and forth with Arne Brennan about about both cartridges and like the .375 better than the .45 for supers (plus the brass is just necked up from 308). But I want something that can also throw really heavy weight (500g+) subsonic loads too. Heaviest I've seen for .375 is 350g.

Sorry for derailing OP.

[Radar]

So what's the most accurate rifle out of the box right now in everyone's opinion? I've been thinking about the B-14 Timber. I really want a tack driver that isn't too heavy to stalk with. Or should I just go to APR?

If your on a budget I would go with a company that guarantees MOA. Weatherby is one for sure, I done some trading last year and ended up with a new Vanguard RC in 257 Weatherby Magnum. Out of the box it was a dang good gun and its a keeper.

Then again I shoot a Bowtech, so........

[Outbreaker]

Yeah I emailed back and forth with Arne Brennan about about both cartridges and like the .375 better than the .45 for supers (plus the brass is just necked up from 308). But I want something that can also throw really heavy weight (500g+) subsonic loads too. Heaviest I've seen for .375 is 350g.

Sorry for derailing OP.

Of Arne is involved in this my interest just went up. He and Bill Alexander developed the 6.5 Grendel. They had a falling out because Arne wanted to go SAMMI and release it, while Bill wanted to keep it inhouse so it would not get a bad name.

I bought my first Grendel from Arne.

[trophy8]

If you don't handload and want to develop one shoot me a PM. I'd love an excuse to get another set of dies and Lapua brass is on clearance right now.

6.5 cm. And I do handload. Used to a ton. I bought this gun to shoot factory ammo. I’ve got everything I need to roll my own. I’d rather not on this one. I’ve got other guns for that. Not enough time or desire to mess with a new one.

[Hushpuppy man]

Took the bergara out yesterday to best of the west. I took 3 kinds of ammo.
Hornady precision hunter 143 eldx
Hornady Black 140
Hornady superformance 129 SST

I roughly sighted it in at the lease the other day with the eldx. Bout 10 rounds through it. Brought it home and cleaned it to get serious and see what it could do. It was 29 degrees and no wind. I forgot my kestrel at home so LR shooting was sketchy since I didn’t want to set up my magnetospeed.

Started at 100 with the eldx. Shot ok. Hated the 140s. 129s the first couple groups were 1/2-3/4” but then they started moving. They need to work on their quality control with that stuff. I didn’t chrono it but there was a noticeable sound difference from round to round so I know the charges were all over the place. I shot it all with my harvester on the gun.

I went back and shot 7 more 3 round groups with the 143 eldx. First 2 rounds were solid. 3rd round always was a bit off. All groups still well under 1”. I took it from 250 to 500 to 600 to 750. It shoots slow from what I’m used to. 5.5 mils at 750. (My 7 mag is 5.3 mils at 1000 lol). I’m pretty pleased with a factory gun and factory ammo so far. I’m gonna get 100+ rounds through it then do a good copper cleaning on it and try again. I bet it settles in around 1/2” at 100. Only mods I have made are a timney 517 and an atlas bipod rail. Gun specs are 22” barrel, seekins 20 moa rail and a gen 2 vortex razor 3-18x50 EBR2C mil. Silencerco harvester. All groups shot with my evo bipod up front with a rear bag from the bench.

Here’s 2 groups. I shot 8 groups total with this ammo and all were pretty identical. A few smaller groups. These were the biggest 2 by a small margin. I’m covering one of the sight in rounds in the first pic. I think once the barrel gets settled in it’s gonna be a good shooter. I’m not happy with that 3rd shot in each group and thought it was me that’s why I did 8 groups. It’s repeatable every time. The gun is not bedded. I checked all torque settings on every screw and bolt and all was perfect. Just needs broke in. I think so far the rifle is a good buy for the money for someone wanting to get into shooting long range on a budget.





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I've read that the B-14 has a heavier trigger spring and can affect the performance of some aftermarket triggers, what was your experience?

[Radar]

Of Arne is involved in this my interest just went up. He and Bill Alexander developed the 6.5 Grendel. They had a falling out because Arne wanted to go SAMMI and release it, while Bill wanted to keep it inhouse so it would not get a bad name.

I bought my first Grendel from Arne.

Alexander let Lapua finish out the cartridge, the shoulder was changed for more case capacity. Lapua was already making 220 Russian brass so they changed from 6 PPC to 220 Russian for a parent case. Imagine that, a corporate inside job.

Bill left Alexander Arms last year, going to to bigger and better things.

[trophy8]

I've read that the B-14 has a heavier trigger spring and can affect the performance of some aftermarket triggers, what was your experience?

Went bang every time I pulled it. Got the gun from a buddy direct at bergara and he told me no issue dropping the timney or any 700 aftermarket trigger in it.

[Hushpuppy man]

Thanks! Looks like my wallet is getting lighter
Edit: I meant to write "firing pin spring" but I'm getting old