Bergara blues…

[BlackWolf Craig]

Well, after the best part of 10 weeks of testing, the gun shop where I bought my Bergara B14 Wilderness Carbon in .308 have agreed that’s it’s a pile of crap that won’t group for love nor money and have issued me a full refund and thrown the rifle back at Edgar Brothers with explicit instructions for Bergara on where they can stick it….
So, the question is, what do I replace it with???
Don’t want to massively up the budget, so for around the £1600 mark. Thinking keep it simple and go for a Tikka, but wondering if there’s anything else in that range really worth looking at. Had my fingers burned going second hand through a dealer so going to stick with new this time…

 

[wytonpjs]

Well, after the best part of 10 weeks of testing, the gun shop where I bought my Bergara B14 Wilderness Carbon in .308 have agreed that’s it’s a pile of crap that won’t group for love nor money and have issued me a full refund and thrown the rifle back at Edgar Brothers with explicit instructions for Bergara on where they can stick it….
So, the question is, what do I replace it with???
Don’t want to massively up the budget, so for around the £1600 mark. Thinking keep it simple and go for a Tikka, but wondering if there’s anything else in that range really worth looking at. Had my fingers burned going second hand through a dealer so going to stick with new this time…

Tikka T3X

 

[Bushy]

Sorry to hear about your experience with the Bergara. I know people who have them and they are very happy with them. In my opinion you will not go far wrong with a Tikka, proven accuracy but you might end up wanting to change the stock depending on which model you buy. I’ve always had Sako rifles, never had any issues and they are all very accurate with factory ammo. I’d spend the extra and get a Sako 90 finlite, will last a lifetime if looked after.

But check out the offerings from Mauser good value for money!!

 

[Ludders]

Tikkas just work!

 

[wytonpjs]

Sorry to hear about your experience with the Bergara. I know people who have them and they are very happy with them. In my opinion you will not go far wrong with a Tikka, proven accuracy but you might end up wanting to change the stock depending on which model you buy. I’ve always had Sako rifles, never had any issues and they are all very accurate with factory ammo. I’d spend the extra and get a Sako 90 finlite, will last a lifetime if looked after.

But check out the offerings from Mauser good value for money!!

I have 2 Sako's and 2 Tikka T3X's - guess which one leaves the cabinet most and its not a Sako

 

[Malxwal]

Have a word with @BE Precision ?

 

[disco_ike]

For that price a Sauer and moderator…

 

[BigT]

As I said to you when we chatted. Tikka or Sako Finnlite if you want to throw a few more quid in.

Though Malxwal’s suggestion of chatting to @BE Precision is an excellent one.

 

[Will the chippy]

Howa. They might be at the budget end but definitely not budget in capability.

 

[FISH BOY]

Mauser M12.

Will shoot the same, but all round better quality than tikka.

 

[Freeforester]

Low mileage R93

 

[BlackWolf Craig]

Howa. They might be at the budget end but definitely not budget in capability.

Love my 1500 Howa in .243 still a laser and knocks over everything comfortably

 

[Moray Outfitting]

Definitely Sauer. J

 

[GWP]

Howa or tikka

 

[tarponhead]

Well, after the best part of 10 weeks of testing, the gun shop where I bought my Bergara B14 Wilderness Carbon in .308 have agreed that’s it’s a pile of crap that won’t group for love nor money and have issued me a full refund and thrown the rifle back at Edgar Brothers with explicit instructions for Bergara on where they can stick it….
So, the question is, what do I replace it with???
Don’t want to massively up the budget, so for around the £1600 mark. Thinking keep it simple and go for a Tikka, but wondering if there’s anything else in that range really worth looking at. Had my fingers burned going second hand through a dealer so going to stick with new this time…

I moved away from BERGARA due to issues with build quality. Why not look for a used Tikka, Sako 75/85 or Sauer 202. I have Sauer 202 in .308 and it’s all the rifle I could ever need. Apart from the 202 I now have in 6.5x55….and the dedicated fox Tikka T3… just saying.

 

[Keith Edmunds]

Love my 1500 Howa in .243 still a laser and knocks over everything comfortably

Just bought a second Howa 1500, this time with an HS Precision stock (with the integrated aluminium chassis) - certainly worth a look. CS Sporting and Ian Hodge have a few.

 

[Ronin]

Well known and well documented what a lottery it is purchasing this brand

Nothing has changed

 

[JH83]

As above, it’s seems 1 in 5 Bergara is an absolute pig. This exact thing happened to a mate of mine. Shocking.

For your budget, as others have said Tikka are the primary option (and just plain work)-I would also say a SH sako, Schultz or Sauer are on the cards which will be nicer than a t3, albeit offer nothing more in performance. I personally think a sako action are hard to beat, 5 shot steel magazine you can top load, very nice for big culls.

Don’t necessarily discount SH, all of mine have been but as condition of sale mine go to the above poster to be verified as decent. So long as they are looked over by someone who knows what they are doing, preferably with a borescope, you are golden.

 

[Sandy25]

I have a Mauser M12 in .308, cant fault it - very accurate, easy and comfortable to shoot.
However, there is a distinct lack of aftermarket parts/stocks for it

If I was to start again from scratch i would buy a Tikka T3x, purely for the reason that you can customise it to your hearts content due to the huge variety of aftermarket stuff out there,

Sandy

 

[Demetrius]

Tikka M595.......you won't be disappointed.

D.