Barreled Action - Bergara or Howa

[Keith Edmunds]

I am thinking of putting another Howa barreled action into a pillar/glass bedded Gary Cane laminated thumbhole Spoter stock. I did this with a 6.5 CM and happy with results. Planning to do the same with 6.5PRC.

My logic is that for a total of around £1500 I can get a made-to-measure custom built stock, pillar/glass bedded and a decent action and barrel. I really don't think that I could match that with an off-the-shelf rifle costing £1500??? Thoughts?

However, I am also interested in the Bergara barelled actions......Are they likely to be better than a Howa?

 

[jthyttin]

Howa has recoil lug in the action, so there's no need to revisit bedding when rebarreling.

 

[Keith Edmunds]

Howa has recoil lug in the action, so there's no need to revisit bedding when rebarreling.

I believe there are still benefits in glass and pillar bedding - improving the metal to stock fit and improving the torqueing up of the stock to ensure metal to metal fit.

 

[jthyttin]

Yes but for Howa you only need to do it once.

Bergara has recoil lug sandwiched between barrel and action. Yes you could have it pinned, and yes the effect might be minimal anyway. But diligent work with "sandwich style" requires rebedding when barrel is changed (or recoil lug removed/reinstalled for any other reason).

 

[Outback]

When I looked at Howa prc barrel actions I think they didn't do a 26" barrel , so it would depend on its use .
I was looking for a 26" barrel and went Ruger precision that shoots very well .

 

[Keith Edmunds]

When I looked at Howa prc barrel actions I think they didn't do a 26" barrel , so it would depend on its use .
I was looking for a 26" barrel and went Ruger precision that shoots very well .

It's for a hunting rifle so 24" max

 

[Yew Tree Fieldsports]

I’ve load developed a few bergaras and have been very impressed with them. Barrels are very fast too.
Don’t know anything about howas I’m afraid.

 

[JH83]

Bergara seem to be marmite.

I wouldn’t get one because speaking to several folk I know there’s been issues. Rust…So bad the rifle started rusting before the chap got it home on a foxing trip. The same guy (professional keeper-and a real rifle nut) couldn’t get it to group, sent it back, got sent another…same. Gave up. Another mate bought several for the estate he manages and same, rusted fast, some shot well-others didn’t. It appears, at best, QC is poor.

One of our resident SD riflesmiths has a poor view of them, and I would humbly suggest he knows his onions. He gripes will be easy enough to find on similar threads.

Conversely many on here love them.

Still…Stick wi’ what you know.

 

[The Grouse]

Currently, experiencing issues very similar to those stated above with my B14 Crest.

Only gun in my cabinet that the bore will rust the moment you dare take your eyes off it, and I'm not talking a little bit of rust, I'm talking a full biome growing in there. My assumption is that the barrel is banjaxed, refuses to group now with any ammo you care to put through it.

My Tikka T3x, T1x and Benelli Lupo, no such issues. Patch them, pop them away, drag them out next time all good to go.

Currently awaiting a reply from Edgar Brothers.

Pains me to say it, but wishing I'd just bought another Lupo or T3x.

 

[Outback]

For a budget rifle my Howa shoots very well , I think they had a 24" barrel action in 6.5 prc , the prc shoots like a 22.250 very accurate .

 

[hendrix's rifle]

I have a bergara and a few howa's. All things being equal - get the howa. Always accurate, don't rust, yeh they're slightly agricultural but it's not a bad thing. Get a trigger spring fitted before you use it, change out the stock and get shooting.

I'd have stuck with them if they still did stainless!

 

[MarinePMI]

I'd giver a nod to the Howa; they've been around a long time, so are a tried and true action and manufacturing (S&W 1500, Weatherby Vanguard, Howa 1500). They're a really bullet proof action IME.

 

[dropmdead]

If you were describing traits you would want in a sporting rifle that's accurate, you would rhyme off the following -

Flat bottom action (bigger bedding area - think Stolle Panda)
Built in recoil lug (easy barrel change if that's your thing - they even have a mark to line up)
Easy to top load if required
Easy to upgrade parts
Can handle numerous barrel changes in a lifetime ( I know of a Howa on barrel number 7 - heavily abused)

 

[Keith Edmunds]

I have a bergara and a few howa's. All things being equal - get the howa. Always accurate, don't rust, yeh they're slightly agricultural but it's not a bad thing. Get a trigger spring fitted before you use it, change out the stock and get shooting.

I'd have stuck with them if they still did stainless!

Good to hear

 

[Ronin]

Howa every time in this race

 

[Keith Edmunds]

Howa every time in this race

Good to hear from a voice of experience.

 

[25 Sharps]

I have a howa 6.5 creedmoor, I have recently purchased a 300 PRC Bergara.

I’ve had 2 howas in the above, both genuine sun moa rifles, capable of shooting very small groups with home loads. Decent cerakote finish, the only thing I don’t like is the safety lever.

The 300 has impressed me with the little bit of work I’ve done accuracy wise. I’ve shot deer out to 300, the stock (HMR) is very good for the money.

But, though the finish looks nice out of the box, it scratches up very easily on twigs. There is so much slop in the mag well that the magazine wobbles and is noisy. The bolt shroud is made of monkey metal to match the mag well.

If buying again, I’d get another howa.

 

[Blackbeast?]

The howa is a tank, like the bergara to but the recoil lug under the shroud is a pain , it’s a good place for damp to sit, and when you tighten the barrel it splits, doing one at the moment machined the shroud off and putting larger recoil lug on