Bergara ba13
- Thread starter n3al
- Start date
Yes. Forestry mate has one. The 20" barrel .308 version. Outstanding gun. For the money, I was amazed. It's a recent buy, cost him about NZ$750 or so, about 430 quid? Heaps better than a Ruger No 1 in my limited opinion of single shots. Certainly way better value, the Ruger is about 4x the price over here. Great balance and I liked the simplicity. Didn't feel cheap and nasty like a Mossberg can for example.
I've only shot it at targets but really enjoyed it, if I was going to do more off hand shooting at deer then I would definitely consider the Bergara now. With a punchy .308 round and some good solid regular practice it's a winner all the way IMO.
Mate has one here for exactly what you want it for. He carries it in a bag pack when riding up into his hunting area (heavily wooded). Uses it to shoot at pigs from the truck when on the farm. He has a quick detach red dot AR style scope on it of some description. It wasn't as light as I expected and I think it was a bit ammo fussy but once he had it dialed in it was shooting good groups. He bowled over a heap of crappy looking spikers in a big clean out before the Roar this year, mostly closer range stuff but it's good for a couple hundred metres or maybe more.
I've only shot it at targets but really enjoyed it, if I was going to do more off hand shooting at deer then I would definitely consider the Bergara now. With a punchy .308 round and some good solid regular practice it's a winner all the way IMO.
Mate has one here for exactly what you want it for. He carries it in a bag pack when riding up into his hunting area (heavily wooded). Uses it to shoot at pigs from the truck when on the farm. He has a quick detach red dot AR style scope on it of some description. It wasn't as light as I expected and I think it was a bit ammo fussy but once he had it dialed in it was shooting good groups. He bowled over a heap of crappy looking spikers in a big clean out before the Roar this year, mostly closer range stuff but it's good for a couple hundred metres or maybe more.
Shootist
Well-Known Member
I have one in .308, black plastic thumbhole stock. It's a great rifle for the money. I love the way it takes down just like a shotgun (childish delight I know, but that's how it is).
Two issues I had with it. At first it shot absolute crap no matter what I did, factory, reloads, you name it. I was up to about 150 rounds and planning to return it as unfit when in the pace of about 10 rounds it started pulling in and will now shoot an inch at 100 yards with reloads quite happily and reliably. I suspect a burr somewhere in the barrel.
The other issue was the hammer spur. Being left handed I was minded to unscrew it and put it on the left side. Nowhere was there a mention that is was a left hand thread! (N.B. some are RH, just to make it interesting) Ping! Only through the luck of having access to a spark eroder was I able to remove the broken bit and replace it. Leave the bloody thing where it is! I was informed by the company rep that the hammer should not be removed as it's almost impossible to put back together without special tools. As I have no intention of removing the hammer I'm happy to take his word for it.
A potential third issue is that when you break the barrel having made your shot, the case is presented, not ejected. You need fingernails, or a good grip to get the case out. It's doable but would slow down a follow up shot, not by much I think. I'm very new to stalking but it was explained to me by a professional as follows. Shoot a deer badly and it runs immediately then no matter what rifle you have it's going to bloody near impossible to get a second hit to anchor it, at least for us mere mortals. If it drops and then rises some few moments later then with planning and practice it can be reloaded and back on aim in time. I have a cartridge holder on the stock and it can be quick enough for that.
As it's a light rifle it is quite lively on recoil in .308. not nasty but very brisk and 'sudden'. I have plenty of hard recoiling rifles so I'm not recoil shy. A sound moderator calms it nicely, as does a muzzle brake obtained from the bay at a steal for the money.
If you like single shots then go for it.
Two issues I had with it. At first it shot absolute crap no matter what I did, factory, reloads, you name it. I was up to about 150 rounds and planning to return it as unfit when in the pace of about 10 rounds it started pulling in and will now shoot an inch at 100 yards with reloads quite happily and reliably. I suspect a burr somewhere in the barrel.
The other issue was the hammer spur. Being left handed I was minded to unscrew it and put it on the left side. Nowhere was there a mention that is was a left hand thread! (N.B. some are RH, just to make it interesting) Ping! Only through the luck of having access to a spark eroder was I able to remove the broken bit and replace it. Leave the bloody thing where it is! I was informed by the company rep that the hammer should not be removed as it's almost impossible to put back together without special tools. As I have no intention of removing the hammer I'm happy to take his word for it.
A potential third issue is that when you break the barrel having made your shot, the case is presented, not ejected. You need fingernails, or a good grip to get the case out. It's doable but would slow down a follow up shot, not by much I think. I'm very new to stalking but it was explained to me by a professional as follows. Shoot a deer badly and it runs immediately then no matter what rifle you have it's going to bloody near impossible to get a second hit to anchor it, at least for us mere mortals. If it drops and then rises some few moments later then with planning and practice it can be reloaded and back on aim in time. I have a cartridge holder on the stock and it can be quick enough for that.
As it's a light rifle it is quite lively on recoil in .308. not nasty but very brisk and 'sudden'. I have plenty of hard recoiling rifles so I'm not recoil shy. A sound moderator calms it nicely, as does a muzzle brake obtained from the bay at a steal for the money.
If you like single shots then go for it.
Erik Hamburger
Well-Known Member
Yes I have handled one in .243W, excellent looking, light weight, lovely to handle. Will do the job just fine. After all when deer hunting you very rarely require a quick second shot. Would consider it myself if and when I want to buy another rifle.
Similar threads
