Anybody have experience with Bergara Rifles? I'm looking for a new 300 win mag to take nilgai and possibly elk hunting. The top candidate for me right now is the Bergara Ridge Carbon Wilderness. I got my hands on it a few weeks ago and was really impressed with the build quality and how light it felt with the carbon barrel. Does anybody have experience with this particular rifle or history with Bergara rifles in general? Thoughts?

Also open to any other suggestions for a lightweight 300 win mag in a similar price point ($1000-$2000)?

Bergaras are shooters. Had an HMR Pro right when they first came out and it was a tack driver but it was too heavy for my liking to carry around. Have not shot any of the new Carbon Ridge or Divide models but I think you can buy with confidence here.

Another suggestion you may look into is the new Seekins Havak lineup that is carbon now instead. I absolutely love my Seekins in 7PRC, wish I'd have waited about 2 weeks to buy and the carbon models would have been released.

https://proofresearch.com/rifles/elevation-lightweight-hunter/

I have a few Begara's

B-14 Squared Crest in 6.5 PRC
B-14 HMR Carbon Wilderness in 300 WM

About to buy a Stoke for the kiddos in either 300 BO or 7-08

Just be aware that when you combine a lightweight rifle with a high recoil caliber, you might not like shooting it as much as you thought you might.

OneMoonGoon92 said:

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Just be aware that when you combine a lightweight rifle with a high recoil caliber, you might not like shooting it as much as you thought you might.

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100% this. Have a friend with an ultra-light 7mm Mag. Hate that damn gun.....borrowed it a few times out of necessity.

OneMoonGoon92 said:

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Just be aware that when you combine a lightweight rifle with a high recoil caliber, you might not like shooting it as much as you thought you might.

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Excellent advice. I use a Christensen Mesa 300 win mag with a titanium can on it. I would make 100% sure you want that rifle and caliber, especially for elk hunting. Hauling a rifle around the mountains is no joke and you want to make sure it is the right one for you.

I have a Bergara 300 Win Mag and I absolutley love it. When I bought it, I had the barrel threaded and a muzzle brake added. The kick felt like a .223. Since then, I replaced the muzzle brake with a supressor and now it is like a .22. It is a tack driver.

You will not be disappointed.

ETA: Mine is not the lightweight version. But I still hope this helps.

OneMoonGoon92 said:

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Just be aware that when you combine a lightweight rifle with a high recoil caliber, you might not like shooting it as much as you thought you might.

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And your scope may fall off

Chetos said:

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OneMoonGoon92 said:

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Just be aware that when you combine a lightweight rifle with a high recoil caliber, you might not like shooting it as much as you thought you might.

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And your scope may fall off

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Unless it's already built in…Make sure your rail at least has these lugs to mitigate shear.

Buy with confidence. My next rifle will likely be a Bergara. Great out of the box accuracy for the money, especially if you hand load.

As for the light weight/recoil issue, I feel like that is negated with modern recoil pads (eg limbsaver), brakes, and/or suppressors. I have 7lb 300 WSM I could shoot all day.

That sucks man. I've never seen that. Nice rifle too.

I bought a Bergara Ridge recently in 30-06. I love the feel of the rifle and trigger. However, I reload and still can't get it to where it should be. 1.25" is about as good as I have been able to get so far.

Read some reviews. There is an issue with over-spray on the lugs and my rifle has it. That will be the next thing that I work on to try to get it where I want it.

I have a b-14ridgeback in 6.5 CM that I use for PRS competitions in the base class, or at least did before my son was born. I'm shooting an ELD-x clone that I reload that matches box velocities and groupings. Good friend just bought the Carbon Crest in 6.5 PRC, he thinks it's got a little bite to it, I didn't find it to be punishing. He's shooting Barnes LRX out of it that groups very well and should be a laser once we get it on animals.

Buy with confidence.

I have a Bergara HMR Wilderness in .308.
I absolutely love it.

Zero regrets with a Bergara. Several guys I hunt with have them now too and all of them are off the shelf shooters. I upgraded triggers but some models come/came with trigger tech that's good.

Maybe if your hand strength was greater than a 9 year old boy you could have torqued it properly

Bergara used to be in my 100% recommend. I'm on the fence now, heard enough recently that is seems like QC may be slipping a little.

Under your budget I'd go Tikka. Within your budget, and I can't recommend them enough, I'd go with a Seekins PH3.

It's an amazing rifle from and amazing company.

I also wouldn't recommend a big .308 mag. Go with a 6.5 PRC at most. If I dig it up I can post a video of a 12 yo dropping a nilgai at 200+ with a 6cm.

I was a big fan of the Bergara, but ended up with a Springfield Armory Waypoint for my daughter because Alamo didn't finish her build in time, and we both like it more. I raised her well enough that when her APA build was complete she tried to keep possession of both. Proud dad, but I sold the Bergara and adopted the SA waypoint.

Also we would all be better off losing 10 lbs of belly fat and adding 3-4# to our bolt guns…..if your not fat yet and your rifle is solid, than spend more time carrying your long gun at the ready, w pack, and bino harness up in the mtns Before season starts.

Heard the same on the QC issues. A couple of guys I prairie dog hunt with also hunt elk out west every year and they each have Sako 90 Peak in .300 WM. Out of the box they shot phenomenal. It also has a set trigger which they really like.

https://www.sako.global/rifle/sako-90-peak

I'm about to post a 300 wby mag (w ammo) for sell. Threaded muzzle break. Felt recoil is well managed with a can. My kids shoot it, no problem.

I have this Tikka T3X in 300WM. This thing is a hell of a shooter.
https://www.basspro.com/p/tikka-t3x-lite-d-18-bolt-action-rifle-with-vsx-stock

Had a Christianson and thought it was garbage.

I have taken my Bergara B14-HMR in 300 win mag on many adventures, including 10-12 mile a day hikes in Africa. Long bull barrel, very heavy with scope and can, but I don't care, it's incredibly accurate and powerful and I don't mind the weight at all.

Yep, hauled mine up mountain in Alaska, across plains in CO, and all over Hill Country chasing aoudad. My HMR with scope and suppressor weighs probably 15lbs though. Shoots great but something lighter wouldn't hurt my feelings either for those western hunts.

Update to my previous post- after backing off a little from the lands it is now a shooter. The standard recommended OAL was too long for this chamber.

I have too many Bergara's.... Mostly because some of them shoot better than my custom guns (all shoot under 0.5"). I have the same rifle you're interested in and about to start working on a load for an upcoming moose hunt. If it shoots anything like the others I have, it will be a tack driver!