Posted: 1/25/2025 12:29:43 AM EDT
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I haven't decided on caliber, but leaning towards .270 Win. or .30-06. A .308 is a possibility too. It would likely only be used for WV Whitetail as far as hunting goes, but possibly for Gemsbok and Blue Wildebeest if I'm fortunate. I'm not fond of Tikka's, although I know many are. Just something about every one that I've held has always made me hand it back to the clerk. I like that both the B-14 and Hunter have threaded barrels as putting my GA Explorr would be likely. Thoughts on those two? Perhaps a Browning? |
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I think the Bergara B14 Wilderness Ridge is the nicest hunting rifle on the market. Absolutely gorgeous, Cerakoted, premium barrel, cheek rest, threaded barrel. It's got everything. Here's mine. It's housing a Vortex Razor LHT and now has a Silencerco Omega 300. In 6.5 CM. I think it's the absolute best whitetail hunting rig there is, but I'm bias. There's absolutely no reason to select a 308 over a 6.5 CM. Certainly not a 270 either. Attached File |
We're living in an episode of Who's Line is it Anyway.
Where everything's made up and the points don't matter.
Where everything's made up and the points don't matter.
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Highly recommend the Bergara for accuracy. Gave one to a relative as a Christmas gift a few years ago and with no long range shooting let alone hunting experience, he has bagged deer two years in a row, both at over 400 yds. Caliber: no reason not to go PRC, either 6.5 or 7 (or 300 for that matter). The future is now. As is often the case with early adopters, I kind of screwed my self by jumping on the 6.5 “Needsmoor” bandwagon. If 6.5 PRC existed at the time, it would have have been the better route to take. |
I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one.
I love it. God help me, I do love it so. I love it more than my life.
I love it. God help me, I do love it so. I love it more than my life.
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Originally Posted By KILLERB6: Highly recommend the Bergara for accuracy. Gave one to a relative as a Christmas gift a few years ago and with no long range shooting let alone hunting experience, he has bagged deer two years in a row, both at over 400 yds. Caliber: no reason not to go PRC, either 6.5 or 7 (or 300 for that matter). The future is now. As is often the case with early adopters, I kind of screwed my self by jumping on the 6.5 “Needsmoor” bandwagon. If 6.5 PRC existed at the time, it would have have been the better route to take. I'm definitely a fan of the PRC, I have a 300 PRC for my mile gun. But there is a significant recoil increase with the all the PRCs. To me, it doesn't really give you anything unless you're hunting 600+ yards. I prefer the lower recoil 6.5CM for whitetail hunting. Has plenty of ass behind it at normal hunting distances. My 6.5CM with suppressor is stupid quiet and has virtually no recoil. |
We're living in an episode of Who's Line is it Anyway.
Where everything's made up and the points don't matter.
Where everything's made up and the points don't matter.
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As far as your African hunting goes most shots are 200 yards or less. My longest shots in africa on u wounded game have been: 286 yards on a Gemsbok on an open plain in the Karoo. We simply ran out of cover and there was no getting closer. 214 yards on a Blue Wildebeest. 256 on a Copper Spribuck down in the Karoo. All of my shots there were in that range. An 06 and 180 gr premium bullets will sort out everything by the big 5 in Africa. I have shot 53 animals there (I got to do some culling) and the 06 has accounted for all but 13 of them. For your whitetail hunting any cup and core bukket will work just fine. If you want to go to a premium bullet the 164 Nosler Ballistic Top is murder on Whitetails. It’s what I use in Missouri. As far as rifles go it really comes down to personal choice and fit. For me is be happy with any of the options given. |
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I've been shooting a Ruger Hawkeye Hunter 30-06 for 25 years now. Its accurate, reliable and well made. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another. I'm a big fan of a 30-06 because of how well rounded it is. I'll likely take it to Africa at some point and kill some plains game with it. Wouldn't mind tagging a Leopard with it also. If you are shooting longer ranges other more precision designs can be practical. But I have no interest in hunting at really long ranges. When it comes to hunting I like a wood stock and a blued or stainless barrel. Big fan of the 30-06 caliber because the ammo is readily available anywhere in the world. Much less around the US. Its also capable of killing everything on the planet with the right load. I know the PRC calibers are all the rage now but I'm not a western hunter and even if I were I can't see myself taking super long range shots while hunting. With 30 years of hunting I've never missed, wounded/lost a deer/big game animal. I don't want to break that streak on a long range shot. |
| I find the Ruger much more aesthetically pleasing and I like that it’s stainless. Several friends bought Bergaras and they all got surface rust really easily, except the Wilderness model that was cerakoted. The Bergaras are pretty accurate though and I chose to buy one for my .300 PRC. |
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I have never shot a Bergara b14. I have shot a Ruger M77 in 204 ruger. Ruger's have never been known as very accurate rifles, but they seem to have really upped their game in the last 10 years. The M77 I shot was older than that, and it was not very accurate at all. It's hard to give you precise numbers, but I doubt I saw an group under 1 1/2" at 100 yards, and most were over 2". That was typical performance of them at the time. Of course they could be improved with things like stock bedding. I'm not saying they have not improved them today, but for the crazy prices they are asking, I would really have to see some proof. Based on previous experience and their reputation for mediocre accuracy, I can't bring myself to recommend that when they are $1300. While I have never shot a Bergara B14, given their reputation for accuracy, and lower price of about $1000, this seems the no brainer between these two rifles. Some others you can consider may be a Ruger American II. These have a reputation for really good accuracy, and the ones I have shot did not disappoint. It is both cheaper, and from my experience, more accurate than the old M77. The new models come with threaded barrels, and adjustable stocks. Another one to consider, again a Ruger is the SFAR. It's a semi-auto rifle, but very light weight. They are not super accurate, but fairly accurate. More accurate than the M77 I have shot. I know what you mean about the Tikka's. They are very utilitarian, and not in a great way. That said they announced some positive changes at Shot Show that you should keep an eye on. |
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Originally Posted By fgshoot: I have never shot a Bergara b14. I have shot a Ruger M77 in 204 ruger. Ruger's have never been known as very accurate rifles, but they seem to have really upped their game in the last 10 years. The M77 I shot was older than that, and it was not very accurate at all. It's hard to give you precise numbers, but I doubt I saw an group under 1 1/2" at 100 yards, and most were over 2". That was typical performance of them at the time. Of course they could be improved with things like stock bedding. I'm not saying they have not improved them today, but for the crazy prices they are asking, I would really have to see some proof. Based on previous experience and their reputation for mediocre accuracy, I can't bring myself to recommend that when they are $1300. While I have never shot a Bergara B14, given their reputation for accuracy, and lower price of about $1000, this seems the no brainer between these two rifles. Some others you can consider may be a Ruger American II. These have a reputation for really good accuracy, and the ones I have shot did not disappoint. It is both cheaper, and from my experience, more accurate than the old M77. The new models come with threaded barrels, and adjustable stocks. Another one to consider, again a Ruger is the SFAR. It's a semi-auto rifle, but very light weight. They are not super accurate, but fairly accurate. More accurate than the M77 I have shot. I know what you mean about the Tikka's. They are very utilitarian, and not in a great way. That said they announced some positive changes at Shot Show that you should keep an eye on. Yeah, I've been really impressed with my Bergaras. My HMR used to be my precision rifle until I custom built a few rifles. Last year I had some friends at the range and told one of them to shoot me a 5 shot group. Attached File I estimate this rifle (B14 HMR) has about 1600 rounds through it and is the reason i bought the Wilderness Ridge because I was so impressed. |
We're living in an episode of Who's Line is it Anyway.
Where everything's made up and the points don't matter.
Where everything's made up and the points don't matter.
I have a Bergara HMR so I may be a bit biased. It would be a hard choice if I were trying to pick a lightweight hunting rifle. If it took the same magazines as the one I have, it would be another Bergara. Ruger makes a nice rifle.
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Preferred pronoun: MARINE
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Originally Posted By drfroglegs: I think the Bergara B14 Wilderness Ridge is the nicest hunting rifle on the market. Absolutely gorgeous, Cerakoted, premium barrel, cheek rest, threaded barrel. It's got everything. Here's mine. It's housing a Vortex Razor LHT and now has a Silencerco Omega 300. In 6.5 CM. I think it's the absolute best whitetail hunting rig there is, but I'm bias. There's absolutely no reason to select a 308 over a 6.5 CM. Certainly not a 270 either. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/322543/20220304_200243_jpg-3444441.JPG I picked up a Wilderness Ridge in .308 last summer and it’s my favorite rifle, for same reasons. There is nothing about it I don’t like. Excellent out of the box trigger (and I’m a trigger snob), very accurate with all factory ammo I tested, cerakote finish, buttery smooth action, threaded barrel, and very attractive and functional stock. Mine sports a TBAC Ultra 5 and Leupold VX-5HD 2-10x42. I took a few whitetails with it this past fall. 
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