This year, Bergara added a new member to the B-14 family of bolt-action hunting rifles, the B-14 Ridge. Like its siblings, the Ridge comes with a dual-lug bolt with a one-piece body that features a spring-loaded ejector and a cone-shaped bolt nose ejector, ensuring smooth and reliable feeding.
The sleek action is mated with a 4140 chromoly steel #5 contour Bergara barrel (22 inches in short-action chamberings, 24 inches in long-action) with a 5/8-24 threaded muzzle, so mounting a suppressor or other device is simple and secure. A thread protector is also included so that you can protect the threads when there isn’t a muzzle device in place. The B-14 Ridge shares the same excellent trigger found in other B-14 rifles which comes from the factory set at 3 pounds.
Other key features include an enclosed bolt shroud with visible cocking indicator, a two-position, rocker-type safety and a hinged floorplate. The Bergara B-14 Ridge blurs the lines between sporter and target rifles, weighing just 7.9 pounds (SA), despite its heavy-contour barrel, so this rifle is light enough to carry, yet offers the stability and accuracy of a dedicated long-range gun.
The molded synthetic, glass fiber-reinforced polymer stock has a straight comb and epoxy pillars for a stable bedding platform, and comes in dark gray with stylish white and black flecks, and a soft-touch surface that’s both comfortable and easy to grip, even in wet conditions. The bolt handle has been enlarged for fast cycling, adding to the rifle’s hybrid sporting/target persona. If it shoots like other B-14 rifles that I’ve tested at the range hunters will be extremely impressed with the accuracy potential of this rifle; Bergara promises sub-1.0 MOA groups at 100 yards with premium factory ammo, but every B-14 I’ve shot would do better than that.
So, what’s it cost? Less than you’d think. These Spanish-built rifles carry an MSRP of just $865, which is a steal for a rifle of this quality. It’s available in .22-250 Rem., .243 Win, .270 Win., .30-06 Sprg., 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm Rem. Mag. and .300 Win. Mag., all with a 24-inch barrel, and .308 Win. with a 22-inch barrel. Is it a varmint and predator gun? Yes. A versatile big game rifle? Indeed. One of the best values in bolt guns for 2018? Without question.
For more information, go to bergarausa.com.
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