Clearly this is not a one hole rifle but this was the 3rd, 4th, and 5th rounds through the rifle new. To say it can’t compete with tikka when running hand loads doesn’t seem like a reasonable assessment. If you buddy has never owned a bolt action rifle I can’t imagine he would be able to tell the difference between a 1/2moa rifle and a 1 1/2 moa rifle.



No one would ever recommend a rem 700 for accuracy but here is a comparable group to the tikka group posted above with a factory rem 700.

My B14 Hunter 6.5CM shoots mickey mouses with Hornady 143 ELDS. The only caveat is I have to clean it at @ 50 rounds or it starts to stray a bit.

They are inlet for CTR bottom metal, so no additional expense. I did see a B&C for $325 but it would likely be pretty heavy, negating one advantage of the CTR over the HMR.

I have the wilderness ridge and have been pleased with it. I did drop a triggertech in it as I really wanted a lower poundage option. I bought 130gr 6.5 prc ammo from Chad here and that is all that has been down the tube. Those are shooting about .75 at 100. Very smooth action. I have always liked the 700 style safety. I like that it is a 700 platform so lots of options if I decide to modify it.

When someone is bringing me a Bergara for load development, it doesn't stir up bad thoughts for me. They typically shoot well. Sako/Tikka of course makes me think "it's going to be a good day". Christensen always makes me dread the day, trying to polish a turd.

I've got a Bergara 6.5 PRC here. I'll let you know how it shakes out. I am sure everything is going to be fine.

Get the Bergara barreled action and choose your pick of Manners stocks. Quality, made in the free world, American made stock probably the best stocks on the planet. Manners customer service is second to none. They refinished a stock i bought secondhand free of charge.

https://www.bergara.online/en/blog/the-bergara-barrelled-action/

I've found the ELD-X to shoot very tight in all my rifles with one exception. For some reason, my Winchester Model 70 Featherweight doesn't group near as well with it. Oddly, it shoots 1/2 MOA with relatively inexpensive, Remington 100-grain, Corlokts.

Winchester 125-grain Deer Season XP is another tight shooter in all by 6.5 CM rifles.

10-4. Thanks all. I'll tell him to stick with the Bergara if that's the direction he wants to go. He asked for scope recommendations also and I think I have him covered pretty well there.

I have two Bergara B-14 Ridge rifles (7-08 and 30-06). Both consistently produce sub-1/2 inch groups with my handloads.

I have a Bergara B-14 HMR in .308, love it. Accurate, great trigger, smooth action, and it fits me great. The adjustability of the HMR stock is fantastic. I hunt with it and shoot it off the bench, it's perfect for both. About 300 rounds down the barrel, and I don't know if barrel break-in is fact or fiction, but my Bergara started running even smoother after 200 rounds. Some folks think it's too heavy for hunting, but 95% of my hunting is from a blind so I don't mind taking a 12lb scoped rifle.

One thing to note, make sure the action screws are torqued to spec. Mine came from the factory several pounds shy of spec. I didn't check the screws, took it to the range, and had a hard time getting a group under 1 MOA at 100 yards. I ran some patches down the barrel, torqued everything, and the rifle now shoots 1/2 MOA at 100 yards if I do my part.

I was between Bergara and Tikka, and went the Begara route. I'm happy I did, I really like the HMR stock. You can't go wrong with Tikka or Bergara in my opinion.