When one thinks of places known for producing great rifles, many countries spring to mind. The Finns, Swedish, English, and of course Americans have long histories of producing quality small arms. One name that doesn’t often come up however Spain. However, Bergara is looking to change that with their B14 line of rifles.
History
Since the introduction of the Remington 700 in 1962 there have been a proliferation of firearms copying the design. Like the AR-15 and the Ruger 10/22 the Remington 700 is more a platform than a particular rifle. However, most of the copies of the design are made for the custom market and priced above what an average hunter can afford. That all changed when Bergara released their B14, a Remington 700 copy that retails for around $1250 CAD.
Bergara broke into the firearms industry in 2008 by producing barrels primarily for AR-15 style rifles. Quickly though, Bergara realized that they had the ability to manufacture their own actions and began making custom rifles to showcase their barrels. The B14 is Bergara’s take the classic Remington 700, with some small design improvements.
Specifications
First of all, the Bergara B14 hits the scales right around 7.25lbs empty, and is available in detachable box magazine and internal magazine models. Our test B14 Hunter was the fixed floor plate model in 6.5 Creedmoor. The barrel is 22 inches which is standard and the magazine holds four rounds in the standard calibers and three in the magnums. It’s a push-feed bolt action design with a safety located up on the right side of the receiver.
As mentioned earlier, the gun is a near copy of the Remington 700, with several key differences. The extractor is a Sako-style extractor located in one of the two locking lugs. Also, the bolt is coned to increase the smoothness of feeding and extraction. The trigger is an exact copy of the Remington and is interchangeable with any aftermarket Remington 700 triggers. Although, the crisp 2.5lbs trigger on our test gun was excellent from the factory.
The stock is a speckled green fiberglass reinforced polymer affair. Similar to the Browning X-bolt DuraTouch coating, Bergara uses a SoftTouch finish which makes the stock tactile and easy to grip even when wet. As far as shape the stock is a standard straight comb design with a rubber recoil pad. Unlike many newer designs, the trigger guard, magazine floor plate, and trigger are solid steel.
Strengths
First impressions of the Bergara B14 were very positive. The stock is rigid and the finish almost sticks in the hand. The rigidity in the hand was a far cry from the flimsy plastic stocks on budget rifles such as the Ruger American, or even the Tikka T3X. The recoil pad is more than sufficient for the mild 6.5 CM.
Also, the action is very smooth and fluid. Feeding, extraction, and ejection were all positive with no malfunctions. The B14 has a 90 degree bolt throw, which is much longer than the 60 and 70 degree bolt throws found on other common designs. Unsurprisingly, it did not cycle quite as fast as a a Tikka or a Ruger. However, the longer bolt throw does reduce the resistance when cocking the striker. This makes the bolt easier to work from the bench when doing load development or sighting it in.
Another positive of the B14 is the accuracy. Bergara promises a 1 MOA accuracy guarantee with match grade ammunition. We shot 129gr Hornady Whitetail, 120 gr Federal Premium Trophy Copper ammunition as well as a variety of handloads using 123 gr Hornady SST bullets. The Hornady Whitetail was the worst, and averaged a little more than one MOA. The premium ammo and handloads averaged 0.86 MOA over all of the groups. This is better accuracy than most of us can shoot from field positions and is excellent for a sporter.
Finally, the Bergara B14 comes with an excellent trigger from the box. Ours was around 2.5lbs with a little take up, a wall, and then a crisp break with no creep. There are lighter and fancier triggers available, but for hunting The 2.5-3.5lbs trigger pull is close to perfect.
Weaknesses
Though it is an excellent rifle, nothing is perfect. The biggest disappointment with the B14 is the finish. The deep bluing of the B14 looks excellent and does a good job preventing rust. But after only a few outings it had started to wear from rubbing on the seat of the pickup and scraping against brambles in the woods. Function trumps form but a more durable finish would go a long way.
Another knock on the Bergara B14 is the weight. This may be a result of using steel for the trigger guard and floor plate, but the gun is almost 7.5lbs from the box. Add an optic, 5 rounds of ammunition, and a sling and you are looking at a 9.5lbs rifle. While completely acceptable for a day in the deer stand, the Bergara is a bit portly to go chasing mountain goats. In the magnum chamberings the extra heft would be appreciated as a means to mitigate recoil. However, in our copy in 6.5CM the recoil was already quite tame.
Competition
At the price point there are a few major competitors with the Bergara. The Tikka T3X is one, which is lighter and has a shorter bolt throw. The Bergara shoots just as well and has a better stock and higher quality magazines and trigger guards.
Another option is the Browning X-bolt. Once again the Browning has a better action and is a bit lighter. However, the Bergara has a better trigger and has access to the huge aftermarket of the Remington 700.
Finally, many readers may be wondering why not get a Remington 700. The Bergara will have a better trigger, better finishing, more consistently accurate rifles, and much better quality control. Remington’s quality control is not what it once was so the Bergara is an opportunity to get a better executed version of the design.
Closing Thoughts
In an era where polymer and aluminum have replaced wood and steel, the Bergara B14 is a welcome change of pace. While still providing durability with a synthetic stock, the rifle is well fitted and uses steel for all the working parts. Combined with a true flush fit magazine and an excellent factory trigger, the Bergara is a joy to shoot and hunt with.
With the quality control of Remington post 2007 it is difficult to buy a new production Model 700. The B14 Hunter provides an alternative for the rifleman looking for a Model 700 without sacrificing attention to detail. The departures from the original design are minimal and, in my opinion, improvements.
To be completely blunt, if all one wants is to kill a deer, there are cheaper guns out there. But if one is searching for a rifle that is built without taking shortcuts and is willing to pay a little more, the Bergara is an excellent choice. In a rifle market that seems like a race to the bottom, Bergara delivers old school quality with the B14.