Bergara B14 Rifle - RUAG Ammotec UK Ltd

FIREARMS | GUN TEST
Pete Moore tests
Bergara’s latest bolt-gun
and finds a familiar design
that has been born again
and done right
The new Bergara BX14
– bloody nice rifle and
well up to task! Here it’s
fitted with the Hausken
JD224 reflex moddy
B
ergara of Spain’s rep in the UK
started a few years ago with
barrels, which has now gone on
to become one of the top choices for
gunsmiths, offering as they do
cost-effective and accurate
tubes. These are distributed to
the trade by Fox Firearms.
However Bergara also offers a
range of rifles that is handled by
RUAG AmmoTec U.K Ltd. Their most
radical product was the switch barrel BX11
Multi-Calibre, which testing showed to be
an accurate design. However, not everyone
wants this sort of system, with the
majority of Brits preferring a standard,
fixed barrel build; something that was
missing from their portfolio. This
changed in 2015 as at the British
Shooting Show I was shown their
latest B14 and I liked what I saw!
Bolt face detail, note the
plunger ejector and more
conventional extractor claw as
opposed to the 700’s design
REMY-NISCENT!
The B14 puts me in mind of a
Remington 700, which I suppose
it is, as that’s what it takes its
general cues from. However and
from the box I do not remember any
modern Remy being so well executed or
presented and there are a few subtle styling
changes and what I consider improvements
incorporated! My first ever UK hunting rifle
was a semi-custom 700 (Riflecraft Light
Sporting Rifle) and I loved it, but over the
years I have very much cooled off from the
brand, as I had two more that showed
serious accuracy/consistency problems.
The B14 is in fact a series of rifles
offering three stock options: walnut (Timber),
synthetic (Sporter) and green synthetic
(Hunter) in a number of action/barrel
lengths and calibres, with options on
threading too. The Timber and Sporter
show a right hand, Monte Carlo
design, whereas the Hunter is
T
C
U
P ROD
!
D
E
V
O
IMPR
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SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE
GUN TEST | FIREARMS
ambidextrous without the raised comb of the
other two.
My tester was the Sporter with its black
polypropylene and fibreglass furniture with
Bergara’s Crush Zone® recoil pad in 243 Win
Short Action. This shows a light/medium,
22” barrel, threaded 14x1mm in a pleasing,
flat black/grey finish, as is the receiver. This
is the same for the other two options in this
group; 6.5 Creedmoor (no thread) and a 308
(14x1).
Long Action covers - 6.5x55, 270 Win,
30-06, 8x57 JS and 9.3x62 all sensibly with
24” barrels. There’s also a Long Magnum
Action, again at 24” in 7mm Rem Mag, 300
Win Mag and 375 H&H Magnum. Twist rates
vary as to calibre, with for example the 243
being 1-10”.
Lower receiver detail, the trigger is near pure 700
and the BX14 shows a proper recoil lug, the metal
spacer (far right) was a bit of a mystery
STOCK
The Timber and Sporter stock layout is near
identical in design, with a medium-height
comb and slim cheek piece. The pistol grip
section shows a comfortable angle, with a
rectangular section, medium build, tapered
forend. Length of pull is 14.25”, which will
suit most shooters. The Timber is chequered
for grip, as is the Hunter, whereas the Sporter
has moulded-in, textured panels, either
option offering a comfortable and secure
hold. QD sling studs are fitted fore and aft
and the barrel is fully floated. You also get
the choice of bare backed or iron sights.
My tester came with the familiar
top-loading, hinged floor plate magazine
system, with a capacity of 4+1
(on any 308-type case
head) and 3+1 on the 9.3
and the magnums. Very
soon all B14s will come
with a detachable box
magazine, which I prefer,
“Very soon all B14s will come with a
detachable box magazine, which I prefer”
FOR
Well priced, well built and
eminently shootable
AGAINST
Not a lot
VERDICT
LOCK
Pulling the action from the stock shows a
good and rigid build, with a full recoil pocket
and commensurate lug at the front of the
receiver. Something I have not seen before
is a pressed steel plate that sits between
the lug and front of the magazine box; I
assume it’s a spacer or stabiliser? The
trigger is adjustable and appears to be a
pure Remy 700 clone (old-style), it’s factory
set at 1.4 kg, which is smooth and broke
crisply. so no complaints and no need to
fiddle with it either!
The barrel is fully floated
and the forend, though
flexing a little, does not
influence the barrel even
when shot off a bipod!
Detail of the large, bolt release
catch, The BX14 uses Remy
700 compatible bases and will
accept other accessories for
this iconic rifle
61
s
Overall a great rifle
Money well spent in any
calibre or model
speaking to Phil Unwin (MD) of RUAG UK I
found out that if you buy a rifle now they will
send you the box mag conversion FOC. This
is easy to fit, as just two screws are
removed to swap the floor plate with the box
mag bottom metal. Though if you prefer the
simplicity of a top-loader then you can opt
for that on purchase too. Just to note prices
quoted are for the box mag gun and on
average are around £20 more than the
top-loader; a small price to pay for a more
efficient feed system.
FIREARMS | GUN TEST
Overall a most pleasing
design, the Sporter (shown)
is also joined by the woodstocked Timber and the
green synthetic Hunter, this
last has an ambi stock
s
The bolt shows a twin lug lock up, with
plunger ejector and separate extractor claw,
as opposed to the 700 system. The body is
solid and the handle is long and slightly
angled back with a large, plastic bolt knob,
which promotes smooth operation. The rear
shows an aluminium shroud with a visual
(red tab) and physical (tag protrudes) cocked
action indicator. The safety is a 2-position,
forward FIRE and rear SAFE rolling lever, rear
right of the action, which does not lock the
bolt, so good for safer unloading!! Nice is
the large bolt release catch (rear left) which
is easily operated. The top of the receiver is
configured for Remy 700 bases and the B14
will accept pretty much any other
accessories for the 700 too. Overall smart
thinking!
LOOKS GOOD, FEELS GOOD
Fit, feel and presentation are excellent; this
is no radical or exotic design, but a very
standard recipe and example of how a
hunting rifle should be built! I like the fact
the barrel is just a tad heavier than normal,
which offers more stability without being too
heavy. Equally, bolt operation is smooth and
slick and it seems to glide effortlessly in
the action and the safety is well positioned
and will not break your firing handgrip to any
real degree.
Along with the B14 RUAG supplied a
Kahles Helia CSX scope with Automatic
Light illumination, always a pleasure to put
some good glass on any gun and Kahles is
always well up to the task. A little surprise
was the Hausken JD224 reflex moderator or
lyddemper as the Norwegians call them,
which is new. A final item was GECO
76-grain Express ballistic tip with a small
hollow point, not bad fodder for we British,
as it addresses the need for speed with a
bullet good for both fox and deer.
INSERT
The Hausken shows a slightly different
approach to fitting. Unlike all other cans I
have used (and there have been a few!) this
moddy is not thread-specific to the rifle.
Instead a top hat adaptor cut internally for
the individual muzzle thread engages with
the larger standard thread inside the
moderator. Clever in some ways, as for
example you could get the 243 version and
use it on say a 223, that might have a
slimmer thread like 1/2x 28 UNEF or similar.
In use, the moddy worked well and was light,
so not affecting balance significantly!
Being a 243, I reckon that to easily
achieve large deer legal energy levels of 1700
ft/lbs +, a 22” tube is just about entry level,
as this calibre is very velocity sensitive in
shorter barrels; especially with lighter bullets.
The 76-grain Express was shooting ¾” groups
at 100m, so well up for most work, over the
chrono it gave an average 3250 fps/1780 ft/
lbs. GECO quotes 3380 fps/1928 ft/lbs;
another ‘first world’ problem, but not a big
one! With a 243 for deer I would go for a
100-grain bullet that in general should be
producing around 2800/2900 fps and
1750/1850 ft/lbs. Then for foxes, step down
to a 58-grain or similar, which ups the speed
to around 3500 fps and flattens the trajectory
at the cost of energy, at around 1500 ft/lbs,
which is not such an issue.
The forend was a tad flexible but rigid
enough not to interfere with the barrel, even
when shot off a bipod, so I don’t see any big
issues on change of point of impact from
various shooting positions or supports!
Overall a very pleasing rifle and exceptionally
well priced for what you are getting, with the
Sporter giving change from £700.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Looks familiar? Detail
of the safety catch, bolt
shroud, cocked action
indicator and floor
plate mag system. Bolt
operation is a dream!
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SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE
n Name Bergara B14 Sporter
n Calibre 243 Win (on test)
n Capacity 4+1 floor plate or DM mag
n Barrel 22” light medium, 1-10” twist
n Threaded Yes 14x1mm
n Stock black synthetic Monte Carlo style butt
n Scope mounts
Uses any Remy 700 scope mounts
and accessories
n Price £690 B14 Hunter (Green Synthetic) .243, threaded - £745 B14 Walnut, .243, threaded £835 Hausken JD224 £285
Hausken 14mm barrel nut
£16 different threads available
across the range.
Kahles Helia CSX 3 – 12 x 56 4 Dot,
Illuminated £1347