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FIREARMS | GUN TEST

Pete Moore tests Bergara’s latest bolt-gun and finds a familiar design that has been born again and done right

Bergara 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!

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

Bolt face detail, note the plunger ejector and more

conventional extractor claw as opposed to the 700’s design

IMPROVED!PRODUCT

The new Bergara BX14 – bloody nice rifle and well up to task! Here it’s fitted with the Hausken JD224 reflex moddy

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GUN TEST | FIREARMS

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,

Well priced, well built and eminently shootable

FORNot a lot

AGAINSTOverall a great rifleMoney well spent in any calibre or model

VERDICT

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“Very soon all B14s will come with a detachable box magazine, which I prefer”

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.

LOCKPulling 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!

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”.

STOCKThe 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

Detail of the large, bolt release catch, The BX14 uses Remy 700 compatible bases and will accept other accessories for this iconic rifle

The barrel is fully floated and the forend, though

flexing a little, does not influence the barrel even

when shot off a bipod!

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

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FIREARMS | GUN TEST

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONSn Name Bergara B14 Sportern Calibre 243 Win (on test)n Capacity 4+1 floor plate or DM magn Barrel 22” light medium, 1-10” twistn Threaded Yes 14x1mmn Stock black synthetic Monte Carlo style buttn Scope mounts Uses any Remy 700 scope mounts

and accessoriesn 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

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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 GOODFit, 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.

INSERTThe 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.

Overall a most pleasing design, the Sporter (shown) is also joined by the wood-

stocked Timber and the green synthetic Hunter, this

last has an ambi stock

Looks familiar? Detail of the safety catch, bolt

shroud, cocked action indicator and floor

plate mag system. Bolt operation is a dream!