Bolt won't close on bergara with factory ammo

[Varberger757]

I have seen several tests and reviews about Bergara rifles and know people who have them. They are simply brilliant although they are very (!) reasonable priced. Outstanding accuracy and reliabilty is their signature. I'm convinced that the problems have their origin in the ammunition used. Too big tolerances under production. Bergara is made in Spain and related to European CIP - data and not SAAMI.

 

[lobo6942]

Actually I have had some Nosler 7mm STW 160 gr8 long range that was a touch too long for a factory Remington 700. The rifle would shoot everything else just fine but this Nosler load was a bit tight to load. Not re al hard, but tight.
Not my brightest day, I just did not put it together. Went ahead and shot a couple of rounds.
Heck of a kick, 2 shots thru one hole, but hard bolt lift and flat primers, rounds cronoed at a little over 3500 fps! That's moving a 160 in a STW.
Set that box aside and went on shooting other ammo.
When I got home and started investigating I found that the ogive measurement on those was .012 more than my std chamber measurement. Bullets were jamming the lands. Explained the pressure signs and high velocity.
Took the rest home and put them in my press and set them back .02.
Shot fine with no pressure issues.

 

[Susquatch]

I'm very confused now. I don't have one, but I've read that the 6.5 Creedmore will make any rifle shoot better. Is there anything you can believe in anymore?

Hahahaha!

 

[Swiftkill]

Something just doesnt seem right.

Measure the case diameter at the shoulder and head area (just in front of the rim). Compare and make sure the one that doesnt fit is to spec. If it is then they headspaced it wrong. You should be able to push the bullet into the case or the bullet into the lands if you push hard enough.

 

[birdiemc]

I'm very confused now. I don't have one, but I've read that the 6.5 Creedmore will make any rifle shoot better. Is there anything you can believe in anymore?

Man I never even thought about it, I should have just pulled the trigger and let the smokeless unicorn powder sort out all the details.
I guess this is the perfect time to bring up the fact that this is my wife's new gun...perfect excuse to get to try out the new wonder boy cartridge but not have to grow a man bun or braid my beard

 

[L.Sherm]

You should be able to push the bullet into the case or the bullet into the lands if you push hard enough.

You have enough neck tension you wont unless you really force it. I see theres a cannular in the pic they might also crimp

 

[Susquatch]

Thought you might like to know that Ed Shilen (of Shilen Rifles) himself helped Bergara with their precision barrel making process as a consultant after he retired.

My very first custom rifle was smithed by Ed himself for me way back in the day. It was a 222 bench rest rifle, king of the accuracy hill, built long before the PPC and BR were developed. Its still one of my favorite rifles and still drives tacks.

Ed passed away a few years ago. He was my inspiration to get into precision smithing.

I feel like Shilen Rifles were the first of many to Pioneer Precision Barrel making and that Bergara is yet another way that Ed lives on. Without barrels like the Shilen there would be no Long Range Hunting or even this forum.

 

[Ted Rose]

I'm out shooting right now, and the bolt wont close. Brand new bergara b-14 6.5 creedmoor, never fired. Trying factory Nosler 120 gr ballistic tips. Tried to chamber one, bolt wont close, tried another and another. Very tight. Forced it on one and drag marks on bullet. Not firing it because from what I'm seeing it looks to be jammed .250" When I get home I'll start taking measurements to see what's going on, but just from my description and the picture below what say you?
One chambered, one not.View attachment 123871

Well from what I heard 6.5 Creedmore does everything and cleans itself and hits every target with Every round whether it's moving or not and give you change.

 

[rjferber]

Okay, you made me get out my Bergara B14 Hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor and check. It has been in the safe since last summer, but have not gotten to the range with it as yet. The very first thing I do when I acquire a new firearm is to perform at least a basic disassembly and cleaning. The Bergara was packed with whatever type of lubricant they used these days as it was covered with grease inside the action and bore.

Actually. I'm on my second Bergara B14 Hunter as on the first one, the bolt came apart after the first shot. The rear of the bolt jumped nearly all the threads on the back of the bolt. I recall the bolt being packed with grease as well . . . I should have disassembled & cleaned it as well. I took it back to the dealer and the defective firearm was replaced with a new one, but I have not yet fired any rounds through it.

This following are the types of ammo I had on hand & I tried (3) rounds of each type, by loading (3) rounds into the magazine and then cycling them through the action. I did not experience any problems closing the bolt and/or ejecting any rounds and loading the next one. The bolt closed easily on all (15) rounds.

ELD® Match ELD 120 grain 2,910 Hornady
Gold Metal Berger OTM 130 grain 2,875 Federal Premium
American Gunner HPBT 140 grain 2,690 Hornady
Precision Hunter ELD-X 143 grain 2,700 Hornady
ELD® Match ELD 147 grain 2,695 Hornady

 

[birdiemc]

Okay, you made me get out my Bergara B14 Hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor and check.
I recall the bolt being packed with grease as well . . . I should have disassembled & cleaned it as well.

Glad you pointed that out, I need to disassemble and clean the bolt as well, because I noticed all that grease there too.

 

[Susquatch]

Gotta remember they are built in Spain and probably come to North America by boat. Salt water mist in a hot humid ships hold would probably do more damage than we can guess. Just imagine a pitted bore on your brand new rifle... Its probably better to be thankful for all the grease.

FWIW, the Sakos I have seen come with lots of grease too.

 

[rjferber]

I totally agree . . . I didn't mean to present that as a negative item. My CZ's & Steyr's also have a good supply of lubricant applied to the action and barrel. I thought the bolt was a bit excessive but easy enough to clean up.

 

[birdiemc]

I totally agree . . . I didn't mean to present that as a negative item. My CZ's & Steyr's also have a good supply of lubricant applied to the action and barrel. I thought the bolt was a bit excessive but easy enough to clean up.

Just out of curiosity, the one that the bolt came apart in, did you clean it before that first shot? Or like me did you just load and go?
After all this I'm actually glad they wouldn't chamber so I couldn't fire it, because who knows what kind of pressure spike that grease could have caused.
Definitely learned my lesson though, always clean every new rifle from now on.

 

[WildRose]

Definitely agree, that's why I chose not to fire, or to force it multiple times. Without knowing the cause of the issue it would have been foolish to keep messing with those particular rounds. I was grateful that I had different factory ammo show up that I was able to test fit in the chamber and pleased that it cycled flawlessly.

Please, just pick up a phone and call Bergara tomorrow and don't do anything else until you've spoken with them unless you're ready to just box it up and send it back.

Anything else could end very badly for you.