Killertraylor
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2008
- Messages
- 912
Bought a brand new Bergara Premier Approach in 6mm Creedmoor. Took it to the range for the first time this week and it shot lights out with Hornady factory 103 eldx (.327) and 108 eldm (.221) - three shot groups. Decided to try some handloads and all I had other than the spent Hornady brass is a box of new lapua small primer pocket. I've loaded for many 6.5 creedmoor rifles with the Lapua brass without issue. I tried healthy loads of R17 and R26 with CCI 450 primers. I've loaded tens of thousands of centerfire cases and use a Hornady hand priming tool so I can feel the primers seat - everything looked great. I tried 4 different loads, just 3 of each so 12 rounds total. I had 3 failure to fires. One of the rounds I was able to get to detonate the second try. The other two I tried 5 or 6 times and they wouldn't fire. Crater in the primer from the firing pin looked just as deep as the empty cases that did fire. Should I try a heavier bolt spring? Anyone know if the Bergara Premier uses the same spring as a Rem 700? I see Midway sells a heavy Wolff spring for $7. All of the factory ammo shot great, no failures to fire (12 rounds).
One interesting side note - this gun was brand new in the box (purchased directly from a wholesaler as I hold an FFL) and when I received it, I pulled the action from the stock to check it out and then looked down the barrel. The barrel was fouled and the boltface appeared to have quite a bit of brass case-head fouling on it. I scrubbed it with Boretech eliminator 2 or 3 times and even let it soak overnight to get all the copper out. I'll bet I pushed 20 patches through it that came out dark blue. Bergara must have shot this thing a bunch for some reason. Might call them next week to see if that's the norm for them.
Thanks for any help you can provide.
One interesting side note - this gun was brand new in the box (purchased directly from a wholesaler as I hold an FFL) and when I received it, I pulled the action from the stock to check it out and then looked down the barrel. The barrel was fouled and the boltface appeared to have quite a bit of brass case-head fouling on it. I scrubbed it with Boretech eliminator 2 or 3 times and even let it soak overnight to get all the copper out. I'll bet I pushed 20 patches through it that came out dark blue. Bergara must have shot this thing a bunch for some reason. Might call them next week to see if that's the norm for them.
Thanks for any help you can provide.