My dad wants a new rifle.

[CarbonBonds]

My dad is looking at getting a new rifle. He has it narrowed down to three options: Bergara B-14 Wilderness, Bergara Premier Series, or the Seekins Havak PH2. All three rifles will meet his shooting/hunting needs. Is spending the extra ~$800 worth is to get the Bergara Premier or the Seekins Havak PH2?

 

[Aoudad shooter1975]

I like the Seekins offering...

 

[HARPERC]

I'd go with Seekins.

 

[JMW67]

Yes its worth it

 

[dogbuster0006]

Is the rifle just for hunting or do you do a bit more shooting than double-checking a zero the week before season? What type of hunting stand or stalking? Is weight and barrel length going to be a factor? Will this be a rifle that's kept in the family for years to come or is it going to be around for a couple of years till he's bored with it and wants something different. I know folks at both ends of the spectrum on this. I've got a few guns I'll have forever, a couple that are tools only, no real attachment to them. If it's a rifle for a particular hunt or will be used very little spending the extra money is of no real benefit. If you are like most of the folks in my area their gun(s) sit in the safe 98% of the time, zero is checked a couple of days before the season. It's hunted with for a couple of weeks and returned to the safe.
If it'll be used off and on all year to kill pests and what not then having the "fancier" gun would be a benefit. I've got a couple in a rotation that stay in my truck or on a four-wheeler anytime I'm out and about. I use them more I see the benefit of the nicer rifle and handgun weekly. There's always a coyote, groundhog, or other varmint needing to be smacked in my area. I've got a couple of "cheap" guns that I have no attachment to they shoot good enough but are utilitarian no one bats an eye when they see them. A nicer gun always gets second looks and wants to be checked out by others.
By no means am I saying don't buy a nice rifle, fine guns get better the more time you spend with them.

In his book Eastern Upland Shooting, Charles A. Norris said, "Without a dog, upland shooting is a poor, drab, lonesome, and generally unsatisfactory business. Much of the joy of shooting is dependent upon the companionship of a favorite dog." So it is, too, with the shotguns we hold when we follow our dogs in the woods. We can't change the weather, but we can pick which guns we uncase for a hunt. My choice, regardless of the weather, is a Parker. If yours is a Winchester Model 21, so be it. Or a Model 12, or a Fox BE, or an Ithaca Flues. Take care of 'em, sure, but take 'em out of the case.

After all, life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun.

 

[Skimbleshanks]

Seekins makes nice stuff. No experience with Bergara.

 

[Alb Greg]

If it's for Dad it's worth it.

 

[Deleted member 115751]

My dad is looking at getting a new rifle. He has it narrowed down to three options: Bergara B-14 Wilderness, Bergara Premier Series, or the Seekins Havak PH2. All three rifles will meet his shooting/hunting needs. Is spending the extra ~$800 worth is to get the Bergara Premier or the Seekins Havak PH2?

I own two Bergara B-14 Wilderness Terrain rifles. One chambered in 300 win mag and the other in 7 mm Rem Mag. I also own the B-14 Hunter in 270 win and B-14 HMR in 22-250. I also happen to own a few Remington 700 rifles. I can tell you without hesitation that the fit and finish of *my* Bergara rifles far surpasses that of *my* Remington rifles. The Bergara Wilderness Terrians and the HMR both include a mini-chasis in the stock. This makes it incredibly stiff and strong but it also adds weight. Even the B-14 which has fiberglass reinforced polymer stock is incredibly strong. I took a polymer engineering course in my senior year in college and we had discussed how adding glass fibers to plastics improves their strength to weight ratio but I had no idea how dramatic the effect was until I handled the B14 Hunter. For the money you cannot go wrong with the Bergara offerings. If your Dad likes magnums and doesn't mind a little extra weight go for the Wilderness Terrains I promise you won't regret it.

 

[JAYgs8163]

I just finished building a 6.5 PRC off a Bergara Premier Barreled action I bought from Brownells. Have not shot it yet but the action is very impressive. The Premier series is made in their custom shop in Georgia and the action cycles extremely smooth. The Premier series also go through a additional process when the barrel is MFGd, their process of lapping I guess. I've yet to shoot it so no field report as of yet. I know others that are having fantastic results with them. The premier series also comes with a Greyboe stock and bottom metal along with a TriggerTech trigger. I used a Greyboe stock also out of their custom shop that had a different camo scheme along with their bottom metal. A friend of mine did all the Cerakote work. Good luck with what you choose.

 

[Nate T]

Great

I just finished building a 6.5 PRC off a Bergara Premier Barreled action I bought from Brownells. Have not shot it yet but the action is very impressive. The Premier series is made in their custom shop in Georgia and the action cycles extremely smooth. The Premier series also go through a additional process when the barrel is MFGd, their process of lapping I guess. I've yet to shoot it so no field report as of yet. I know others that are having fantastic results with them. The premier series also comes with a Greyboe stock and bottom metal along with a TriggerTech trigger. I used a Greyboe stock also out of their custom shop that had a different camo scheme along with their bottom metal. A friend of mine did all the Cerakote work. Good luck with what you choose.

View attachment 222773View attachment 222774

Great looking build! I'm sitting in the stand as I type this hunting with my Bergara Highlander in 6.5 PRC

 

[judgebill]

Rifles; arguably you can't have too many of them. There is always another one that fills that niche you didn't know existed...until you read about it in a magazine. So after spending a few years on this site, reading thousands of lines of print I put my money on a Fierce firearm, in .338 Lapua Mag. The company guarantees 1/2 MOA at 100 yards. Five shots to sight in and the next three went into 1/2 MOA. Absolutely no complaints.

 

[blvette75]

My dad is looking at getting a new rifle. He has it narrowed down to three options: Bergara B-14 Wilderness, Bergara Premier Series, or the Seekins Havak PH2. All three rifles will meet his shooting/hunting needs. Is spending the extra ~$800 worth is to get the Bergara Premier or the Seekins Havak PH2?

I have an B14 HMR in 6.5 Creedmoor, with a 24" barrel rifle shoots very well, with multiple match bullets been able to shoot through same hole at 100 yards with three shots, 140 or 143 grain ammo. At the time I bought mine there was no Premier Series as it is now. I would say or the features you get with the premier are worth it I have looked at recently a Premier Highlander and the Approach either of these I would have purchased if available at the time still may purchase one in ether 300 PRC. or 28 Nosler. The wilderness series are very nice rifles your dad will not be dissappointed. As far as the Seekins offering from what I have heard it is a very good rifle but no availability here to see one in person.

 

[Randel]

My dad is looking at getting a new rifle. He has it narrowed down to three options: Bergara B-14 Wilderness, Bergara Premier Series, or the Seekins Havak PH2. All three rifles will meet his shooting/hunting needs. Is spending the extra ~$800 worth is to get the Bergara Premier or the Seekins Havak PH2?

have you thought of weatherby mark5

 

[P7M13]

Not a whole lot of info on your dad, but good on you for getting him a rifle.
If your dad is still active, agile and sporty, get him any of the above.
Seekins makes top shelf stuff, cannot go wrong with that.
Every Bergara I've handled, I've walked away wanting one for myself. They are shooters too.

If he's an occasional hunter, you might tickle his aesthetic fancy with a Weatherby Mk IV like @Randel suggests, or look to a Sako.
Now for the April Fools aspect:
Give him a small box with a key to your trunk and a lump of coal. In the trunk is the rifle with his name on it.