Bergara Wilderness Ridge or Savage 110 High Country

[rjriflehunter]

For what it's worth, I've heard and read "hit and miss" reports on CA rifles. They either work really well or they are very frustrating to get any kind of decent group. Sadly, a bit similar to Bergaras.

Yeah $1200 is just to much to spend on a hit or miss imo

 

[dogz]

For $800 or less once can have a slam dunk lay up if they go T3 Lite...........life's short, make it easy!

 

[RYEWSKY25284]

I'm stuck between the Bergara Ridge and the Savage 110 High Country, Chambered in 300 win mag (I am kind of considering 6.5 PRC but have already picked up several boxes of 300 win mag), I am stationed in Fairbanks Alaska so it would be used for Caribou, Moose and Bear. I perviously had a Bergara Ridge in 30-06 but could not get it to hold groups so I sent it to Bergara this past March and they were still trying to work the accuracy issue out with it as of today (has been hard for them to get ammo to shoot it) they said the best they could get it to group was 1.5" so they offered a refund and I took it due to Caribou season opening August 10th I gotta get a good LR rifle in my hands. My budget is right around $1200 so I looked at the Christensen Mesa but have heard some horror stories. All in-put is welcome because I am just starting to get my feet wet in long range hunting ( Alaska hunting is way diffrent then Kentucky) The scope that will be on the rifle is a Vortex Viper HS 4-16x44 BDC reticle

I own a Bergara Wilderness Ridge and it shoots every bit as good as my custom builds.
Action is smooth as butter and the trigger is fantastic after adjusting it.
IMO, you can't go wrong with the Bergara. The High Country is too heavy.
my .02 cents

 

[bluedog69]

I have always been a Rem 700 guy. Over the past 25 years I have acquired 5 Savages and shot a couple more of my buddies. Some pre Accu trigger and some Accu trigger.

Wife and I just purchased a 7 Mag and a 30-06 in the High Country. Haven't even gotten around to trying hand loads yet but they seem to be
sub MOA with cheap factory Winchester and Federal rounds.

The other three Savages are three shots under a dime with hand loads.... all factory set triggers.

My daughter bought an A bolt in 25-06 that was a very tight shooter with factory loads.

Good luck no matter which way you go!!!! I am working on hand loads for a TC Venture in 300 Win Mag. Not having much luck yet.
Two to three inch groups in this TC... factory and hand loads. May have to do a lot of experimenting.

So I hope you get a tack driver with what ever you get!!!

 

[nealm66]

Not sure if it's possible but maybe you can find someone with one of those light tikka's and let you shoot it. My brother has one in 300 wsm and while it does shoot good, he ended up having a brake installed and some trigger work done. Kicks pretty good without the brake and even though the trigger measured at 3lbs , it felt like a lot more to us. Action is really nice. The accu trigger on the savages drives me nuts but it just takes a bit to get used to. I haven't shot one of they're light ones but all the savages I've ever owned shoot extremely good but fit and finish and the action can be disappointing. I wouldn't be afraid of throwing the weatherby vanguard in the mix. I've had really good luck with them as well.

 

[rjriflehunter]

I own a Bergara Wilderness Ridge and it shoots every bit as good as my custom builds.
Action is smooth as butter and the trigger is fantastic after adjusting it.
IMO, you can't go wrong with the Bergara. The High Country is too heavy.
my .02 cents

Nice! What caliber?

 

[rjriflehunter]

I have always been a Rem 700 guy. Over the past 25 years I have acquired 5 Savages and shot a couple more of my buddies. Some pre Accu trigger and some Accu trigger.

Wife and I just purchased a 7 Mag and a 30-06 in the High Country. Haven't even gotten around to trying hand loads yet but they seem to be
sub MOA with cheap factory Winchester and Federal rounds.

The other three Savages are three shots under a dime with hand loads.... all factory set triggers.

My daughter bought an A bolt in 25-06 that was a very tight shooter with factory loads.

Good luck no matter which way you go!!!! I am working on hand loads for a TC Venture in 300 Win Mag. Not having much luck yet.
Two to three inch groups in this TC... factory and hand loads. May have to do a lot of experimenting.

So I hope you get a tack driver with what ever you get!!!

Lots of helpful info! Thank you!

 

[rjriflehunter]

Not sure if it's possible but maybe you can find someone with one of those light tikka's and let you shoot it. My brother has one in 300 wsm and while it does shoot good, he ended up having a brake installed and some trigger work done. Kicks pretty good without the brake and even though the trigger measured at 3lbs , it felt like a lot more to us. Action is really nice. The accu trigger on the savages drives me nuts but it just takes a bit to get used to. I haven't shot one of they're light ones but all the savages I've ever owned shoot extremely good but fit and finish and the action can be disappointing. I wouldn't be afraid of throwing the weatherby vanguard in the mix. I've had really good luck with them as well.

Interesting I haven't considered the weatherby

 

[Frank in the Laurels]

NEITHER !! Pick up an el- cheapo deluxe TC Compass for a fraction of the cost and I promise you NO ANIMAL you hunt will ever know or care what rifle sent the bullet that drilled him.....they come in .300WM, put the money you save towards your scope...

 

[Raudy707]

I think if you're gonna be hunting caribou and moose with a mixture of black bear you could go with a 270 wsm, 270 Wby, 6.8 Western or 7 mag and be just fine. If those bears you mentioned are grizz or you will be hunting in grizz territory I'd most definitely get the 300 WM. Since you're leaning towards a lighter weight rifle, dropping down in caliber can alleviate recoil. I like the 300 wm or 35 Whelen in a 9 lb rifle. Not the most packable rifle but it won't kick your *** like a mule either. 6.5 anything is really hard to find ammo for right now so keep that in mind.

 

[Kmccord]

I always here people talking about recoil, I don't know why people are not using muzzle brakes to mitigate the recoil. I have a 28Nosler with a muzzle brake, it kicks like a 270 Win. or less. I have a stepson with a Winchester 300 Win Mag, that thing kicks like a demonic mule, I don't know why he doesn't change the barrel and put a brake on it.. Anymore, I will not go without one that has a cartridge that kicks the snout out of you.

 

[nealm66]

Interesting I haven't considered the weatherby

I would recommend at least handling/cycling one. They fit me well and shoot excellent. They also make prefits for them. If I'm being honest, I like them better than the tikka or savage but not as good as a more expensive browning. Just me though, everyone is different

 

[nealm66]

I always here people talking about recoil, I don't know why people are not using muzzle brakes to mitigate the recoil. I have a 28Nosler with a muzzle brake, it kicks like a 270 Win. or less. I have a stepson with a Winchester 300 Win Mag, that thing kicks like a demonic mule, I don't know why he doesn't change the barrel and put a brake on it.. Anymore, I will not go without one that has a cartridge that kicks the snout out of you.

Ditto. Not to say some guys can't shoot heavy recoil extremely well but I'd say most guys will shoot less recoil better

 

[Raudy707]

Mostly because of the noise factor. You forget to throw in your ear plugs once and your deaf for 3 days. For me, a beenie is enough to not bother my ears but I'm pretty deaf already from 40 years of shooting, motorcycles and chainsaws. I do have brakes and they do work amazing, but if I'm going to be around people I take a rifle without a brake so I don't muzzleblast my friends or family spotting for me.