
Molded into the stock for repeatable bedding and accuracy is an integrated mini-chassis. The world-renowned fully free-floated Bergara barrel on this hunting and match rifle (hence the HMR) is complemented by the super-smooth B-14 action, which is a two-lug system with a sliding plate extractor and a coned bolt nose and breech to ensure smooth feeding and extraction of the cartridge. only 4 of 7 calibers available in left-handed versionīuilt for hunters and long-range competitive shooters, the Bergara B-14 HMR is a top-notch rifle.fully free-floated barrel and one-piece action.Guaranteed 1.0 MOA groups or less at 100 yards with quality factory match grade ammo.Why It Made the Cut: Bergara’s barrels set the benchmark in the industry and are renowned for their quality. Intended Use: If it’s a precision long-range rifle, what kind of adjustments does the stock have and how is it bedded? If it’s a hunting rifle, is it light enough for long treks in the woods? How you’ll use the rifle will help determine what aspects should be focused on when making a final selection.Ĭost: Does this rifle provide a good value for the money? Am I getting what you would expect, or more, at a given price point? The Best Bolt-Action Rifles: Reviews & Recommendations Best Overall: Bergara B-14 HMR
Deer drive with a bolt action rifle full#
When it comes down to picking the right one for me, I evaluate bolt-action rifles using the following criteria:īuild Quality: What materials went into making the rifle and how does that translate into the finished gun? Does it handle like you’d expect for what it is, or does the action feel like it is full of sand? Is it built like a tank or does it need to be babied? Build quality will make or break a rifle. As a result, I own bolt-action rifles at a variety of different price points in calibers and configurations that fit a variety of different purposes. I’ve learned that sometimes less is more and have been pleasantly surprised, while I’ve also certainly experienced guns where “you get what you pay for” applies-at both ends of the spectrum. Thanks to that wide selection of offerings, though, it can be hard to narrow things down and pick the best bolt-action rifle.įrom budget rimfires to precision long-range rigs that cost more than my first car, I’ve been fortunate enough to shoot a lot of different bolt-action rifles over the years. Whether it came out of the box that way or it’s been broken in from being handed down through the generations, there’s just something about it that you can’t get from a semi-auto rifle.Įven though they may not be as popular today as they were in the past, there are still a plethora of great, brand new bolt-action rifles being made each and every day throughout the world. To be fair, there are a ton of great semi-autos on the market, but there’s nothing quite like the feeling of working the buttery-smooth bolt in a high quality bolt-action rifle. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that. Most people today gravitate to semi-automatic guns when picking out a new rifle, never thinking about a bolt-action rifle.
