Bergara B14R Heavy Warranty Repair - Completed Update

[hafejd30]

Sent my B14R in for a common issue with B14R rifles purchased from Battlehawk Armory (I’m sure other rifles made it to other dealers as well)

Long story short the start of the rifling had large swipe marks of metal from likely a dull reamer. This was on the start of the rifling all the way around. The barrel also had some decent chatter marks throughout as well

The barreled action was replaced by Bergara. Total time was 2 months from date shipped to returned.

Borescoped the new barreled action. This barrel is much better. There’s a chunk of rifling missing about 3/4 of the way down the barrel. But other than that it seems decent.

Just figured I’d give an update for those who were in the same situation as I know several of us were and I’m sure many others have the issue as well. So if you’re having consistency issues it’s worth a check

I’ll finish the build and put it against my B-4R steel

 

[BowChamp]

You would think if they were warranting a barrel for defects...at the very least they would send you one with no defects. LOL!!!

 

[hafejd30]

You would think if they were warranting a barrel for defects...at the very least they would send you one with no defects. LOL!!!

It would be nice haha

Even says cleaned, lubed, inspected etc on the return sheet. I didn’t look it over a ton. Checked the area of concern on last barrel and that looked good. Made a pass or two down the barrel and noticed that.

I tossed it together. Need to get a scope mount yet. I’ll sell one of my bergaras and probably put a custom barrel on the other. I also bought a CZ 457 to try out

It will depend which one runs the most reliable. If this 20” is an absolute hammer it will stay as is. I’ll throw some weight sorted lots of SK long range through it and see what It does before jumping to conclusions

 

[hangunnr]

Damn, the quality of the replacement barrel is disheartening. I realize it still might shoot but I don’t think I’d accept that.
My barrel has similar “smears” on the leade but still shoots pretty well. With mine when you chamber a round the smears don’t show up on the engraved marks on the bullet so I don’t see them affecting accuracy.

 

[hafejd30]

Damn, the quality of the replacement barrel is disheartening. I realize it still might shoot but I don’t think I’d accept that.
My barrel has similar “smears” on the leade but still shoots pretty well. With mine when you chamber a round the smears don’t show up on the engraved marks on the bullet so I don’t see them affecting accuracy.

For the price they’re now I would not chance one. For general 50 and 100 yard shooting it’s probably fine. I took my 18” out to 300 so far. So I want to compare at more distance than 50 or 100 between the two. Want decent vertical spread

It’s a factory barreled action so I don’t expect custom quality. But I don’t want to pay $650-$900 for a Bergara action just to rebarrel either. They’re not that outstanding

I’ll compare them then ditch one and keep or customize the other. Unless I really like the CZ. Then I’ll dump them both