I'd like to share a review with you of a rifle I purchased a bit over a year ago: a Bergara HMR in .308 Winchester. This rifle is essentially a copy of the Remington 700 action. If you like the Model 700, and I do, then you'll like this Bergara HMR. If you don't like the 700, then you probably won't like the Bergara HMR. For what it's worth, HMR stands for hunting match rifle. As it turns out, with a good load, this rifle will shoot as well as you can hold it. The stock is a comb adjustable synthetic and comes with sling swivel studs, plus and extra stud out front for attaching a bipod. The recoil pad is soft and squishy. I have read where some shooters don't like the recoil pad.
I love it! The recoil pad 'sticks' to my shoulder pocket in standing, sitting and prone. It doesn't move under recoil.
Last Thursday evening my son and I were out at the local range and we were working on our rimfire known distance and getting our come ups. Once that was done I said I felt like shooting a 25 Meter Red Coat Target to confirm my 25 meter zero and I managed to clear the red coat with the 10/22. Then Nathaniel says, "I bet you can't do that at 100 yards". So I said I'd give it a go with the .308. My only concession to the challenge was I'd try it with five shots and not thirteen.
I have developed a very accurate medium power load for the Bergara featuring Varget for the powder and Hornady 168 gr bthp bullets. The nice thing about a .30 caliber is you can see the holes in the target through the scope! I put myself in Prep, got into the sling and then into prone. With the first shot, I could clearly see the hole in the red 100 yard silhouette. I made the correction, and ran the rest. It was a tad breezy but not too bad. With Nathaniel's challenge I found I had to totally concentrate on getting solid position-NPOA-and the six steps. Oh, how they work! To that I also find relaxing into the sling to be an imperative.
The rifle is a bit heavy but when you're in the sling the weight was no issue in prone. There's a gong at the 300 yard line and it appears to be the size of a manhole cover. With this rifle, standing, going 5x5 was no problem. Love the adjustable comb. Great trigger too. I'd like to find one in 6mm Creedmoor. I think this rifle, with its detachable magazines, would be a fine choice for anyone wanting a very accurate rifle that is easy to work with.
Anyway, it was fun to show the kid the old man can still shoot.
In Liberty,
Gus
IIT 1
Alaska Rifleman #151
These are nice rifles indeed and show up at our diatance events here at the Whittington Center.
We have placed these and the AQT at 100 yards too. The reduced targets become 400, 800, 1200 and 1600 yards.
Nice shooting.