Top Bergara Rifles For Long Range & Hunting: What Makes Them Special?

Before the company started making their own top-shelf precision rifles, Bergara manufactured high-quality rifle barrels for some of the best-known gun manufacturers in the world– and for good reason, as Bergara treats barrels as the heart and soul of a good rifle.

Using advanced barrel manufacturing techniques, state-of-the-art CNC machinery, and an old-world commitment to quality, a rifle barrel must reach a high bar to earn the name Bergara.

Starting with a straight bar of high-performance cylindrical steel, Bergara begins with an inspection process that makes sure the raw material meets a linear deviation of less than .004 of an inch– a key quality control aspect that many other barrel makers fail to meet right off the bat.

After all, you cannot have an accurate barrel without first having a straight barrel.

Next, while it’s commonplace for barrels to be made by drilling a hole in the center of the barrel blank, then hammer-ream it out to the required diameter, Bergara takes a different approach.

Using three progressively larger diamond-tipped honing spindles that leave an interior surface that has a mirror-like finish rather than the less than desirable tool-marked bores often seen in reamed barrels, Bergara barrels start their life ahead of the game.

Then comes a rifling process that uses a carbide rifling button and produces a groove diameter in the bore with a deviation of fewer than .0002 inches. That is two-10,000ths of an inch—we are talking microns here. After this comes a proprietary high-temperature stress-relieving process.

In short, Bergara uses modern techniques to reliably duplicate the legendary hand-lapped barrels of custom gunsmiths in a process that is scalable and affordable, putting a factory-produced rifle in your hands today rather than make a would-be buyer cool off for a three-year waiting period with the custom barrel smith and at a fraction of the price.

Speaking of custom smiths, barrel maker Ed Shilen– whose barrels won no less than 13 world records, enshrining him in the bench rest hall of fame– helped Bergara develop their barrel manufacturing techniques.

Little wonder the company’s motto is, “Our barrels make the difference,” backed up by the fact that Bergara goes well beyond what many other barrel makers do when it comes to crafting their high-quality rifles, backing up to a history of precision with real-world performance.

But are Bergara rifles any good?

Expanding from their European roots, Bergara USA, based in Lawrenceville, Georgia, has been a staple of the American rifle market for a decade. To help make sure they had the right people on the ground, one of the company’s first key hires in the States was the former Production Chief and Chief Instructor for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Precision Weapons Section.

When it comes to elite users, police tactical teams, including Atlanta Police SWAT units, are increasingly moving to Bergara-made guns.

If you still are not sure, do not just ask us, run it by the more than 20,000 folks in the Bergara Enthusiasts group. In short, there’s more than marketing speak behind Bergara’s rifles.

Understanding the difference between Bergara’s two main rifle lines is crucial for making the right choice. Think of it like comparing a custom shop rifle to a factory production model – both excellent, but built for different needs and budgets.

Premier Series: Made in the USA Premium

The premier actions and barrels are made from premium stainless steel, and are finished in Cerakote. The premier bolt has a fluted body, and an interchangeable floating bolt head, and features a tool-less, ¼ turn takedown for easy cleaning and disassembly. The premier line also uses Triggertech primary triggers, and top of the line stocks and components made exclusively in the USA.

The Premier line represents Bergara’s no-compromise approach. Every component is premium grade, from the stainless steel construction to the floating bolt head that ensures consistent lockup. The TriggerTech trigger is a significant upgrade over standard factory triggers, offering crisp breaks and easy adjustability without removing the action from the stock.

B-14 Series: Spanish-Made Value

The B-14’s are made in Spain, and all of it’s components are sourced from overseas. The barrels and actions are made from a high carbon steel rather than stainless, The rifles also have a Cerakote finish. The shape of the B-14 bolt head in the same as the Premier, but it is not a floating bolt head, and it does require simple tools to disassemble and clean the bolt and its internal components.

The B-14 series delivers Bergara’s legendary barrel accuracy at a more accessible price point. While using high carbon steel instead of stainless and a fixed bolt head design, these rifles still maintain the sub-MOA accuracy guarantee that made Bergara famous.

Premier rifles are for shooters who want the absolute best and are willing to pay for premium features like tool-free bolt disassembly and TriggerTech triggers. B-14 rifles deliver the same core accuracy at nearly half the price, making them ideal for hunters and recreational shooters who prioritize performance over premium touches.

1. Best for Mountain Hunting: Premier Highlander

Using Bergara’s Premier bolt action and a Grayboe fiberglass stock, the Highlander runs a TriggerTech frictionless trigger and is offered in seven popular calibers including 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .300 PRC, and .28 Nosler.

As its name would imply, this is a well-built mountain gun with weighs as low as 7.2-pounds while balancing the lightweight with an Omni muzzle brake on a stainless-steel threaded barrel that, if removed, can be used with other muzzle devices or a suppressor for those seeking some quiet time.

Why it works for mountain hunting:

• 7.2 pounds – Still lightweight enough for extended carries, 1.2 lbs savings over traditional hunting rifles
• Omni muzzle brake included – Reduces felt recoil for better shot placement on steep angles
• Threaded barrel – Suppressor-ready for early morning hunts without spooking game
• Grayboe fiberglass stock – Weather-resistant and durable for harsh mountain conditions
• $150 savings over Mountain 2.0 – Better value if ultimate weight isn’t critical

2. Best for Traditional Hunting: Approach

Another of Bergara’s Premier series guns, the Approach has a Grayboe stock and TriggerTech trigger pack and is offered in eight, often traditional, centerfire calibers to include .22-250, .308 Win, and 7mm Rem Mag. Originally introduced in 2019 with an FDE finish, it now sports a graphite black Cerakote scheme and Omni muzzle brake.

Why it’s ideal for general hunting:

• Eight caliber options – Includes traditional rounds like .22-250, .308 Win, 7mm Rem Mag for various game
• 8-pound balanced weight – Heavy enough for stability, light enough for all-day carries
• Classic hunting rifle features – Designed for flush-and-shoot scenarios, not long-range precision
• Graphite black Cerakote – Low-profile finish that won’t spook game or reflect light
• Proven hunting pedigree – Originally introduced in 2019, refined based on hunter feedback

3. Best for Backcountry Hunting: Mountain 2.0

Going even lighter than the Highlander while keeping the company’s Premier bolt action, the Mountain 2.0 bolt action rifle gets down into the 6-pound range by using short (22-to-24-inch) No. 3 taper barrels and a 100 percent carbon fiber stock by AG Composite.

Rugged, it has a stainless-steel bolt body and a spring-loaded sliding plate extractor. It still shows up in all the popular long-range calibers including 6.5CM, 6.5 PRC, .300 Win Mag, and .300 PRC.

Why it’s perfect for backcountry hunting:

• Ultralight at 6 pounds – Every ounce matters on multi-day pack hunts and steep terrain
• Carbon fiber stock – Provides strength without weight penalty, won’t warp in temperature extremes
• Short 22-24″ barrels – Easier to maneuver in tight spaces, reduces overall rifle length for pack transport
• Premier-grade accuracy – Sub-MOA performance when that one shot at a trophy animal counts most
• No. 3 taper barrel – Optimized weight-to-accuracy ratio for mountain conditions

4. Extended Range/Entry PRS Pick: Ridgeback

A heavier offering, the Ridgeback is a Premier bolt action system rifle that has a Grayboe fiberglass stock with adjustable cheek piece and length of pull spacers that fully supports M-LOK accessory rails. Ditching the more traditional hinged floorplate as seen on legacy bolt guns, the Ridgeback uses an AICS detachable mag and mounts a medium Palma taper barrel.

Weight is 10-pounds, but this gun delivers at distance and was recently expanded to include .28 Nosler variants, a round that is gaining in popularity.

Why it works for very long ranges:

• M-LOK accessory rails – Mount bipods, lights, or other precision shooting accessories
• Adjustable cheek piece and LOP spacers – Fine-tune fit for consistent scope alignment
• AICS detachable magazines – Faster reloads for follow-up shots on moving game
• 10-pound weight – Added mass for recoil control with magnum cartridges
• Medium Palma taper barrel – Optimized for sustained accuracy at extreme distances

5. Long-Range Hunting Pick: HMR Pro

A design that blends a match gun and a hunting rifle, the HMR Pro bolt action rifle has a full-length integrated mini chassis to support its No. 5.5/6 taper free-floating barrel. The molded stock has integrated QD flush cup sling mounts and swivels and is adjustable for both length of pull and cheek rise.

This 9~ pound dream gun is one of Bergara’s most popular Premier series bolt-actions and is offered in no less than nine different calibers, all using AICS pattern mags. This is one of the company’s newest designs, only introduced in 2019.

Why it excels at extended ranges:

• Hybrid design philosophy – A design that blends a match gun and a hunting rifle
• Mini chassis system – Provides repeatable bedding for consistent accuracy shot after shot
• Nine caliber options – Includes long-range favorites like 6.5 PRC, .300 PRC, .28 Nosler
• Adjustable length of pull and cheek rise – Proper fit crucial for long-range precision
• 9-pound sweet spot – Heavy enough for stability, not too heavy for hunting mobility
• Free-floating barrel – Eliminates stock interference that affects long-range accuracy

6. Competition/PRS Pick: LRP 2.0

Using an adjustable XLR Element 3.0 chassis stock with an AR-15 style grip and 24-to-26-inch stainless steel No. 6 taper barrel, Bergara’s Long Range Precision 2.0model is sweet.

Another of the company’s Premier series bolt action rifles, the Precision 2.0 has an aluminum chassis, Timney flat trigger, and threaded barrel. The LRP is available in 6.5CM, 6.5 PRC, .300 Win Mag, and .300 PRC. For those curious, the original LRP was very similar but used a legacy version of the XLR stock, was not offered in as many calibers, and had a Dead Air muzzle device.

Why it dominates competition:

• XLR Element 3.0 chassis – Fully adjustable platform for any shooting position or body type
• AR-15 style grip – Familiar ergonomics for tactical shooters transitioning to precision rifles
• 24-26″ heavy barrels – Maximum velocity and heat resistance for rapid-fire stages
• Competition-ready out of box – No modifications needed to be competitive in PRS Production Class
• Aluminum chassis construction – Rigid platform that maintains zero through transport and position changes
• Timney flat trigger – Consistent break weight critical for precision shooting

7. Budget Hunting Pick: B-14 Timber

First introduced at the end of 2014, Bergara’s B-14 series is not quite as finished as their Premier bolt-actions, but that does not mean that they are not capable. Super smooth and guaranteed to be “1 MOA or better” accurate with factory ammo, these Spanish-produced guns have gained a following.

When first debuted, the typical B-14 was the Timber series which used a throwback Monte Carlo oil-finished walnut stock with raised comb and cheekpiece and checkering on the forearm and pistol grip– a gun that would have blended well at a hunting camp in the 1950s– and the plainer synthetic-stocked B-14 Hunter bolt action rifle.

However, these days the line has been expanded with more contemporary variants like the BMP (match gun with full chassis, fully adjustable stock, and AICS mags), HMR (brown flecked adjustable composite stock, adjustable trigger, mini chassis), and Ridge (synthetic stock, calibers such as .450 Bushmaster, threaded barrel).

Why it’s perfect for entry-level hunters:

• Sub-$1,000 price point – Accessible for new hunters or those building their first precision rifle
• 7.5-pound hunting weight – Traditional feel without being burdensome
• Sub-MOA accuracy guarantee – Same precision promise as Premier series at half the price
• Choice of synthetic or walnut – Synthetic for durability, walnut for traditional aesthetics
• Proven B-14 platform – Same barrel quality that made Bergara famous, just simpler features

8. Best For Training/Rimfire Competition: B-14R Trainer

Speaking of entry-level, the B-14R series rifles — with the “R” meaning “rimfire”- have all the features of the B-14 match style 700-footprint centerfire rifles but shoot the lighter and more economical .22LR rounds.

Currently, the B-14R is available in two formats: the first with a carbon fiber Bergara barrel and the second with a stainless barrel. The difference is that the CF barrel slices off weight, dropping more than a pound when compared to the stainless B-14R for an extra $100 on the asking price.

Regardless, both models use a mini-chassis HMR stock, have a performance trigger, threaded 18-inch No. 6 Taper barrel, and use AICS style mags. And in big news, Bergara this year plans to expand this series to include both .22WMR and .17HMR caliber variants as well, which is sure to be welcome in small game circles.

Why it’s perfect for training:

• Centerfire rifle features in rimfire – scaled-down version of their full-size B-14R for skill transfer
• Match-grade components – Carbon steel receiver and bolt, not alloy like cheaper rimfires
• AICS pattern magazines – Same manual of arms as centerfire precision rifles
• Threaded 18″ barrel – Suppressor-ready for training without hearing protection
• 2 lb 13 oz trigger – Clean break develops proper trigger control habits
• Affordable .22 LR training – Develop skills for pennies compared to centerfire ammunition

9. Plinking/Small Game Pick: BXR Semi-Auto Rimfire

The company’s only semi-auto, the BXR was introduced in 2019. Using some Ruger 10/22 compatible components such as mags and triggers, it is billed as ideal for plinking and small game hunting while still being a stiff leg up from mass-produced big box .22s.

It is available with either Chromoly steel or carbon fiber tensioned steel barrels and comes standard with Bergara’s adjustable synthetic tactical stock and a 3.5-pound trigger.

Why it works for casual shooting:

• Ruger 10/22 compatibility – Access to huge aftermarket of triggers, stocks, and accessories
• Semi-automatic action – Fast follow-up shots for plinking or small game hunting
• Adjustable synthetic stock – Fits different shooters without permanent modifications
• 3.5-pound trigger – Better than most factory semi-auto triggers for improved accuracy
• Bergara barrel quality – Precision accuracy in a fun-to-shoot platform

10. Youth/Budget Rimfire Pick: BMR Rimfire

After spending over a year with the Bergara BMR, I can confidently say this rifle has earned a permanent spot in my safe. What initially seemed like just another .22 LR has proven to be something special.

The BMR delivers the accuracy you’d expect from Bergara’s renowned barrel-making heritage. Even with bulk-packed ammo, I consistently shot one-inch groups at 50 yards, and the rifle really shines with quality ammunition. The factory Bergara Performance Trigger is outstanding—crisp, adjustable from 2.5-3.5 pounds, and honestly, I’ve never felt the need to upgrade it despite the rifle’s compatibility with Remington 700 triggers.

What impressed me most was how effortless the BMR is to shoot well. The bolt action is surprisingly smooth for a rimfire, avoiding the binding issues common in short-throw .22 actions. At under six pounds, it’s manageable for shooters of all ages—my kids have practically claimed ownership of this rifle for everything from plinking to small game hunting.

The threaded barrel (½-28) pairs beautifully with suppressors, and the included 30 MOA scope base adds serious value by maximizing elevation travel. Both the 5 and 10-round magazines have functioned flawlessly through hundreds of rounds.

At around $550, the BMR competes directly with the Tikka T1X and CZ 457, while offering less modularity than the Ruger RPR but superior build quality and that signature Bergara accuracy. For shooters wanting a quality rimfire without the premium price tag, the BMR delivers exactly what it promises—reliable precision in a well-executed package.

Why it’s ideal for beginners:

• Scaled-down platform – Proportional to smaller shooters, not just a shortened adult rifle
• 5-6 pound weight – Manageable for youth or smaller-statured adults
• Carbon or steel barrel options – Choose based on weight preference and budget
• Remington 700 trigger compatibility – Upgrade path as skills develop
• $499 entry point – Most affordable way to experience Bergara barrel quality

1. American Rifleman, Terry Weiland, Spanish Shotguns: Fine Gunmaking in the Eibar Region, August 28, 2020
2. US Department of Defense, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jennifer Lebron, Marines Keep Weapons On Target, Oct. 2, 2018
3. Bergara, The Bergara B-14 Hunting and Match Rifle (HMR) Wins the Outdoor Life Editor’s Choice Award, January 8, 2018
4. Police Mag, Cobb County S.W.A.T. Team Receives Bergara Custom Rifles, November 11, 2015
5. Police Mag, Atlanta Area SWAT Unit Receives Bergara Rifles – Weapons, August 19, 2015
6. Facebook, Bergara Enthusiasts