Bergara B-14 Squared Crest Carbon 6.5 Creedmoor Bolt-Action Rifle Review

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Bergara’s B-14 Squared Series Just Got A Whole Lot Cooler & Purer

Long known for making exceptional rifle barrels, Spanish gun maker Bergara added carbon fiber to its manufacturing process several years ago. Now, Bergara has gone full carbon with its newest rifle, the Crest Carbon bolt action, with the high-tech material found in both the barrel and the stock. Lightweight, durable, and extremely accurate, the Crest Carbon is part of Bergara’s B-14 Square rifle series.

Crest Carbon Features

I don’t understand the science behind all of it, but somehow Bergara manufactures its CURE barrels from a patent-pending carbon weave that intertwines carbon fibers with strands of stainless steel. The result is a very stiff barrel that dissipates heat much faster than its all-steel cousins. The CURE barrel also provides impressive accuracy.

The rifle’s stock is 100-percent carbon fiber, too, crafted with highly advanced processes used in automotive and aerospace manufacturing that have Bergara workers assembling dry carbon fibers by hand with an injected resin. The stock also features an internal carbon “spine” throughout for greater strength, with rigid foam filling the spaces on either side.

Factor in the rifle’s super-smooth bolt action, a fine trigger that broke at just 1 pound, 2 ounces of pull on my test Crest Carbon and Omni muzzle brake that worked overtime to cut recoil. Of course, none of that would have mattered if the rifle was not a shooter.

It’s Very Much A Shooter!

Built sans open sights, the Crest Carbon is drilled and tapped for Remington 700 scope bases and rails. I attached a short-action optic rail to my Crest Carbon and mounted an EOTECH VUDU 3.5-18×50 second-focal-plane scope on the rifle. The scope featured EOTECH’s XC High-Density glass, EOTECH’s illuminated HC1 reticle, and a rugged 34mm aircraft-grade aluminum tube. Tactical turrets adjusted the elevation and windage in very precise 0.25-MOA increments.

The rifle is available in .22-250 Rem., 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 7mm PRC, .308 Win, and .300 Win Mag chamberings. I requested and received an evaluation model in 6.5 Creedmoor. To find out its capabilities, I ran the rifle with Barnes Precision Match ammunition, Federal Premium Gold Medal Sierra MatchKing rounds, and Hornady’s all-purpose Outfitter hunting brand. 

Overall, I put 100 rounds through my Crest Carbon. Shooting at 100 yards, again and again, my first two shots were touching. That made me nervous. Could I get Number 3 to complete the cluster? I screwed up more than once, yet still drilled the triple crown several times. The top three-shot groups included the Barnes at 0.60 and 0.90 inches, Federal at 0.80 and 1.0 inches, and Hornady pegging 0.60-, 0.75- and 0.90-inch accomplishments.

Bergara’s sub-MOA guarantee on this rifle is for real. Add in its many features, and Crest Carbon’s DNA screams pure hunter.

Also Pairs Well With…

Sightmark’s Presidio 3-18×50 riflescope. The first-focal-plane optic features a red, illuminated reticle, fully coated lenses, built-in zero stops, and a 30mm aircraft-grade aluminum tube. MSRP: $400.  (sightmark.com) 

Specifications: Bergara B-14 Squared Crest Carbon

Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor (as tested)

Barrel: 20 inches, carbon fiber and stainless steel, threaded

OA Length: 40 inches

Weight: 6 pounds 2 ounces (empty)

Sights: None, drilled/tapped for Rem. 700 optic bases

Action: Bolt

Stock: Carbon fiber

Finish: Sniper Grey Cerakote

Capacity: 5+1

MSRP: $2,099

URL: bergara.online/us

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