Bergara MG Lite Review, By Travis Bertrand

[TNKnoxville]

Thanks, it's been calling my name for a while! After shooting some vertical grip stocks and my AR I'm really finding them a pleasure to shoot and very consistent. I also need a chassis gun.

 

[tito_zako]

@Travis Bertrand any word on whether/when Bergara might release a premier Mg Lite in 7mm prc??

 

[JGood]

I'm sure it's a nice rifle but at $3,200, you have lots of options. I built my first DIY in 308 for that price last year (disclaimer, the price of receivers has gone up since then). My second DIY in 6.5 CM shot .245" three shot group.

Defiance Tenacity 1000
Proof carbon barrel 1000
McMillan stock custom ordered 700
TriggerTech trigger 200
Hawkins M5 bottom metal 200
Total: 3100

For what its worth, the updated price on this is below:

Defiance Tenacity - $1350
Proof Carbon Barrel - $929
XLR Chassis - $1,299 (plus an 8 month wait)
Trigger Tech - $209
MDT AICS Mag - $70
Chambering Labor - $400

$4257 + tax

You can probalby get some of this like 15% off if you shop the sales ($3821.45), but same can be said about the bergara. https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting...lt-action-rifle-308-winchester-22in/p/1737276

What you are paying for with a custom rifle at that point is possibly a better shooting rifle? I dont think the bergara trigger is as nice as the TT and i dont think the actions are as nice as the Defiance actions.

I own 4 custom built guns and two factory rifles (bergara .22 comp gun and MPA PMR 6GT) I would have a tough time paying the extra cash for custom guns in todays CNC world....

@tito_zako could buy a bergara 300 win and rechamber for cheaper than building a gun from scratch?

 

[nicholas.w.lombardi@gmail]

I built my first just about a year ago, I have had quite a few Winchester 70s built for me but it's just gotten too easy for someone like me to do a DIY. I asked a lot of questions and did my homework but it's really quite easy. Besides the parts, you need a torque wrench, barrel vise and headspace gauges.

Defiance Ruckus GA Hunter
Proof carbon 22"
McMillan
Hawkins M5
Trigger Tech

If I were doing it again, I'd look at Terminus or Impact receivers. You can go to the Proof site and look up barrels and receivers compatibility. I bought my components at Altus Shooting, they can match your receiver with a barrel. I would encourage you to give it a try.

My 7 PRC in the works, McMillan stock shipped yesterday.

How do you like the Defiance action? Looking at the same one or may just use a donor rifle for the action.

 

[JGood]

@nicholas.w.lombardi@gmail i have the Defiance AnTI and the Lone Peak in short action. The Lone Peak is better by a mile.

 

[nicholas.w.lombardi@gmail]

Really?! Good to know thanks!

 

[JGood]

Yes, to be clear I’m talking about the Lone Peak Razor TI.

The coating on the LP is butter smooth and the machine work is impeccable.

 

[nicholas.w.lombardi@gmail]

Yes, to be clear I’m talking about the Lone Peak Razor TI.

The coating on the LP is butter smooth and the machine work is impeccable.

Thank you! I'll check it out!

 

[tsiewert]

Debating on the MGLITE in 7PRC. I have a HMR in 6.5 PRC and love it (minus weight). I have never had issues with it but follow of few Bergara pages. I hear their customer service is hit or miss concerning accuracy issues. Any thoughts or concerns?

 

[Clarson757]

Mine is 6.5 PRC and is pretty accurate. I did have a few issues with customer service but seems to have all been resolved. I recommend you disassemble, clean and torque spec everything. Mine almost fell apart at the range after a few trips. It’s great to fit in the meat shelf when folded to hike in also.

I added a salmon river brake and it seems to be a solid platform after a few early issues. I felt like the bolt was not as smooth as it should have been. But seems to be better after a year and half with it.

Others I’ve talked to have had no issues at all with theirs so maybe I got a the one that didn’t get a solid quality inspection.

 

[tsiewert]

Mine is 6.5 PRC and is pretty accurate. I did have a few issues with customer service but seems to have all been resolved. I recommend you disassemble, clean and torque spec everything. Mine almost fell apart at the range after a few trips. It’s great to fit in the meat shelf when folded to hike in also.

I added a salmon river brake and it seems to be a solid platform after a few early issues. I felt like the bolt was not as smooth as it should have been. But seems to be better after a year and half with it.

Others I’ve talked to have had no issues at all with theirs so maybe I got a the one that didn’t get a solid quality inspection.

Thanks for the input!

 

[SPDSpappy]

FWIW: I bought a MgLite in .300WM. To say I'm disappointed with this high end Bergara is an understatement. I had such high hopes when I bought it! I tried shooting w/in the better than MOA as advertised after purchasing it, put 600+ rounds through it, couldn't get it to shoot, and sent it back to Bergara. It failed their tests as I thought, the gunsmith worked on it, and sent it back to me. Here's the work order from when it went back:

I started over and after finally figuring out this gun HATES Federal GM215M primers, I used Remington 9 1/2 primers to get a bullet/load/primer combination it would actually shoot under 1 MOA and less than 50 ES. I ended up putting another 800 rounds through it getting there. I took the gun out to NM on an elk hunt it took me 5 years to draw, set up at the range to check zero, and the thing completely came apart on me. I tightened up the action screws and rail, got it to shoot halfway decent again, and then this happened:

Dave shared 1 video with you

www.amazon.com

Being in NM on a guided elk hunt it took me 5 years to draw w/o a rifle was beyond frustrating. I contacted Bergara and shipped it back to them AGAIN. They've had it since the middle of October.

To show it's not my shooting, here's a 5-shot group from a new gun I just built using the same XLR chassis, but with a Zermatt Origin action and Proof Research pre-fit barrel.

 

[TurtleHerder]

FWIW: I bought a MgLite in .300WM. To say I'm disappointed with this high end Bergara is an understatement. I had such high hopes when I bought it! I tried shooting w/in the better than MOA as advertised after purchasing it, put 600+ rounds through it, couldn't get it to shoot, and sent it back to Bergara. It failed their tests as I thought, the gunsmith worked on it, and sent it back to me. Here's the work order from when it went back: View attachment 789701

I started over and after finally figuring out this gun HATES Federal GM215M primers, I used Remington 9 1/2 primers to get a bullet/load/primer combination it would actually shoot under 1 MOA and less than 50 ES. I ended up putting another 800 rounds through it getting there. I took the gun out to NM on an elk hunt it took me 5 years to draw, set up at the range to check zero, and the thing completely came apart on me. I tightened up the action screws and rail, got it to shoot halfway decent again, and then this happened:

Dave shared 1 video with you

www.amazon.com

Being in NM on a guided elk hunt it took me 5 years to draw w/o a rifle was beyond frustrating. I contacted Bergara and shipped it back to them AGAIN. They've had it since the middle of October.

To show it's not my shooting, here's a 5-shot group from a new gun I just built using the same XLR chassis, but with a Zermatt Origin action and Proof Research pre-fit barrel.

View attachment 789712

Any update? I’ve been interested in the MGLite but have heard of people having various issues. Has me considering trying to get a build together instead.

 

[Clarson757]

Any update? I’ve been interested in the MGLite but have heard of people having various issues. Has me considering trying to get a build together instead.

If I could do it over again, I would probably just build something myself. I don’t necessarily have buyers remorse, but I still don’t know if I fully trust this platform.

I had to make a last minute ammo change out of the blue. Had it zeroed great, confirmed to various distances. Then went to the range one last time before season started and it didn’t like the ammo it was sighted with all of a sudden (after settling on this round and taking a deer with it).

It seems like it’s been more effort to get it running than it has actually time in the field. Juice might not be worth the squeeze if you have the option to build something that has the same features. Maybe there were a few duds shipped out

 

[Seak_angler]

Good write up! Solid review! Lots of good information there

 

[TurtleHerder]

If I could do it over again, I would probably just build something myself. I don’t necessarily have buyers remorse, but I still don’t know if I fully trust this platform.

I had to make a last minute ammo change out of the blue. Had it zeroed great, confirmed to various distances. Then went to the range one last time before season started and it didn’t like the ammo it was sighted with all of a sudden (after settling on this round and taking a deer with it).

It seems like it’s been more effort to get it running than it has actually time in the field. Juice might not be worth the squeeze if you have the option to build something that has the same features. Maybe there were a few duds shipped out

Thanks for the advice! Appreciate you taking the time to respond. Building would also let me go for a lefty which would be a nice quality of life improvement for hunting…

 

[SPDSpappy]

Any update? I’ve been interested in the MGLite but have heard of people having various issues. Has me considering trying to get a build together instead.

I sent the rifle back to Bergara to get fixed. Once I received it back from them, I put it up for sale. It's being shipped to its new owner right now. Here's what I built to replace it:

@vikingarmament cerakote and chassis build
@xlrindustries Element 4 Aluminum chassis
@nightforce_optics NX8 4-32
@zermatt_arms Origin
@trigger.tech Remington 700 Special Trigger
@proofresearch Carbon fiber pre-fit barrel
@mdttac21 CKYE Pod Gen2 bipod
@salmonriversolutions TI Pro 4 Muzzle brake