Today I was at my local gun store comparing my top 2 candidates for my next rifle. They are the Tikka T3X Stainless and the Bergara B-14 series of rifles. Not exactly apples to apples but both rifles are affordable and have a great reputation for accuracy. Both rifles have standout features and the stocks on the Bergara really impress me for price. The thing I noticed with several (as in over a half dozen of the 14 Bergara’s on the shelf) was the presence of surface rust. Now this was just forming and only in small amounts, mostly around the thread protector collar and on top of the barrel but it surprised me that it would be on so many of the brand new rifles that have never seen the outside of a showroom.
I understand that unlike the Tikka the Bergara are not stainless but it certainly had me wondering. I couldn’t help but think that as such a New company (to the production rifle game) that Bergara was keeping cost down by shortcutting on the finish of the rifle. I understand this cosmetic surface rust could easily be taken care of but I have had blued rifles of some sort my entire life and they have never came straight out of the box with visible rust. Has anyone else seen this on the Bergara’s or do you think this is a one-off deal?
I understand that unlike the Tikka the Bergara are not stainless but it certainly had me wondering. I couldn’t help but think that as such a New company (to the production rifle game) that Bergara was keeping cost down by shortcutting on the finish of the rifle. I understand this cosmetic surface rust could easily be taken care of but I have had blued rifles of some sort my entire life and they have never came straight out of the box with visible rust. Has anyone else seen this on the Bergara’s or do you think this is a one-off deal?
