Christensen Arms Accuracy

[Harvey_NW]

I don't think you get backlash because you like your Christensens, I think it comes from your opinions and comparisons to one of the most accurate, reliable, and affordable factory rifle offerings on the market. The comparison of reported issues from the 2 manufacturers is laughable.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Christensen bolt action rifles work fine until they don’t. Accuracy can be fantastic on some but does that matter when you’re on a hunt and the barrel comes loose from the action? (Yes that happened).

Or an action that bound up so badly on a windy/dusty/sandy field day in Arizona that a rock had to be used to beat it open?

Or the sloppy bolt constantly binding on coyote hunts in California?

Or the trigger tech completely freezing up from just laying in the snow next to a hunter in northern Minnesota in a farm field?

Or another sample of a trigger tech failing in Wyoming last December costing a hunter a cow elk kill?

They could be the most accurate guns on the planet and I’d never own another one. Unless a major overhaul to the overall platform happened (as in nearly the whole thing).

 

[TaperPin]

For whatever reason, people report less issues with Tikkas. They certainly still exist, you just don’t hear much about them.

You mean like the posts about how to fix a cocking piece that bent with hand pressure when improperly disassembled, or the posts where everyone replaces the factory trigger spring, then someone brings up they don’t do well in a jarring test, and Form says they no longer allow replacement springs in their classes. Or the warnings about not removing the trigger screw or it might loosen up and cause a slam fire. Or the posts about stainless galling in bolt cocking notchs that aren’t lubricated. There’s a Tikka accuracy post still active, but reloading posts are full of accuracy issues. Even the shooting posts not complaining about accuracy are often happy with 1-1/2 MOA or larger 10 shot groups. I don’t mean sound like I’m picking on anyone for 1-1/2 MOA groups, but that’s pretty mediocre.

 

[atmat]

You mean like the posts about how to fix a cocking piece that bent with hand pressure when improperly disassembled, or the posts where everyone replaces the factory trigger spring, then someone brings up they don’t do well in a jarring test, and Form says they no longer allow replacement springs in their classes. Or the warnings about not removing the trigger screw or it might loosen up and cause a slam fire. Or the posts about stainless galling in bolt cocking notchs that aren’t lubricated. There’s a Tikka accuracy post still active, but reloading posts are full of accuracy issues. Even the shooting posts not complaining about accuracy are often happy with 1-1/2 MOA or larger 10 shot groups. I don’t mean sound like I’m picking on anyone for 1-1/2 MOA groups, but that’s pretty mediocre.

1.5 MOA for 10 shots is not “pretty mediocre” by any stretch.

I’m confused — most of your examples are when people go replacing stuff (e.g. “improperly disassembled,” replacing trigger springs).

Even the ongoing accuracy issue thread is on a modified Tikka that does not appear to be seating correctly now.

I agreed that I’ve seen plenty of Tikkas have issues when folks start replacing parts. No argument there.

 

[BRTreedogs]

It’s really easy not to get shit for your stuff online.

Just don’t post about it.

It’s ok not to have an online presence and just do your own thing quietly.

 

[HuntHarder]

I've owned and seen plenty of CA rifles being used. Almost all are very accurate. They do have their problems tho. I cracked my stock on a FFT. Buddy had his gun fire on bolt close with a live round. Overall they are Meh to me. Not great, but not trash either.

 

[TaperPin]

Christensen bolt action rifles work fine until they don’t. Accuracy can be fantastic on some but does that matter when you’re on a hunt and the barrel comes loose from the action? (Yes that happened).

Or an action that bound up so badly on a windy/dusty/sandy field day in Arizona that a rock had to be used to beat it open?

I’ve lived my entire life in windy dusty areas where dust on the range or while shooting a thousands of rounds at prairie dogs is more common than not. I’ve never seen dust cause a hard bolt lift, and neither have you. Dust, even blowing sand doesn’t work that way. I wouldn’t doubt the round was over pressure from carbon rings or sloppy reloading, but blowing dust didn’t do it.

Or the sloppy bolt constantly binding on coyote hunts in California?

So in one story the bolt is such a tight fit you want folks to believe blowing dust can bind it up, but in the same breath the bolts are so sloppy they bind up? I have no doubt someone who runs a dry bolt with poor mechanics in their technique can struggle to understand why that doesn’t work great, but the design and clearances aren’t all that different from rifles built since the Remington 722 and with basic maintenance I can’t actually remember ever stepping onto that struggle bus. It’s such a reliable design the clearances haven’t changed for over half a century with millions of rifles in service around he world.

Or the trigger tech completely freezing up from just laying in the snow next to a hunter in northern Minnesota in a farm field?

Some folks stay home in cold weather, but I’m a regular at the range in all conditions and to say laying a well maintained rifle in the snow will freeze it up doesn’t match the physics and chemistry of what it takes to freeze the rifle up. There was a dirty trigger or liquid moisture entered the trigger and froze. If you think freezing conditions and a wet rifle only cause problems with triggers that fit a Remington pattern rifle you need to get out more.

You obviously put a lot of thought into Trigger tech products and I haven’t, but let’s look at one of their triggers and look for problem areas that freezing water might jack up. Without any more than a glance at it, I wouldn’t have one of these on any of my rifles. What a cluster duck of a design for a hunting rifle. What do you know, we agree these are crappy triggers. The simple Timney is a better design.



And here’s a Timney that is much simpler and reliable.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I’ve lived my entire life in windy dusty areas where dust on the range or while shooting a thousands of rounds at prairie dogs is more common than not. I’ve never seen dust cause a hard bolt lift, and neither have you. Dust, even blowing sand doesn’t work that way. I wouldn’t doubt the round was over pressure from carbon rings or sloppy reloading, but blowing dust didn’t do it.

The chamber, throat, bolt face, and body were full of dust/sand/carbon. The BAT action running in the same conditions on the same day also locked up. I’m surprised they both lasted as long as they did to be honest.

So in one story the bolt is such a tight fit you want folks to believe blowing dust can bind it up, but in the same breath the bolts are so sloppy they bind up? I have no doubt someone who runs a dry bolt with poor mechanics in their technique can struggle to understand why that doesn’t work great, but the design and clearances aren’t all that different from rifles built since the Remington 722 and with basic maintenance I can’t actually remember ever stepping onto that struggle bus. It’s such a reliable design the clearances haven’t changed for over half a century with millions of rifles in service around he world.

I don’t think you’ve used a Christensen bolt gun in all day shoots when fast follow up shots are required based on what you say. They are notorious for bolt slop, bolt bind, and failure to feed (bullet too contacting and not chambering).

Some folks stay home in cold weather, but I’m a regular at the range in all conditions and to say laying a well maintained rifle in the snow will freeze it up doesn’t match the physics and chemistry of what it takes to freeze the rifle up. There was a dirty trigger or liquid moisture entered the trigger and froze. If you think freezing conditions and a wet rifle only cause problems with triggers that fit a Remington pattern rifle you need to get out more.

In both cases the gun was laying next to the hunter on top of snow. A light dusting of snow during the sit covered the gun in snow. When the shooters went to shoot the deer/elk. The trigger would not fire. Simple as that.

The snow/ice had to be brushed away with a glove and hot breath on it for about 30 seconds and it freed up.

You obviously put a lot of thought into Trigger tech products and I haven’t, but let’s look at one of their triggers and look for problem areas that freezing water might jack up. Without any more than a glance at it, I wouldn’t have one of these on any of my rifles. What a cluster duck of a design for a hunting rifle. What do you know, we agree these are crappy triggers. The simple Timney is a better design.

View attachment 914206

And here’s a Timney that is much simpler and reliable.
View attachment 914208

 

[AirborneEScouter]

Had an FFT ridgeline in 280 AI. Shot a 20 round group with factory eldx a touch over 1 moa, great accuracy, but I had a lot of trouble with cartridges ejecting with a maven and an nxs (rounds would hit windage caps). The front sling stud was also installed with a glob of glue that spun freely in the stock’s foam insulation and I had to drill it out to remove the thing. Didn’t hate it by any stretch and appreciated the weight but it moved down the road

 

[atmat]

Had an FFT ridgeline in 280 AI. Shot a 20 round group with factory eldx a touch over 1 moa, great accuracy, but I had a lot of trouble with cartridges ejecting with a maven and an nxs (rounds would hit windage caps). The front sling stud was also installed with a glob of glue that spun freely in the stock’s foam insulation and I had to drill it out to remove the thing. Didn’t hate it by any stretch and appreciated the weight but it moved down the road

So, an accurate rifle with QC issues. Yet another consistent data point.

 

[TaperPin]

The chamber, throat, bolt face, and body were full of dust/sand/carbon. The BAT action running in the same conditions on the same day also locked up. I’m surprised they both lasted as long as they did to be honest.

I don’t think you’ve used a Christensen bolt gun in all day shoots when fast follow up shots are required based on what you say. They are notorious for bolt slop, bolt bind, and failure to feed (bullet too contacting and not chambering).

In both cases the gun was laying next to the hunter on top of snow. A light dusting of snow during the sit covered the gun in snow. When the shooters went to shoot the deer/elk. The trigger would not fire. Simple as that.

The snow/ice had to be brushed away with a glove and hot breath on it for about 30 seconds and it freed up.

If someone has to ride the struggle bus to operate and maintain a rifle, any rifle, then I agree you shouldn’t be using it. That’s two things we can agree on. Not every mechanical thing is compatible with every human.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

If someone has to ride the struggle bus to operate and maintain a rifle, any rifle, then I agree you shouldn’t be using it. That’s two things we can agree on. Not every mechanical thing is compatible with every human.

I’ve been known to stumble onto that bus here and there myself.

 

[RadialJett]

There are four key components that characterize Stockholm syndrome:

• A hostage's(shooter’s) development of positive feelings towards the captor(rifle brand).
• No previous relationship(sponsorship) between hostage(shooter) and captor(rifle brand).
• A refusal by hostages(shooters) to cooperate with police(WKRs) and other government(slide) authorities.
• A hostage's(shooter’s) belief in the humanity(quality/infallibility) of the captor(rifle brand), ceasing to perceive them as a threat, when the victim(shooter) holds the same values as the aggressor(slide hive mind).