Christensen Evoke 6.5CM - Initial Thoughts

[BooneHunter]

Posting this because I haven’t seen much out there on the Christensen Evoke yet. Hopefully this helps anyone considering one.

Specs:

• 6.5 Creedmoor
• 20” barrel, threaded 5/8-24
• Leupold VX5 scope
• Omega 36M suppressor
• Weighs 10 lb 3 oz as configured

Out of the box:

Fit and finish is really nice. The action cycles pretty smoothly, though the bolt lift is a bit stiff when cocking — not terrible, but something I noticed right away. The stock is solid for a polymer stock. There’s a little flex in the forend, but not excessive. It comes pillar bedded with aluminum inserts.

Detachable mag, but the mag release is inside the trigger guard and a little tough to reach. I could see that being an issue when wearing gloves. The trigger is a Triggertech Field set to the lowest setting — about 2.5 lbs. It’s a bit heavier than I typically prefer, but it breaks clean with zero creep.

It is a long action, even for the short action cartridges.

Range Performance:

Shot one box of factory 143 ELD-X. Took 6 rounds to get it close to zero, then shot a 10-round group that came in just under 1 MOA at 100 yards. Finished with a few rounds on steel at 500 and 600. I was impressed by this, and it’s really nice to shoot with its weight with suppressor.

Chrono showed an average of 2640 fps from the 20” barrel.

Initial Takeaways:

For the price point, which was $935 out the door for me, it is hard to beat. Fit, finish, and initial performance exceed my expectations. Feels like a well-thought-out setup that performs right out of the box.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

No comments because everyone loves to hate on them…lol. I have a few CAs that are all great shooters.

 

[wind gypsy]

@bearcreekbandit had a very favorable review on them in an outdoor life article. Seems they did a lot of things right in a price point rifle.

 

[donrleonard]

Thanks for sharing. I’ve got one coming into my FFL tomorrow in 7BC. Here’s hoping both live up to my expectations!

 

[bearcreekbandit]

@bearcreekbandit had a very favorable review on them in an outdoor life article. Seems they did a lot of things right in a price point rifle.

Thanks, I was very happy with that rifle, and I do think they did a lot of things right for a rifle in that price range. Backing off the carbon was probably a wise choice and all of the Evokes I have shot at this point have been accurate. I've really liked the 16-inch in 7mm BC, except that it developed some primary and secondary extraction issues that basically rendered it unreliable — but that has been an issue I've seen in 7 of the 8 rifles I've tested in 7mm BC. It's almost certainly an issue with the cartridge, not the rifle.

 

[donrleonard]

I've really liked the 16-inch in 7mm BC, except that it developed some primary and secondary extraction issues that basically rendered it unreliable — but that has been an issue I've seen in 7 of the 8 rifles I've tested in 7mm BC. It's almost certainly an issue with the cartridge, not the rifle.

Shoot...that's exactly the rifle I have coming. A CA Evoke in 7BC with the 16.5" barrel.

Was it with one particular factory loading that you ran into these issues, or was it across the board? I was planning on running Federal's 170 grain Terminal Ascent.

I guess they're all using the same casing at this point...

Was there any correlation with the action materials (titanium versus steel) or design (Remington 700 versus....)?

 

[Hnthrdr]

1/2 on out of the box great shooters from CA, if they can replicate that accuracy without having to try 12 different factory loads they are onto something, my ridgeline fft is great rifle I’ll say that

 

[hippa613]

Thanks for the review, I haven't seen much talk of it either but was considering picking one up to mess around with too! Did you have any other tests planned or hunts to carry it on?

 

[bearcreekbandit]

Shoot...that's exactly the rifle I have coming. A CA Evoke in 7BC with the 16.5" barrel.

Was it with one particular factory loading that you ran into these issues, or was it across the board? I was planning on running Federal's 170 grain Terminal Ascent.

I guess they're all using the same casing at this point...

Was there any correlation with the action materials (titanium versus steel) or design (Remington 700 versus....)?

They told me that they have figured out a fix for it and I'm waiting to get the rifle back now, so maybe you won't see it with the one you have. It has happened with all the types of the ammo for me and John Snow. The only rifle I haven't seen it in yet is the Fierce Twisted Rogue. The most accurate ammo, by far, was the 175 Fusion Tipped, and that's what I'd try to get if I was you. The Terminal Ascent stuff hasn't shot that well for me.
I think you will like the velocity you get out of that, I had 3091 fps from the Terminal Ascent and 2982 fps with the Fusion Tipped.

 

[donrleonard]

They told me that they have figured out a fix for it and I'm waiting to get the rifle back now, so maybe you won't see it with the one you have. It has happened with all the types of the ammo for me and John Snow. The only rifle I haven't seen it in yet is the Fierce Twisted Rogue. The most accurate ammo, by far, was the 175 Fusion Tipped, and that's what I'd try to get if I was you. The Terminal Ascent stuff hasn't shot that well for me.
I think you will like the velocity you get out of that, I had 3091 fps from the Terminal Ascent and 2982 fps with the Fusion Tipped.

Thanks so much for the heads up, Tyler. I based my selection almost entirely upon your magazine's favorable review of the CA Evoke (albeit in a different caliber). Will be taking it out to the mountains for a break in next week, so plenty of time to get it made right by the company if that's what's required. Please do keep us posted here.

Also thank you for the pro tip on the 175gr Fusion Tipped! I will be sure and grab a couple boxes of that as well to compare.

Cheers

 

[BooneHunter]

Thanks for the review, I haven't seen much talk of it either but was considering picking one up to mess around with too! Did you have any other tests planned or hunts to carry it on?

Thanks! I plan to test 140 eldm factory ammo and handloads to see if I can get the velocity up. No rifle hunts planned this year other than some whitetail sits. I’ll report back.

 

[BooneHunter]

Shot 10 rounds of factory 147 eldm and 9 rounds of factory 140 eldm at 115 yards.

Both had velocity right around 2600 fps.

147’s @ 1.11 MOA
140’s @ 1.35 MOA

So far no issues shooting and running great.

 

[bojangles808]

intriguing if they shoot. it's too bad it's not a pound lighter