Christensen Mesa FFT off to a bad start.

[R7RMag]

Mine is packed and ready to ship back so I hope my results are the same. They were extremely helpful on the phone but none the less a PIA for a $1500 rifle that won't group.

If the only problem you’re having is accuracy, try some heavier bullets. I could only get 2 out of 8 different rounds to group well and they were the heaviest bullets I could get (Norma bondstrike and Berger hybrid) without paying for custom loads at $90 a box. Also, I’ve heard that if they can get sub moa accuracy with ANY round, regardless if it’s something you’d want to use for hunting or not, they send the rifle back without doing a bit of work on it and charge you $200 for wasting their time plus shipping costs.

 

[hunting1]

If the only problem you’re having is accuracy, try some heavier bullets. I could only get 2 out of 8 different rounds to group well and they were the heaviest bullets I could get (Norma bondstrike and Berger hybrid) without paying for custom loads at $90 a box. Also, I’ve heard that if they can get sub moa accuracy with ANY round, regardless if it’s something you’d want to use for hunting or not, they send the rifle back without doing a bit of work on it and charge you $200 for wasting their time plus shipping costs.

I tried 4-factory (165-180gr) offerings and 2-powders HL's (H4831, H1000), so they need to look at it. I do not want a rifle that only shoots 1-load. Hell, I would have been happy if it at least was consistent.

 

[R7RMag]

I tried 4-factory (165-180gr) offerings and 2-powders HL's (H4831, H1000), so they need to look at it. I do not want a rifle that only shoots 1-load. Hell, I would have been happy if it at least was consistent.

Yeah, I agree. Just hope they actually do something to fix the problem instead of denying there is a problem and then charging you for it. My next step, if the bondstrike’s didn’t group well, was going to be a glass bedding job. Which I still may do. If I had it to do over, I would not buy a Christensen again. If you get the rifle back from them with the issues fixed and you happen to remember, let me know. Maybe I’ll send mine in too.

 

[TaperPin]

Well, I gotta say, I don’t know what they actually did but the barrel I got back is doing well! No signs of over pressure and it seems to like the Norma Bondstrike!
View attachment 778361

I bet you’re glad that you kept with it! Nice group.

 

[hunting1]

Well, the factory replied it shoots Barnes VOR-TX LR 160gr LRX BT to factory guarantee and they cleaned the barrel so we will see. Not sure I would brag that your rifles will only shoot 1-bullet and load but live and learn, no more CA rifles for me.

 

[Castronova]

My 6.5prc CA Ridgeline had pressure signs and heavy bolt lift new as well with Hornady 147 eld-m. I switched boxes of ammo and it never happened again.

 

[ScreamingPotato]

Bump, looking for any updates or more feedback.

 

[Nicaburns]

Bump, looking for any updates or more feedback.

After mine was tweaked at the factory, it has continued to shoot really well staying sub MOA

 

[AM_Hunter]

Buddy just picked up a CA Mesa FFT in 308, third time pulling the trigger it wont reset, safety wont move, and the firing pin goes off as soon as the bolt closes. Total safety failure which is sketchy. He's sending it back to get fixed but kind of a bummer something from the factory would fail that quickly. I know QC has gone down with them but didn't expect it to go down that far. My MPR is a great rifle.

 

[Nicaburns]

Buddy just picked up a CA Mesa FFT in 308, third time pulling the trigger it wont reset, safety wont move, and the firing pin goes off as soon as the bolt closes. Total safety failure which is sketchy. He's sending it back to get fixed but kind of a bummer something from the factory would fail that quickly. I know QC has gone down with them but didn't expect it to go down that far. My MPR is a great rifle.

That sounds like an issue with the trigger tech trigger

 

[ADKHTR]

Buddy just picked up a CA Mesa FFT in 308, third time pulling the trigger it wont reset, safety wont move, and the firing pin goes off as soon as the bolt closes. Total safety failure which is sketchy. He's sending it back to get fixed but kind of a bummer something from the factory would fail that quickly. I know QC has gone down with them but didn't expect it to go down that far. My MPR is a great rifle.

I guarantee you have clearance issues between the trigger shoe and trigger guard or stock, take the stock off and then try it, I bet it works fine, then decide if you want to do the dremel work yourself or not, I wouldn’t blame you for sending it back, this was a common problem on Timney triggers with the wide shoe on many types of stocks, I know these come with Triggertechs…. but I guarantee something is rubbing on that trigger shoe, I bought a brand new Cristensen Arms Mesa for my son and before I even fired that thing I tore it all apart and something was wrong, I can’t remember what, I think they had it (stock) torqued down on the magazine box at a weird angle or something, I can’t remember, but it was a mess, I cleaned everything and reassembled and it was fine after that, I won’t buy another one but that rifle was fine after that, it’s a hammer as well..

 

[gerry35]

After mine was tweaked at the factory, it has continued to shoot really well staying sub MOA

Did the ammo you originally shot that blew the primers improve after it came back?

 

[AM_Hunter]

That sounds like an issue with the trigger tech trigger

Its definitely the trigger unfortunately

 

[AM_Hunter]

I guarantee you have clearance issues between the trigger shoe and trigger guard or stock, take the stock off and then try it, I bet it works fine, then decide if you want to do the dremel work yourself or not, I wouldn’t blame you for sending it back, this was a common problem on Timney triggers with the wide shoe on many types of stocks, I know these come with Triggertechs…. but I guarantee something is rubbing on that trigger shoe, I bought a brand new Cristensen Arms Mesa for my son and before I even fired that thing I tore it all apart and something was wrong, I can’t remember what, I think they had it (stock) torqued down on the magazine box at a weird angle or something, I can’t remember, but it was a mess, I cleaned everything and reassembled and it was fine after that, I won’t buy another one but that rifle was fine after that, it’s a hammer as well..

Yea he didnt want to mess with the warranty or anything so he sent it back. I always considered Triggertechs to be better than Timneys but both are great triggers. Surprised one would leave the factory with an issue like that. He disassembled and action from the stock, tried to figure out the issue, and ultimately decided for safety and warranty sake to send it back to CA.

 

[Nicaburns]

Did the ammo you originally shot that blew the primers improve after it came back?

Yes, the hornady was the worst to start and now shoots fine but is not as accurate as the Norma.