Rifle Test & Review: Bergara B14 squared Crest

[ShallowMinded14]

I have the B-14 Squared Crest in 6.5 PRC and am only getting 2,750 fps at the muzzle. Has anyone else put a chronograph on their gun?

I am also having cold bore vs hot bore accuracy issues with mine......

 

[Josh Boyd]

I have the B-14 Squared Crest in 6.5 PRC and am only getting 2,750 fps at the muzzle. Has anyone else put a chronograph on their gun?

I am also having cold bore vs hot bore accuracy issues with mine......

What load are you shooting? I settled on Hornady ELD-X 143’s in this rifle with an average velocity of 2762 fps.


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[ShallowMinded14]

I am using the same load as you and am around the same velocity. However, approximately 2,800 fps is 6.5 Creedmore speed. Not the 3k that was advertised in the 6.5 PRC

 

[Josh Boyd]

The advertised velocity of the Precision hunter ammunition is 2960 with a 24” barrel. With a loss of 50 fps per inch of barrel length …the velocity is pretty much spot on.


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[rockymtnsam]

I was almost set on a Seekins PH2, but the B-14 Squared Crest in 7 PRC is in stock for less than the cost of the PH2 at my local Scheels... Everything in me says to go Seekins, but I love the look and feel of the Crest. Anyone have experience with both?

 

[floridajpr]

I love my Bergara Crest but if you can, wait and get the Seekins. The seekins is worth waiting for.

 

[rockymtnsam]

1/26/24 update: @Josh Boyd 's final and full review is up!

Bergara B14 Squared Crest Rifle Review

Bergara B14 Squared Crest Rifle Review. Find out what Josh thinks about the Bergara B14 Squared Crest Rifle after a season of use.

www.rokslide.com

@robby denning and I lined up a rifle review for the upcoming season. Bergara sent their new-for-2023 B14 squared Crest rifle in a 6.5 PRC. It's a slick looking rifle with a 20" fluted barrel, a B14 action, and a newly developed carbon fiber stock. You can read more about the rifle here.
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@Jim Carr just published a review of the Tract Optics Toric 2.5-15x44 scope and I will be using the same model on the Bergara Crest. You can read is review here. I'll also be sharing my thoughts on the scope as it pertains to my style of hunting. It is a scope that is slightly heavier than I'm used to and I have high hopes for it. It is mounted in @HawkinsPrecision low rings to keep things as low as possible.

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Stay tuned and ask any questions about the rifle, scope, or rings.
-Josh Boyd

I'd love to see an updated review of this with the carbon barrel now on the Crest Carbon! I'm debating steel vs carbon in 7 PRC

 

[Josh Boyd]

I'd love to see an updated review of this with the carbon barrel now on the Crest Carbon! I'm debating steel vs carbon in 7 PRC

Standby, as Bergara is sending a carbon barreled version for a review. I have not received it yet but am expecting a test rifle soon. I'll start a thread once I get it in my hands.

 

[rockymtnsam]

Standby, as Bergara is sending a carbon barreled version for a review. I have not received it yet but am expecting a test rifle soon. I'll start a thread once I get it in my hands.

Awesome!

 

[Ceason33]

I’m looking at trading my seekins ph2 7 mag for one

 

[Pronghunter]

Any update?

 

[WormSportsman]

I would love some updates too. Went into Scheels today and compared a lot of different stocks and kept going back to that carbon crest. Thing feels damn good and with the carbon barrel it is a little lighter than the steel version.

 

[WormSportsman]

Standby, as Bergara is sending a carbon barreled version for a review. I have not received it yet but am expecting a test rifle soon. I'll start a thread once I get it in my hands.

Hey Josh, did you ever get that carbon version?

 

[Josh Boyd]

Hey Josh, did you ever get that carbon version?

I have not and am a little disappointed. Maybe at some point Bergara will catch up with dealer demand and get a carbon version send out for a comparison review.

I did get an opportunity to pack the steel version around last week in the backcountry and my initial review still stands. It's a great rifle and the carbon version would tick a few more boxes for me, especially with a hinged floorplate.

 

[WormSportsman]

Congrats on the Bull and glad to hear you are still liking the rifle!

 

[TheViking]

I am using the same load as you and am around the same velocity. However, approximately 2,800 fps is 6.5 Creedmore speed. Not the 3k that was advertised in the 6.5 PRC

Published ammo speeds are 99% of the time done with a 24” barrel. As he mentioned, subtract X fps per inch. Going with a 20” barrel on a PRC is essentially creating a 24” Creedmoor. If your gun is new, it will typically speed up after 100 rounds or so. My 6.5 PRC Tikka sped up a lot around the 200 mark.

I’m currently shooting Federal Fusion Tipped 140 grain factory ammo. Box velocity is 2975, but with my factory Tikka 24.3” barrel + suppressor I’m shooting 3035 fps on a 20 shot session chronographed with my Garmin. Which is really close to 7mm RM speeds.

The latest trend is shooting a chopped barrel + suppressor with a ‘hot’ round. For example: a 7 PRC with a 20” barrel is like shooting a 24” 7 RM. Or chopping a 7 RM is like shooting a full length 6.5 PRC/270 win (140-150 grain bullet class).