Sierra, the solid and customizable Bergara

Sierra, the solid and customizable Bergara. The Spanish rifle is an excellent choice for hunting, even in the mountains. Solid and versatile, with a great trigger and a barrel that lives up to expectations

The Bergara Wilderness Sierra carbine in .30-06 caliber.

In Spanish, the term “sierra” refers to a mountain range, such as the Sierra Nevada in southern Spain. If the name of a product serves to identify it, well the Bergara B14 Wilderness Sierra carbine It should really be suitable for mountain hunting. Which brings with it a series of necessary characteristics: low weight, great robustness and handling and of course maximum precision at longer distances. This if we refer to Europe, but partly also to North America. bergara It is a Spanish cooperative company (located in Bergara, a few kilometers from San Sebastian, in the Basque Country) with a solid know-how in the production of rifled barrels for rifles obtained by buttoning. For some years it has decided to try its hand at the production of complete weapons, initially turning to North America. The B14 model is the most successful and is available in various versions, from the most classic hunting-oriented ones to models with characteristics and stocks more oriented to shooting.

This Sierra version, made available by the importer Ra sport of Manerbio (BS), belongs to the Wilderness series, consisting of rustic and resistant weapons to the natural environment, which also allow for effective concealment in the environment itself, starting from the hand-painted camouflage finish of the stock, with a special texture on the forend and pistol grip to improve the grip. Barrels and actions of the Wilderness series have a Cerakote Sniper grey surface treatment, for maximum protection from the elements. This Sierra also features an adjustable-height cheek piece, which gives hunters the freedom to customize for an optimized and comfortable shooting experience, and a muzzle brake capable of reducing recoil by up to 35 percent.

The handlebar shutter with helical fluting.

The shutter head with the two locking lugs.

From a mechanical point of view, the inspiration comes from the Remington 700 system, a paradigm of construction simplicity, robustness and reliability. The rotating-sliding bolt has two opposing front lugs: the left one slides in a special groove in the action, while the right one is equipped with a thin longitudinal guide that allows it to slide on the right edge of the loading compartment. The action has a cylindrical profile, with a recess in the lower part of the front edge to accommodate the recoil lug base, of the separate plate type, fixed in position thanks to the interference with a special flange on the barrel. The bolt has a body with a helical fluting for lightening and stiffening, and is completed by a rear nut in light alloy, from whose rear end protrudes an index with a red coloured ring that acts as a cocked striker indicator. The handlebar is slightly tilted backwards, comfortable to use, completed with an elongated, knurled, well-sized knob. The safety has two positions.

Cocked striker, indicated by the red colored tail protruding from the walnut.

The rifle with the striker cocked, in the firing position.

The company guarantees all B14 rifles to have groups within 100 MOA at XNUMX yards. using industrial-grade ammunition. And so it was, right from the start, in my test in the Gunbank shooting range in Lograto (BS), at the fateful 100 meters. To tell the truth, the first three bullets, 159 gr round-nosed Ariete bullets from the .30-06 Hasler cartridges, hit the target in 45 mm, then I decided to switch to the heavier 180 gr Winchester Php Power max and then to the Norma Bondstrike, also 180 gr, with a blue polymer tip. With the first I obtained a 30 mm grouping and with the second 28. A more than satisfactory result. To adapt my vision to the Delta optic, I had previously raised the nosepiece, simply by unlocking the Allen screw on the blade, resting my cheek very comfortably, without forcing my neck to make any particular contortions. It can be raised by 30 mm, but 10 were enough for me.

The author at the shooting range at Gunbank in Lograto (BS).

Best grouping at 100 meters, 28 mm, obtained with Norma Bondstrike 180 grs.

30mm grouping with Winchester Php Power max 180 grs.

A slightly wider rosette with the 159 gr Hasler Ariete round-tip bullets.

The football blade has a profile halfway between shooting and hunting, however comfortable. The forend is almost flat, comfortable for supported shooting, with two screw attachments, one for the sling and a second to eventually mount a Picatinny rail. The grip has a slightly more vertical grip to allow a more comfortable feeling while shouldering. This stock, with 2 ¼” spacers, is 550 mm long, but different and customized lengths can be obtained with other spacers.

The buttstock with the adjustable comb and spacers before the buttplate.

The Bergara No. 5 barrel has a tapered profile and features lightening fluting, is 560 mm (22″) long and has a 1:10″ twist rate.. As the action is finished Sniper grey Cerakote threaded 5/8-24″ with Omni muzzle brake.

The barrel is finished in Sniper Grey Cerakote with a 5/8-24″ thread and an Omni muzzle brake.

The trigger is direct, light, crystal-breaking, adjustable in pre-travel by expert hands. The impression is that the rifle is impervious to shocks and falls, considering the quality of the synthetic stock and the mechanics. I do not particularly appreciate the magazine that protrudes so much from the profile of the weapon, but it is a venial sin. The handling is there thanks to the good proportions, very appreciable the possibilities for customization.