I got a new .22LR from Bergara ... the BXR001 and it sure shoots great.
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MCMXI...I'm glad you started this thread. I've been eyeing the Bergara semi for awhile now. I tried a Ruger 10/22 some years ago and couldn't warm up to it so sold it to a friend who loves them. Went back to shooting my bolt .22s and my Marlin lever gun for fun. I kill lots of squirrels with my bolt .22s and do not shoot competitions. Not overly concerned about one-hole groups but I place great value on a gun that can consistently hit a squirrel eye at 50+ yds. So the principle is the same. The Bergara seems to match up with all my needs and they look good...never liked the looks of a 10/22. Haven't gone to suppressors yet but everyone I talk to swears by them. All this talk about the semi-auto doesn't reveal my ambivalence about that particular Bergara. Because I'm also interested in the Bergara Trainer. Hard to decide, but the guns would serve 2 different purposes. The semi is a hunter and the Trainer is a bench gun. Truth is I spend more time at the bench than in the field these days, but really want to reverse that pattern....maybe buy both? Plus I'm moving toward semi for the fun of it. I think your narrative has convinced me that I really have to try it. Been distracted by a couple other recent gun purchases; a .243 for my sis-n-law and pistol for my wife. But, now that is done, I'll get back to the rifle....might divert to a shotgun for coyotes...decisions, decisions>. BTW, I love the Kalispell area. I have rented a placed south of Bozeman for July, but not sure if this virus crap is going to force a cancellation. Hoping to find a place to shoot coyotes, ground squirrels, gophers, and prairie dogs. My keenest interest is varmint shooting. Anyway, thank you for moving this tread. It has helped me move a step closer to ordering one. Tom
Thank you for the report on your BXR 1. That rifle checked all the right boxes for me, so I picked one up and have enjoyed shooting it.
A few coworkers bought BXR rifles when I got mine and one of them came up to the house to shoot his BXR002 for the first time this past Saturday. I have to say, I kind of wish I'd bought the CF sleeved barrel version now. It's considerably lighter and based on the results with my coworker's rifle it's a shooter. Even with a scope that didn't have parallax adjustment which for me resulted in a blurred target at 50 yards, I was able to shoot a decent group using the SK Long Range Match ammuntion (see below). I had 7 shots in one ragged hole with three out of the main group but he has the factory trigger in his. But the thing that really surprised me was how well his rifle shot the CCI Mini MAG 40gr copper plated round nose stuff. His rifle would stack up 10 shots into about 1" groups at 50 yards. I wish I had taken some photos but I was amazed at the performance with that relatively cheap product. My BXR doesn't seem to shoot that stuff quite as well as his but still quite decent.
BXR002 with CF sleeved barrel and SilencerCo Sparrow suppressor.
10 shots at 50 yards using SK Long Range Match.
BXR002 with CF sleeved barrel and SilencerCo Sparrow suppressor.
10 shots at 50 yards using SK Long Range Match.
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Sniper66 said:
It's good to hear that you're considing a BXR. I would look at the CF sleeved version though. It just seems to be very forgiving in terms of ammunition. That said, the heavier steel barreled version is no slouch. Funnily enough, my coworker also bought out a Ruger American .22LR and it was absolute garbage in comparison. It couldn't do any better than 2-1/2" at 50 yards with various types of ammunition and it's a bolt action rifle! I think my coworker is going to sell the Ruger and put the money towards a better scope for his significantly better shooting BXR.
I really like to visit the Big Sky area too. US 191 is a lovely drive as you head down from Bozeman to West Yellowstone. If you make it up this way you must let me know. I have plenty of ground squirrels that tear up my property. The raptors don't get enough of them.
rust collector said:
Good to hear.
I think they're a very good rifle for the cost, and if you want to upgrade it a bit then you can. I've heard a few complaints about the Bergara magazine but I've had no issues with mine. My coworker has a Ruger 10/22 so he used Ruger magazines without any issues. I need to order some Ruger magazines for sure since I only have the one Bergara.I have visited YellowStone many times. My best friend worked for the park service so I flew out to Bozeman and he would pick me up. Good times! He later moved to Kalispell and I almost moved there; was divorced at the time. But, met a great woman and we have been married now of 28 years...my 3rd try at marriage and finally got it right. Fell in love with Montana and have visited many times, hence renting a place in Bozeman for the month of July. Keeping my fingers crossed that the virus doesn't force me to cancel the stay. And you bet I would love to look you up if I get up that direction. It is always good to meet fellow shooters. Regarding your ground squirrel problem, I plan to bring a couple of varmint rifles with me.. I have an Anschutz 1517 MPR that is perfect for small pests. I've killed 100s of prairie dogs with it. I'll bring a .204 and a .223 as well. I'm in the process of looking for shooting opportunities within, say, 100 miles of Bozeman. I would welcome any suggestions. I've read about alfalfa farms being inundated with ground squirrels and gophers eating the crop. Would love to find such a place to shoot. And regarding the Bergara, I should have one by then and am debating which one to buy. You make a compelling case for the carbon fiber version. My reservation about that one is how light it is. I have a tremor that makes me shy away from guns without some heft. I think the heavier barrel might suit me better. I'll have to obsess about it for awhile and may end up with the CF version. Either way, I'll be bringing that with me too. Would welcome any further correspondence especially to my email [email protected]
Tom Bates
Hey.....MCMXI.....I'm in Montana and away from my computer. Do not have your email on wife's lap top. Please email me in response to this post; I get all current emails. Staying south of Bozeman on 191 about a mile from the Gallatin River. Look forward to hearing from you. Hope this note finds you. TomGood to hear.
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