It and the Fierce Rogue are tight competitors. Although, I think Vlad is optimistic on price, but you can find a deal. Action is amazing and a really great factory trigger. Jim, Its for my 3 teenage daughters (all first year deer tag draws) . Those that do could at least be highlighted. Never shot 6.5 but all I hear are good things whats your opinion. It shoots some factory ammo sub moa as advertised but has been and uphill battle to get hand loaded 88grn eldm's to group consistent. Im really down to the Fierce Carbon Rival vs the Weatherby MarkV Backcountry. I bought a Tikka M550 in 308 while stationed in Germany back in 1984. All six chamberings available in U.S.-market Momentums come with a threaded barrel. (I\m in Denver and could use a road trip). The forend felt fat and a bit chunky, and the detachable mag looks like it could get in the way when carrying, hunting, using rests, etc. Any help deciding? Its short, compact, lightweight, sinfully accurate with my handloads, feeds 100%, and adjustable so it fits me perfectly. In this price range, manufacturers use very loose tolerances and have very poor quality control, so Im careful what I recommend. Im surprised it didnt make the list. Is the bergara name worth it? The only downside I see is the weight at 7 plus pounds if your looking for a ultralight mountain rig. In the video below, I review the Fierce Rogue and show what I like/dislike about the Fierce Rogue. Its like saying 300 Blackout isnt as effective as 300 WinMag. I found not too long ago a Husqvarna Mauser for $400 bucks in like new condition. Ive got a lot of autoloader pistol and AR experience, but my only bolt action is an old Mosin Nagant. Ergonomics * * * * Ruger Americans are fantastic. There is one drawback to the Tikka T3x Lite. Which one do you recommend, God-bless you for being a second amendment supporter I will pray for you your wife and your family God-bless, Wow! I mean, this is one heck of a tight group! Will the new/faster twist rates make a difference to users? Capacity: 4+1 Its the classic , its The One , its stood the test of time , its been around longer than the rest and will still be here long after these other rifles have fallen out of fashion. Its a good option for light cartridges, but the light weight and stock design dont make for a good match on heavy cartridges. I just want an all around deer rifle that is easy to find ammo for. I am between a Bergara B-14 Hunter and the Weatherby Vanguard. I like the cleaner lines without the mag sticking out. Hear hear. I had a question on my first rifle purchase. Id pick the CVA Cascade from that group. The Sig Cross is the rifle that I have consistently used more than any other hunting rifle in my gun vault. Granted, I got the better tools for measuring how off what they sold is but theres some applications where cheap is better. I was down to the Ultralite or the Savage High Country and went with the High Country because of this. Theres also no shortage of cartridges that send a 6.5mm bullet at much higher velocities than the Swede so I have to assume by your metric those are all superior to the Swede? Im looking for another LR hunting rifle and was seriously looking at Christianson arms but not so much now. Luckily I was at a store on vacation that let me handle both. Its great out to about 400. But after that, its likely going to be a custom. It also really liked this 147 grain MEN stuff that I bought in bulk cheap some years ago basically just for semi-auto plinking use. Savage, Tikka, Browning, Christensen- all offer LH options and should be commended for it. Any thoughts? An innovative modern design with folding buttstock, pistol grip. Everyone else says so but I figured Id ask. The action is a Mauser type like Sako. Just hasnt been available. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Moving back-to-front, things start out with a cushy rubber recoil pad. You know Beretta will not support either rifle. Mine shoots 1/2 MOA with handloads, Available in: 6 Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .308 Win, Available in: 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .308 Win, 300 Win Mag. Could you please do a review on the Sauer 100 stainless xta. The stock feels really cheesy. I mean, I realize you use supersonic ammunition and would have liked to have heard how home-rolled subsonic ammo performed. You made your point. I would love a 300 Win Mag. . Ive never seen Sea Adler anywhere in the US, do you know if theyre imported? I decided to go a different direction by changing out the barrel for a 20 inch Proof. Both have 3 lug bolts with the lugs integral with the rest of the bolt body 3. Both the Momentum Elite and the newer Tikka Veil are . Thank you, October 15 2022 Christiansen Arms Traverse, 28 Nos. I saw your video on the 7mm prc and considered waiting till they came out. Magazine Comparison: The Browning X-Bolt features a 4 round detachable polymer rotary magazine. (1) The Springfield 2020 Waypoint with a steel barrel, (2) You could wait a few months for the new Bergara B14 Squared Crest to come out, or (3) Get a Sig Cross. $1,049.00. One-Piece Picatinny Rail Quick and easy optics mounting. Looking for a good review of it after months of no Tikkas available locally in 308. Zero quality control issues. Most of the great rifles youve taken time to make us salivate for do not make left handed models. 2023 Backfire LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Utah, USA. Thanks in advance. My personal Ruger American shoots 0.8 groups consistently. $799.00 Add To Cart For Price. I would definitely buy the Winchester XPR SR version, which means suppressor ready, so you get a threaded barrel. Vlad is typical progtard. The trouble Im having wracking my brain over is caliber. It doesnt handle recoil well because of the stock design. The budget rifle video and cartridge wars are among my fav on YouTube for hunting alone. I have a Sears gun with an FN Action and a deluxe hand checkered walnut stock (real hand checkering not junk machine cut checkering) in .270 caliber and I paid $300 for it used. I also own a Savage 110 Ultralite in 6.5 PRC- fantastic accuracy, but I just could not warm up to the plasticy stock. These are incredible results from a rifle with an MSRP barely over $600! The pistol grip is thicker than on many similar stocks, which I appreciate a lot, but at the same time a little more palm swell wouldnt hurt. Which leaves Winchester, Weatherby, Tikka/Sako. **sorry for posting this comment on another article, but I guess this is the more suitable article for this discussion. The Franchi Momentum Elite Bolt-Action Rifle also has a 1-piece 1913 Picatinny rail that permits flexible accommodation of various aftermarket optics. And based on my limited sample size, this budget rifle seems to prefer budget ammo. I am going to use the rifle for mainly whitetail deer hunting in Wisconsin but I occasionally like once every 5-10 years go out west and hunt pronghorn or elk and have recently tried to hunt moose in Alaska. Its just so short, light, and accurate. The Weatherby Vanguard Meateater edition comes with Cerakote, threaded barrel, stiff stock and a pretty decent 2 stage trigger. Love your videos and reviews thanks a ton. Hunting rifles per say but not many of the new techno rifles. A fine rifle like this is perfect for beating to shit while you learn the other basics. Cheers. Loved this article keep em coming! I am really interested in a waypoint. Keep up the great work. I could go for a more grabby grip myself, but the Momentums checkering is certainly sufficient. A common benefit to a 3-lug design as opposed to a 2-lug design is a shorter bolt throw. Most people hide their plasticky pieces of shit from their friends if their friends are the old foxes who know what a real gun is. I am looking at it in 243 but cant decide between that and x bolt. It would also handle bigger calibers MUCH better than the Cross. I\m also looking at the Seekins Havak PH2? Feeler gauges became shims for my lathe and mill. The SIG Cross would be a best second choice. 80lbs maybe. You mention it just once in this string but dont come back to it at all. I am from Canada- and watching your channel for quite a time. The trigger is heavy, but thats true on the Browning XBolts as well. Again a super nice old world crafted gun anyone would be proud to own and show off to friends. Phil. Im going to let it cure for a day or so before testing it, if I still have an issue with slippage or it effects accuracy, I will switch out for new rings. Another group was slightly more evenly distributed but similar in size. What are your thought on the Ruger precision? I had a Waypoint 2020 6.5 PRC on order for a long while- when one finally showed up and I was able to handle it, I just could not warm up to it. Great info on the ins and outs of shooting and the rifle reviews. enything under 2k. I am looking at loading with heavier grain bullets such as the Berger 30 cal 215 Hybrid or Berger 7mm 180 or 195 Grain bullets. I am looking to spend around $1200, and I am between the Savage ultralite and the Howa carbon kratos. Is it ever gonna happen or should I just buy a 6.5 prc? The deciding factor for me was the trigger, and that 3 of my buddies shoot the Savage. Jim, Problem with the Savage 110 ultralight is the plastic magazine. Franchi Momentum .300 Win Mag 24" Black / Hunter Gray 4 Rds 41553. funny, I was between the FME and the CVA cascade for a 350L. Alpha? They have shot the ruger and no problem but alittle heavy to be packing around the mountain. Removable e Box Magazine (Large Capacity) Christensen MPR The MPR looks fantastic, but I do feel like its a little bit of lipstick on a pig. Would this interest you? BTW unless youre reloading, the vast majority of factory 6.5 Creedmoor is quite a bit faster than the same projectile in 6.555. He is a well-known entrepreneur, having started many successful online brands, and lives in St George, Utah. XBolt Pro is a good gun but needs a new trigger. Im a lefty that has to shoot cross over right handed bolts. Franchi designs some very good scatter guns, and this is their first rifle attempt. How is it Franchis fault again? Same for Austria and Glock. Italy has crazy gun control laws, like most of Europe. I have not seen a semi-auto in 6.5 PRC, should I wait? Just how it shot when the time came. As a side note, I have a Sako 85 from Cabelas. I dont own one. In fact, I did a whole video showing the limitations of the Ruger American. To my surprise John Mogle responded and told me to send in my gun and they would replace the barrel and fix the problem. Threaded barrel, cerakote barrel, hand painted stock. It tames the recoil of this 6.6-pound rifle extremely well. Great to see honest reviews that are very entertaining hope to see many more. My 6.5 CM shoots sub MOA groups. Unfortunately, I cant weigh in on the Sauer 100 yet because I havent tried it. The Bergara B14 Wilderness with adjustable cheek piece would be a great choice, as well as anything in the Bergara Premier Series. Mostly hand carried, thick timber and hills in foul weather. The Tikka T3 features a standard box 3 round magazine but certain models come with a 4 round magazine. superbly accurate with federal non-typical 150s (second load i tried). Non custom rifles are often a hit or miss affair. So if I review it and love my copy, Id be convincing people to buy one and they very likely may not have the same experience. Required fields are marked *. Just my two cents, but would love to hear an honest review of these rifles. A fairly vertical pistol grip offers comfortable control from most any shooting position. Thanks. Have you ever made a review of the Schultz & Larsen rifle? Nearly every touch-point Ive had with the company shows obvious signs of errors. Is it felt more? Seekins is another I looked into but judging by the lack of representation in reviews I\m not confident in it either. It would be a tiny bit more expensive, but really not much. Watch my full review of the Springfield 2020 Waypoint. Caliber: .308 Winchester (available in five other calibers, too) Fantastic. Yes, thats five rounds as always. It weighs a little heavy per the stats, Ill admit but at that price point, its very hard to ignore especially since lightweight after-market chassis can cost as much as the base model B-14, Rem 700, Tikka T3, etc. A stock upgrade is also an option, Stockys is producing several different carbon fiber drop-in stocks for the Vanguard/Howa rifle line. I havent seen you review any CZ rifle, any cause un particular? Yes, even if my hunting situation means most shots will be shorter range, I want a rifle that will reach out and make a 250 or 350 yard shot accurately in case it needs to. Available in: 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win, 277 Sig Fury. Get one , in 30-06 for the purest experience , and youll be convinced ! Im in love. Affordable? Have you reviewed the werkman? I would love to see you review a Lithgow la102 from Australia. It appears that Fierce is stretching the truth a bit on weight because mine weighs 6 pounds, 4 1/8 oz and its a short action with 24 6.5mm barrel so it should be about the lightest one they have. Yeah, the Reaper is pretty awesome. There is a nice Bavarian Sako but theres isnt much data on accuracy on the range with a scope. From afar it looks pretty standard, but it does set itself apart in a few ways. Its an interesting concept but I prefer a traditional bolt. Jim love the reviews and the Channel. Some people get a good one, others get a lemon. I can stretch the budget to a Browning if I have to, but the Winchester XPR is more in my price range. I just have to say thank you I really appreciate your unbiased and honest opinions. These are deal breakers. I like the fact that you backed your reviews with a substantial reason for the review vs nothing to substantiate the review. The controlled-round feed action is great. However, if this was not a ringer and indicative of the accuracy to be expected, it would be a great entry level rifle. Also, at least in my area, they are readily available which is a huge bonus right now. Nor did it entirely love the excellent Hornady Black ammo, putting two rounds through the O that I was aiming at and three in another very tight group some distance away. some of us realize we would be charged a certain premium. Hi Jim. Holy Moses, what an incredible rifle. What? The also Cerakote the barrel which lowers the need for oiling the metals on your gun, and protects it in rainy or otherwise wet conditions. I sent my Rival back for repair and after six weeks it came back with the same problem. It feels almost as rigid as concrete, and thats a good thing. Twist Rate: 1:11 The stock feels like it is created of a very tough polymer. But 300 WinMag doesnt fit in an AR15 and 6.5 Swede doesnt fit in a short action. and the weathermark? There are very few reviews and almost zero information about how the Howa carbon shoots. The Momentum is Franchi's hunting rifle, introduced by the Italian firm in 2018. Im holding my breath for the comments section on this post. A lot of states dont allow semi-autos for big game hunting so check your regs. Jim, I think you misspoke about the Ultralite. Still, its the 2020 Waypoint in my opinion. Jim, after watching the review of your Rival I wanted you to know I had the same problems with mine. Really, the only thing that keeps me from owning more of them is that I can rarely find them in the chamberings I want. Second is the on top the receiver scope mounts are based on Savage Accutrigger not Remington. I own the X-Bolt in 7mm Magnum and it is fantastic. If you want to hunt larger game like elk, then Id recommend getting the same rifle in .30-06 Springfield. He lives outside of Austin, TX. I love it. I agree with you. Thanks for all of your vids and you helped me get my last two rifles with all the choices. NO, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_control_in_Italy, F Franchi, and Baretta and their ilk. Savage 110? Thanks for your time Jim, love the channel! Definitely the most accurate rifle I have owned right out of the box. Weighs under 6 lbs. The Elite Varmint, introduced last year, should readily . Style and Appearance * * * * They will be on sale at cabelas this next week, and I havent heard that much about them. I have found a lot of draw backs such as a cramped magazine box that when I tried to seat bullets out there was no room in the magazine to do so therefore I had excess bullet jump into the throat of the barrel, especially older barrels with slightly eroded throats and not being able to seat the bullet out sometimes does not give you the best accuracy. I have played with many of the rifles you have. Swelled and checkered grip areas are molded into both sides of the stock over the internal magazine and again at the beginning of the forearm section. Would you please review the a CZ 600 Alpha? unloaded and 46.7 . I am about ready to purchase the Springfield Waypoint 2020 in 6.5 prc then, i see the Proof Elevation MTR is offered in a 7prc, as is the Rival in a 7prc Of all the rifles I own, if you just said Grab a rifle and go hunting without any more specifics of where Id be hunting or what Id be hunting, Id grab that rifle. The Elite series, added alongside the budget-priced original in 2020, did nothing to diminish those impressions. Suppressors are DEFINITELY the future, so I wouldnt buy a non-threaded barrel anymore. What do you think of the weight of the gun compared to some of these lightweight carbon stocks? The rings are on a 30mm tube though, which has more surface area pressure from the rings to hold the scope in place. Really enjoy your channel and dialogue on your reviews. Barrett, AI, etc. I am looking to buy a new rifle and Im between the Franchi Momentum Elite and the Weatherby Vanguard MeatEater edition mainly because of availability. I cannot give a better example than that. Looks to me like an Apples to Oranges request. Manual cover also says- Do not use without reading Manual. MSRP:$609 (about $450 retail). I want your opinion on there trigger system. American Hunter's first reports of it indicated excellent fit and function and accuracy. Thanks. Its a push feed which means if you short stroke the bolt you can get a jam that I guarantee will take you half an hour to un-jam. can you give me your thoughts on I went with the CVA simply for that reason. Its just tough to get excited about because it has no single stand-out feature. I see that you really like the Savage, but I was wondering if you have shot the Howa? I hear a lot of people liking the Seekins Havak, but it just hasnt grabbed me. In the end I still believe the 7mm RM is more versatile. The scope I bought is a Sea Adler, 3x9x40. My main gun is a Tikka T3 in 30-06. Is it worth it? And I need it in a shorter stock. Hornady Precision hunter was working well in mine. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Have you had any experience with the new fierce rage? So, too, will the rifles 2-position safety allow you to load and unload safely. Shot yesterday and shot at 200, 300 and 400 yards, 1/2-3/4 MOA. Combing the interwebs just now I see other reviews reporting groups from 0.40 to 2 MOA depending on caliber and ammunition brand/load. To be clear, youll load the rifle from the top, pushing one round at a time down and into the internal magazine, and this function allows you to safely and easily unload the Momentum. Wish you wouldve done a review on Mauser 18 or sauer 100 as I became interested in those two guns and did ultimately pick up a Mauser this year based on some other reviews. i will say that if someone ever makes an after market "classic" stock for it, i'll dump the plastic factory one. Having said that, in this price range, a lot of the decision is matching the rifle to your unique circumstances and preferences. Ive fallen in love. Would love to see your review on the Australian built Lithgow if you havent fired one yet I am sure you will be blown away by it in build quality, accuracy and value considering we are paying $900 for rifles worth $350 in America. I recently purchased a Franchi Momentum 300 win mag w/24 in. Assuming a commercially-available cartridge (I\m leaning towards .30-06 Springfield), how would the you stack the two up? Any information is greatly appreciated. There are quality inexpensive rifles being made, but if you step up into the $500-$1,000 price range, almost every option will shoot accurately and have more consistent quality control. Maybe not, but I have been caught in down pores and all the morons that were with me came back to the car with rust on their guns but not me. I saw you also mentioned something coming at Shotshow but did not see if you talked about this yet. Hello Jim, Your videos and information are amazing. Plus, it uses an old-school sporter stock that just isnt what todays long-range shooter is looking for. What do you think of the Bergara B14 HMR? It is very expensive. I have purchased about 12 different rifles in the sub-$500 price point over the last 3 years to test out for this review. Hello Jim, We have a complete post on the best rifles under $400 right here. Im looking at the Waypoint now. Would love to know your thoughts on the Seekins Precision Havak PH2 rifles. Im not sure why Bergarra and other premium manufacturers dont do this but Im sure theres a reason. As Im new to the shooting world Im still undecided on a long range target rifle. ISO: 20ga (semi-auto, sxs, and o/u in order of priority), Recommendation for a tarp for my pack - mostly going to use to put quarters on but, FORLOH AllClima Softshell and AllClima Stretch Woven Pant Review. Can Italian go to a local gun store and buy one (or any firearm) without a government license or permission? Great Content. The sub-$500 version of the CVA Cascade comes with just blued steel. I cant say I love the idea of a polymer sling mount with a relatively thin wall to it, but its definitely more out-of-the-way than a protruding stud. Thanks. You are using an out of date browser. Fierce Rival I really like my Fierce Rival chambered in 6.5 PRC. Their ammo is INSANELY expensive, so I wouldnt invest in a Weatherby chambering. Performance is really good. In this price range, this rifle appears to be a very good value. I might add when I got back to the car even with all that grease and oil on my gun I still sprayed it down with WD40 and again when I got it home and dried everything off. Length of Pull: 14 inches (adjustable with spacers) At the back of the bolt shroud, the firing pin protrudes to show cocked status (as seen above) and is flush with the rear of the bolt shroud when not cocked. I know you get requests for reviews a lot but Id be very interested in hearing your thoughts on the CVA Cascade line of bolt action rifles. I know you like the CVA Cascade, but there are 2 things very important to know about those! He recommended a wildcat round, 7 mm SAW. Might want to hold off a month or so. Ive been a little coy about recommending one specific rifle in this price range because its a tight race. I\m a big fan of your videos and expertise. Ultimately it still looks and feels like an inexpensive, plastic stock that youd expect to find on a budget hunting rifle. Interesting comparison. FRUSTRATING. So happy you out this together as it brings all of your work together and I hope you link to it. I have mostly x bolt now and really like them but dont think onyx chassis is made for brownings so thinking the tikka t3x but wanted your opinion. Optional Features TSA Recoil Pads TSA recoil pads for LOP adjustment. Theres something cool coming. stock not sticky yet? With a Leupold VX-2 3-9x40 scope mounted on Leupold dual dovetail rings and loaded with a maximum of five rounds of ammunition, the Momentum I tested weighed almost exactly eight poundslight enough to carry on long hikes through steep country but not unpleasant to shoot. Thanks for the content you put out! No doubt, it has s lot to offer. Again one star better than average in this category, but it still leaves plenty of room for improvement. Have you fired the Sako 85 Finnlight? Really enjoy your advice and reviews on guns and equipment, I appreciate your opinions. Any chance you would do a review on that caliber? The more you talk the clearer it becomes that youve never held much less used a gun. Nor do my groups appear to be outliers for the Momentum. The Cross is great for 6.5 Creedmoor or 6.5 PRC, but the stock just isnt suitable for heavy recoiling cartridges. Is the Sako worth the that premium price though? LOL. I am not sure, or saying one is better than the other, but that was something that bothered me. Wish I discovered your content sooner and thankful for all your hard work. Ive been pouring over your channels videos, and a lot of Ron Spomers content (as well as a few others for the past months). Trigger pull is most critical for me. I wanted to get into deer/large game hunting while trying to stick with one gun for all animals (deer to elk) and I live in northeast South Dakota. I still think the 2020 Waypoint is just a better gun overall. As i get older i am now back to 6,555 and 8x57IS and 308win when it come to calibers but that is more related to the hunting i do than the rifles .Love your tube videos and the fact that you have your own opinions an are not afraid to tell everyone about them. I recommend getting this Ruger American Predator in 6.5 Creedmoor if youll be hunting deer-sized game (or smaller than deer), want to have tons of inexpensive ammo options, and if youll also be using it for target shooting. Id probably go with the Bergara Wilderness Ridge. JavaScript is disabled. Anyway, love the Backfire channel. The need for fast follow up shots, I know with practice a bolt action is fast, but I also dont want to break my right hand grip on the gun and trigger. I purchased Savage Axis II XP- 6.5 Creedmore from Cabelas. One might think that in this price range, youd have a multitude of choices, but in my opinion, there are really only three hunting rifles Id consider. My loads averaging 3050 fps with the 162gr eldx. Even though Im happy with my decision, the Ultralite might have been the better way to go. Its like comparing a Kia against a BMW. Id prefer 7mm-08, but 6.5 is the newest kid on the block. I\m in northern Arizona and hunt in everything from dense forest to open desert, shots rarely over 400 yards. Unsurprisingly, the Momentum is equipped with a synthetic stock. Heres a link to that rifle in .30-06. Hard to go wrong with it for online prices often below $400. The only problem with a Springfield 2020 Waypoint is they dont offer it in enough chamberings. under 9 lb 7 mm or 300 w m. Jim, I know you are a fierce fan. You sound like the new guy that is 25 and has 150 years experience. CVA all the way. I was really looking at the Waypoint before so would you recommend that now or another? Any thoughts. I owned one and sold it. Remember the cheap skates that passed up Colt Pythons when they were only $260 bucks and now are 10 times that. Gunwerks builds great guns, but I just dont see them as being THOUSANDS of dollars better than a Fierce, Weatherby, Seekins, etc. Jim, any thoughts on the Venture 2 from TC? I found barrel engraved with 6.5 Creedmore and read manual before use Its an expensive gun but Ive been hearing good things. Along with the detail you put into your reviews of new ammo like the 6.5 and now 7 PRC. I guess Im looking for an under 2K rifle chambered in a 300 win mag. I still love wood stocks. Fierce Reaper I just love it so much. Gear up as your favorite Delsin Rowe Vest. Removing the bolt, however, is easier thanks to a release lever located on the side of the action. Ive got a line on a used Seekins Havak Element in 6.5 PRC. Thanks, I enjoy watching you on YouTube and its really nice to see your reviews before purchasing guns and related stuff. Question. Savage just came out with a Savage 110 carbon predator. You mentioned it once but I cant find a video where you review it? So, here are my quick thoughts on some of the competition for the best premium factory rifle under $2,500. I think the rifle is feature rich and might be a real shooter.