Bergara B14 squared crest trigger guard stress fracture

Hello - I've had this Bergara B14 crest chambered in 6.5PRC trigger guard/action bracket thing snap on me.

Had the rifle for a bit over a year, but have found the rifle has had a constantly changing zero pretty much since I've owned it. Will generally shoot around 0.5-1.5MOA depending on the ammo, but sometimes I will show up to the range to find that the zero is dead on, and other times up to 3-4 inches off. Been super frustrated with it and it doesn't fill me with confidence. Also everything on this gun has been rusting since I've owned it, and the other rifle in the safe is completely fine. Don't think i have ever taken it out in the rain or got it wet yet and clean it religiously with boretech eliminator.

I figured i would fully disassemble and retorque everything to try and diagnose the wandering zero and the base plate which holds the stock on just fell to pieces when i undid the action screw. This is the first time undoing this screw. Seems like a fatigue issue, or poor quality alloy.

Anyone else had this happen? Or had their Bergara rust on them? Other Bergara quality issues?

Reckon this would cause the zero to wander?

...should have just bought a T3X...
cheers

Attachment 283691

Not much meat on this receiver where it broke yet it shouldn't break like that.

I just did some worke on a mate 6.5prc crest. Overall not impressed by the stock quality. Camo paint on the matting surface with the receiver is dumb, you could see polished mark on the cerakote on the receiver where the camo paint created high relief zone. Same one these new MDT $3000 carbon stock, paint and camo paint on the aluminium V block.... masking tape ain't that expensive...

Back to the Bergara, the recoil lug was also not making contact with the stock, it coud has well been removed... consistency and group shape improved once bedded with Devcon. It was doing the classic two close one off prior to that. After group were more triangular.

For the cost I would rather by a Tikka and drop it in a good aftermarket carbon stock.

Fark that is shit box. Could you just swap out the bottom metal for a 700 one?

It's not touching the barrel channel is it?

Check and relieve the channel and then bed it properly, with a better bottom metal.

Then Ceracote the shit out of everything to minimize rust.

Pretty poor considering the age of it. I was looking at a Bergara recently but maybe not after seeing that.

It has ceracote from factory. My mate had his bergara warrantied from the ceracote chipping off around the muzzle as well.

Here is a photo in the action. The action and chamber rusts like crazy - I'm sure the barrel is rusting as well but i cant see in there.

I'll never get a Bergara again thats for sure.
Attachment 283694

I did suspect the recoil lug wasn't making contact with the stock so recoil all travelling through here. Will see if Bergara will warranty the whole thing for rust and this plate and maybe get the new one properly bedded - or just toss the whole thing in the bin and get a tikka.

Not saying its the problem in this case but after boretech I like to wipe out as much as I can with a dry patch then wipe with lightly oily rag of a presrving oil then wipe as much of that as I can out of the action off bolt barrel etc. boretech eliminator feels like its water based not oil. I use a rod guide to keep solvents under control in the action. I dont leave a gun in plastic/ foam case nor rifle bag for more than a few hours in the car. Also dry it out in the open for day or two before going back into the safe.

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Originally Posted by Near miss

I did suspect the recoil lug wasn't making contact with the stock so recoil all travelling through here. Will see if Bergara will warranty the whole thing for rust and this plate and maybe get the new one properly bedded - or just toss the whole thing in the bin and get a tikka.

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if you have a doubt permanent market on the recoil lug face, shoot it. if it makes contact it will transfer to stock. Good way to test bedding job too and clean easy.

I've just checked my stainless 6.5Cr B14 Extreme Hunter and can't find a speck of corrosion, or damage to the cerakote, and she's definitely no safe queen and seen her fair share of shit conditions. It's one of the first lot of Extreme Hunters they released in NZ, with the heavier contour and non-fluted barrel.

Accuracy appears to be an issue with their Extreme Hunter in 223. I know of one that turned out to be a complete lemon, 4-6 inch groups regardless of ammo and grain weight, and money was refunded. Seems to be a common issue with their 223's.

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Originally Posted by steadwah

I've just checked my stainless 6.5Cr B14 Extreme Hunter and can't find a speck of corrosion, or damage to the cerakote, and she's definitely no safe queen and seen her fair share of shit conditions. It's one of the first lot of Extreme Hunters they released in NZ, with the heavier contour and non-fluted barrel.

Accuracy appears to be an issue with their Extreme Hunter in 223. I know of one that turned out to be a complete lemon, 4-6 inch groups regardless of ammo and grain weight, and money was refunded. Seems to be a common issue with their 223's.

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It's starting to seem like they are dropping the ball with their newer models. I have an early B14 timber, excellent workmanship on the stock, Cerakote that stands the test of time, and a remarkably accurate rifle. Very happy with it, but disappointed to see the likes of this and hear the other stories of their .223

Wouldn't want to drop $3000 on new single shot rifle if this is the type of quality begera is now into.....in saying that pighunting mates 44 magnum is holding up well.

It appears to be all to common with manufacturers that their QA diminishes the more they continually tinker with their lines.
As others have mentioned the issues appear to be related to Bergaras newer offerings. I would still recommend considering their older models, and reckon you could go back through the H&F online catalogue library if you wanted to find out when the tinkering began. I bought mine in 2020.

Have owned several bergara both stainless and cerekoted never had an issue with rust ever. I suspect something else is at play either moisture in your safe (could be caused by extreme temp variations) or as mentioned above the product your using to clean it.
Have always wiped my rifles down with crc longlife after cleaning and put some on a patch and run that down the bore as well, my safe is inside in a well insulated temp stable environment and legit never had any rust issues on any of my rifles or shotties Blued, stainless or cerekoted.
The bottom metal sux but be grateful it's not a Weatherby mk v, I've had 2 of them break on me 1 was my fault the other was someone else, first one was before Weatherby had a new agent so had to get one custom made as there was no way to get one in nz without paying half the price of the rifle, the second one broke more recently and I thought no biggie I'll contact the new agent and nearly fell off my chair when they quoted "over $1000 and likey a 6+ month wait" Fuck that I have the cut file and got a second one cnc milled for less than a 1/4 of that.
I love my Weatherby's but I can't see the brand lasting long if this is there parts back up.
I'm sure either a rem 700 or another bergara bottom metal will see you right, make sure the mag box is seated or you will have the same problem again....don't ask how I know :yaeh am not durnk:

Well, credit where credit is due. Bergara have accepted it's under warranty and have sent it away to replace the broken part and have a gunsmith glass bed the rifle free of charge. Can't fault that customer service.

Double checking how the magwell is engaged in both the receiver and the floor plate is essential, as mentioned above.
It is a common problem on howas where the magazine well is squeezed if not properly engaged into the bottom floor plate , which then bend the floor plate and also put stress on the receiver that leads to poor accuracy .