Bergara Sniper Rifles

A few years ago I was introduced to [easyazon_link identifier=”B00FNKU75K” locale=”US” tag=”bluesheecom-20″]Bergara[/easyazon_link] precision rifles at SHOT Show. Bergara is a precision rifle barrel maker from Spain, and has been increasing their footprint on the market by expanding into complete rifle offerings. I spent a bit of time talking to a representative with a heavy accent. At the time they were showing a prototype of a complete rifle to compete with the many established precision rifle options at SHOT. Unfortunately, that rifle was not being fired on the range.

The rifle I examined showed a well-thought-out design process, and had several key features that precision rifle shooters look for. These included button rifling, free-floated heavy barrel, fluting of the barrel, fully adjustable buttstock, and an enlarged bolt handle, and that’s all I remember.

In addition, Bergara reps were highly emphasizing the fact that their high quality precision barrels were in already use with several major rifle manufacturers including [easyazon_link identifier=”B00V599182″ locale=”US” tag=”bluesheecom-20″]Ruger[/easyazon_link], [easyazon_link identifier=”B001OPPP82″ locale=”US” tag=”bluesheecom-20″]Savage[/easyazon_link], [easyazon_link identifier=”B00162OK02″ locale=”US” tag=”bluesheecom-20″]Thompson Center[/easyazon_link], and [easyazon_link identifier=”B004XZGZP2″ locale=”US” tag=”bluesheecom-20″]CVA[/easyazon_link]. And I was able to fire a separate manufacturer’s rifle with a Bergara barrel. During that limited test firing I found the Bergara barrel to be very accurate.

Bergara Rifle Barrel Features

• Barrel Straightening – A cylindrical bar of high quality stainless steel is checked and straightened to a deviation of less than 0.10mm
• Deep Hole Drilling
• Barrel Honing – Most barrel makers move from deep hole drilling to reaming and then on to rifling. The reaming process leaves tool marks that are 90 degrees to the rifling. Bergara incorporates the honing process. These honing spindles utilize diamond-tipped bits that polish the barrel’s interior surface to a mirror-like finish with a uniformity of the bore which does not vary more than 0.002mm for the entire length of the barrel.
• Button Rifling & Stress Relieving – The rifling process is performed by button or olive method, that means a cold rolling of the inner of the barrel. The barrel copies the shape of the button meanwhile it is drawn through the barrel, creating by this way the appropriate lands and grooves at the required twist rate for each caliber. Then it goes on to the stress relieving of the steel.

The Bergara BPR-17 Tactical rifle is in their Premier Production line.

Bergara BPR-17 Tactical Rifle

The BPR-17 is a mid-level rifle selection with several features that make it a serious contender for a police sniper rifle. In addition to an outstanding [easyazon_link identifier=”B007PVCACS” locale=”US” tag=”bluesheecom-20″]Bergara 416 Stainless Steel barrel[/easyazon_link], there is a composite stocks providing incredible strength, while lowering the overall weight. The threaded barrel provides the option of a suppressor, which is a great feature for police sniper rifles.

The BPR-17 comes with a fully adjustable buttstock, with an adjustable cheek weld riser and removable soft butt pads allowing for a customized length of pull. BPR-17 has a [easyazon_link identifier=”B00X5K9DQY” locale=”US” tag=”bluesheecom-20″]rubberized pistol grip[/easyazon_link] for comfort and ease of grip. The trigger guard is enlarged providing the shooter the ability to uses [easyazon_link identifier=”B007INZVGA” locale=”US” tag=”bluesheecom-20″]gloves[/easyazon_link] in cold weather operations. The bolt handle is enlarged as well, which is a key feature in the rapid manipulation of the bolt for follow-up shots.

The BPR-17 operates with a detachable magazine, which is a far superior design feature in this sniper’s opinion. The detachable magazine provides a much faster reload time, but also allows the versatility of a variety of loads for specialized missions – barrier penetration, armor-piercing, etc.

Bergara BPR-17 Tactical Specifications

• Available Calibers – .308 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor
• Overall Length – 39-42.5″ adjustable
• Barrel Length – .308 WIN – 20”; 6.5 Creedmoor – 22”
• Barrel Material – 416 Stainless Steel, bead blasted, Nitride finished
• Twist Rate – 1:10, right hand
• Threaded Barrel – 5/8-24″ for both calibers
• Total Weight – 9.8 lbs.
• Length of Pull- 11.25″ – 14.75”
• Trigger Weight – 3.2 lbs. factory set
• Magazine – (10) round standard; optional (5) round magazine
• Bergara PREMIUM Action
• Coned Bolt Nose and Breech
• Sliding Plate Extractor
• Cerakote Finish on Barrel & Action
• Custom Chassis Stock by XLR
• Adjustable LOP & Cheek Height
• MSRP $2,200.

The BCR-18 Medium Tactical Rifle expands on the features of the BCR-17. Photo shows folding stock option.

Bergara BCR-18 Medium Tactical Rifle

The BCR-18 builds upon the BCR-17 features. The barrel is slightly heavier, and the chassis is upgraded to an Ashbury Precision Ordnance (APO) Sporter Modular. In addition, there is a Picatinny rail for easier scope or optic mounting. The bolt handle is enhanced with a larger handle, and the trigger guard is slightly shortened, but extended downwards to still provide ample space for gloved shooting. The buttstock comes with an enhanced padded cheek weld.

Bergara BCR-18 Medium Tactical Rifle Specifications

• Caliber – .308 Winchester standard
• Overall Length – 43.5″ (Shim adjustable LOP)
• Barrel Length – 22″
• Barrel Material – Bead Blasted Stainless Steel with #6 Contour; Nitride finished
• Twist Rate – 1:10, right hand
• Chassis Stock – APO Sporter Modular
• Total Weight – 10.5 lbs.
• Bergara CUSTOM Action
• Trigger – Timney
• Trigger Weight – 3.2 lbs. factory set
• Magazine – 5-round detachable standard, 10-round magazine optional
• Bergara Custom Machined 20MOA Picatinny Rail, Screwed and Pinned
• Adjustable Comb Height
• Custom Build Options – Folding Stock ($185); Rear Mono Pod ($490); “Little Bastard” Muzzle Brake ($258); Other Calibers Available on Special Request
• MSRP – Base $4500, Scope not included.

The Bergara BCR-20 Heavy Tactical Rifle is the top of the line offering.

Bergara BCR-20 Heavy Tactical Rifle

The BCR-20 Heavy Tactical Rifle is the top of the line offering from Bergara. This heavy barreled rifle offers the APO MOD-1 folding chassis stock and a full length unitized tubular monolithic Picatinny rail, offering the shooter options for lights, lasers, night vision or other mission specific accessories.

In addition, the APO MOD-1 folding chassis offers the shooter push-button adjustable LOP for quick match up in the field.

Bergara BCR-20 Heavy Tactical Rifle Specifications

• Caliber – .308 Winchester standard
• Overall Length – 45.5″ (Push button adjustable LOP)
• Barrel Length – 24″
• Barrel Material – Bead Blasted Stainless Steel with #6 Contour, Nitride finished
• Twist Rate – 1:10, right hand
• Total Weight – 10.5 lbs.
• Bergara Custom Action
• Magazine – (10) Round detachable standard; Optional (5) round magazine.
• Trigger – Timney
• Trigger Weight – 3.2 lbs. factory set
• Full Length Unitized Monolithic Rail, 20MOA
• Chassis Stock – APO MOD-1 Chassis Folding Stock
• Adjustable Comb Height
• Tubular Aluminum Forend with Accessory Rails and Flush Cups• Nitride Barrel Finish for Long Life
• Custom Build Options – Rear mono pod ($490); “Little Bastard” muzzle brake ($258); Long Action Stock ($75); Other calibers by special request
• MSRP – Base – $5000.

The BCR-19 Heavy Tactical provides shooters a more traditional stock option.

Bergara BCR-19 Heavy Tactical Rifle

The Bergara BCR-19 Heavy Tactical Rifle provide shooters a more traditional sniper rifle stock set up, without compromising quality or enhanced features. The BCR-19 uses the proven McMillan A-4 fiberglass infused nylon stock. This stock has an incorporated pistol grip design, free-floated barrel, and is very strong. The BCR-19 is the heaviest of the Bergara sniper rifles, weighing in at 12.5 lbs.

This stock has a semi-inletted fiberglass barrel channel, and is made with multi-layer fiberglass cloth laminated with epoxy resin. The receiver area is filled with solid fiberglass, while the fore end is filled with epoxy and glass beads. The buttstock is filled with urethane foam to reduce overall weight and keep a central balance. The BCR-19 has optional Timney or Shilen Triggers, both of which are outstanding.

Bergara BCR-19 Heavy Tactical Rifle Specifications

• Available Calibers – .308 Winchester; .300 Win. Mag. standard
• Overall Length – 43.5″ (Adjustable LOP)
• Barrel Length – 24″
• Barrel Material – Bead Blasted Stainless Steel with #7 Contour, Nitride finished
• Twist Rate – 1:10, right hand
• Total Weight – 12.5 lbs.
• Bergara Custom Action
• Trigger – Timney or Shilen Trigger
• Trigger Weight – 3.2 lbs. factory set
• Bergara Custom Machined 20MOA Picatinny Rail, Screwed and Pinned
• Stock – McMillan A-4 Stock USMC Spec with Molded OD Green Finish
• Stock Features – Adjustable Butt and Comb, (6) Flush Cups, and a Bipod Mounting Stud, Pillar Bedded with Marine Tex Steel Filled Epoxy
• Magazine Action – Badger M-5 Bottom Metal
• Magazine – (1) 5-Round Magazine standard; (10) round magazine optional
• Custom Build Options – .338 Lapua Caliber with M4 Badger Bottom Metal magazine action ($500); Other calibers with special request; KDR muzzle brake ($200); Threaded muzzle (5/8 x 24″) with protector cap ($120); Other threads by special request; Badger 30mm rings ($168); Custom stock finishes by special request; Optics packages (Scope, Rings, Mounting) by special request
• MSRP – Base $4500.

More About Bergara

As I began to look into this company that I had never heard of, I suddenly realized that I was already a Bergara owner. Being an avid hunter I had expanded into archery and muzzleloader hunting several years before that SHOT Show. To start my muzzleloading experience I had purchased a decent mid-level CVA breach-break muzzleloader, and come to find out, CVA had selected Bergara to manufacture their .50 caliber muzzleloader barrels.

Bergara actually got its start in 1969 by making muzzleloading barrels. The modern muzzleloader is light years ahead of the historical muzzleloading rifle, and often involve a breach opening design. The design specifications and tolerances must be to the highest levels to ensure accuracy and durability for the large-caliber bullet.

It wasn’t until 2004 when the company saw an opportunity to expand into the growing precision rifle market by using their experience and high-tech manufacturing facilities. In preparation for the move to high-powered rifle barrels, using smokeless rather than black powder cartridges, Bergara updated and expanded its entire manufacturing facility with the most current CNC and button-rifling machines and tools.

Final Thoughts

Everything I have read and experienced with Bergara rifles and barrels has been outstanding. The several options offered allow the sniper to tailor-fit the rifle to their particular needs and financial ability. The BCR-17 provides a very good rifle for only $2200, which is a price that any agency willing to invest in a sniper team should be able to afford. Agencies that cannot afford this amount should really re-think their entry into an extremely high liability area of law enforcement.

The higher end BCR-18, BCR-19, and BCR-20 rifles come in between $4500-$5000, but these prices are very competitive in high-end, quality precision rifles that will meet the demands of police sniper missions. Though not as familiar as some manufacturers I have been very impressed with what I have read and seen so far. Keep Bergara in mind, I’m confident we’ll be seeing more good news about them.