TFB Review: Bergara B14 Squared Crest Carbon Rifle “Carbon on Carbon”

Bergara rifles have a rich history rooted in the Basque region of Spain, known for its long-standing tradition of fine craftsmanship in firearms. Established in the early 2000s, Bergara gained recognition for their precision barrels, which were initially produced for other firearm manufacturers. Their popularity soon led to the development of their complete rifle systems. Combining state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques with traditional gun-making skills, Bergara quickly earned a reputation for producing accurate and reliable rifles, catering to hunters, shooters, and tactical users worldwide. Over the years, Bergara has expanded its product line and continued to refine its offerings, becoming a prominent name in the long-range precision market.

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The Bergara B14 Squared Crest Carbon Rifle was provided for this review by Bergara and it will be returning back to them after this review is over. I have been taking this particular rifle to the range for the past several months and currently have 300 rounds through the rifle. All ammo for this review was provided by Hornady.

Design and Build Quality

The B14 Squared Crest Carbon Rifle has a very sleek and modern design that is just so hot right now! The first thing that stands out is its carbon fiber barrel, which is a big improvement in weight savings even compared to the standard B14 Squared Crest. In some chamberings, this will reduce the overall weight of the rifle by nearly a pound. The carbon fiber wrap over a steel core barrel ensures rigidity and strength while significantly reducing the overall weight of the rifle.

While I have unfortunately not had a chance to take the B14 Squared Crest Carbon on any hunts up to this point, its lightweight characteristics make it a great option for that use set. The rifle's action is built on Bergara's B14 action, known for its smooth operation and reliability. In the 300 rounds put through this rifle for this review, I never had any failures to feed. The bolt operates with a buttery smoothness, and the lock-up is solid.

The stock of this rifle is also pretty cool. Made from 100 percent carbon fiber and manufactured using CF-RTM technology. This means that the manufacturing process assembles dry carbon fibers by hand with an injection resin. According to Bergara: “We have incorporated a carbon spine throughout the stock providing greater rigidity and strength. This technology, along with LOP spacers, sets a new standard in being the best choice for carbon stocks.”

My big takeaway from all this is that this stock is super light but rigid and I found that to be very true in my testing.

When it comes to the end of the barrel of this gun your options are pretty much unlimited with plenty of aftermarket options to choose from. But unless you are planning on attaching a suppressor to this rifle, you might just stick with the factory Omni brake as I found it helped reduce the recoil significantly. Being a brake I was also happy with the overall noise signature. One drawback though is if you shoot from a prone position you are going to kick up a lot of dirt given its omnidirectional design. The thick rubber butt pad also helped soak up a lot of the recoil and kept the shooting experience comfortable even when I was throwing several boxes of Ammo down range.

The rifle is chambered in a variety of popular calibers, including 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Winchester, and 6.5 PRC, among others. My particular rifle is in 6.5 Creedmoor and I'm very happy with this chambering. I am also happy to see that Bergara is offering this rifle in so many calibers.

Trigger and Handling

The B14 Squared Crest Carbon Rifle comes equipped with a user-adjustable trigger, allowing you to fine-tune the trigger pull to your preference. The range is from 1.5 - 3.5 pounds and from the factory will be around 2 pounds. I did not adjust the trigger weight as 2 pounds felt pretty perfect to me. The trigger is pretty awesome and very light and the trigger breaks cleanly and consistently.

Handling the B14 Squared Crest Carbon Rifle is a pleasure. The rifle's lightweight design, thanks to the carbon fiber barrel and synthetic stock, makes it easy to carry and maneuver and there are several spots along the stock for sling attachment.

Likes

• Very accurate out-of-the-box
• Made from cutting-edge materials keeping the weight down
• Trigger is a dream to shoot
• Ultra smooth Action

Wrap Up

The Bergara B14 Squared Crest Carbon Rifle is a remarkable firearm that combines cutting-edge materials with exceptional craftsmanship. Its carbon fiber barrel, precision-engineered action, and lightweight design make it an outstanding choice for hunters and precision shooters alike. The rifle's accuracy and reliability ensure that it will perform at the highest level be it the range or on a once-in-a-lifetime hunt in the Rocky Mountains.

With its user-adjustable trigger, ergonomic stock, and compatibility with a wide range of optics and accessories, this rifle is a great example of what Bergara can produce. If you're in the market for a high-performance rifle that delivers on all fronts, the Bergara B14 Squared Crest Carbon Rifle is an excellent choice and it won't let you down.