Review: Hardware: Bergara Premier Canyon Rifle

NRA American Hunter

Back in April of this year, Aram Von Benedikt wrote an article about the Bergara Premier Canyon Rifle. It was published on NRA American Hunter. In this article, he discusses features of the rifle, his experience, and even talks about his hunting simulator. Below are his words about Bergara’s Premier Canyon Rifle.

“Last summer I was able to test Bergara’s first-ever dangerous game rifle before spending several weeks hunting dangerous game and plains game deep in the wilds of the Dark Continent. I was impressed the first time I held the rifle; it felt more like a well-balanced backcountry rifle than a rifle chambered in .375 H&H—a caliber adequate for any dangerous game, anywhere on Earth—and indeed it is lightweight, at just 6½ pounds without an optic.”

“The Bergara Premier action is push feed; a two-lug design with a separate floating bolt head. This type of bolt head has a reputation for superior accuracy because it enables more consistent contact with lug abutments. The bolt nose is cone-shaped to aid in smooth cartridge feeding. The extractor is a spring-loaded sliding plate system that’s located in front of the lower locking lug. The main body of the bolt is stainless steel, while the bolt head, non-rotating gas shield and bolt shroud are Nitride finished. Scope mounts will be of Remington 700 type, using 8-40 screws. The Canyon is available chambered in seven popular cartridges, ranging from the 6.5 Creedmoor up to the .375 H&H. All rifles—other than the .375 H&H—come standard with an M5 footprint and AICS-style detachable magazines, though a classically styled hinged floorplate is available as an optional accessory. The .375 H&H comes standard with the hinged floorplate.

The TriggerTech trigger on my rifle breaks at a perfectly crisp 2 pounds, 6 ounces. The two-position safety is incorporated into the trigger assembly. This safety does not lock the bolt closed when engaged, which is a blessing or a curse, depending upon your personal preference.

The AG Composites stock is 100 percent carbon fiber, and the contours are classic, clean and well designed. It’s finished with a Swamper Rogue camo, which sports a mottled grey/green/black sponged-on look, with a bit of the carbon-fiber weave showing through. Simple sling swivel studs are mounted fore and aft. The barrel is free-floated in the stock, and fit and finish are very precise. A Decelerator recoil pad rounds out the package.”

“After completing my accuracy testing and zeroing the Canyon, it was time to work the rifle out in real-world scenarios. I first shot at 6-inch and 15-inch AR-500 steel plates, firing from the standing position at a variety of distances with full-length cross-sticks for support. The rifle proved comfortable to shoot and accurate from the standing position.

Next, with the assistance of my boys, I threw together a charging buffalo simulator by stretching 50 feet of cable between two trees and installing a pulley, complete with hanging half-gallon tin can (about the size of a buffalo’s head) and a long break-away string to pull the target with. My boys would attach the string to our quad, hop aboard and gun the motor. That tin can comes at you surprisingly fast, bouncing and swinging just like a charging buffalo’s head. Much to my surprise, I was able to smack a bullet through the can on every charge. With practice, I was hitting it once, slamming another cartridge home and hitting it a second time about 6 feet off the end of the barrel. This is indeed a fast rifle for dangerous game.

The new Bergara Canyon rifle is beautifully lightweight and comfortable to carry. It balances like a Latin dancer and shoots as well as its heritage suggests. While hunting in Africa I shot four animals. Every shot was spot on target, a testament to the versatility and in-field accuracy of the rifle. Retail price should come in around $2,150.”

You can read the full article written by: Aram Von Benedikt at this link: Hardware: Bergara Premier Canyon Rifle | An Official Journal Of The NRA (americanhunter.org)