Keep the good work buddy on your show. Kimber Mountain Ascent Subalpine I just dont like the Kimber Mountain Ascent. So, here are my quick thoughts on some of the competition for the best premium factory rifle under $2,500. So with 6.5CM its sure to take the deers soul. Suppressors are DEFINITELY the future, so I wouldnt buy a non-threaded barrel anymore. I was very impressed at the response I got from John and can tell you Fierce is a company that stands behind their products. Never shot 6.5 but all I hear are good things whats your opinion. I ended up buying a Bergara Mountain 2.0, which checked all the boxes for me as a hunting rifle. Overall, I think the best three rifles under $1,000 are the Tikka T3X Lite, the Bergara B-14 Ridge, and the Weatherby Vanguard. Thanks for any input. Hello Jim, Your videos and information are amazing. Any of you guys have any experience with the Burris signature scopes? Im looking at the Waypoint now. I went with the CVA simply for that reason. Even though Im happy with my decision, the Ultralite might have been the better way to go. I would like something under 6# for $2000 or less with a carbon wrapped barrel. Thanks so much, you guys are great! Watch my review here. It would be a tiny bit more expensive, but really not much. You dont want fine wood and blued steel in the rain on a hunt. My main gun is a Tikka T3 in 30-06. Optional Features TSA Recoil Pads TSA recoil pads for LOP adjustment. TIKKA is proven, Franchi has some good reports. I was down to the Ultralite or the Savage High Country and went with the High Country because of this. (Solid review on your part.). The SIG Cross would be a best second choice. Browning X-Bolt Pro I like the X-Bolt Pro. Hi Jim, Would this interest you? 3. and three-stage safety. As Im new to the shooting world Im still undecided on a long range target rifle. Performance is really good. Its become a turn off. Iv shot most all Hi Jim, You have no opinion worth anything. But I cant understand why offering left handed guns seems impossible to some manufacturers. Bergara B14 Hunter? I also own a Savage 110 Ultralite in 6.5 PRC- fantastic accuracy, but I just could not warm up to the plasticy stock. 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. Weighs under 6 lbs. I would have to agree that no higher end rifle list should ever not have a Mod 70 or a Sako on it. It might be Franchi just trying to stay ahead of magazine restrictions in some (less free) parts of the world. Ha! Gun #: 999725884. Yes and yes. I am finally biting the bullet and having a custom gun made. The Sig Cross has really become one of my favorite guns to shoot. However, if this was not a ringer and indicative of the accuracy to be expected, it would be a great entry level rifle. Awesome at this price range. I sent my Rival back for repair and after six weeks it came back with the same problem. . excellent trigger. I am a huge fan of their 1911s and know they are big into precision rifles. Hey Jim, Any help deciding? However, as Ive owned the Sig Cross for almost a year now, Im surprised by how frequently its the gun I reach for in the safe. Thanks Jim Harmer, great video and data to follow. Good Morning Jim Have you reviewed the werkman? The Momentum is Franchi's hunting rifle, introduced by the Italian firm in 2018. 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. Any thoughts. I purchased a Stockys carbon stock for my Vanguard 6.5 PRC Meateater rifle and was able to shoot a suppressed 5 shot group at 100 yards that measured under 1/2 moa. Hi Jim love your content I was wondering if you had a chance to fire a Benelli lupo I own one and love it also have a Tikka tac t3x a Daniel Defense delta 5 pro a accuracy International at. Hi Jim, One issue that has come up with all three of their guns is having to check and tighten the front and rear action assembly screws. Do you have any other recommendations or would you like to sell the Savage? I have not seen a semi-auto in 6.5 PRC, should I wait? I think I will try to pick one up next week, in either a .308 or .300. There is a nice Bavarian Sako but theres isnt much data on accuracy on the range with a scope. 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. In my mind, there are only two good options in the sub-$500 price point: (1) The CVA Cascade, and (2) The Ruger American and preferably the Predator version. Torn between CVA cascade or bergara b14 ridge in 7mm-08. That\s not a total game changert now there are other choices. Mine is in 223 for chucks. Which takes of the other half of recoil . JavaScript is disabled. I also have ignored the Winchester M70 for exactly the reason you mentioned. 1 is the Footprint for the Action is proprietary, It is NOT made by Bergara. TOP DEALS View All Deals. I wish more gun writers would be as informative. I have played with many of the rifles you have. They are reviewing new rifles not old ones. It is their lowest entry point to their rifles but looks interesting. Things happen and every animal is different, but I feel like its my duty to show that respect. Just doing a bit of research on the Momentum because the local gun store has a bunch on sale. Really enjoy your advice and reviews on guns and equipment, I appreciate your opinions. Would love to hear your review and/or thoughts on military surplus and/or rifles you and friends first started on. 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. Really enjoy your content! How is it Franchis fault again? You are using an out of date browser. Hey Jim! It looks like a real great gun. superbly accurate with federal non-typical 150s (second load i tried). Vald, I love me some harbor freight. Having said that, in this price range, a lot of the decision is matching the rifle to your unique circumstances and preferences. Wondering your opinion on those I understand theyre not hunting rifles I just thought you would enjoy those rigles as I do. Any information is greatly appreciated. A fairly vertical pistol grip offers comfortable control from most any shooting position. Jim- Have you tested/reviewed any of the Sauer 100 rifles? 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 loved the way it shot and felt. I cannot give a better example than that. Jim love the reviews and the Channel. I could go for a more grabby grip myself, but the Momentums checkering is certainly sufficient. The Cross is great for 6.5 Creedmoor or 6.5 PRC, but the stock just isnt suitable for heavy recoiling cartridges. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Im looking for another LR hunting rifle and was seriously looking at Christianson arms but not so much now. I really wanted a 6.5 PRC for my first hunting rifle but with the ammo limitations Im probably going to get a 6.5 Creedmore instead. And youre right about the cost of Weatherby ammo. I havent seen you review any CZ rifle, any cause un particular? An innovative modern design with folding buttstock, pistol grip. Plus all the pros of the above B-14 review. Your email address will not be published. Phil. November 29, 2018 By Steve Gash. Ive got an old 700 that is a beautiful gun and was a great deal but Im taking the plastic stock Savage up in the tree this fall. Base Price: $816.99: Tax: - In Stock: Back in stock . Been following your channel for a few years and have loved all the reviews. Fierce are not perfect but over all compared to everything else on the market there really hard to beat. I am looking for a new rifle, and am looking at the Franchi Momentum Elite, was looking for any input by those of you that have one. Thats a nice collection. Hold on to it. As of now its my most accurate and favorite rifle. Those all sound like good options. This is Franchis first rifle and they want into the market place are keeping the price low. Best purchase I ever made. I mean, I realize you use supersonic ammunition and would have liked to have heard how home-rolled subsonic ammo performed. Ive seen your comments that fierce rifles have poor fit and finish and that customer service is also poor. Fierce is about $400 more and almost a pound heavier. My 2 favorite calibers are 270( I have 6 of them) and 300H&H ( one pre 64 Winchester Model 70 and one Cooper). If youre into Italian and youre into affordable, but you still want some Ferrari performance at the Fiat price, Franchis Momentum delivers the goods. Most of the videos I see you get two shots touching and a flier on the mod 70. Travis Skurray from Australia. Its a good option for light cartridges, but the light weight and stock design dont make for a good match on heavy cartridges. Good luck wearing one out with your old ass, you could have the best or worst and it wouldnt matter since its seeing all of a day of use once a season. Did you pick up the Seekins? With attitude like that, you will only buy domestic products and if leftists have their way, none. The Weatherby Vanguard Meateater edition comes with Cerakote, threaded barrel, stiff stock and a pretty decent 2 stage trigger. A junk injection molded plasticky stock that expands with heat and contracts with cold. Went on my first hunt (elk) this October. 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. The Tikka T3x has a single-column detachable clip magazine made from a strong fiberglass-reinforced composition. The Tikka action is by far the best in this price point because it cycles ammo perfectly, has a silky smooth bolt slide and is manufactured to a high tolerance so every last one I pick up feels just as good as the one next to it. Interesting comparison. I have purchased about 12 different rifles in the sub-$500 price point over the last 3 years to test out for this review. Ive never shot one that couldnt achieve a 1 group at 100 yards. Hey Jim, My initial impression is that it is a pretty standard budget bolt gun. guns.com Buy. Sorry its been so long since I have followed up on this, but didnt want to post on this rifle till I had some time with it and straightened out a problem Ive been having with my scope. Fierce rifles are accurate, built well, look great, come with good triggers, and feed perfectly. Im giving the Momentum an extra star above average for the polished, fluted bolt and all the checkered ergonomic areas on the stock that fancy it up a bit. Seller: Ammo And Arms. Have you considered the recently released rifles introduced by Franchi? Delsin Rowe is the main protagonist and playable character, a young Native-American man who later realizes hes a Conduit with special powers. I am looking at it in 243 but cant decide between that and x bolt. Thanks in advance. What do you think? Thank you for your time and consideration of this request. The data-driven nature of the content is extremely helpful. Ruger precision is really heavy for hunting, but a cool rifle. Is the Sako worth the that premium price though? Never worried much about how my rifle looked either before or after the hunt. Curious to hear your thoughts/experience with it. Pretty typical for a synthetic-stocked, budget-oriented hunting rifle. Franchi is known for making high-quality firearms at affordable prices, and the Momentum Elite is the perfect example of this. This post contains affiliate links to help monetize this site. In our testing, we had all of the guns chambered alike, but as soon as any of the reviewers shot the Tikka after shooting the other rifles, they all commented that the recoil felt heavier. I got mine during their initial recall for $199. I actually ordered a CVA cascade first, in .308, but changed my mind and returned it and bought the Franchi. 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. If so, what are you impressions of it. Would I buy this rifle? Thanks and keep up the great content! 2023 Backfire LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Utah, USA. Been looking at the franchi momentum has anyone got this rifle ? They do have a more expensive option for a titanium action that is even lighter, but I feel the titanium actions just arent as smooth in the hand. Never fired, sold it for 600). Now they are North of $400. Availability might be part of the problem. Thank you! The Tikka T3X Lite comes with an absolutely fantastic action. (weight) Was very happy with all of it. Id love to give one a good in-depth review, but I havent yet. Appreciate the comment. What do you think of the Bergara B14 HMR? And the thought of upgrades on a new rifle seems stupid to me. From afar it looks pretty standard, but it does set itself apart in a few ways. I\ve been perusing the site trying to find it as my rifle should be here today or tomorrow. i have a momentum in .308. stock looks a bit odd, but handles my frame very well. Problem with the Savage 110 ultralight is the plastic magazine. One thing I always know I need in any rifle, hunting or range, is accuracy. Also, it works great if you quickly manhandle the action. I havent tried the Rage yet, but I have used that same action and stock in different configurations. Loved this article keep em coming! Is yours that picky? Two shots were thrown right out of the group and the barrel was not yet even very warm. Adjustable from 2 pounds to 4 pounds, my sample fell right in the middle of that range. Again one star better than average in this category, but it still leaves plenty of room for improvement. Jim love your channel. Im a big fan of Sig pistols and never had an issue with QC. Its just so short, light, and accurate. Yes, it shipped with a knurled thread protector but I immediately lost it when I slapped my Dead Air Sandman Ti on. The only competitor would be a full custom on the amazing MDT HNT 26 chassis. Would you take the Waypoint over the Seekins? Could you add another tier or two? And I need it in a shorter stock. Second is the on top the receiver scope mounts are based on Savage Accutrigger not Remington. I\m relatively new to the channel & website, and it has quickly become a favorite of mine. Full Details. An XBolt in 6.8 Western may be a great option. If you are looking at that sub $1000 rifle check out the Bergara Wilderness Ridge (Mine was $850). Seems like a lot of bang for the buck. Unlocking the Momentums bolt took more effort than a typical Remington 700. Good read. I have shot the Impulse and wasnt impressed. Thanks again and I look forward to future content. The reason I put the CVA Cascade above the Ruger American is: (1) It has a better action with more reliable feeding, (2) Its stock is more rigid, (3) It doesnt have a super loud safety like the Ruger American, which I found to be tricky to hunt with. Hello Jim, great article. Meet the Franchi Momentum Bolt-Action Rifle. With the Sako 85 you get better wood and more metal, but I would rather buy a Tikka T3. Fastest/flattest 6.5 using 143 gun ELD-X bullets. Unfortunately now I see it for $1700. Keep up the good work. I think in theory controlled feed is better, but they also generally dont feed well (or at all) if you try to feed by dropping one in, rather than mag feeding. 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. Any thoughts? I have a slue of rifles in many calibers 22LR up to 338WM, except the 7mm mag. I have a Momentum elite varmint in 224 Valkyrie. Excellent in every way but its expensive. Its typically priced around $950, but for $100 extra dollars over the $850 budget, you get an adjustable mini chassis. Heres a link to that rifle in .30-06. You might also consider a more traditional 7 Rem Mag or .30-06. In the end I still believe the 7mm RM is more versatile. Like I said not sure what you tested it in, but I just wanted to let you know. (Live in northern Alberta.) The action quality, as well as the barrel, produces a very accurate rifle. Would like to buy a Tikka Super Varmint barrel and action with MDT chassis but am also considering Bergara UpR. Is the quality that good? HOWEVER, since recording that review Ive also had the opportunity to hunt a good bit. What about the Winchester Model 70? Actually, I like it a lot. Im sure the leupold would be better, but for a 700 dollar difference, Ill see how I like the Burris. Its a Howa 1500 action in their own pretty cool stock. Now I want another one and to get in to some long range and MAYBE some hunting. After reviewing and owning over 40 bolt-action hunting rifles, here are are the best of the best. I used to not care about if the bolt locked on safe but after a walk in the woods of ND with a Ruger American and the bolt falling out, to not be recovered on the opener, I now only have guns that lock the bolt on safe. The Franchi Momentum Elite Bolt-Action Rifle also has a 1-piece 1913 Picatinny rail that permits flexible accommodation of various aftermarket optics. We watch all your videos on YouTube. Fierce Rival I really like my Fierce Rival chambered in 6.5 PRC. My two next rifles will be a Weatherby Mark V and a Sako 85. Well, I picked up a momentum elite in .308, and absolutely love it so far, still deciding on a scope to go on it, but cant wait to get to shooting it. Also, I am 62 and getting tired of the recoil my 7mm Rem Mag and .270 has, would the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC or 7mm-08 be a good alternative? 2) the 6.5 prc vs the 7 prc ( i have 2 338 win mags i am planning on keeping for elk +), My thoughts? BTW unless youre reloading, the vast majority of factory 6.5 Creedmoor is quite a bit faster than the same projectile in 6.555. Your email address will not be published. Ive been eyeing them for a while, but the MPR turned me off from the chassis rifles. They come in the same price bracket as Tikka rifles but from what I have read, unlike the popular T3X rifles, Sauer 100 rifles I have been taking in everyone of ur vids I can find and sincerely appreciate your work and am interested in your take on the Seekins product? Commissions are earned for links to Brownell's, Amazon, MidwayUSA, GoHunt, OpticsPlanet, Sportsman's Warehouse, and other retailers. However, I kill a lot of elk where Im from, and my smaller 6.5s dont produce the knock down effect I had with the Weatherby. Im thinking a 6 creedmoore with a proof carbon barrel, MDT onyx chassis, timmey trigger but cant decide on the action. For the record the cheapest gun Ive ever owned is a TC compass in 6.5 Creedmoor and it has shot sub MOA with most factory offerings from day one and consistently shoots sub 1/2 moa with handloads. Thanks! In fact, I did a whole video showing the limitations of the Ruger American. Those that do could at least be highlighted. My mossberg patriot shoots like a custom rifle. Ill update the post. Jim, As did locking it. If not the ultralight, whats the best 7 PRC for around $1500? Floorplate, spring, and follower tilt out. Looks to me like an Apples to Oranges request. Not a Sako to be seen ? Stock: A carbon version of Bergaras excellent HMR stock. Gear up as your favorite Delsin Rowe Vest. Fantastic. Franchi talks up the ergonomics of the Momentum big time on their website. No. Overall Length: 42.3 inches Then I bought an Alaskan 338 Win Mag Laminate in Stainless. Best 5 shot group was .320 so I wouldnt knock the compass for a budget rifle. What are your thought on the Ruger precision? People harp on me for recommending the Weatherby Vanguard because its essentially the same thing as a Howa 1500, but costs more money. Today, though, I would buy a Dead Air Nomad or a CGS Hyperion given the choice of anything on the market. Thanks for your thoughts and time! ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Since recording the review of the Sig Cross, my copy of the gun did develop the issue with the safety where it doesnt quite go to the correct position. Franchi Momentum All-Terrain Elite .308 Win 18" 1:11" Bbl TrueTimber Strata/Midnight Bronze 10+1 Rifle 41750. 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. Hello I love your videos and your reviews the only comment I have is that the savage 110 ultralite does not have the accustock. The stock feels really cheesy. Keep them coming! Both have cold hammer forged barrels 2. The Carbon Predator looks cool, but really just a slight variation on the 110 ultralite. The action is a little sticky at the back because its a 2-lug so theres a little play at the back if you arent pushing straight. RECENTLY SOLD View More Data . As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Are you familiar with this cartridge? May 7, 2018. There are very few reviews and almost zero information about how the Howa carbon shoots. I think many of us started on something like that, dads old rifle or grandpas. Seems like a solid gun for the money and straight pull seems fun. Hey Jim I recently found your stuff and have been doing a deep dive. PS. These are deal breakers. Try that some time with a modern made low budget piece of shit. Moreover, the firearm boasts an excellent light and smooth trigger. I think you did a good job in your review of 25 hunting rifles at various price points. Forearm checkering extends nearly all the way forward, ending just short of another molded-in and recessed sling swivel mount. Ive been a little coy about recommending one specific rifle in this price range because its a tight race.