Is Christensen REALLY That Terrible?

[joshb]

No kidding. I think that most of the people that want one, want the name for some reason. This whole thread has been an overwhelming NO.

I did a few searches on the internet, just for giggles. There are hundreds of “complaint” threads about Christensen rifles.
You can lead a horse to water……
I’m not going to get into a longer “Ford vs Chevy” argument.
You DID say “ If needed send to a great smith to get tuned up”. Were you advising HIM to get his “tuned up”.?
The bottom line is he followed your advise. You deal with him if he comes back with a complaint. I hope he got a good one.

 

[ronsatspokane]

I haven't needed to tune my Mesa in 6.5 PRC up at all. It'll shoot 1/2 MOA on a good day, 3/4 on a bad day. Not bad for a factory hunting rifle. I just chambered a Brux barrel in the same cartridge. It's 1.25 straight for 32 inches. I hope it out shoots the Mesa but there are no guarantees when it comes to barrels.

 

[PaulyD]

A little back ground before I reply.
I used to shoot Service Rifle, 4 Gun 600 and Any Rifle Any Sight match's. Now I prefer to shoot Vintage Sniper Rifle march's with modern rifles. I used to shoot the above with very accurate gas guns that had Krieger barrels and Geissele triggers. I consider my self a decent shooter and I don't reload.

In my search to get an accurate bolt gun a fellow shooter offered to sell me a Christensen Arms BA Tactical in .308 with the 24 inch barrel. Cost was $1500. I bought the rifle and mounted a NF NSX 5.5-22X50 scope and proceeded to find out what factory it liked. It shoots Hornady 155 gr. Palma match fairly well. I can hold half to three quarters MOA at 100 yards. Not great but not bad. My gas guns shoot better.

That being said I picked up a Howa barreled action in 6.5 CR and that rifle shoots half to quarter MOA at 100 yards. The Howa is very under rated.

So the Christensen is not a bad rifle, but not a total tack driver either. I'm thinking of putting a Bartlein barrel on it. That should get it to shoot as good as the Howa.

For the OP's intended purpose, I think the rifle will serve its purpose.
Just my .02

 

[RabbitSlayer]

I have had enough dealing with the recoil lug on Tikka's. I own several and the recoil lug it a major shortcoming. And they only shoot fair not bad but certainly not great. I have owned 4 and still have two.

Did I say mine needed to be tuned up? My CA shoots better then two of my Tikkas at 300+. My current smith said there are very few actions that dont need to be timed to get the best accuracy.

Whats wrong with the recoil lug?

 

[J.d. Popkes]

These Christensen things are all marketing. Aimed at the guy that frequents his local gun store, full of other like minded fellas, and is believing that they are a bit more special than any other production rifle. Thinks he’s buying a “custom”. Real heirloom. Like a Cooper only less good. Same guy doesn’t know that you can get a real action/barrel/chassis/trigger etc and actually have something for very little more.

And that’s the majority of the market. The shelves at these stores tell you what sells and where the demand is. The 56th variant of the sig 320 and the next best gun to shoot a deer with. Oh, and a vortex scope.

Cmon

 

[joshb]

These Christensen things are all marketing. Aimed at the guy that frequents his local gun store, full of other like minded fellas, and is believing that they are a bit more special than any other production rifle. Thinks he’s buying a “custom”. Real heirloom. Like a Cooper only less good. Same guy doesn’t know that you can get a real action/barrel/chassis/trigger etc and actually have something for very little more.

And that’s the majority of the market. The shelves at these stores tell you what sells and where the demand is. The 56th variant of the sig 320 and the next best gun to shoot a deer with. Oh, and a vortex scope.

Cmon

I read about an outfit in Wyoming that would build you a super duper hunting rifle for 10-15 grand. No fancy engraving, no fancy wood but it was super duper! They said so!!

 

[J.d. Popkes]

I read about an outfit in Wyoming that would build you a super duper hunting rifle for 10-15 grand. No fancy engraving, no fancy wood but it was super duper! They said so!!

?

Gun werx? Hahaha

 

[J.d. Popkes]

I read about an outfit in Wyoming that would build you a super duper hunting rifle for 10-15 grand. No fancy engraving, no fancy wood but it was super duper! They said so!!

Pretty sure that’s a different demographic still. The white collar, leave it with the guide as a tip, too busy to reload, thinking he can buy marksmanship, YouTube said so, many leather bound books, den smells of rich mahogany, LL Bean spokesmodel dude.

He doesn’t know where the local gun store is. He also thinks Jackson is Wyoming.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Pretty sure that’s a different demographic still. The white collar, leave it with the guide as a tip, too busy to reload, thinking he can buy marksmanship, YouTube said so, many leather bound books, den smells of rich mahogany, LL Bean spokesmodel dude.

He doesn’t know where the local gun store is. He also thinks Jackson is Wyoming.

You left out the part of the wife or girlfriend buttering him up for their own gain in the end.

 

[Phys86]

Tikka. Eurooptic has some good sales on them right now and there's also a $75 rebate through Beretta until end of November.

Or

https://montanarifleco.com/rifles/junction/

 

[4xforfun]

Didn't read all of the posts, but a friend of mine called me up last week. He had bought a C- Arms 6.5 PRC. Went out to sight it in. Didn't pay much attention....pre hunt bull session. They got to the target and found a nice 3 shot group....one ragged elongated hole with factory ammo. HAPPY!! Went back ,and made an adjustment to the scope, fired 1 shot...ANOTHER nice 3 shot group!! Fired two more times and missed the target completely. MAD!!

Three shot group was only ONE SHOT....... going in sideways.

Either the twist rate is not as written, or the bore is BIGGER than 264.

Either way, mad customers!!!!

 

[Dimner]

I just spent 2 hours at the range yesterday helping a friend that showed Christensen, After first hand experience, I would never pay that much for that rifle that has such a poor reliability rate. Christensen even told my range buddy that his rifle should be cleaned every 25 rounds.

Tikka is a far better value as a platform. Buy one and spend the rest of your money at a smith for what ever upgrades you want. There is even a smith that will even the face of the receiver and add a pinned recoil lug. Although, with all the tikka bedding and alterations I have done, never once have I had a problem with the recoil lug.

But for an out of the box factory rifle? I wouldn't buy a CA.

 

[ChrisNZ]

Don't waste your money truing a Tikka. They are well built and consistent in dimensions to the point of being able to swap out barrels and having a very probability of the headspace being correct. Try that with a Remington..

Just shoot it when you get it and chances are you'll be more than happy with the result.

 

[Rubberduckie]

I have a christensen mesa 6.5 prc. I had chambering and sticking rounds with factory ammo. Was also seeing ejector marks on the brass. I saw guys and friends that had the same issues. I ended up taking it to my gunsmith and had him clean up the chamber with his new reamer. The spot bedding job from the factory wasn't anything special. I since changed the stock but haven't fired it since. I wouldn't buy it again if I had a choice. Tikka would be my first choice. And if budget wasn't an issue than a sako or custom build.

FOLLOW UP

I took mine out for the first time since I had my gunsmith clean up the chamber. My initial issues were having heavy bolt lift with ejector marks on hornady brass. Shooting 143eldx. Also had to beat the bolt open to extract a loaded cartridge and you could see rifling marks on the projectiles.

This weekend I took it out to sight it with a new scope. I had no pressure signs or extractor issues. I shot the hornady 143s for a sight in at 100 the for a group at 300. I also tried some berger loaded with 140s. It really seemed to like the 140 bergers. I wasn't fond of the scope so I'll change it again and shoot again. Added 2 pics of 300 yard targets

 

[USMCsilver]

My kid got his present on Friday. He was thrilled. Sadly, he was sick so we didn't go sight it in.

I'll report back with some groups from boxed ammo.

 

[BAD LT]

I recently bought a bergara b-14 ridge in .243. Has a chamber issue and is currently back with them for repair. Sent it 2 weeks ago and havent heard a thing from them. I tracked it so I know they got it but they haven’t told me anything.

View attachment 1598709

Ya that’s pretty messed up.

 

[1K6BRA]

Just this humble man’s opinion. Find yourself a good pre-64 model 70 Winchester, preferably in the 1950s range in your flavor of cartridge that suits the critter you are looking to harvest, put a reasonable sized scope on it and get within a reasonable distance of it, and you will never look back or be disappointed with your purchase.

 

[SilhouetteShooter]

Buy what you think is cool. Asking this bunch what the best rifle will get you no closer than asking what is the best color, or what the best song is.
There is a lot of good rifles out there, from traditional wood, to the newest chassis. They all shoot minute of deer at 100 yards.

 

[SS GO DEVIL]

I currently own a ridge line 300 win mag and a .22 ranger. They both shoot what they advertise accuracy wise with factory ammo. I think a lot of people look at these rifles as custom which they aren’t. For all of you who have built a custom hunting rifle like myself they start at 3000$ on the cheap end. Action 1000$, trigger 150$, barrel $400-800, Stock $600-1000, bottom metal $150-300, bedding $200 and chambering $300. Another thing that’s important with Christensen guns is to folllow their break in procedures. Which I think a lot of people neglect. Just my honest opinion.

 

[mauser284]

Yes!

I seldom run across one that shoots consistently and has good fit and finish. It is like you get one or the other. I would be ashamed to hand in a project in middle school that has as many issues as I routinely see at the big box store that cary their products!

It would be like paying Daniel Defense prices but getting Bear Creek Arsenal product in return. As much as I hate almost every design element on my 3 Savages if I had to blindly pick a rifle to go to war and my choices where a Savage or a Christensen Arms bolt gun it would be a tough decision! The difference being I can get a Savage for a lot less money!

I am not going by internet reviews they are fairly common in my area. Just go to the store and check a bunch out. It reminds me of the days when Remington owned Marlin.