Bergara BA 13

[Shootermick]

I’m looking at getting a single shot 223.
I see some new 223 Bergara BA 13’s in stock, and I’m tossing up between one of them, or a used H&R.
Anyone had one of either? How do they stack up?

[JohnV]

I can't help much as I have never owned or worked on any of those guns but I see that the Bergara 13 is advertised as having a Weaver type scope rail . If the slot specs are truly Weaver spec and not Picatinny then you can have trouble fitting Picatinny spec rings into the slots . If that happens you will need to either send the gun and rail to a smith to mill the slots out a touch more . I would just send the rail . Sometimes it's ok because they call it a Weaver rail but in fact it's Picatinny specs anyway .
Weaver rings can fix the issue but Weaver rings in general are crap .

[Shootermick]

I can't help much as I have never owned or worked on any of those guns but I see that the Bergara 13 is advertised as having a Weaver type scope rail . If the slot specs are truly Weaver spec and not Picatinny then you can have trouble fitting Picatinny spec rings into the slots . If that happens you will need to either send the gun and rail to a smith to mill the slots out a touch more . I would just send the rail . Sometimes it's ok because they call it a Weaver rail but in fact it's Picatinny specs anyway .
Weaver rings can fix the issue but Weaver rings in general are crap .

[Shootermick]

I’ve bought the Bergara. But, yep, apparently it’s a weaver rail. Haven’t got the rifle yet though. I might have to buy a pic rail for it. Oversight on my behalf. But I can get one through Herron.
Are weaver rails/rings really that bad?

[bladeracer]

I’ve bought the Bergara. But, yep, apparently it’s a weaver rail. Haven’t got the rifle yet though. I might have to buy a pic rail for it. Oversight on my behalf. But I can get one through Herron.
Are weaver rails/rings really that bad?

I have a Weaver side mount and rings for the Win94, and I initially bought the two-piece Weaver rails for my first Ruger American, but very quickly replaced them with a one-piece pic rail. I wouldn't go out of my way to buy Weaver stuff but you can make it work if you have to. I would replace it if possible with pic. With pic the grooves are consistent so you can take a scope off one rail and know it'll fit straight onto another pic rail. You can also move the complete scope along the rail if you need to and it'll fit anywhere.

[Billo]

I’ve bought the Bergara. But, yep, apparently it’s a weaver rail. Haven’t got the rifle yet though. I might have to buy a pic rail for it. Oversight on my behalf. But I can get one through Herron.
Are weaver rails/rings really that bad?

Hey Mick Ive got a spare Durasight all in 1 base and rings if your interested, it came off my CVA scout, wasnt suited to the recoil.

Pretty sure the its a perfect match as I'm now running the Bergara Steel Pic rail ( cost me $175).

$40 posted if your interested

[JohnV]

Check the rail screw spacing's I think Bergara use Rem 700 specs .

[JohnV]

Just take the rail to a Smith or machine shop and open up the slots to .210 .

[straightshooter]

Even simpler.
A lot of so called picatinny rings are actually made to Weaver dimensions, most often those budget units originating from the workshop of the world.
Try your rings first before doing anything dramatic or expensive.

[Shootermick]

Even simpler.
A lot of so called picatinny rings are actually made to Weaver dimensions, most often those budget units originating from the workshop of the world.
Try your rings first before doing anything dramatic or expensive.

It’s advertised as having a “weaver type rail”
Whatever that means.?

[JohnV]

It's obvious to try the rings of choice first as they may fit ok but if they don't it's no big drama to machine the slots out a bit . Hell you could even file out the back face of the slot in an emergency . Don't touch the front face as that's the recoil surface . On a centerfire the scope moves forward under recoil .

[Fionn]

My Bergara BA 13 came new with what is called a “weaver type rail” but the slot size is 5.2mm and the spacing of the recoil groove centres is 10mm.

So its really a picatinny rail.

Make sure you locktight the rail screws as they are know to come loose.

[JohnV]

My Bergara BA 13 came new with what is called a “weaver type rail” but the slot size is 5.2mm and the spacing of the recoil groove centres is 10mm.

So its really a picatinny rail.

Make sure you locktight the rail screws as they are know to come loose.

It's as I suspected but It's still a few thou under the average Picatinny slot but it should be fine .
Don't use the highest strength loktite use 243 .

[Shootermick]

I think the rail will be removed now anyway. Probably going to go with a one piece scope mount.

[Fionn]

It's probably on spec for a Picatinny, it's more my rough measuring with a scope on already.

It's certainly not weaver spacing.

I have picatinny rings on my one and they fit perfectly.

[Fionn]

The CVA one piece scope mount would fit.

[JohnV]

I think the rail will be removed now anyway. Probably going to go with a one piece scope mount.

Don't go with a one piece scope mount it can restrict your eye relief and scope position options . The rail is the best most flexible option and if you get Quick detachable rings the scope can come off and on easily to maybe fit other sights like NV or Red dot etc. I wish I had a Picatinny rail on every rifle . You are rushing ahead and making mistakes slow down .

[JohnV]

It's probably on spec for a Picatinny, it's more my rough measuring with a scope on already.

It's certainly not weaver spacing.

I have picatinny rings on my one and they fit perfectly.

You are probably right .

[Shootermick]

I think the rail will be removed now anyway. Probably going to go with a one piece scope mount.

Don't go with a one piece scope mount it can restrict your eye relief and scope position options . The rail is the best most flexible option and if you get Quick detachable rings the scope can come off and on easily to maybe fit other sights like NV or Red dot etc. I wish I had a Picatinny rail on every rifle . You are rushing ahead and making mistakes slow down .

That’s a couple of good points you make. I’ll have the rail it comes with and the one piece mount, so I’ll make a decision when the rifle turns up as to which one I use. I highly doubt I’ll change optics once I decide which scope to go with. All my scopes are variable, and I’m thinking about a fixed 6x for this one, keeping the whole rifle nice and simple. But I’m not too sure what the cons are with a fixed power. Keeping in mind that I’ve already got a Lithgow with a Meopta 6-18x50.

[Oldbloke]

Fixed scopes have fewer lenses than variables.

So,,,
Slightly lighter
Slightly better light transmission.
No moving parts.

[Shootermick]

Fixed scopes have fewer lenses than variables.

So,,,
Slightly lighter
Slightly better light transmission.
No moving parts.

Yep. Just not many around to choose from though.

[JohnV]

I think the rail will be removed now anyway. Probably going to go with a one piece scope mount.

Don't go with a one piece scope mount it can restrict your eye relief and scope position options . The rail is the best most flexible option and if you get Quick detachable rings the scope can come off and on easily to maybe fit other sights like NV or Red dot etc. I wish I had a Picatinny rail on every rifle . You are rushing ahead and making mistakes slow down .

That’s a couple of good points you make. I’ll have the rail it comes with and the one piece mount, so I’ll make a decision when the rifle turns up as to which one I use. I highly doubt I’ll change optics once I decide which scope to go with. All my scopes are variable, and I’m thinking about a fixed 6x for this one, keeping the whole rifle nice and simple. But I’m not too sure what the cons are with a fixed power. Keeping in mind that I’ve already got a Lithgow with a Meopta 6-18x50.

OK you have some options which is good . I also thought that way that I would never have to change a scope then the sling stud came out and my rifle fell backwards onto rocks damaging the scope . I then worked on getting a few back up scopes and some in rings ready to slip on . A Hakko scope went faulty on me once the backup scope saved that trip 1000 ks away from home . Also had a Leupold go bad and it took many months of sending it back three times to eventually get a new scope and a backup scope saved that day also . Being able to take the scope off and slip on another sight system or even just use the open sights easily without tools is a handy option , zero holding issues aside .
I like cam lock QD mounts like ARMS they return to zero better than Claw mounts do . However cam lock usually requires a mill spec rail of a good matching width where as a Claw mount can clamp up on varying width rails .
Fixed power scopes can be brighter and don't suffer point of impact changes with power changes like some variables can , especially if they are mounted in a bind bending the scope tube . A fixed power like 8 or 12 on a spotlighting rifle works fine .

[Oldbloke]

Fixed scopes have fewer lenses than variables.

So,,,
Slightly lighter
Slightly better light transmission.
No moving parts.

Yep. Just not many around to choose from though.

Yes, I've noticed that for 6 or 7 years now.
Perhaps used guns?

[Shootermick]

Fixed scopes have fewer lenses than variables.

So,,,
Slightly lighter
Slightly better light transmission.
No moving parts.

Yep. Just not many around to choose from though.

Yes, I've noticed that for 6 or 7 years now.
Perhaps used guns?

Not much on there either. More than likely end up with a 4-12 unless something pops up.

[Oldbloke]

Fixed scopes have fewer lenses than variables.

So,,,
Slightly lighter
Slightly better light transmission.
No moving parts.

Yep. Just not many around to choose from though.

Yes, I've noticed that for 6 or 7 years now.
Perhaps used guns?

Not much on there either. More than likely end up with a 4-12 unless something pops up.

That would suit a farm I reckon