Bergara may very well be the sleeper of the bunch. The company is known for its accurate barrels, and the Premier Ridgeback doesn’t disappoint. It features Bergara’s Premier action—the same one used in the company’s Custom Series rifles—which has a floating bolt head, a cone-shaped bolt nose and a sliding-plate ejector. It’s paired with a 24-inch, medium-Palma barrel and installed in a Grayboe Ridgeback stock with an anti-cant level and M-LOK attachment points up front. It also features an externally adjustable TriggerTech trigger, and Bergara guarantees that the rifle will produce 1-MOA groups at 100 yards.
Some might not consider the rifle’s $2,000 price tag a bargain, but it definitely is in the world of precision rifles. The Premier Ridgeback is a good rifle that represents a great value for most shooters. In testing, I noted that the action was smooth, solid and free of binding. You can run the Bergara fast and feel like a champion. Our new shooter, Bri, noted that the gun was easy to get back on target after firing, no doubt due to the included muzzle brake.
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There is much to like about the Premier Ridgeback. It’s accurate, looks good, and works as it should with consistency. It represents what a rifle can be without a bunch of flash and flair—just straightforward design and execution. It bested its own accuracy guarantee with a couple of groups under 1 inch and the best measuring just 0.88 inches with Hornady’s 140-grain ELD-M ammo.
The Bergara will serve well in a number of roles, including PRS matches. It’s a little heavy for hunting applications where long treks may be involved, but it’s no boat anchor, either. The Bergara is simply an all-around capable rifle.
