The stylish hunter
THE first thing that impressed me about the Bergara B-14 Hunter was its overall appearance and balance. In my estimation, at least 90 percent of a rifle’s overall visual appeal is determined by the appearance of its stock. No matter if the bolt cycles as smooth as silk if the stock isn’t designed so that the shooter can mount and align the rifle quickly and hold it steadily. Obviously, the designer of the Bergara Hunter’s classic sporter stock had an eye for line because it blends beauty with general utility.
“There’s utility behind every traditional feature of the Hunter’s stock.”
The fibreglass-reinforced, black-flecked, green-hued stock has a comb that’s rounded and straight, sloping down slightly from rear to front, so that the cheek is supported by the higher rear portion. This type of stock brings recoil back in a straight line and has the virtue of recoiling away from the face. The gently curving pistol grip has a diameter of 135mm, which feels very comfortable in my small hand. Combined with a 338mm length of pull, the grip correctly locates the first joint of my forefinger in the curve of the trigger.
There is utility behind every traditional feature of the Bergara Hunter’s stock, which is handsome and functional. The forend is
