Christensen Arms Mesa

[accubond]

Hey guys, I have a Mesa in 6.5 PRC that I’ve thrown everything but the kitchen sink at and I can occasionally find a 1 moa group but most are closer to 1.5. This gun shot better new and seems to be getting worse as I go. I just pulled the stock (torqued to 65 in/lbs) to look at the bedding job after I read some folks saying that’s been an issue on some of these guns. I’m no expert in bedding or what constitutes a good or bad bedding job so what do you guys think of this one?

 

[El Jason]

Have you checked your scope mounting components for tightness? Did you degrease and Loctite them?

What kind of scope? How often do you clean the bore?

 

[Forkyfinder]

Trade into scheels for a tikka or bergera

 

[idahojoe]

Had one that wouldn’t shoot better than 2 moa regardless of what was done, could of been a lemon as I have friends that love them but I have a Bergara now that is much better.

 

[SFC B]

Trade into scheels for a tikka or bergera

This ^^^^ or a Weatherby 307....all can be had around or under $1000....all the new Tikka's are threaded as well. Let me know if there is ever anything you are looking for and I will run it down for you. I have 2 Tikkas and they are hard to beat for value. Plus you can put a trigger spring in it for $9 and have a sub 1 pound trigger IF you want

 

[accubond]

Have you checked your scope mounting components for tightness? Did you degrease and Loctite them?

What kind of scope? How often do you clean the bore?

Scope is a VX5 HD in DNZ 215 tacticals, base torqued to spec using blue Loctite and rings (4 per) torqued to spec per DNZ’s directions. Bore was cleaned thoroughly during their insane break in procedure with bore guide, carbon rod, and nylon brush. Every cleaning after that was when I switched powder and/or bullets during the MANY different loads I’ve tried in this rig.

 

[accubond]

Appreciate the feedback so far, I’ve since gone with a Browning X Bolt Hells Canyon Long Range that is a fantastic shooting rifle with excellent accuracy with both factory and my hand loaded 156 Bergers. I’ve just noticed that the front of my magazine box makes firm contact with the receiver.

 

[brockel]

Every cleaning after that was when I switched powder and/or bullets during the MANY different loads I’ve tried in this rig.

Stop cleaning between load work up

What powder and bullet combinations have you tried?

 

[accubond]

Stop cleaning between load work up

What powder and bullet combinations have you tried?

I’ve stopped cleaning a while ago but I’ve tried several variations of H1000, N566, 140 Accubonds, 140 Berger Elites, 156 Berger Elites, and 143 ELD X. This gun absolutely sprayed the 156’s which has me questioning the 1:8 twist. Factory ELD X shoot right around an inch and I’ve got some other hand loads that shoot around there as well but I just had higher hopes for a gun at this price point. The Browning put 3 groups under an inch, one of which was 3/8” in the first trip to the range with 156’s over N565.

 

[brockel]

Have you tried a different scope?

 

[Potsie]

Also, that stock doesn’t look bedded at all.

 

[accubond]

Have you tried a different scope?

Yes sir, this is the second VX5 HD this gun has had on it. It’s serviceable but just not where I want it.

 

[accubond]

Also, that stock doesn’t look bedded at all.

Good to know, it didn’t look good to me either but I haven’t seen a ton of them. Struggling with the magazine and bottom metal right now, nothing is lining up worth a sh!t and there’s a lot of contact between magazine and receiver.

 

[brockel]

I’d probably bed it and try your loads again. If it doesn’t improve I would clean the hell out of the barrel then I’d grab some 125 grain hammer hht. If it doesn’t shoot that with a couple different powder combos id scrap it

 

[Potsie]

I’d probably bed it and try your loads again. If it doesn’t improve I would clean the hell out of the barrel then I’d grab some 125 grain hammer hht. If it doesn’t shoot that with a couple different powder combos id scrap it

Maybe add some 139 gr Lapua Scenar to the list of bullets to try.

My 6.5 shoots both the 125 HHT and 139 Scenar ridiculously well.

 

[PsRpOiGrRiAtM]

Could be the bedding, but it looks like it has flush/solid contact at the lug, with no rubbing on the pillar. Cheaper guns shoot better with worse setups, so it might not be the bedding. I'd try some Hornady PH 143gr and if it still doesn't shoot, send it back to Christensen. Don't mention handloads to give them any reason to dismiss your warranty claim. My 6.5 PRC Mesa shot very will with the factory 143 ELD-X. I only sold it because it was heavier than advertised. My current Mesa 6.5 Creed shoots the 140 ELD-M factory very well.

 

[accubond]

Could be the bedding, but it looks like it has flush/solid contact at the lug, with no rubbing on the pillar. Cheaper guns shoot better with worse setups, so it might not be the bedding. I'd try some Hornady PH 143gr and if it still doesn't shoot, send it back to Christensen. Don't mention handloads to give them any reason to dismiss your warranty claim. My 6.5 PRC Mesa shot very will with the factory 143 ELD-X. I only sold it because it was heavier than advertised. My current Mesa 6.5 Creed shoots the 140 ELD-M factory very well.

This one shoots the factory Hornady ELD-X as good as my best hand load results, so right around an inch. Not bad but my expectations were quite high after getting much better results from guns almost half this price.

 

[Forkyfinder]

This one shoots the factory Hornady ELD-X as good as my best hand load results, so right around an inch. Not bad but my expectations were quite high after getting much better results from guns almost half this price.

Have you talked to CA?

 

[Wind Gypsy]

I've read a lot of christensen owners having to send their rifles back but it seems like they are frequently willing to make it right? The problem with this one might be that the accuracy guarantee is 3 shots in 1" which it seems this rifle will occasionally do. A good illustration of why such guarantees aren't worth much. The rifle could avg 3 shot groups of 1.5" with its favored load but shoot enough groups and one will go sub moa so it would technically meet the sucker guarantee.

Worth giving them a call as you might have a legit gripe with the bottom metal that they could fix. The inlet (doesnt look like there is "bedding") around the tang looks a little worse than around the lug so you might benefit from spot bedding front and back.