Bergara Premier Approach vs HMR Pro; does a "mini-chassis" matter?

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Corn-Picker

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I'm looking to get into intermediate range paper punching and hunting (say 400-500 yards maximum for game). I've handled the Bergara's at my local Sportsman's Warehouse, and have seen enough online that I'm willing to take a chance on one. The largest game I'll be hunting is whitetail and black bear. Based on ballistics and my preference for moving mono-metals at high speeds, I'm planning to go with the 6mm Creedmoor, which has a 26" barrel in the Bergara Premier series.

To make a long story short, the "Premier Approach" weighs 1.1 pounds less than the "Premier HMR Pro," despite having the same exact action and barrel length/taper. Neither is a lightweight as the lighter rifle is 8.6 pounds and the heavier one is 9.7 pounds. As far as I can tell from the specs, the only difference is that the lighter rifle uses a fixed fiberglass stock whereas the heavier rifle uses an adjustable molded stock with integrated "mini-chassis." The mini-chassis is a machined aluminum skeleton between the action and stock. I'm trying to figure out whether the mini-chassis is likely to result in a more accurate rifle? I don't have a lot of experience in this realm, so I don't know if the mini-chassis helps accuracy regardless of stock material, or whether it's not necessary on the model with the fiberglass stock because fiberglass is stiffer than most plastics? I'll use this mostly in ambush hunting situations, so the added weight isn't a deal breaker, but shaving off a pound is noticeable.
 
I believe the Approach has an aluminum bedding block embedded in the stock, which is likely just like the HMR pro. I’ll confirm when I return home.

I went through the same debate and am very happy with the Approach.
 
For hunting or target shooting at 500 yards you don't need the added weight . With a good quality synthetic stock you don't need the metal chassis. Those are used in cheaper stocks in order to make them stiffer and reduce costs. The Bergara stocks look nice, but compared to McMillan or Brown Precision are still a cheap stock so the metal chassis probably helps with that stock. Not enough to matter at 500 yards though.

I don't have any issues with anyone hunting at long range if they have the skills and equipment to do it. The 6CM will take deer at that range, but bear is starting to be borderline IMO. The 6.5CM shoots bullets heavy enough to be more effective on bigger game and wouldn't be a handicap for target shooting.
 
The 6.5CM shoots bullets heavy enough to be more effective on bigger game and wouldn't be a handicap for target shooting.
Agreed, if the main objective is hunting, go 6.5 Creedmoor, and it won't handicap you target shooting at 4/500 yards.
 
My logic is; I like to use Barnes, and with them I’ve noticed that faster is better. According to my calculator, the 6mm Creedmoor with Barnes LRX makes it to 500 yards with thirteen inches less drop and two inches less drift (assuming 10 mph cross wind), and when it gets there it’s traveling 250 fps faster (2150 fps) and only giving up 60 ft-lbs to the 6.5 Creedmoor. I’m squarely in the “kinetic energy is what matters” camp (assuming proper bullet), and I was surprised that the smaller Creedmoor could deliver 1000 ft-lbs to 500 yards out of a 26” tube.
 
I believe the Approach has an aluminum bedding block embedded in the stock, which is likely just like the HMR pro. I’ll confirm when I return home.

I went through the same debate and am very happy with the Approach.

Thank you for the information. The aluminum skeleton in the HMR is pretty extensive (see below). It’s great to hear you’re happy with the approach, there’s relatively little written about it on the internet compared to the HMR Pro.

810C11E2-C42D-41E9-B89E-14D05E1A8AD2.jpeg
 
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