Bergara understands that lightweight, accurate and potent bolt-action hunting rifles never go out of style. The Premier Canyon traces its lineage to the Bergara Mountain 2.0, but it also reflects direct feedback from today’s hunters. For this review, I carried the 6.5 PRC version on deer hunts across Virginia, West Virginia and South Carolina, then ran it through range drills at Echo Valley Training Center.
Bergara increased the Premier Canyon’s barrel contour to better support the growing use of suppressors, then offset the added weight with fluting. The AG Composites carbon-fiber stock also received updates, including M5 bottom metal. Available chamberings include 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win., 6.5 PRC and .375 H&H. That’s right—.375 H&H. It was oddly reassuring to see Bergara offer this modern lightweight rifle in such a classic cartridge.
It’s hard to argue with a 6.2-pound rifle that promises to keep three shots inside an inch at 100 yards. So how did Bergara pull it off? Much of the answer lies in the Premier line’s in-house manufacturing. Bergara produces both barrels and actions from premium stainless steel at its Lawrenceville, Georgia, facility.
- You want a light rifle for long, demanding hunts
- You value sub-MOA accuracy and suppressor-ready handling
- Its $2,349 price approaches custom-rifle territory
- Its factory-listed magazine capacity is three rounds
Bergara Premier Canyon Action, Bolt and Barrel
The Bergara Premier Action shares the Remington 700 footprint. The spiral-fluted bolt runs smoothly in grimy, wet, or frozen conditions, aided by a floating bolt head and a cone-shaped bolt nose.
A spring-loaded sliding plate extractor located in the front of the lower locking lug, along with dual ejectors in the bolt face, maintains reliability no matter how fast the bolt is stroked. The bolt assembly is fully nitrided for extreme durability and its self-lubricating properties. A TriggerTech trigger with a two-position safety comes standard on the Bergara Premier Canyon rifle.
Reliability here isn’t theoretical. It’s about running the bolt fast when conditions are bad and time is short.
Accuracy lives or dies at the barrel, and Bergara treats it that way. The brand is especially proud of its barrels. Controlling production gives Bergara a clear advantage in accuracy and cost.
In 2003, Bergara approached its parent company, Dikar in Spain, about using high-quality Spanish steel to produce barrels in the U.S.
The late Ed Shilen was a consultant. Shilen’s barrels have won 13 world records, and he was an early inductee into the Benchrest Hall of Fame. The Bergara barrel factory had state-of-the-art computerized machinery and robotics. Shilen’s techniques, combined with modern machinery, produce custom-quality barrels at a price point that’s hard to beat.
Each Premier barrel begins with an inspection for straightness (.004 tolerance), followed by deep-hole drilling. A honing process removes tool marks before rifling. The barrel is then button-rifled with groove deviation held to less than .0002 inches. Finally, a high-temperature heating process relieves stress introduced during rifling.
That’s a lot of work for a hunting rifle. It shows on target.
The Bergara Premier Canyon is a hunter. Period.
Bergara Premier Canyon Features:
- Premier Action with Remington 700 footprint
- Spiral-fluted bolt with floating bolt head
- Cone-shaped bolt nose for smooth feeding
- Spring-loaded sliding plate extractor and dual ejectors
- Fully nitrided bolt assembly
- TriggerTech trigger with two-position safety
- 20-inch stainless steel barrel with 1:8 twist
- 5/8x24 threaded muzzle with brake and thread protector
- Sniper Grey Cerakote barrel finish
- Carbon fiber stock
- Internal pillar bedding with free-floated barrel
Optic, Ammo and Suppressor Setup for the Canyon
Accuracy doesn’t happen in isolation. A quality optic and a capable cartridge are important parts of the equation.
I ran the Bergara Premier Canyon with a Leupold VX-5HD 2-10x42mm riflescope. The magnification range fits the rifle’s intended hunting role well, from close cover to longer shots. The Leupold VX-5D utilizes a second focal plane reticle. While risking excommunication, I prefer a second focal plane reticle on my hunting rifles, and the illuminated center dot provides a defined aiming point for precision shot placement in any condition.
The Premier Canyon was tested in 6.5 PRC using factory ammunition. Compared to 6.5 Creedmoor, the 6.5 PRC delivers higher velocity, flatter trajectory, and better wind performance, all without punishing recoil.
Factory support for the 6.5 PRC continues to expand beyond Hornady. Winchester, Black Hills Ammunition, and Berger all offer hunting loads. The Berger 140-grain Elite Hunter proved to be the this one’s favorite in terms of accuracy with .75-inch groups.
A Banish Backcountry suppressor was threaded onto the Premier Canyon’s 20-inch barrel. It measures only 5.5 inches and weighs just 7.8 ounces, thanks to titanium construction. The compact size and weight have minimal impact on how the rifle handles while keeping the decibel level down to 135dB.
Bergara Canyon Range Test Results
| Load | Average Velocity | Avg. Group @ 100 Yards |
| Hornady Precision Hunter143 grain ELD-X | 2,715 fps | 0.875 inches |
| Black Hills 143 grain ELD-X | 2,690 fps | 0.93 inches |
| Berger Elite Hunter 156 grain | 2,604 fps | 1 inch |
| Berger Elite Hunter 140 grain | 2,729 fps | 0.75 inches |
Three 3-round groups. Chronoed with Caldwell Ballistic Precision G2 chronograph
Real World Shooting with the Bergara Premier Canyon
Some shooters may be concerned that the Premier Canyon’s short 20-inch barrel may be robbing them of velocity. But I have come to prefer the 6.5 PRC over its cousin, the 6.5 Creedmoor, which starts lighter in the velocity department to begin with. The 20-inch 6.5 PRC Premier Canyon is at least equal to a rifle with a 26-inch barrel chambered in 6.5Creedmoor or .308 Win for hunting purposes.
The Bergara Premier Canyon is tailor-made for pursuing game in rugged/steep terrain (deer, elk, sheep) or trekking for miles in an open setting (think pronghorn). Predator hunting, with numerous moves to different call locations, also benefits from a lightweight, flat-shooting precision rifle. The Premier Canyon’s accuracy is equally conducive for hunting from stands or ground blinds with shots across wide clearings or fields, yet still svelte handling for spot/stalk techniques.
Even at relatively short ranges in thick timber, pinpoint accuracy is crucial when you’re trying to find a shooting lane. I evaluated all of these settings while deer hunting in Virginia, West Virginia, and South Carolina.
Range drills mirroring hunting scenarios were set up at Echo Valley Training Center (EVTC). Clay pigeons or steel poppers set up at various distances were engaged while sitting, kneeling, or standing. When the Backcountry suppressor was not attached, which was rare, the thread protector was left on the Premier Canyon instead of a muzzle brake.
I had a few nuanced observations during range time. I was concerned about the potential for magazine rattle when I first unboxed the Premier Canyon. However, the rattling went away once rounds were loaded. While listed at a three-round capacity, you can slip four in with no detectable ill effect in terms of reliability. You can also insert a single round into the chamber when the magazine is empty. Removing the magazine via the release lever in front of the trigger guard is a deliberate act, and that’s a good thing.
Bergara Premier Canyon 6.5 PRC Review: Final Verdict and Score
MORE FROM THIS BRAND:
