Chistensen Arms Long Range Mesa break in and testing

[Native Hunter]

My son recently purchased this gun in 300 Win Mag. I put the bases on it and scoped it for him. We recently tested the gun with some factory shells as we were going through the break in process recommended by the manufacturer. I went with all steel bases and rings and a Leupold scope. My observations:

• The porting surprised me at how much it tamed the recoil of the 300 Mag. Of course, the gun is heavy, which also helps. Due to these two factors, I couldn't tell that the gun kicked any worse than my light Tikka 308 when shooting from the bench with sandbags. It was a pleasant surprise.
• Everything functioned well. The bolt throw is nice and I love the Tactical spiderweb stock. I also love the finish.
• Even though they make their own actions, a standard Rem 700 base fits the gun.
• Tried 3 factory shells. Two did awesome and the third was just so so. Shown below are the results with each ammo after break in:
  • Hornady Superformance 180 SST. Last two groups fired under 1/2 inch @ 100 yds.
  • Barnes Vortex 180 grain. Last two groups just barely over 1/2 inch @ 100 yds. I decided to leave the gun sighted in for this load since I have several on hand.
  • Nosler 180. Groups just a tad over an inch.

Christensen makes some guns with carbon wrapped barrel that are much more expensive than this one. However, it's hard to imagine them shooting much better. This guns shoots factory loads so well I doubt son will want me to fool with reloading for it. But, I can whip him up a load if he wants one.

Hope you enjoy!

 

[Drycreek]

I don't like those types of pistol grips, but otherwise a nice looking rifle. A shooter for sure !

 

[Hoosierhunting]

My son recently purchased this gun in 300 Win Mag. I put the bases on it and scoped it for him. We recently tested the gun with some factory shells as we were going through the break in process recommended by the manufacturer. I went with all steel bases and rings and a Leupold scope. My observations:

• The porting surprised me at how much it tamed the recoil of the 300 Mag. Of course, the gun is heavy, which also helps. Due to these two factors, I couldn't tell that the gun kicked any worse than my light Tikka 308 when shooting from the bench with sandbags. It was a pleasant surprise.
• Everything functioned well. The bolt throw is nice and I love the Tactical spiderweb stock. I also love the finish.
• Even though they make their own actions, a standard Rem 700 base fits the gun.
• Tried 3 factory shells. Two did awesome and the third was just so so. Shown below are the results with each ammo after break in:
  • Hornady Superformance 180 SST. Last two groups fired under 1/2 inch @ 100 yds.
  • Barnes Vortex 180 grain. Last two groups just barely over 1/2 inch @ 100 yds. I decided to leave the gun sighted in for this load since I have several on hand.
  • Nosler 180. Groups just a tad over an inch.

Christensen makes some guns with carbon wrapped barrel that are much more expensive than this one. However, it's hard to imagine them shooting much better. This guns shoots factory loads so well I doubt son will want me to fool with reloading for it. But, I can whip him up a load if he wants one.

Hope you enjoy!

Even though they’re not exactly in the same price class I’d be really interested to hear how it compares to your T3.


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[Native Hunter]

Even though they’re not exactly in the same price class I’d be really interested to hear how it compares to your T3.


Sent from my iPhone using Deer Hunter Forum

I shoot handloads in the T3 and it drives tacks with those. I didn’t do extensive testing with factory loads in the T3 but I think the new gun would be just a tad ahead of the T3 with factory Ammo.

Both guns shoot plenty tight enough. The T3 is like a feather compared to the new gun. But the extra weight on the new gun is a plus in terms of reducing recoil.

 

[dogghr]

You lost me at heavy, and likewise not a pistol grip type. Love the black/grey finish on barrel. Always a single shot or bolt action fan, like that. Does it have a magazine release at base of stock? 3 or 4 cartridge hold? Like the porting, does it make it louder to shooter??
Why is the bolt fluted but not the barrel? I'm assuming by the bench you guys are lefties? Sux a little with bolt action. My good friend is a lefty but right eye dominant....well that because he only has one eye!!
Like the stock finish, different. Your son has good taste. Thanks for showing.

 

[Native Hunter]

You lost me at heavy, and likewise not a pistol grip type. Love the black/grey finish on barrel. Always a single shot or bolt action fan, like that. Does it have a magazine release at base of stock? 3 or 4 cartridge hold? Like the porting, does it make it louder to shooter??
Why is the bolt fluted but not the barrel? I'm assuming by the bench you guys are lefties? Sux a little with bolt action. My good friend is a lefty but right eye dominant....well that because he only has one eye!!
Like the stock finish, different. Your son has good taste. Thanks for showing.

Dogghr, it has a hinged floor plate (like a 700 BDL) and holds 4 rounds. The weight without a scope is 9.9 lbs and the barrel is a 416 Stainless with what they call a "Palma" contour. They make their own barrels, actions and stocks. The trigger is match grade and perfect for me.

My son is a leftie. I'm not a leftie except that I shoot left handed. Not sure how that happened since I do eveything else right handed. I like to tell people I'm shooting left handed to not make them look bad......

I can't say why the bolt is fluted and not the barrel. I've noticed that a lot of the custom guns that Hill Country produces have a fluted bolt and not the barrel. The only reasons I can think of to flute a bolt would be weight or looks - neither of which are important to me.

PS: That bench is made for both right and left handed shooters. You can't see the right side, because my dad laid a piece of cardboard down on the bench because it was wet. You have a sharp eye to notice that!

 

[swat1018]

Bet that baby will ring your ears! I have a love affair with custom bolt guns, although I'm kinda partial to the .308.

 

[craSSh]

Very nice gun!!! I'm waiting on a Mesa in 6.5 Creedmoor... should be here any day now. The local gun shop where I ordered it texted me last week that it came in. I was excited that it came in earlier than what was told to them. When we opened up the box I immediately saw the heavier contour barrel then saw the adjustable cheek piece...Nope not my gun..this gun was the Mesa LR. My friend who texted me said all he saw was the caliber and color on the box and assumed it was mine, it was for another customer. Oh well, just have to be a lil more patient. I ordered the standard Mesa in burnt bronze. I opted for the standard Mesa because I wanted a lightweight sporter rifle, my other rifles have bull barrels. I had a Christensen carbon 300wm that I sold last year, so I'm familiar with Christensen quality. They are fine rifles indeed. Can't wait to work up some loads!

 

[Mennoniteman]

Nice gun. Is that a Leupold VXIII in 3x9? I like Leupold but is that enough glass to get the full potential out of that rifle?

 

[Native Hunter]

Nice gun. Is that a Leupold VXIII in 3x9? I like Leupold but is that enough glass to get the full potential out of that rifle?

It's actually a 4.5 X 14 Leupold with the Boone and Crocket Reticle. You have crosshairs to take you all the way out to 500 yards. Even though a gun like this will shoot further, it's a ethical thing for me shooting past that distance at a deer. The least little mishap and a guy could mess us and wound a deer at distances greater than that.

If I need to shoot at ISIS, I have the drop and drift memorized out to past 800....

 

[Mennoniteman]

I have a Zeiss on my .300 with a similar "christmas tree reticle", and I really like those reticles. The 14 power should be adequate for practical purposes for that cartridge. A friend of mine is a member of a group that shoots deer at up to 1500 yards, which has much higher requirements as far as optics. They are figuring in the rotation of the earth and all kinds of other things. I'm not endorsing this, but I'm ok with them doing it since they have a success ratio similar to the average hunter at 200 yards.

 

[Double L]

Nice rig you got there. I personally like the pistol grip after I got used to it. Have you tried raising the check rest up? I have found that helps allot too. Do you anneal your brass? If your not I will do it for you if you send it to me cleaned and de-primed for nothing...

 

[Native Hunter]

Nice rig you got there. I personally like the pistol grip after I got used to it. Have you tried raising the check rest up? I have found that helps allot too. Do you anneal your brass? If your not I will do it for you if you send it to me cleaned and de-primed for nothing...

Thanks for that generous offer. I might take you up on that someday, but for a while I'm going to just shoot factory loads. If I ever do decide to reload for this gun, I think annealing would be a good thing.

The height of the cheek seems to fit me pretty good, so I likely don't need to raise it any. I'm like you and love the pistol grip. I have the same type stock on my custom ML.

Once again, thanks friend!

 

[Eshoremd]

Man that gun is beautiful!!! The pic of it sitting on the bench with the bolt open is kinda hard to stop looking at lol

My buddy has a Christensen in 22-250 and its awesome to shoot.

 

[Native Hunter]

Man that gun is beautiful!!! The pic of it sitting on the bench with the bolt open is kinda hard to stop looking at lol

My buddy has a Christensen in 22-250 and its awesome to shoot.

Thanks man. It sure was fun breaking in that rifle. When the bullets started touching at 100 yards I breathed a sigh of relief. You just never know how a rifle is going to shoot - even a quality built one. My dad is a big 22-250 fan, so he would love your buddy's gun. I really like that caliber too. I carry a Tikka 22-250 as my "farm rifle" when doing habitat work. It is light as a feather and death on coyotes and groundhogs.

 

[HB_Hunter]

I’m also right handed and left eye dominant. If he’s a leftie too, why didn’t you buy one with a left handed action?

 

[Native Hunter]

I’m also right handed and left eye dominant. If he’s a leftie too, why didn’t you buy one with a left handed action?

We have both got used to shooting right handed guns over the years, and honestly if would just be confusing to us to use a left handed gun. All of our shotguns are also right handed guns, and its never caused either of us a problem. I know that safeties can be reversed, but I have always felt that was a recipe for disaster. I just leave the safeties in their normal position. When you get used to it, its really not a disadvantage.

 

[HB_Hunter]

Makes sense. I don’t mind shooting autos that are right handed, but prefer a left handed bolt action just to make reloading less awkward. The safety’s are reversed on the autos. Dad is also right handed left eye dominant.

 

[Native Hunter]

Checked the zero on this gun at 100 yards yesterday. It's still getting er done...4 shots with 0.35 inch centers group.

 

[swat1018]

She's a shooter.