I’ve had 2 Ridgelines same calibers 1)6.5 Prc- shoots Hornady pH and match and choice ammo 156 burgers sub moa consistently. It did not eject properly when brand new CA wanted it shipped back but I didn’t want the wait so my local gun shop took great care of me (provident arms , spicewood Tx)fixed the ejector spring. Have taken elk to 710 yards with that rifle. It’s dialed in. Debating a new vg stock carbon fiber stock for it, but also considering selling it for another PH2. 2)300 win mag- I couldn’t get any factory loads with high bc hunting bullets to group much under an inch. I don’t hand load so I sold it. Then I bought a Seekins PH2 and it is most accurate gun I have ever owned and shoots everything sub moa and half inch groups or less are common. I highly recommend that Seekins PH2 over anything CA or buying other brands like Tikka and others only to upgrade stock, add threading,etc. That’s my experience and what I’d do to setup a good long range hunting rifle
You’ve got one hell of a hunting round with that bond strike though, especially if it’s driving tacks. I had the same type situation with my Bergara ridge carbon until I got about 200 rounds through it. Now it drives tacks with everything 180gr and up.
The 300 winmag is a finicky cartridge. I have seen guns in this chambering that would not shoot factory ammo well at all. The only way to find out is to test. The 300 wsm is far less finicky and easier to tune. This is just my experience with the two cartridges. I appreciate your honesty.
Sir, sounds like you discovered why people handload. You don't have a rifle problem. It's an ammunition problem. My Tikka T3x doesn't like all off the shelf ammo either. Working up a proper handload with powder charges and bullet seat depths you could most likely get your CA to shoot great with them all.
In my opinion, CA not worth it. Extensive history and long list of issues along with mixed customer service feedback. They are great looking guns but I would never own one. My Tikka T3x 300WMs (3) all shoot the Norma Bondstrike and Norma 150 Whitetail the same as your CA will do. There's really something magic with Norma ammo. It's done well in every rifle I own and I handload. Norma has eased that need although it is still my preference. I had a very bad experience with CA customer service and it was over a simple part. They blew me off. I took one of my T3x stainless 300WM, bought an ultra-carbon Stocky's stock, a 24" Proof pre-fit barrel chambered in 7PRC, an $8 trigger spring, switched barrels, and tested some factory Hornady Outfitter CX ammo in it. First 3 shots - 1/2" at 100. I was advised the action did not need to be bedded, shoot the rifle first and see if it's good, then consider bedding it if I felt it needed it. Well it didn't but I paid $150 to get it bedded anyway since every custom rifle I own has been bedded. Shoots lights out and total cost was less than a CA Ridgeline. My Tikka 7PRC weighs less and shoots a variety of factory and handloaded ammo all subMOA.
I love my tikka, it’s truly my go to. I’m sure if I tried more ammo in this CA I’d find more it likes. Really thinking about trying the 165 CX Superformance, but the Norma shoots so well and I have a stash of it. It spits them right about 3,050, which is plenty for any hunting I do. It’s just very odd rifle, functions flawlessly, very comfortable, VERY minimal recoil, etc. With the two loads it’s truly one ragged hold type accuracy. I suppose we’re spoiled to live in an age where shooting around an inch with several loads is thought of as not that great, but it is what it is.
IMHO Christensen rifles are a pile of shit .. and I'm a sucker. I've owned 6 of them, 3 in 6.5 PRC (a ridgeline, a ridgeline Ti, and a Mesa), 2 in 6.5 Creedmoor (a ridgeline and a mesa), and one in .300 Win Mag (a ridgeline). I have no good excuse for wasting money continuing and continuing in hopes one will finally work. I think / home I am permanently done with this brand. I put thousands of rounds downrange across the 6.5s. None of them would deliver an MOA group on demand. 2 of the 3 PRCs blew primers with Hornady factory ammo, both 143 grain ELD X and 147 grain ELD match (the Ridgeline Ti did not). One of the Creedmoors, I forget which, did the same. The .300 Win Mag was unshootable. When I unboxed it, I was unable to chamber cartridges because the extractor was hitting the face of the case head rather than climbing over it to engage the "rim". After a trip back to the factory, that was fixed but the little notch .. "cock on close" .. was too deep and it took so much force to get the nose of the cocking piece out of it that I had to stand up to put weight on top of the rifle rather than just close the bolt sitting at the bench at the range. It went back to Christensen and their response was "it is in spec." I was never able to get it into a condition where I was willing to fire it. All 6 are gone now. Christensen rifles combine a lot of very attractive features. I will credit them with a good design however, the actual construction is miserable. I've spent over $10K on Christensen centerfire rifles. I got some back but only a fraction. There are so many used Christensen rifles out there that in the last year, none of my local dealers would take in a used one, a glut on the market. I'm a slow learner I guess but eventually I do learn. I'd love to try the 16" Ridgeline scout or a chassis rifle but hell if I will take a yet another gamble after losing on 6 in a row.
That’s all pretty crazy. The ridgeline I had in 6.5 PRC was viciously accurate with pretty much anything. I shot the best 5 shot groups of my life with that rifle. The finicky feeding I believe was due to it being a short action rifle, with a “short” action cartridge. I only sold it because my friends dad wanted a new rifle to do everything with, and given that I have a 6.5 cm and this 300 win mag it didn’t really fill a gap I had. This rifle functions flawlessly. Feeding, extracting, etc is all perfect. The accuracy (or lack of) is my only gripe. It’s weird how it’s ragged hole accurate with 2 loads and north of an inch with pretty much everything else. They are very attractive, but I think my next rifle will be my true “one and done” and will likely be a browning of some kind.
@@DesertRunninOutdoors Feeding wasn't a problem with the 3 PRCs. I owned 2 700s in .270 WSM years ago. Compared to those, the PRCs fed very well. It was the .300 that was the feeding problem. As far as accuracy, a friend is a gunsmith. He has a few .. 3-4 maybe? .. Christensen rifles and his shoot well BUT he said he tore them all down and rebedded the actions before ever firing a shot. I'm hesitant because that voids the warranty. Maybe I'm just unlucky. I haven't forgotten how to shoot, my comparatively cheap 700 .243 (SPSS) will put 5 100 grain partitions under a half inch. My custom-ish .204 will do the same. These Christensen rifles just don't work for me. I am happy to hear from others who have had better luck. I'm not meaning to disparage other shooters nor to UNFAIRLY denigrate the rifles. But I do want to tell the truth of my personal experiences with them.
@@tomrutledge393 To each his own buddy. I have owned two Ridgeline FFT, I have two other friends that also own multiple Christensen arms long rifles. Not one of us has had an issue with accuracy. In fact, these are some of the most accurate rifles I've ever owned and I've owned Browning, Remington, Winchester, Weatherby and Rugers. I'm not completely sold on all these so-called inaccurate guns everyone's complaining about? Since I don't know how anyone sets up and shoots nor do I know what loads everyone is trying to shoot, maybe it's more on the shooters and not so much the rifles? I'm always scratching my head on this topic because ammo issues can be had on any brand of rifles. Maybe it's the price of these Christensen Arms rifles that have many believing that their shooting paralysis would be solved?
@@VileCountry Yep. I know some people have success. I drew the lemons. Please understand that your success does not undo my problems. I'm happy for you but it doesn't help me.
@@VileCountry I don't think blowing primers with Hornady factory ammo is a shooter problem. 2 Christensen 6.5 PRCs, 1 Christensen 6.5 Creedmoor. Guys at the rifle range here are having similar problems. I think you should be counting yourself fortunate rather than questioning my competence. I've got a Kimber Mountain Ascent that'll hold under 1.5 inches at 320 yards. That's 5 pounds 9 ounces including scope and mounts. I also have a $800 Remington 700 sporter that will out shoot every one of those $1300 - $2600 Christensen rifles I punted .. and it does it with partitions, not match bullets.
I’ve had 2 Ridgelines same calibers
1)6.5 Prc- shoots Hornady pH and match and choice ammo 156 burgers sub moa consistently. It did not eject properly when brand new CA wanted it shipped back but I didn’t want the wait so my local gun shop took great care of me (provident arms , spicewood Tx)fixed the ejector spring. Have taken elk to 710 yards with that rifle. It’s dialed in. Debating a new vg stock carbon fiber stock for it, but also considering selling it for another PH2.
2)300 win mag- I couldn’t get any factory loads with high bc hunting bullets to group much under an inch. I don’t hand load so I sold it.
Then I bought a Seekins PH2 and it is most accurate gun I have ever owned and shoots everything sub moa and half inch groups or less are common. I highly recommend that Seekins PH2 over anything CA or buying other brands like Tikka and others only to upgrade stock, add threading,etc.
That’s my experience and what I’d do to setup a good long range hunting rifle
You’ve got one hell of a hunting round with that bond strike though, especially if it’s driving tacks. I had the same type situation with my Bergara ridge carbon until I got about 200 rounds through it. Now it drives tacks with everything 180gr and up.
The 300 winmag is a finicky cartridge. I have seen guns in this chambering that would not shoot factory ammo well at all. The only way to find out is to test. The 300 wsm is far less finicky and easier to tune. This is just my experience with the two cartridges. I appreciate your honesty.
Every rifle/gun likes different ammo. My Browning BLR 30 year old 308 loves Federal Power Shock loads.
Sir, sounds like you discovered why people handload. You don't have a rifle problem. It's an ammunition problem. My Tikka T3x doesn't like all off the shelf ammo either. Working up a proper handload with powder charges and bullet seat depths you could most likely get your CA to shoot great with them all.
In my opinion, CA not worth it. Extensive history and long list of issues along with mixed customer service feedback. They are great looking guns but I would never own one. My Tikka T3x 300WMs (3) all shoot the Norma Bondstrike and Norma 150 Whitetail the same as your CA will do. There's really something magic with Norma ammo. It's done well in every rifle I own and I handload. Norma has eased that need although it is still my preference. I had a very bad experience with CA customer service and it was over a simple part. They blew me off.
I took one of my T3x stainless 300WM, bought an ultra-carbon Stocky's stock, a 24" Proof pre-fit barrel chambered in 7PRC, an $8 trigger spring, switched barrels, and tested some factory Hornady Outfitter CX ammo in it. First 3 shots - 1/2" at 100. I was advised the action did not need to be bedded, shoot the rifle first and see if it's good, then consider bedding it if I felt it needed it. Well it didn't but I paid $150 to get it bedded anyway since every custom rifle I own has been bedded. Shoots lights out and total cost was less than a CA Ridgeline. My Tikka 7PRC weighs less and shoots a variety of factory and handloaded ammo all subMOA.
I love my tikka, it’s truly my go to. I’m sure if I tried more ammo in this CA I’d find more it likes. Really thinking about trying the 165 CX Superformance, but the Norma shoots so well and I have a stash of it. It spits them right about 3,050, which is plenty for any hunting I do. It’s just very odd rifle, functions flawlessly, very comfortable, VERY minimal recoil, etc. With the two loads it’s truly one ragged hold type accuracy. I suppose we’re spoiled to live in an age where shooting around an inch with several loads is thought of as not that great, but it is what it is.
IMHO Christensen rifles are a pile of shit .. and I'm a sucker. I've owned 6 of them, 3 in 6.5 PRC (a ridgeline, a ridgeline Ti, and a Mesa), 2 in 6.5 Creedmoor (a ridgeline and a mesa), and one in .300 Win Mag (a ridgeline). I have no good excuse for wasting money continuing and continuing in hopes one will finally work. I think / home I am permanently done with this brand. I put thousands of rounds downrange across the 6.5s. None of them would deliver an MOA group on demand. 2 of the 3 PRCs blew primers with Hornady factory ammo, both 143 grain ELD X and 147 grain ELD match (the Ridgeline Ti did not). One of the Creedmoors, I forget which, did the same. The .300 Win Mag was unshootable. When I unboxed it, I was unable to chamber cartridges because the extractor was hitting the face of the case head rather than climbing over it to engage the "rim". After a trip back to the factory, that was fixed but the little notch .. "cock on close" .. was too deep and it took so much force to get the nose of the cocking piece out of it that I had to stand up to put weight on top of the rifle rather than just close the bolt sitting at the bench at the range. It went back to Christensen and their response was "it is in spec." I was never able to get it into a condition where I was willing to fire it. All 6 are gone now.
Christensen rifles combine a lot of very attractive features. I will credit them with a good design however, the actual construction is miserable. I've spent over $10K on Christensen centerfire rifles. I got some back but only a fraction. There are so many used Christensen rifles out there that in the last year, none of my local dealers would take in a used one, a glut on the market.
I'm a slow learner I guess but eventually I do learn. I'd love to try the 16" Ridgeline scout or a chassis rifle but hell if I will take a yet another gamble after losing on 6 in a row.
That’s all pretty crazy. The ridgeline I had in 6.5 PRC was viciously accurate with pretty much anything. I shot the best 5 shot groups of my life with that rifle. The finicky feeding I believe was due to it being a short action rifle, with a “short” action cartridge. I only sold it because my friends dad wanted a new rifle to do everything with, and given that I have a 6.5 cm and this 300 win mag it didn’t really fill a gap I had.
This rifle functions flawlessly. Feeding, extracting, etc is all perfect. The accuracy (or lack of) is my only gripe. It’s weird how it’s ragged hole accurate with 2 loads and north of an inch with pretty much everything else. They are very attractive, but I think my next rifle will be my true “one and done” and will likely be a browning of some kind.
@@DesertRunninOutdoors Feeding wasn't a problem with the 3 PRCs. I owned 2 700s in .270 WSM years ago. Compared to those, the PRCs fed very well. It was the .300 that was the feeding problem.
As far as accuracy, a friend is a gunsmith. He has a few .. 3-4 maybe? .. Christensen rifles and his shoot well BUT he said he tore them all down and rebedded the actions before ever firing a shot. I'm hesitant because that voids the warranty.
Maybe I'm just unlucky. I haven't forgotten how to shoot, my comparatively cheap 700 .243 (SPSS) will put 5 100 grain partitions under a half inch. My custom-ish .204 will do the same. These Christensen rifles just don't work for me. I am happy to hear from others who have had better luck. I'm not meaning to disparage other shooters nor to UNFAIRLY denigrate the rifles. But I do want to tell the truth of my personal experiences with them.
@@tomrutledge393 To each his own buddy.
I have owned two Ridgeline FFT, I have two other friends that also own multiple Christensen arms long rifles. Not one of us has had an issue with accuracy. In fact, these are some of the most accurate rifles I've ever owned and I've owned Browning, Remington, Winchester, Weatherby and Rugers.
I'm not completely sold on all these so-called inaccurate guns everyone's complaining about? Since I don't know how anyone sets up and shoots nor do I know what loads everyone is trying to shoot, maybe it's more on the shooters and not so much the rifles?
I'm always scratching my head on this topic because ammo issues can be had on any brand of rifles. Maybe it's the price of these Christensen Arms rifles that have many believing that their shooting paralysis would be solved?
@@VileCountry Yep. I know some people have success. I drew the lemons. Please understand that your success does not undo my problems. I'm happy for you but it doesn't help me.
@@VileCountry I don't think blowing primers with Hornady factory ammo is a shooter problem. 2 Christensen 6.5 PRCs, 1 Christensen 6.5 Creedmoor. Guys at the rifle range here are having similar problems. I think you should be counting yourself fortunate rather than questioning my competence. I've got a Kimber Mountain Ascent that'll hold under 1.5 inches at 320 yards. That's 5 pounds 9 ounces including scope and mounts. I also have a $800 Remington 700 sporter that will out shoot every one of those $1300 - $2600 Christensen rifles I punted .. and it does it with partitions, not match bullets.