Christensen Arms Accuracy Problems

[Spaz]

Has anyone else had significant accuracy issues with the CA Ridgeline or other rifles they offer? I purchased a Ridgeline two years ago and after following their barrel break in procedure testing at least 7 different factory loads and 4 hand loads I could not get the damn thing to print better than 2 inches at 100m. My smith (RIP Tim) checked everything, and outside of an over torqued barrel and shallow chamber, couldn't find any issues that would account for the accuracy problems. He finished the chamber, blueprinted the action and properly torqued the barrel and that didn't improve it at all. Eventually I had to swap the CA carbon fiber barrel for a proof and now it shoots well under MOA.

Anyone else experienced something similar?

Read More

 

[Koda]

Might want to search the long range hunting forum, they seem to get bad reviews over there.

Christianson arms 338 ultra mag

Does anyone know anything about Christianson arms weapons? I want a caliber for a 1000yd elk gun and am thinking about the 338 Remington Ultra Mag. I don't want any wildcat stuff because I want to be able to buy factory ammo if needed. What do you guys think about the caliber and gun company?

www.longrangehunting.com

 

[Spaz]

Might want to search the long range hunting forum, they seem to get bad reviews over there.

Christianson arms 338 ultra mag

Does anyone know anything about Christianson arms weapons? I want a caliber for a 1000yd elk gun and am thinking about the 338 Remington Ultra Mag. I don't want any wildcat stuff because I want to be able to buy factory ammo if needed. What do you guys think about the caliber and gun company?

www.longrangehunting.com

Yeesh. That is a long standing problem.

 

[1775usmc]

They have been known for a high price tag and questionable performance. I don't have first hand experience, I almost bought one in 300WM until my best friend warned me after he had some bad luck with one. I ended up with a Tikka.

With that said I know some people who really like them and have had good luck with them.

 

[drstrangelove]

My Ridgeline 6.5PRC is a 3/8" shooter in factory stock, and 1/4" shooter in an AI chassis. I guess I just got lucky. Was the barrel properly free floated? Was the action spec tightened to the stock? Did you have a sub-2lb trigger? I would have sent that back to CA for a new CF barrel. These are supposed to come with a sub MOA accuracy guarantee.

 

[trevi]

They have been known for a high price tag and questionable performance. I don't have first hand experience, I almost bought one in 300WM until my best friend warned me after he had some bad luck with one. I ended up with a Tikka.

With that said I know some people who really like them and have had good luck with them.

When in doubt, a Tikka saves!

 

[bionic knees]

a buddy of mine had one that just didn't fire occasionally, crosshairs on the biggest bull of his life a couple years ago and "CLICK" that one went down the road!

 

[Koda]

Few years ago I was interested in a new rifle and was considering them. Google searches showed too many bad reviews... if I recall mostly unacceptable accuracy issues and that they started out with great rifles, but quickly went downhill as they ramped up production demand and have not recovered.

 

[BMGMAN]

Has anyone else had significant accuracy issues with the CA Ridgeline or other rifles they offer? I purchased a Ridgeline two years ago and after following their barrel break in procedure testing at least 7 different factory loads and 4 hand loads I could not get the damn thing to print better than 2 inches at 100m. My smith (RIP Tim) checked everything, and outside of an over torqued barrel and shallow chamber, couldn't find any issues that would account for the accuracy problems. He finished the chamber, blueprinted the action and properly torqued the barrel and that didn't improve it at all. Eventually I had to swap the CA carbon fiber barrel for a proof and now it shoots well under MOA.

Anyone else experienced something similar?

Mine will stack at 100 yards. Longest shot I've taken was 1803 yards. Went 3/5 at that range. And that was more of a me thing than a gun thing. 140gr ELD match. Mine is the MPR in 6.5 creedmoor. I love it!

 

[Spaz]

My Ridgeline 6.5PRC is a 3/8" shooter in factory stock, and 1/4" shooter in an AI chassis. I guess I just got lucky. Was the barrel properly free floated? Was the action spec tightened to the stock? Did you have a sub-2lb trigger? I would have sent that back to CA for a new CF barrel. These are supposed to come with a sub MOA accuracy guarantee.

Barrel was properly free-floated, action screws torqued to spec, solid trigger, all that. CA said they wouldn't warranty the barrel since the exposed metal was cerakoted. A friend of mine who is a former Marine armorer at Quantico said the chamber wasn't cut concentric to the bore, either.

 

[monkeybutler]

Few years ago I was interested in a new rifle and was considering them. Google searches showed too many bad reviews... if I recall mostly unacceptable accuracy issues and that they started out with great rifles, but quickly went downhill as they ramped up production demand and have not recovered.

I similarly concluded they were buttwheels.

 

[msh441]

I JUST bought a MPR. Wish I would have read up on CA, first. Hunting buddies provided caliber/weight specs for an upcoming ram draw, and it seemed to check a lotta boxes (ligtweight/packable, while still packing a punch at longer range, with at least a few off-the-shelf ammo options).

Through the 30 round break-in, I've been shooting pretty consistent 1-2" (3-shot, 100y) groups simply off a bipod/my shoulder with off-the-shelf Hornady 250 Match BTHPs.

Next 20 is going to be the Hornady 285 ELDMs, before I start load development. I was planning on Berger 300 Hunter Elites, Hodgden H1000, and the fired Hornady brass, and Remington large rifle/magnum primers.

I feel like this thing will work fine for its intended purpose. But the cloud over the brand… yikes! I don't see a ton of shot strings in its future (so heating us the barrel enough to see a shift is unlikely. And I think realistically, my endurance would fail & create wild shots before the barrel). Not without a suppressor, at least!) Recoil isn't bad, but that BLAST! Oof! Muffs OVER plugs, and even then, it kinda still sucked.

Fingers crossed as my technique improves, I'll become more stable, pull it together a bit, and that the wheels don't suddenly fall off following tomorrow's session.

 

[Spaz]

I JUST bought a MPR. Wish I would have read up on CA, first. Hunting buddies provided caliber/weight specs for an upcoming ram draw, and it seemed to check a lotta boxes (packable .338).

Through the 30 round break-in, I've been shooting pretty consistent 1-2" (3-shot) groups simply off a bipod/my shoulder with off-the-shelf Hornady 250 Match BTHPs.

Next 20 is going to be the Hornady 285 ELDMs, before I start load development. I was planning on Berger 300 Hunter Elites, Hodgden H1000, and the fired Hornady brass, and Remington large rifle/magnum primers.

I feel like this thing will work fine for it's intended purpose. But the cloud over the brand… yikes! I don't see a ton shot strings in its future (not without a suppressor, at least!) Recoil isn't bad, but that BLAST! Oof! Muffs OVER plugs, and it kinda still sucked.

Fingers crossed as my technique improves, I'll become more stable, pull it together a bit, and that the wheels don't suddenly fall off following tomorrow's session.

If it doesn't work out, im not regretting going with a proof barrel. The CA action is generally solid though some small things like the bolt knob and spring tension drove me bonkers. It just seems to be the barrels.

 

[msh441]

If it doesn't work out, im not regretting going with a proof barrel. The CA action is generally solid though some small things like the bolt knob and spring tension drove me bonkers. It just seems to be the barrels.

So far so good. Keeping the barrel in mind, just in case (love the chassis, bolt, and action).

I'm still consistently stringing 1-2" groups horizontally. Less that 1/2" vertical deviation though. All with the off-the-shelf Hornady 150's.

Had my buddy shoot three, three-shot groups. He had almost the exact same result, with one exception: He was stringing VERTICALLY, with almost ZERO HORIZONTAL deviation(!!!). So whatever we're doing… I think it's us/me getting used to consistently shouldering the thing versus anything wrong with the gun. His opinion after comparing our groups was 'it'll hunt'/good for now. We'll continue loading development, but it'll get the job done in the near future.

So practice, practice, practice is the immediate prescription.