CHRISTENSEN ARMS 14
Posted May 25, 2023
.5" Ridgeline
When Christensen Arms was first founded, their goal was to provide hunters with quality yet affordable firearms that could be used for hunting or recreational shooting. Now, after more than two decades later, Christensen Arms has achieved their goal, having become one of the most sought-after firearms brands when it comes to rifles.
This is why the Christensen Arms 14.5" Ridgeline caught my eye—it seemed like the perfect firearm for almost any need. In this review, I will discuss the different features, performance, and accuracy of the Christensen Arms 14.5" Ridgeline in detail, as well as what I believe makes it one of the premier rifles on the market today.
To start off, let's first take a look at the overall design and build quality of the Christensen Arms 14.5" Ridgeline. This rifle is definitely designed with precision in mind—it's constructed from high-grade steel, stainless steel, and aircraft-grade aluminum components to ensure top-notch durability and performance. At the same time, it still maintains a lightweight design due to its carbon fiber barrel, which helps to reduce fatigue from extended use and makes it easier to carry.
The rifle also has an adjustable cheek piece, allowing you to customize your sight picture to your exact preferences. Additionally, the buttstock has a soft rubber pad to provide increased comfort when shooting and an integrated recoil reduction to help reduce felt recoil.
The rifle also comes with a threaded muzzle brake to help reduce recoil and reduce muzzle rise. The rifle also comes with a muzzle crown protector and a Picatinny rail for attaching accessories like bipods or light/laser attachments. To top it off, the Christensen Arms 14.5" Ridgeline also comes with a Vortex Strikefire II 4-16x52mm red dot optic, giving you a clear sight picture and providing fast acquisition times.
Next, let's talk about the performance and accuracy of the Christensen Arms 14.5" Ridgeline. To say the least, this rifle is a shooter's dream—it's incredibly accurate and incredibly powerful. It utilizes a 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge and manages to produce incredibly tight shot groupings with incredibly low recoil. Additionally, the rifle's two-stage adjustable trigger helps to improve accuracy by providing a light, crisp break between shots.
To make sure that accuracy remains consistent, the barrel is also made using Christensen Arms' patented carbon fiber construction which helps to keep the barrel cool and free of warping. When this is combined with the muzzle crown protector, it ensures that accuracy is comparable even after multiple shots.
In order to put the Christensen Arms 14.5" Ridgeline through its paces, I took it out to the range on a variety of different occasions and put it up to the test. With an average group of 100 yds I was able to print a 1.34” three round group, which was quite impressive. At 200 yds, the average group size shrank to just 1.00” Three round group, which is extremely impressive. Even at 300 yds, I managed to keep it on target with a group size of 1.48”, although I wouldn't want to shoot that far regularly with this rifle.
In terms of recoil, this rifle managed to push it down incredibly well—when coupled with the muzzle brake, it remarkably reduced the felt recoil making followup shots much easier to execute. Additionally, the carbon fiber barrel kept the barrel temperatures cool even after multiple rounds, ensuring that the accuracy remained consistent throughout.
In conclusion, I believe that the Christensen Arms 14.5" Ridgeline is a top-of-the-line rifle that is reliable, accurate, and powerful. Its construction from high-grade steel, stainless steel, and aircraft-grade aluminum ensures a durable build that will last for years, while the carbon fiber barrel makes sure that the accuracy remains consistent. On top of that, the muzzle brake and adjustable trigger help to reduce felt recoil and improve accuracy, respectively. All of this, combined with the Vortex Strikefire II optic, make the Christensen Arms 14.5" Ridgeline a rifle that anyone would be proud to own.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- It is lightweight (6.75 lbs) and easy to carry.
- Accurate and reliable design - Christensen Arms has a long-standing reputation of crafting quality arms that are built for accuracy and reliability.
- Quality components - Christensen Arms uses quality materials for both the barrel and action ensuring peak performance with each shot.
- Adjustable trigger - The trigger is adjustable for a customized feel and break point for improved accuracy.
Cons:
- Price - This is a higher end firearm and the price reflects that.
- Expectations - The Christensen Arms 14 is not a snazzy, tricked out rifle; it relies on simple, yet sound engineering that won't lend itself to a certain image.
Who Should Buy
Anyone who is an avid hunter or enjoys shooting sports should consider buying the Christensen Arms 14. This firearm is a great option for those who are looking for a reliable and powerful firearm that will serve them well for many years.
On the other hand, those who are unfamiliar with firearms or who are not looking to invest much in a firearm should not buy the Christensen Arms 14. It is an expensive firearm and requires a certain level of expertise to operate safely.
Comparisons
| CHRISTENSEN ARMS 14 | Product #2 | Product #3 | Product #4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| .308 Win/6.5 Creedmoor | .300 Win Mag | .30-06 Sprg | 8mm Rem Mag |
| Carbon fiber barrel | Steel Barrel | Steel Barrel | Steel Barrel |
| 26" barrel length | 22" barrel length | 24" barrel length | 26" barrel length |
| 1:10 twist rate | 1:10 twist rate | 1:10 twist rate | 1:9 twist rate |
| Side bolt release | Lever release | Side bolt release | Push-button release |
Features / Specs
• Caliber: Up to 30 Nosler
• Barrel Length: 14 in
• Weight: 4.5 lbs
• Barrel Twist: 1:7
• Muzzle: Threaded 5/8-24
• Stock: Carbon Fiber Adjustable
• Magazine Capacity: 5 Rounds
• Action: Tikka T3 Based
Popular Accessories
Pacific Blued Cerakote Rifle?
- Scope and Mounts.
- Magazine or Magazines.
- Sling.
- Flashlight or Tactical Light.
- Bi-Pod.
- Bipod Mount.
- Case or Hard Case.
- Hearing Protection.
- Cleaning Kit.
- Handguards.
Accuracy
The Christensen Arms 14 is a remarkably accurate rifle. It features a 20-inch barrel chambered in either 6.5 Creedmoor or .308 Win. The barrel is fluted and gives the rifle great muzzle velocity and accuracy during long range shooting. The rifle also features a match-grade trigger and a flattened top rail for attaching optics. It has been tested to show consistent groups of 0.25 MOA or better at 1000 yards. This rifle is an excellent option for precision shooting.
