Lightweight Beast: Bergara PREMIER CIMA PRO 300 PRC

The Bergara CIMA Pro is designed to be the ultimate lightweight hunting rifle, but how does it actually perform? Gavin pushed me out of my comfort zone, tasking me with testing the top-of-the-line Bergara PREMIER CIMA PRO. This 5.6 lb. rifle has a CURE carbon fiber barrel, TriggerTech trigger, lightweight carbon stock, and sub-MOA accuracy guarantee. For reference, my competition rifle weighs over 20 lbs.!

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About the Bergara PREMIER CIMA PRO

The PREMIER CIMA PRO sits at the top of Bergara’s hunting line and comes in nine different calibers.

Each of these rifles has a CURE carbon barrel, autoclave-cured carbon fiber stock, TriggerTech trigger, and muzzle brake.

CURE carbon fiber barrels are unique in that they aren’t wrapped but contain a center wrap carbon and stainless steel weave. This technology is designed to promote longevity and heat dissipation.

Another interesting piece of technology built into the rifle is the autoclave carbon fiber stock. This stock blends fiber and resin in a rigid and appealing package without the lines normally found on fiberglass stocks. I was thrilled to see Bergara’s collaboration with TriggerTech on this rifle. The single-stage TriggerTech Primary has an adjustable pull weight from 1.5 – 4.0 lbs. with sub 0.015” overtravel.

Our under 6-lb. test rifle is in 300 PRC, which I found quite daunting. Lightweight, magnum hunting rifles are generally not the most enjoyable to shoot, though easy to carry. Once I added the BTi30 suppressor, Element Helix 4-16×44 FFP, ARCA rail, and bipod, the rifle weighed in at approximately 10 lbs.

From Bergara:

A rifle built not just to perform, but to inspire. The PREMIER CIMA PRO is much more than a lightweight hunting rifle: it is the embodiment of Bergara’s highest standards of performance, innovation, and craftsmanship. Built entirely with carbon technology through an advanced autoclave curing process that extends from the stock to the barrel, it achieves an exceptional balance between strength and weight, ensuring rigidity, consistency, and lasting reliability.

Barrel: CURE® Carbon Barrel

Finish: Stainless Steel Cerakote®

Stock: Autoclave-Cured Carbon Fiber Stock

Calibers: 22 Creedmoor, 25 Creedmoor, 308 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 300 Win Mag, 7 Rem Mag, 7 PRC, 300 PRC

Weight: Starting at 5.7 lbs.

Accuracy: Sub-MOA Guarantee

MSRP: Starting at $3,099

AUTOCLAVE CARBON FIBER STOCK

At the core of the CIMA PRO lies its autoclave-cured carbon fiber stock, a technology that achieves the highest possible ratio between fiber and resin to deliver unmatched performance in terms of strength-to-weight. The result is an exceptionally lightweight yet incredibly rigid platform, offering superior recoil absorption, consistent accuracy, and extreme resistance to impact, temperature changes, and harsh environmental conditions

BERGARA CURE® CARBON BARREL

The perfect mating of carbon and steel. Bergara cured the carbon barrel problem of inconsistency by getting steel and carbon to perfectly work together by managing heat. CURE® Barrels are uniquely optimized both mechanically and thermodynamically via a proprietary, patent pending, carbon weave with embedded stainless strands that move heat. Every aspect of the design was optimized to yield an ultralight, stiff, straight, rugged barrel, shot after shot.

BERGARA PREMIER ACTION

The CIMA PRO is powered by Bergara’s Premier action, a precision-engineered evolution built from 416 stainless steel. Designed for strength, efficiency, and long-term durability, it features lightening cuts, a wider ejection port, and a smoother, lighter operation that ensures a fluid action cycle even under the most demanding conditions.

*All Bergara Premier rifles use a R700 pattern scope base with 8×40 screws.*

TriggerTech TRIGGER

Equipped with a TriggerTech trigger, the PREMIER CIMA PRO offers a crisp, clean break and unmatched adjustability. This premium trigger system enhances control and precision, ensuring the rifle responds precisely to the shooter’s intent.

What’s in the Box

The rifle comes with several length of pull spacers, muzzle brake, thread protector, and printed materials. It comes equipped with sling swivel studs, so I had to add an ARCA rail.

Shooting

I fired the rifle both with the included brake and with the BTi30 suppressor. I am glad to report the muzzle brake greatly reduced the recoil and made the rifle more pleasant to shoot. It did take me a bit to get used to shooting such a lightweight, hunting-oriented rifle.

My three-shot 100-yard groups with the brake and factory Hornady 300 PRC 225-Grain ELD-M ammunition measured just under a minute on average. I also collected some chronograph data using the Athlon RangeCraft Velocity PRO. The factory ammunition average velocity was 2747.6 fps with a 16.1 fps standard deviation. I was very happy with this from factory ammo.

Gavin joined me to shoot the PREMIER CIMA PRO suppressed with some of Guy Miner’s 180-Grain handloads. He loaded the Berger 180-Grain Elite Hunter over MagPro. This rifle really liked these lighter, faster bullets. Gavin’s best three-shot 100-yard group measured 0.58” compared to my 0.67”. Both of these groups are well under Bergara’s factory guarantee!

While I’m traditionally a paper-puncher, shooting steel at the Ultimate Reloader ranch has become one of my favorite things to do. I started on our 335-yard steel rockchuck and had it dialed in after one shot.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t feeling well and had to cut my range day short.

Gavin knocked the steel off the hanger at 706 yards before proceeding on to have several successive impacts on Harold at 1390 yards. We were all impressed at how well this lightweight rifle held accuracy given the number of rounds we were putting through it.

The next day, I engaged a rarely-seen target on UR, a 400-yard steel coyote. Shooting off the tripod was very easy and I was able to make three quick hits with zero issues from the recoil.

Conclusion

I truly enjoyed shooting this rifle once I got used to it. I’m not much of a hunter, but if I were looking for a lightweight, accurate, and easy-to-pack magnum rifle, the Bergara PREMIER CIMA PRO would be at the top of my list.