FIELD TEST: Bergara BMR-X Carbon .17 HMR

A new rifle for a familiar and proven chambering, meet the Bergara BMR-X Carbon .17 HMR

by David Kelley

There will undoubtedly be initial skepticism when any cartridge is SAAMI-approved and released to consumers. In 2002, I recall the .17 HMR falling into many of those early conversations with a local group of varmint hunters. Debate of the 17-grain bullet’s lethality into heavier eastern groundhogs at distance and wind drift compared to the time-tested .22 WMR, along with future ammunition availability if the cartridge didn’t catch on, were all concerns.

Those discussions were quickly viewed as irrelevant. Over twenty years later, evidence of the .17 HMR’s continued popularity isn’t shown by a decline of .22 LR and .22 WMR rifle offerings, but by a steady increase in purpose-built .17 HMR rifles added to product lines throughout those years.

Bergara’s recent introduction of the BMR-X falls right into that category. Bergara has had remarkable success with two earlier rimfire rifles, the B-14R and BMR. The B-14R is intended for use as a trainer and for NRL22 competitive rifle applications while the BMR is more commonly used as a base class NRL22 rifle and valued as a small game hunting rifle. Both rifles are chambered for .22 LR, .22 WMR, and .17 HMR.

For 2025, Bergara developed the BMR-X. The BMR-X uses the same action as the BMR with an 18-inch carbon or steel barrel placed in a stock with more features and a different design than the BMR — without shifting to all-out adjustability and the weight of the larger receiver associated with the B-14R. Like its siblings, the BMR-X is chambered for the same three cartridges.

BMR-X Carbon .17 HMR

The BMR-X Carbon is a handy package at 5.7 pounds and an overall length of 38 inches. The 18-inch carbon barrel starts at the chamber end with a steel shank measuring approximately 1.105 inches, then slightly tapers to the carbon section with a diameter of .920 inches to the muzzle end.

The muzzle is threaded ½x28 TPI and is protected by a lightly knurled thread protector, making the rifle ready for your choice of suppressor or muzzle device.

Like other premium rimfires, BMR actions are somewhat of a scaled-down adaptation of larger, more robust centerfire actions. Lifting the floating bolt to open the action reveals some primary extraction of .070 inches, assisting in extracting the case from the chamber before physically pulling the bolt to the rear. This extraction is similar to Remington 700s and clones, which pull the brass from the chamber through camming for the initial release of the casing from the chamber walls.

Combined with a bolt body polished to a finer degree than the matte finish of the external receiver parts, the bolt runs smoothly through the full motion. Dual extractors ensure positive grip on the case head, and an external cocking indicator shows the user if the firing pin is to the rear. A side bolt release is reminiscent of Bergara centerfire rifles, allowing users to easily remove the bolt without depressing the trigger or using additional tooling before inspection and cleaning.

The BMR-X trigger is curved with an appropriately polished radius across the face. Our test gun trigger revealed a crisp and consistent 3.5 pounds, with no discernible creep. Though externally adjustable, I had no reason to alter the factory settings. As crisp as it is, the weight would be ideal for a “walking” varmint and small game rifle. Remington 700-style triggers are interchangeable for those with an affinity for a particular aftermarket brand.

Two magazines — a 5-round and a 10-round — are provided with the rifle. They are single-stacked and insert into a polymer bottom plate with a generously sized release lever just forward of the trigger guard. With a wide flat, the magazine release is easily usable from the left or right hand.

This barreled action is bolted into a stock with improved ergonomics compared to the BMR. The forearm is flat on the bottom with a QD flush cup on each side, matching cups on both sides of the buttstock, and a single sling swivel on each end. The grip is a balance between a traditional rifle stock and a McMillan A-series vertical grip.

Three 3/8-inch polymer spacers adjust the length-of-pull. With three spacers installed, the LOP from trigger to rubber recoil pad is 13 ¼ inches. A rear thumb hook with a flat between the hook and base of the grip is also a nice addition to this stock upgrade from the BMR. The coating is green with black webbing and feels softer to the touch than many finishes. The rifle’s balance point without the loaded magazine and optic is very close to the center of the ejection port.

Range Results

Digging through some personal inventory for an ideal optic, I found a 3-12×42 Burris Fullfield that would perfectly fit this rifle in size and magnification. With its 1-inch tube and Ballistic E3 reticle, it’s a match that keeps overall weight down without sacrificing capability to hunt at the fringes of the .17 HMR limits. Affixed to the included 30 MOA Picatinny rail, we’d find out if this rifle lives up to the standards of other Bergara rimfire rifles that have had a place on my bench this spring.

Two ammunition types that performed well in the past were selected: the 17-grain Hornady V-Max and the 15.5-grain Hornady NTX. Shooting several groups at 50 and 100 yards showed that these loads shot as well as they have in other HMRs that I’ve used.

At the 50-yard line, the NTX averaged .481 inches over three consecutive five-shot groups. Stretching out to 100 yards, three more groups of five shots were fired. The aggregate averaged 1.19 inches with a velocity of 2663 fps.

Next, the 17-grain V-Max rounds were tested in the same order of distance and quantity of rounds. Fifty- and 100-yard averages were .540 inches and 1.24 inches. This load was chronographed at 2627 fps. With the zero set for 100 yards, the 17-grain V-Max was approximately .4 inches high at 50 yards.

It is important to note that a strong and unpredictable crosswind caused horizontal stringing at 100 yards. All groups at the longer distance were sub-MOA in elevation. That is very impressive for a lightweight rimfire with a medium magnification optic and hunting weight trigger.

An Evening Hunt

For a final outing with the Bergara BMR-X, my wife and I headed to a freshly mowed hayfield to assist a farmer with groundhog removal. Knowing we would get into some shooting shortly after departing the vehicle, we deployed the legs of a BOG DeathGrip Infinite, then headed through a small strip of hardwoods to discreetly enter the field edge.

Within minutes of arrival, the first burrowing varmint exposed himself. Standing behind Bethany, I whistled once to get him to stand. At the crack of her suppressed shot, it collapsed faster than it stood. Before we could move to recover the animal, a second opportunity arose. Switching places, I quickly shifted the head of the tripod towards the next target. Knowing that the trajectory of the minuscule projectile wouldn’t rise or fall off the small vital area until well past 125 yards, I held the crosshairs tight and sent the round. A second pest for the evening expired without a twitch.

This rifle was a joy to carry with the sling affixed to side-mounted flush cups. Its accuracy allows precise shots at the max distances of the .17 HMR, and the gun’s overall solid feel reminds the user of Bergara quality.

Reflections

Growing up in Pennsylvania, the self-proclaimed woodchuck hunting capital of the United States, I knew first-hand that this immediate region had exposure to the .17 HMR from the early days. I’ve had .17 HMRs intermittently from 2005 to the present in various rifles. The BMR-X is a welcome addition to that list of selections. From ground squirrels to smaller predators at reasonable ranges, this rifle is up to the task without the nuisance of heavier weight that is often synonymous with an accurate rimfire rifle.

Adding to this, we did take the BMR-X Carbon out for a second evening during a perfect break in weather — warm, calm, with slight overcast. The rifle was used to clear three additional groundhogs off a separate clover field. Two of the three were a touch over 160 yards. The combination of the rifle and optic matched up well to the Burris Ballistic E3 reticle. The stadia line directly below the horizontal crosshair lined up well for that distance at 12x magnification. Those 17-grain V-Max bullets sure do the job, and do it very well, when placed properly. The BMR-X Carbon puts it there.

Bergara BMR-X Carbon Specifications

Caliber: .17 HMR
Action: bolt
Barrel: carbon fiber composite
Trigger: Bergara Performance Trigger
Weight: 5.7 lbs.
Length: 38”
Barrel: 18”
Twist: 1:9
Magazines: 5- and 10-round
MSRP: $899

Author
Recent Posts

David Kelley

David Kelley is a retired Sergeant First Class, having served on active duty with the 82nd Airborne Division and various organizations within the Pennsylvania National Guard (AGR) during his 22 years of service. He is a High Master card holder in both NRA High Power and Mid-Range Prone. David is an avid hunter with a bow, shotgun, and rifle. His latest obsessions include spring turkey hunting and muzzleloader rifles and shotguns.