Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Christensen Arms Mesa,

What’s the word on these guns? Unable to find one locally for a long time now and getting antsy….

Mesa or Mesa titanium are my two interests,

Left handed and in .308 with the Titanium model or the standard Mesa in .308 or 7-08,

The Mesa is the ceracote version and the Ti just good old fashioned Stainless barrel with Ti action,

Just looking for random thoughts on these rifles.

Do a search on the 'fire. There's plenty of input already here.

I'm a happy camper with mine.

Have one in .308 has quickly become my go to gun.

Mesa or Ti version?

If Mesa, how’s the Cera cote holding up?

Weight and how scoped?

Regular Mesas in 6.5 PRC and 6.5 Creed. They both shoot well and function well. My PRC had to go back to CA for some work. They were stellar. I can recommend them. They also have a new lighter version in the Mesa FFT. It is appreciably lighter, but I don't care for the feel of the stock.

Now with that said, if spending between 700-1500 bucks, there's no sense in buying anything other than a Tikka, unless you insist upon made in USA guns.

Have a Tikka in 6.5, that stock is headed to John boy for paint, that slippery feel must be gone, otherwise nothing wrong with the Tikka just bored with it.

My (basic, standard) Mesa in 6.5 CM is my most accurate rifle. I am very pleased with it. Mine may be above average for the "herd" but it sure shoots well, with several different bullets. Light weight, durable - just a great little hunting rifle.

This from a "blued steel and walnut" kind of a guy.

My son and I both have the standard Mesa’s in 6.5 creed. They are light, accurate, and have become both the go to guns for both of us for deer.

My son is only 13 and my dad gave him his Mesa NIB roughly 2.5 years ago before dad passed away. I liked it so much that I ordered mine shortly after when Sportsmans had them on sale for around $1k.

How many are using the thread protector rather than the brake?

Does the thread protector come in the same finish?

Anyone care to put a mic on the end of the barrel for me? Curious as to approx contour of the barrel.

I have a Mesa in .308. I’d LOVE one in the Mesa FFT, preferably in 7-08.

I like them a lot. A well balanced rifle. Their not perfect IMO but they’re a great rifle for most conditions.

I’ve never shot mine with the break. I have a thread protector. I shot a few FFT’s with the break and it was night and day. The PRC was light recoiling, like a 243. The 7-08 was light enough that I could see my bullet make the hole.

I had a Mesa FFT .308 Win and it was an excellent rifle in every way, I sold it and bought a Ridgeline FFT .308 Win and also have one chambered in .300 Win both are excellent rifle's and I dont use the brake on either rifle, they are very comfortable to shoot and most accurate indeed, my next rifle will be a Ridgeline FFT 30-06.....Buy a Mesa FFT and I think you will be very satisfied....Good luck...Hb

Good post Paul. My buddy just had to buy a Christensen. The rifle shoots great, but even he says he will never buy another one. He has been turned on to Tikka. Just the way the cookie crumbles..

I've owned five CA rifles, 4 Ridgelines and 1 MPR, happy with all of them.

I also have a Mesa in the 6.5 CM. The barrel doesn't sit square in the barrel channel but the rifle shoots pretty darn good no matter what I feed it.

Mine did not ship with a thread protector, only the brake. On my PRC, I had a gunsmith crank me out a matching one, and it's so good that you can't tell it's there. For the Creed, I bought a cheap generic protector that doesn't match.

The PRC and the Creed have different barrel profiles. PRC at the protector barrel junction is .675. Creed is .585

I don't use the brakes at all.

I have the regular mesa in 308, love it. My last three rifles have been Tikkas.

Buddy had one in 28 Nosler and it was possessed. Sometimes would shoot great other times all over the board. Barrel wasn't free floated which I would expect from a rifle at that price point. Wasn't the cause of erratic just expected more. Regardless, sample of one went down the road.

Ok, appreciate all the comments guys,,

However, found a LGS about 1.5 hours away and they had a few Christensen Arms rifles in stock, including the basic Mesa,

I drove there, and drove back home with no Mesa, for 1500 it just didn’t scream take me home,

A Tikka in .308 for 850, or a Mesa for 1500,

That 700 dollar difference will buy a nice scope for the Tikka should I go that route.

The 2 main detractors, the Cerracote and then the ergos of the grip, I much prefer more vertical in the grip, and trust me, I’ve thrown more money at stocks than a reasonable person should have, When I don’t like a stock, that rifle don’t stick around too long……

Did score some primers though at a decent price, so there is that!

Appreciate you all.

Thanks Paul, that .585 is a true feather weight contour, handled one tonight.

You are welcome. I have only had mine to the range for one session, and it didn't disappoint.