#117 - Backcountry Mountain Rifles with Tony Smotherman of Bergara Rifles

I’ve been on the hunt for a lightweight mountain rifle for a few years now and just recently learned of Bergara Rifles USA after a friend said I should check them out. I looked them up and reached out to learn more and the next thing I knew, I was on the phone with Tony Smotherman talking about the Bergara backstory. Since this is a backpacking podcast, I think we’re due for an episode regarding a backpacking friendly mountain rifle. That’s exactly what the Bergara Premier Series Mountain Rifle 2.0 is. It’s light, durable, and comes in a number of popular hunting calibers.

This episode might be focused on getting to know Bergara and what they do best, but I think it’s more than that. Tony shares his personal story of how he got into the outdoors and I think it’s something a lot of people can relate to.

This is what I love about this podcast. I can cover something as simple as a backcountry rifle and the company that makes it while simultaneously driving home the idea that we all have something in common, regardless of where we are from and what we do in the backcountry.

For those backcountry hunters out there listening, you’ll FOR SURE want to check out Bergara after this episode. And for those non-hunters, I think you’ll still enjoy the episode from the perspective of learning about other outdoor cultures.

By Land,

Emory R. Wanger

By Land Links

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Show Notes and Links

Introduction to Tony and Bergara Firearms

Backstory on Tony Smotherman

How and why Tony got into the outdoor industry

Learning to chase your dreams and goals

Getting to know Bergara Firearms and their backstory

Bergara’s decision to build custom firearms

Employing veteran gunsmiths

The team behind Bergara

Product line comparisons

The importance of the weight of a rifle

The impact of rifle weight

Benefits of carbon fiber rifle stocks (vs. wood)

Choosing the right tools for the job

Learning not to sweat the small stuff

How to followup with Bergara Firearms

https://www.bergara.online/us/

https://www.bergara.online/us/rifles/premier/mountain-2-0-rifle/

https://www.instagram.com/bergara_rifles/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5_KVcmKS9L8VpFFCdCbO-g