Christensen Arms Enters the High-Value Rifle Market With the Evoke (Full Review)

That’s the thought behind the brand new line of Evoke rifles from Christensen Arms. The Utah-based rifle maker has constructed a fame for producing high-quality lengthy weapons, however most of their present choices land within the $2,000+ class. With an MSRP of solely $898.99, the Evoke is Christensen’s first rifle inside attain of the unwashed plenty, and it’s been well-reviewed because it hit the market earlier this 12 months.

However there are different nice rifles that value lower than $1,000. The Evoke is inexpensive by Christensen’s requirements, however it nonetheless has to compete with the Rugers and Tikkas and Savages of the world. Can the Evoke maintain its personal within the rough-and-tumble enviornment of high-value firearms or is Christensen’s bid to interrupt into that market a dud? Maintain studying to search out out.

In fact, regardless of the way you slice it, the Evoke isn’t a budget-friendly firearm. A fast GunBroker survey reveals that the majority listings hover round $870, with some chamberings exceeding $900. That’s greater than many hunters are prepared to spend on a rifle, so the Evoke positively isn’t within the bargain-bin class.

As an alternative, it’s in direction of the highest of what you may name “high-value” choices: rifles between $500 and $1000 which might be inexpensive however supply higher options and extra constant efficiency than their “budget-friendly” counterparts. To present you a way of the form of rifle the Evoke is competing with, I did one other search on GunBroker for different bolt-action rifles on this class.

Ruger American Gen II: $599
Mossberg Patriot LR Hunter: $680
Franchi Momentum: $699
Savage 110 Excessive County: $730
Weatherby Vanguard: $738
Tikka T3X Lite: $775
Christensen Evoke: $870
Bergara Ridge Carbon: $899

That is the candy spot on the subject of looking rifles. You may get higher efficiency from costlier firearms, however in my view, the $500-$1000 vary is the place you get essentially the most bang in your buck. If Christensen’s new rifle desires to face out, it has to persuade consumers it’s higher than these different established fashions.

The Evoke is off to a great begin. Christensen rolled out 4 completely different fashions in lots of the hottest looking cartridges. Not all fashions are at present accessible, and never all fashions are chambered in each cartridge. However you need to nonetheless have the ability to discover one thing you want it doesn’t matter what you hunt. The Evoke, Evoke Hunter, Evoke Mossy Oak, and Evoke Precision all use the identical motion, however they function completely different shares/chassis and barrel lengths relying on caliber.

That is the usual Evoke mannequin. The rifle additionally is available in two different camo patterns and a Precision mannequin.

Barrel: Christensen Arms Cerakoted 416R chrome steel barrel, button rifled, hand lapped, match chamber, free floating

Thread Pitch: 5/8 x 24 (customary)

Muzzle: Detachable premium RFR chrome steel brake

Motion: Christensen Arms precision machined receiver

Capability: 3+1 rounds (2+1 magnum), removable journal

Set off: Adjustable Triggertech ® 2.5-5 LBS (manufacturing facility set at ~3LBS)

Optic Compatibility: STD REM 700 Appropriate, 0-MOA picatinny scope base (Hunter and Precision fashions)

Built-in picatinny rail part (ARCA rail part on precision mannequin)
Hybrid grip angle
Adjustable FFT™ carbon fiber cheek riser (Precision mannequin)
Recoil pad

MSPR: $898.99 – $948.99

The Evoke has many nice options, however a few of these advantages include prices in different classes.

For instance, the Evoke is a strong, sturdy rifle. I don’t know what Christensen calls this barrel profile, however it measures 0.765 inches at a degree simply ahead of the inventory. That’s fairly thick for a looking rifle, however it ought to promote accuracy from shot to shot. The barrel is constructed from 416R chrome steel, and it’s free-floated, button rifled, and hand-lapped. The 2-lug Christensen M25 bolt has additionally been beefed up with an M-16 model extractor, and the octagonal knob is massive and simple to control. The cylindrical receiver is machined from 416 chrome steel bar inventory and options an built-in metal recoil lug.

All of those design choices will assist the Evoke run for so long as you do. After I picked it up for the primary time, the phrase that got here to thoughts was, “tank.” As looking rifles go, this factor is a tank.

However all that sturdiness comes with a draw back. Christensen experiences (and I confirmed) that the Evoke’s beginning weight is 7.7 kilos. Add a scope and a full three-round journal, and also you’re one thing near 9.5 kilos. That’s not unreasonable for a looking rifle, however from an organization recognized for light-weight mountain weapons, I’d have anticipated one thing just a little simpler to hold, particularly contemplating the opposite, lighter rifles available on the market.

These different rifles minimize weight by adopting options the Evoke doesn’t have. A fluted barrel, for instance, would shave off a couple of ounces. The bolt on the Evoke is fluted, however in some chamberings it’s considerably longer (and subsequently heavier) than it must be. All Evoke rifles use the identical motion size, regardless of the chambering. Whereas a 300 Win. Magazine. may want that longer motion, a 6.5 Creedmoor or .308 Win. doesn’t. These easier-shooting, short-action cartridges don’t produce a lot recoil, so that you aren’t benefiting from a weight/recoil perspective regardless that you’re nonetheless carrying round an extended motion.

I assume these choices have been made to scale back manufacturing prices, and the Evoke’s MSRP is one other necessary profit. However like I discussed within the earlier part, there are many different rifles at this worth level, a few of that are each lighter and cheaper than Christensen’s new providing. You may determine the corporate’s fame for high quality–constructed for years at their facility in Gunnison, Utah–justifies just a little further value. However it’s robust to not examine the Evoke with comparable rifles, and I can see hunters leaning in both route.

I might need some quibbles with the barrel and motion, however the inventory is nearly precisely what you need in a gun like this. It’s all polymer, and so it will probably’t keep away from that hole, Tupperware-y really feel. However it has aluminum bedding pillars that permit the motion to be torqued right down to 65 inch-pounds, which promotes accuracy. The texturing is grippy with out being too tough, and the swelled, not-quite-vertical pistol grip permits for good buy on the rifle with or with out gloves.

I additionally just like the inclusion of the picatinny/swivel stub combo on the entrance of the rifle. This lets customers connect a picatinny appropriate bipod and run a sling on the similar time. It’s additionally recessed, so it stays out of the way in which when you’re not utilizing it.

The AICS backside steel accepts magazines in that sample, although you may go for one thing aside from the polymer three-round MDT magazine that comes with each rifle. It matches nearly flush with the gun, which is nice, however it doesn’t fall free once you push the magazine launch button. You need to grip the small portion of the journal that protrudes from the underside of the gun or push it from the highest. This isn’t usually an enormous deal, however it may be tough with gloves on. You’ll be able to resolve this downside by utilizing a steel journal or an extended one.

At two kilos, six ounces, the inventory isn’t extremely light-weight, however it’s akin to different shares with comparable function units. General, the inventory is a Goldilocks mixture of weight, options, sturdiness, and price—simply what you need in a high-value looking rifle.

After moving into the nitty gritty of the Evoke’s barrel, inventory, and motion, I used to be excited to take it to the vary. You’ll be able to learn spec sheets all day, however there’s actually no substitute for really pulling the set off.

On this case, that individual train was a pleasing expertise. I’ve seen Triggertech triggers pop up on a number of high-end manufacturing facility rifles in the previous couple of years, and there’s a cause. That is their lower-end “Discipline” mannequin, however you most likely gained’t discover. The break is clear and crisp, and the pull weight is well adjustable between 2.5 and 5 kilos.

The gun’s weight made it difficult (although not inconceivable) to shoot off-hand, however capturing from a barricade was straightforward due to the rifle’s steadiness level on the entrance motion screw. Including a MeatEater Banish suppressor moved that time farther ahead, however general I believed the gun was well-balanced.

The cheek riser made discovering the attention field within the scope fast and pure, and I’m an enormous fan of what Christensen calls the “Hybrid” grip angle. It’s extra vertical than a standard sporter model inventory however not straight up and down like we see on competitors rifles. I discovered that it helped me grip the inventory naturally with out torquing my wrist down to search out the set off.

If in case you have small palms and wrap the thumb of your set off hand across the inventory once you shoot, the swelled grip may make capturing much less snug than a extra conventional inventory. However when you’ve adopted the extra trendy thumb placement alongside the aspect of the inventory or resting on high, you’ll be happy with how ergonomic the Evoke is to shoot from just about any area place.

The gun comes with a beefy, three-chamber muzzle brake that does an ideal job controlling recoil on a 6.5 Creedmoor (and I’m positive for different calibers as effectively). However I a lot desire a suppressor for an extended day of accuracy testing, so I swapped out the brake after only a few pictures.

When it comes to accuracy, the Evoke was proper in step with what I’d count on from a manufacturing facility gun at this worth level. I shot 5, three-shot teams with 4 completely different bullet weights and types, two of which I used to be very pleased with.

As you’ll be able to see, the Open Tip Match hundreds from Sig Sauer carried out exceptionally effectively, each from a gaggle measurement standpoint and by way of customary deviation. The Evoke wasn’t designed as a contest gun, however the heavy barrel ought to have the ability to deal with lengthy shot strings and preserve this type of accuracy from stage to stage. You may not win a nationwide championship, but when your looking rig can do double-duty in an NRL Hunter match, that’s not a foul deal. Plus, because the motion makes use of a Remington 700 footprint, it gained’t be onerous to search out an aftermarket inventory or chassis extra suited to the competitors circuit.

You most likely shouldn’t hunt with OTM bullets, however you need to have the ability to discover a looking spherical that this gun likes. On this case, it was a 130-grain growth tipped bullet from Sig Sauer. The 5 teams averaged one inch, which is extra widespread for a looking rifle than the boards would have you ever consider, and a type of teams measured a really respectable half-inch.

New and aspiring hunters usually have a tough time selecting a primary rifle. Now, the Evoke makes that call even tougher. However I’m not complaining–extra high quality, inexpensive rifles is an effective factor, and Christensen’s new providing deserves a spot amongst its counterparts. It’s not excellent (no rifle is) however it presents glorious accuracy, a lot of nice options, and the backing of considered one of America’s most trusted rifle makers. For lower than $1,000, I’d say that’s a reasonably whole lot.