{"id":1511,"date":"2025-02-26T22:12:27","date_gmt":"2025-02-26T22:12:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/?p=1511"},"modified":"2025-02-26T22:12:27","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T22:12:27","slug":"christensen-arms-ridgeline-fft-review-woven-wonder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/?p=1511","title":{"rendered":"Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT Review: Woven Wonder"},"content":{"rendered":"
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At its price point, the Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT is one of the lightest and best-shooting big-game rifles currently made by any manufacturer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

We hit the range with a Ridgeline FFT to test out Christensen Arms\u2019 carbon-crafted precision rifle.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Though I\u2019ve been writing about guns for more than a quarter-century, I\u2019m a bit embarrassed I have not previously delved into the rifles produced by Christensen Arms. Carbon-fiber-wrapped rifle barrels and carbon-fiber-infused stocks are very popular today, and Christensen Arms pioneered the carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel.<\/p>\n

They\u2019ve also been instrumental in the development of carbon-fiber stocks. You could say I\u2019ve been derelict in my duties, but I recently had an opportunity to correct that \u2026 and I\u2019m glad I did. During a recent visit to Christensen Arms, I discovered the Ridgeline FFT rifle, and I\u2019d rate it as one of the best bolt-action hunting rifles currently made.<\/p>\n

Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT SPECS:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Chamberings:<\/strong> 6.5 PRC (tested), .22-250 Rem., .243 Win., 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5-284 Norma, .270 Win., 6.8 Western, 7mm-08 Rem., .280 Ackley, 7mm Rem. Mag., 7mm PRC, .28 Nosler, .308 Win., .30-06 Springfield, .300 WSM, .300 Win. Mag., .300 RUM, .300 PRC
Barrel:<\/strong> Stainless-steel, carbon-fiber wrapped, 16 to 24 inches, with threaded muzzle and brake
Length:<\/strong> 38 to 44 inches
Weight:<\/strong> 5.45 pounds (as tested)
Action:<\/strong> Christensen Arms Model 14, bolt action, two-lug
Finish:<\/strong> Cerakote
Trigger:<\/strong> TriggerTech adjustable, 2.25 pounds (as tested)
Capacity:<\/strong> 3+1
Price:<\/strong> $2,049.99
URL:<\/strong> christensenarms.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Dissecting the Details<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The action on the Ridgeline FFT is a copy of the Remington 700 action. In fact, it\u2019s compatible with Remington 700 scope mounts. However, Christensen Arms has perfected the action, correcting some of the issues often complained about.<\/p>\n

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The author helped with the assembly of the Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT test rifle. (Photo: Christensen Arms)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For starters, Christensen Arms moved the bolt stop\/release to the left side of the action. They also re-engineered the extractor from the ring\/clip style used on the Remington 700 to a design similar to what\u2019s used on an M16. Also, instead of a single plunger ejector, the bolt face on the Ridgeline FFT is fitted with two. And, finally, Christensen Arms utilizes a TriggerTech trigger that\u2019s user adjustable.<\/p>\n

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The bolt body and cooking piece on the Ridgeline FFT has very tasteful spiral fluting, and the bolt cycles with butter-smooth ease.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The barrel is made of 416 stainless-steel, and it\u2019s button-rifled and hand-honed at the factory. It\u2019s also machined with steps that reduce in diameter from each end to the barrel\u2019s center, which is a proprietary and secret process. The barrel is then wrapped in various layers of aero-grade carbon fiber and then finished for a seamless contour from breach to muzzle. The muzzle is threaded at either 5\/8\u00d724 or 1\/2\u00d728, depending on chambering, and the rifle ships with a stainless-steel, side-baffle brake. A thread protector is provided.<\/p>\n

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This is something you don\u2019t see very often: the case from the proof load that was fired in the Ridgeline FFT test rifle. Proof loads are fired at extremely high pressure to test all new Christensen Arms rifles. (Photo: Christensen Arms)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The stock really sets this rifle apart. Using proprietary FFT technology, the stock is handcrafted in-house. It\u2019s a monocoque design, meaning there\u2019s no internal structuring support, and the finished stock with the buttpad installed weighs only 20 ounces. By comparison, a similar\u2014fully finished\u2014carbon-fiber stock from AG Composites will weigh about 25 ounces, and the fully finished stocks Melvin Forbes used on his famous Ultra Light Arms rifles weighed 18 ounces.<\/p>\n

You might look at this stock like an eggshell, but a hell of a lot stronger. The stock does utilize carbon-fiber bedding pillars for the action screws and is glass bedded at the recoil lug to ensure free floating.<\/p>\n

Other features include an aluminum hinged floor plate, dual sling swivel studs, an enlarged bolt knob, a spiral-fluted bolt, Cerakoted steel and left-handed versions in nine different chamberings. Since I was at the factory to help with the assembly of the test rifle, I had Christensen Arms install the Spartan Precision gunsmith adapter that works with all of the Spartan Precision bipods and tripods I so often use.<\/p>\n

But Can She Shoot?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The day after assembling the rifle we headed to a local 1,000-yard range. The 6.5 PRC load we chose was the Berger 156-grain Elite Hunter. The day before I\u2019d used that same load to zero the rifle in Christensen Arms\u2019 underground test tunnel\u2014and had fired a 0.76-inch three-shot group.<\/p>\n

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The Ridgeline FFT rifle that was tested was chambered for the 6.5 PRC, and not a single five-shot group that was fired measured more than an inch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At the range, I first confirmed the rifle\u2019s zero and then started whacking steel in 100-yard increments. Most of the targets were 12 inches in diameter, and I did not miss a single target until the range reached 800 yards. By then, the wind had picked up a bit and was gusting, but I still managed multiple hits out to 1,000 yards and only fired one box of ammo.<\/p>\n

When I got the rifle home, I got more serious about precision testing. I had several boxes of Federal\u2019s new Tipped Fusion load and some Hornady Precision Hunter. I fired three, five-shot groups with each load from a sandbag rest at 100 yards, and the overall average for the six groups fired was only 0.86 inch.<\/p>\n

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The author consulted ballistic data on the 1,000-yard range while testing the Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT. (Photo: Christensen Arms)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, there\u2019s an aspect of this testing that needs to be explained: Part of the appeal of a carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel is heat dissipation, and I wanted to see how well this rifle would maintain precision with a hot barrel.<\/p>\n

For all the groups, I used a Silencer Central Backcountry suppressor, and all five shots for each group were fired in less than 60 seconds. After each five-shot group, the barrel was allowed to cool, but it\u2019s worth noting that these five-shot groups were fired in a hurry. It\u2019s a testament to how well Christensen Arms has perfected the carbon barrel wrapping process.<\/p>\n

Of course, in the real world, the practical application of a big-game rifle will rarely, if ever, require you to fire five shots in less than 60 seconds. For the big-game hunter, rifle interface and handling characteristics are more important. In addition to being incredibly light, the rifle\u2019s stock was comfortable, and the comb positioned the head and eye almost perfectly behind the scope, which was mounted in extra low\u20140.418-inch high\u2014Talley Alloy Lightweight mounts. For those who like the long-range game, Talley offers these mounts with a 20-MOA offset.<\/p>\n

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The Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT rifle is a lightweight big-game rifle designed for the field. Depending on chambering, it only weighs about 5.4 pounds.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The muzzle brake was effective but loud, so I tossed it and went with the suppressor. Without the suppressor, the rifle balanced almost perfectly. With it, it was just a tad muzzle heavy, balancing about 2 inches forward of the front guard screw. This is a very good balance for shooting off-hand at stationary targets, and I had no issues ringing 8-inch steel from field shooting positions out to 200 yards.<\/p>\n

Overall, the rifle functioned to perfection\u2014and it fed, fired, extracted and ejected flawlessly. I would\u2019ve liked a safety that locked the bolt handle down when placed on safe, especially since this rifle has an oversized bolt handle. Original Remington 700s had this feature, and it\u2019s the only negative aspect of the modern Remington 700 action\u2014which lacks that feature\u2014Christensen Arms did not address.<\/p>\n

Shooting Results<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
LOAD<\/strong><\/td>\nVELOCITY<\/strong><\/td>\nSVD<\/strong><\/td>\nENERGY<\/strong><\/td>\nPRECISION<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Federal Fusion 140-grain Tipped<\/td>\n2,890<\/td>\n19.3<\/td>\n2,596<\/td>\n0.94<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hornady 143-grain ELD-X Precision Hunter<\/td>\n2,860<\/td>\n26.3<\/td>\n2,597<\/td>\n0.77<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
AVERAGE: 0.86<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>
NOTES: VEL = average muzzle velocity, SD = standard velocity deviation, ENG = average muzzle energy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Few Final Words On The FFT<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In 1979, I\u2019d saved enough money to buy my first big-game rifle. It was a Remington 700, and I spent just a tad more than $200 for it. Times have changed; today, $200 will only buy you a couple boxes of ammunition. I recently compiled some data on all the rifles I\u2019d reviewed over the past several years. What I discovered was that, to get a factory rifle that will consistently shoot five-shot groups of less than an inch with several factory loads, you\u2019ll have to spend more than $2,000. Granted, there are exceptions, but generally that\u2019s the cost of precision in 2025.<\/p>\n

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Though the Ridgeline FFT utilizes an internal magazine with a hinged floor plate, it\u2019s compatible with aftermarket detachable box magazines assemblies.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT will meet that precision standard. In fact, it comes with a sub-MOA guarantee, and its suggested price is right in line with what you should expect to pay for a rifle that shoots that well.<\/p>\n

However, with the Ridgeline FFT, you get that level of precision from a rifle that weighs less than 5.5 pounds. That puts it in a category all its own. Sure, there are lighter rifles that will shoot this good, but you\u2019re going to have to pay half again as much as you will for the Ridgeline FFT to get one. By my estimation, that makes the Ridgeline FFT a very special rifle.<\/p>\n

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Pros<\/strong><\/h3>\n