This year, Christensen Arms opted to replace their Classic line of rifles with the newly announced Traverse.
Completely revamped, the Traverse is the result of consumer demand. Christensen Arms listened to the consumers and added all of the new features that were desired. Even with this upgrading, Christensen managed to lower the price tag of the Traverse approximately $400 when compared to their Classic by streamlining the manufacturing process.
The Traverse feels great in the hands.
The key things that Christensen Arms changed due to consumer demand include a Monte Carlo style stock, oversized tactical bolt knob, match grade 2.5-3.5 pound adjustable trigger, stainless steel action, non-integral optic rail, dual sling stud and four-inch accessory rail which accepts Picatinny style mounts. And yes, the trigger is excellent. It had zero creep and broke like glass as you would expect from a high-end gun.
The Traverse is not only kitted out to be one of the best-equipped factory rifles, but it also feels great in the hands due to Christensen’s attention to ergonomics and weight reduction skills.
The Traverse has a non-integral optic rail which can be seen here as well as the bolt release.
A couple features of the Traverse are more utilitarian than an individual may realize. The change from a fixed optic rail to a 0 MOA optic rail seems simple, but allows the owner of the gun to customize it in any way that he likes down the road, whether that be attaching a tapered rail for long range shooting, or getting rid of the rail altogether and using direct mount optic rings.
The bolt is also better than standard. It is nitride coated for a slick feeling bolt stroke. The bolt comes with dual ejectors in all of the magnum chamberings, adding to the reliability of the gun.
Christensen added their typical flair to the Traverse.
Another big improvement is the side baffle brake. The old radial brake is great in some applications, but arguably not most. This change takes the rifle from blowing rocks and dirt back at the shooter upon prone firing to keeping the shooter safe from potential airborne debris. Also, it is scientifically proven that side baffle brakes are more effective in reducing recoil than the older radial brake design. This allows the shooter to stay on target and see their impact.
The switch from a radial style brake to a side baffle brake is sure to further add to recoil reduction.
This rifle is targeting not only long-range shooters but all hunters alike with chambering offerings that include everything from 22-250 to 300 RUM. Obviously, this means that the Traverse will come in long action and short action models, which will be identical in quality, and vary only by weight. This rifle will be the ultimate hunting rig of 2019, weighing in around the 7 pound range means that it can be carried everywhere a person is willing to walk. In the end, Christensen Arms really hit a home run with their new Traverse rifle.
SPECS:
- short and long stainless steel action
- detachable 0 MOA optic rail
- light contour carbon fiber barrel
- side baffle muzzle brake
- oversized tactical style bolt knob
- nitride coated bolt with dual ejectors
- front accessory rail
- sub MOA guarantee
- 7.3 pounds (short action) 7.7 pounds (long action)
- chambered in most common cartridges (18 different)
- adjustable 2.5-3.5 pound trigger
- $2395 MSRP
Other Images:
Here, you can see how the Monte Carlo style stock is a big upgrade for proper eye alignment with most optics.
The front rail is a modern touch to an excellent rifle.
ill be looking to order several of each in .556 and ,7.62x 51 ,(.223 ,and 308) in plain speak.
Do these new rifles come left handed?
VNVet72, you can buy a Savage Long Range Hunter between $850-900 Bucks and it’s Guarantied Sub MOA and if you can’t hit a 10 inch plate at 500 yards then you shouldn’t be hunting in the first place and a $10,000+ gun won’t help you unless you connect it to a drone or something to shoot it for you… You most definitely shouldn’t be hunting if you can’t hit one at 100 yards… Even with a Burris Eliminator 3 it would be under $2000.00 Bucks for the total package and you should be able to shoot “Easily” out to 900 Yards on a calm day… Just get it in 6.5 Creedmore, or 7mm Rem Mag, or 300WM Depending on what you will be hunting… Deer long range 6.5 or 7mm is fine but if your going for Elk or Brown Bear long range 300WM or 338 Lapua would be better… My go to is 300WM and you can hunt anything in North America… So just buy a Long Range Hunter set it up on a table/stand in a vice and video tape it and if it doesn’t’ shoot SUB MOA with Savage recommend ammo, then send it back and they will tune it for free!! The only thing I don’t like about Savage is they didn’t use the standard threads on the muzzle break to swap out for a heaver break or Baffles… So unless you just want to throw your money away, I suggest you buy the Long Range Hunter, put a $1000-1200 dollar scope on it and take the $1000 dollars and buy Ammo to practice with… Because if you are going to shoot past 500 yards, you are going to need “A-LOT” of Practice!!
Clearly you guys aren’t familiar with Christensen Arms. If nobody noticed, these come with Proof Research carbon fiber barrels that run almost $1000 by themselves. In addition, their stocks are high end (expensive) carbon fiber which is probably another $300-500 and their guns are all semi-custom and accurate as hell from the factory. Yes they are expensive, but some people want to spend more for higher end products and “custom” work that comes straight from the factory. Sure you can get a Savage or Ruger American that shoots great from the factory for cheap, but these guns are for people that want something different than what everyone else has, and with high end parts and top notch gunsmithing.
Actually this is incorrect, Christensen rifles come with Christensen barrels, not proof.
One big fail is not going with 1:8 Twist for 300 Win Mag. The higher twist is much better at stabilizing heavier loads to reach out further with better accuracy. For long range, 20 MOA rail is also good to have; it there one available? Those two things and this rifle would have been a winner, and not a wiener.
Agreed! In this day and age a manufacturer has to consider the L and R handed bolt on what they market.
Three grand for a bare bones rifle is like let’s get all the market will pay. I’m sure someone will pay that kind of money. But I’ll stick with Savage and Ruger. Yup, I’m left handed, but also shoot right handed if need be, but why bother!
That is an outrageous price!! $3,000. For what?? That’s not a custom one off signed by Elvis, or John Wayne is it??? You take a $499. gun put a custom trigger on it and charge 3K?? Ridicules!!! Depending how good the brake is and with all the bells a whistles, it might be a $900, but even then it should have a scope on it for that $900 price….
It’s a gun for those not wanting to invest time and real money into a custom build by a rifle and or, combination barrel and rifle builder. I would look to Sako, Dakota, Nosler M48 TGR or T/C Precision Hunter to mention a few.
Or take $950.00 gun and re-barrel with a custom barrel and trued action.