Christensen Arms Evoke 7mm Backcountry

By
On Target Staff
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Christensen Arms Evoke 7mm Backcountry

By: Mike Dickerson 

Christensen’s first entry-level bolt-action rifle delivers solid performance and enhanced features at an affordable price.

Christensen Arms has long been known for producing bolt-action rifles incorporating cutting-edge technology, but that technology always came at a price. Notably missing from the lineup was an affordable entry-level rifle.

That has changed with the introduction of Christensen’s new 2025 On Target Editors’ Choice Award-winning Evoke rifle, which has a sub-$900 price tag. The Evoke may cost less, but like its more expensive stable mates, the Evoke comes with a sub-MOA accuracy guarantee and limited lifetime warranty.

Highlights of the Evoke’s precision-machined receiver include an adjustable 2.5-5 lbs. Triggertech trigger, a 0-MOA Picatinny optic base, a detachable MDT three-round, and a fluted two-lug bolt and oversized bolt handle. All metal parts are finished in a black Cerakote. On Target’s test rifle was chambered in the impressive new 7mm Backcountry cartridge.

The subject of this review is the Evoke Hunter, which has a proprietary Christensen Arms camo stock and a factory-installed, 0-MOA Picatinny rail for mounting optics. This model is initially offered in seven chamberings (the basic Evoke doubles that number). Chamberings for the Hunter include 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 7mm PRC, 7mm Backcountry, 308 Win, 300 Win Mag, and 300 PRC. These cartridges are popular with Western hunters who often need to shoot at extended distances.

Most rifles in these chamberings come with 20- or 22-inch barrels. Notably, rifles chambered for Federal’s new 7mm Backcountry cartridge are available with 20- or 16.25-inch barrels. Given the superior ballistics of the 7mm Backcountry, the 16.25-inch barreled gun, which I tested, is ideal for the growing number of hunters who want to shoot suppressed.

7mm Backcountry chambered Evoke rifles are fitted with either a 20-inch barrel or the 16.5-inch barrel of On Target’s test rifle— the latter length being beneficial to maintaining a short overall package size for suppressor use. Barrels are made of 416R stainless steel and are button rifled, hand lapped, and factory equipped with Christensen’s RFR muzzle brake. B&T USA’s (bt-usa.com) new 7 oz. 3D-printed-Titanium Ranger suppressor, a Silencer Shop exclusive, is shown here.

Barrels are made of 416R stainless steel and have match-grade chambers. Before leaving the factory, barrels are hand-lapped to enhance accuracy and make barrels easier to clean. The barrels are free-floated and threaded 5/8×24 to accept a muzzle brake or suppressor. My test rifle came with a removable Cerakote-protected premium RFR muzzle brake, which is the same brake used on more expensive Christensen models. Both barrel and action have a protective black Cerakote finish.

All Evoke rifles are built around a precision-machined tubular receiver with an integral steel recoil lug. Actions are pillar-bedded to the stock. The action employs a spiral-fluted, two-lug bolt with a single plunger ejector and M-16-style extractor. I quickly discovered that the bolt cycles with exceptional smoothness. A slightly oversized, hexagonal bolt knob aids in cycling the action quickly.

The Evoke’s polymer stock, finished in a proprietary Hunter camo pattern, features a hybrid pistol-grip angle that aids in hand placement when shooting prone, a subtle molded-in cheek riser, a rubber buttpad, and ample texturing on the pistol grip and forend. At the tip of the forend is a sling-swivel-equipped three-slot Picatinny rail section for attaching a bipod or other rest.

The lines of the Evoke Hunter’s injection-molded stock are straight, but somewhat modernized to reflect changing customer preferences. The pistol grip has a hybrid grip angle that aids in achieving a consistent trigger pull when shooting from a prone position. The top of the buttstock has just enough of a molded-in cheek riser to help with proper eye-scope alignment. Beneath the tip of the forend, you’ll find a short, three-slot Picatinny rail section for attaching a bipod or other rest. The rail has a built-in sling swivel attachment point. There’s ample stippling in the right areas on molded grip panels to provide a sure grip in wet weather.

The rifle is equipped with a detachable three-round polymer magazine that protrudes a bit from the bottom of the stock. The magazine drops freely into the hand when you push on the magazine release lever located inside the forward edge of the generously sized trigger guard.

The Evoke lived up to its sub-MOA guarantee with Federal’s 175-grain Tipped Fusion load, which consistently produced sub-one-inch three-shot groups at 100 yards, with its best group, shown here, measuring 0.96 inches. The author’s personal Evoke, chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, has proven capable of near quarter-minute precision.

The Evoke is equipped with an excellent single-stage, externally adjustable TriggerTech trigger. The one on my test rifle broke quite crisply and had minimal overtravel. There was zero hint of creep. As it arrived from the factory, the trigger on my test rifle broke at a pull weight of slightly more than 3 pounds. I adjusted it down to a pull weight of 2 pounds, 11 ounces for testing.

Accuracy testing, with Trijicon’s (www.trijicon.com) Credo HX 2.5-15x42mm scope mounted in the company’s Q-LOC Bolt Action optic mount, consisting of shooting three three-shot groups for each load, produced mixed results with the two test loads. Federal’s 175-grain Tipped Fusion load consistently helped the rifle live up to its sub-MOA accuracy guarantee with 0.98-inch average groups and a 0.96-inch best group. Federal’s load using a 168-grain Barnes LRX copper bullet did not perform quite as well, turning in a 1.32-inch best group and 1.47-inch average groups.

While not technically a “mountain rifle” by curb weight (7.7 lbs.), the 7mm Backcountry chambered Evoke will excel anywhere you might need to reach out past typical distances. The bolt cycles with a level of buttery-smoothness usually reserved for rifles costing twice as much or more, making loading a follow-up shot fast and predictable. Summed up, a rifle of this level of quality and craftsmanship did not previously exist in the sub-$900 range prior to the Evoke.

If you’re looking for a lightweight mountain rifle, the Evoke may not be your cup of tea. The rifle weighs 7.7 pounds empty with no optic attached. In my book, that makes the Evoke a fine everyday hunting rifle – and it’s available at a price most hunters can afford. See the Evoke at your nearest dealer, or for more information, contact Christensen Arms; Tel.: 888-517-8855; Web: https://christensenarms.com.

Specifications:

Caliber: 7mm Backcountry

Action Type: Bolt action

Barrel: 16.25-inch 416R stainless steel

Rifling: 1:8 RH rate of twist

Finish: Anodized black Cerakote

Stock: Injection molded

Stock Finish: Proprietary camo pattern

Magazine/capacity: Detachable, 3+1

Sights: None, Picatinny rail for mounting optics

Trigger: TriggerTech Adjustable, 2.5-5 lbs.

Overall Length: 38 inches

Weight: 7.7 pounds

MSRP: $898.99

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