Bergara B14R build

[sfvshooter]

I like my CZ 455 22LR build, but wanted a full size 22LR to use as a trainer or possible precision rimfire shooting.

Considered a vudoo, but wait time is 14-16 weeks and patience isn't a strong suit so I purchased a Bergara B14R carbon fiber barreled action on GB for a steal and put it together with an MDT LSS XL stock. Everything feels solid and I can't believe how light it is compared to my CZ 455 w/20" bull barrel.

Actually finished putting it together almost a month ago, but had to wait for winds to die down so took it out about a week ago. Trigger is a little heavy compared to other BA rifles (I have a 1lb pull on my CZ 455 with a yo dave kit) so I ordered a Triggertech R700 special trigger, which should allow it to get down to 1lb.

Was able to stretch it out to 300 yards (43 MOA elevation adjustment), which equates to around 1300 yards on my 6.5 MPA or 6 creed RPR.

[1911man]

That looks almost like mine! Mine is a 455 lilja barrel. Your Bergara action is a 700 clone, so you can put a 700 SA chassis on it?

[sfvshooter]

Originally Posted by 1911man

That looks almost like mine! Mine is a 455 lilja barrel. Your Bergara action is a 700 clone, so you can put a 700 SA chassis on it?

Yes, any 700 SA chassis. There are a couple reviews/videos online.

I was able to get a couple boxes of Lapua xact to test for accuracy. No luck acquiring center x. Waiting for trigger to arrive before I take it back out. It shot decent with FGMM, Eley Target, Wolf Match, etc, but I feel like with a better trigger and with the right ammo, it can improve.

This is my CZ 455 with LSS 22.

[MongooseV8]

Cool builds. What do you do for mags? How does it feed?

[sfvshooter]

Originally Posted by MongooseV8

Cool builds. What do you do for mags? How does it feed?

I use Bergara 22lr mags. They're full size and look like Vudoo mags. Feeds fine.

Macbros makes a mag for the 14R that feeds from both ends, but they're around $100 and like almost everything else worthwhile, out of stock.

[Sir Toast]

Bergara 14R is amazing. It is shooting lights out right out of the box. I have an Athlon Midas Gen 2 4.5-27 powered scope on it. Works great. I have a brand new Trigger Tech Diamond trigger on the workbench read for install. I couldn't be happier.

[1911man]

What’s the difference between the pro and clean triggertech triggers? Which one for the clones

[AR22]

Are these relatively newcomers? I have seen alot of talk of them in the last couple months. Never heard of em till then. Where are they made? Fairly pricey to get into I suppose? Thanks

[Sir Toast]

This is the one I got. It is for a Remington 700 clone.

https://triggertech.com/products/dia...nt=47325907276



Bergara made competition, performance barrels in Spain, I believe. Then they started making complete rifles. They are balls accurate and clones of the Remington 700, but with a precision barrel. The magazine is even full size, even though it is 22LR.

[1911man]

Thanks just ordered the trigger and the LSS xl stock, got the last one from brownells. Thanks

[sfvshooter]

Took the B14R and CZ455 out for comparison. Acquired a couple boxes of Lapua Xact and installed a Triggertech diamond on the Bergara.



When I got there, tried to insert the mag into the rifle and no resistance. Tried one more time and realized I brought the 22wmr.

After that inauspicious start, couldn't get the right bipod/bag height on the B14R. This was the first time I shot with the bag rider and couldn't get comfortable (shooting prone).

Below is groups at 50 yards. Left is Lapua and right is FGMM. Probably around 1/2 inch for both. Also shot some at 100 yards and again acceptable, but not great.



Switched to the bench and stretched it out to 300 yards. It took a couple shots to figure out wind hold, but was able to get consistent hits (12-18" targets?). For giggles, dialed in 65 moa of elevation and tried 400 yards. Again, took a few shots to figure out holdover, but managed to get a handful of hits at same sized targets (mostly with Lapua).

Bottomline, Bergara isn't a single hole rifle at 50 yards (or the one I have isn't with the ammo I've tried), but it feels like I haven't tapped into it's full potential yet.

Next time I'll bring the right rifle and try to find some Eley Tenex (if I can find some).

[MongooseV8]

Looks like it will shoot very well. Even 1/2 at 50 is great.

[sfvshooter]

Originally Posted by MongooseV8

Looks like it will shoot very well. Even 1/2 at 50 is great.

True. I should focus on what it can do instead of what it can't. If someone would've told me a year ago I'd be hitting 400 yard targets with a 22LR, I would've said they're smoking something funny.

[1911man]

My CZ with the lilja barrel shoots just about .40-.42 with SK match red. You might try some of that ammo

[ocabj]

Try Center-X or Midas+ instead of X-Act. I shot only a few lots of X-Act in my Vudoo and none of them shot as well as Center-X or Midas+ in my gun.

[sfvshooter]

Originally Posted by ocabj

Try Center-X or Midas+ instead of X-Act. I shot only a few lots of X-Act in my Vudoo and none of them shot as well as Center-X or Midas+ in my gun.

Thanks, I'll try those, though it might take a while for me to get my hands of some.

[sfvshooter]

So I've taken both Bergara and CZ out several times. Haven't been able to find center x, but I did find a case of SK rifle match and for poops & giggles, a few boxes of biathlon.

CZ didn't really like the SK match (right side), but Bergara shot some better groups (left side). Toward the end, I tried biathlon with the CZ and I shot the best groups ever (3U). All 5 shot groups @ 50 yards.



Below is second time with SK rifle match & Bergara. A couple groups to get settled and then better results (not sure what happed with 1 flyer).

CZ still seems to like biathlon. Able to get consistent hits out to 307 yards (small hanging pig at ASR).

[sfvshooter]

Finally got ahold of some center x.

Middle circle first 5 shot group. Cold bore shot about 1" to the right then next 4 shots grouped ok. Next 5 shot group (top right) was probably the best 5 shot group with the Bergara.

Top and bottom left center x with CZ. It still seems to like SK Biathlon (middle left).

[sfvshooter]

It took a while, but finally managed to find some Tenex. I was told by a fellow shooter that Bergara w/CF barrel seems to like Tenex so I've been trying to locate some for a while. Tried it out and sure enough I was able to get some decent groups so I ordered a few bricks and went out yesterday.

I confirmed zero @ 50 yards and then took it out to 300 & 400 yards and then back to 100 yards (66.25 MOA of elevation at 400 yards...that equates to over 1600 yards w/6 creed).

Each pic includes a 5 shot group @ 50 yards and then a 10 shot group at 100. 1.65 MOA is disappointing, but 0.9 MOA gives me hope that this rifle isn't a bust so I'll keep at it.

[ocabj]

If you want ammo that shoots tight groups in your gun, you should make the trip out to Mesa and have your rifles tested in the tunnel and just buy a couple cases of that ammo from Lapua. That way you're not worrying every time you buy a brick of ammo hoping that lot shoots well for you.

If you're wanting to shoot extended distance, you should be using a chronograph during your testing so you can get the SD. It'll matter quite a bit when you stretch it to 300 and out.

[sfvshooter]

Originally Posted by ocabj

If you want ammo that shoots tight groups in your gun, you should make the trip out to Mesa and have your rifles tested in the tunnel and just buy a couple cases of that ammo from Lapua. That way you're not worrying every time you buy a brick of ammo hoping that lot shoots well for you.

If you're wanting to shoot extended distance, you should be using a chronograph during your testing so you can get the SD. It'll matter quite a bit when you stretch it to 300 and out.

Interesting. I use chronographs when I try new rifles/ammo, but not so much for rimfire. I just usually zero at 50 yards and then true at 300 yards (actually 307 yards at ASR) to calculate velocity. Seems to work ok, but it's probably not as accurate.

[sfvshooter]

I was (almost) today years old when I did some lot testing using a chronograph.

Good news is one of my Center X lots had 4.8 SD (20 shot groups) and when I shot it at 100 yards, it produced about 1" groups.

Bad news is what do I do with lots that don't do as well? SD isn't going to change because I shoot from a different rifle, right?

[DannOwnes]

I prefer to take this rifle for hunting. The bolt-action, manually operated, bolt-action, rotary bolt-action rifle is designed for practice and practice. It replicates the geometry of the popular Remington 700 rifle platform and its mounting standards for stock, mounting bases, and triggers. This opens up many modification possibilities, and the single-row magazine is in the standard AICS format. That's why I bought this rifle https://walkeroutdoors.net/product/bergara-bxr-22lr-semi-auto/. Practice with this rifle is much cheaper and less tiring, allowing for more shooting and technique work while not being limited to finding a significant rifle range.