I am waiting people opinion on my next rifle. I am wanting to build a new rimfire rifle and I am stuck between a CZ 457 or a Bergara B14r. This will mainly be for shooting paper at 50yds and them having fun shooting out to 500 yds. I am curious what is peoples opinion on the two. I plan on not keeping them stock (I.E. replacing barrels, stock, triggers, etc). My budget on the builds is 2.5k. I have a couple of 457s already but for some reason a 700 platform has interest me. Not sure if I should save the little money extra yet and get a vudoo, rimx, or L3I stinger action. What is everyone's thoughts?
CZ 457 or Bergara B14r
- Thread starter ahawks87
- Start date
If you already have 457s get a 700 clone.
Sounds like you want a 700 clone anyway. Purchase approved.
Sounds like you want a 700 clone anyway. Purchase approved.
Kenny’s action will be on the market soon. Hopefully Mike Bush will be able to finish his design soon. Then there’s the Elemental Snapdragon. If you have several CZ’s already and don’t plan to keep it stock, why not go full custom. There’s a lot of great options today. BTW, I heard the CZ has some QC issues these days. Friend of mine got a new one, ran a borescope down it and there was a big gap in the rifling. Heard about some others with issues on the action. Hate to see a great rifle being destroyed by poor production.
If you know you will fool with it, RimX is the easy button. Proven. Reliable. Easy to swap barrels and humble people to deal with.
B14R is great if you plan to leave it alone. Barrels are custom fitted for the most part, so you get up into the RimX barrel cost quickly.
Coming from a guy who has chased the shiny thing more than once, I’d go with proven reliability where possible, and who will be around for a while.
B14R is great if you plan to leave it alone. Barrels are custom fitted for the most part, so you get up into the RimX barrel cost quickly.
Coming from a guy who has chased the shiny thing more than once, I’d go with proven reliability where possible, and who will be around for a while.
I'm not tinkerer but the B14r does everything I need from it without dumping shitton of unnecessary money in it. Your budget will need to be doubled if you dabbling into higher end rifles though as 2.5k is nothing and barely gets you going.
I have a B14R, CZ457 and a Vudoo. The Vudoo shoots best out of the box. The B14R shoots almost as good so I keep it factory, could use a trigger upgrade. CZ457, you can customize this all you want and it might hang with a Vudoo. I'm finishing mine CZ now with a Lilja barrel, waiting on the MPA stock. I currently have it in a manners stock. That stock is nice but the palm swell is way too big for me. I think 2.5k is enough for a Vudoo. Maybe a used one or a barreled action, skimp on the stock. If I was to only keep one of mine its the Vudoo. No upgrades needed, depending on what trigger you prefer. You won't need to put a different barrel on it. Rimx I only hear complaints at the local competitions. L3I my opinion is what are you buying, the stock? It's a bit overpriced. I just got a MPA for $850. The Enhanced Verticle Grip is perfect. I have one on my Vudoo and that's why I now will have one on my CZ.
I have a CZ 455 in a chassis. It's solid and very accurate. Have you factored in glass into the equation? For the price of a CZ you will have money left over for a nice scope as well. The Bergera will leave your budget for a scope on the low end. Maybe you don't need glass though. Also if you plan on shooting 100yds + you'll need some sort of MOA rail in addition.
A&j is selling a drop in b14r barrel for a decent price, I understand it’s an L3i blank
I have a factory B14R. The factory barrel in mine is fantastic. Shoots almost as good as my Vudoo. Just wondering are others finding the factory barrel not holding acceptable groups? I'll ask the OP that.
Sub moa easily attainable with any of the rifles you are considering. Harder to source Lapua than to build a rifle that shoots it well. Sounds like you want to build a 700 platform, plenty of good actions to work with, the choice is ultimately yours.
You just have to decide if you want the 700 platform or not. Tons of chassis options with the 700 as well as triggers. But there’s decent options for the 457 as well. I’ll second the above statement that the CZ feels like a .22 where the B14R feels like a centerfire more
The B14R mags are bulky but I prefer them for reloads. The Cz mags have the benefit that the bottom metal is attached to the action so feeding issues aren’t really an issue when swapping chassis
For $2.5K you can find a used Vudoo in the px and drop in a krg bravo.
Or watch for custom CZ, B14R etc and save the weight time and $$ overall
The B14R mags are bulky but I prefer them for reloads. The Cz mags have the benefit that the bottom metal is attached to the action so feeding issues aren’t really an issue when swapping chassis
For $2.5K you can find a used Vudoo in the px and drop in a krg bravo.
Or watch for custom CZ, B14R etc and save the weight time and $$ overall
Thats a bold statement and doubt whatever you playing with wont beat a lot good Bergaras.
What is the absolute limit of your budget? Of course a rifle with an action like a Vudoo or RimX is top of the line. But it would be better to have a B14r and quality components than go all out on a barreled action and then have to settle for a bottom tier scope, a spaghettio bipod, and nothing else. The difference is $2000.00. That goes a long way towards better components.
So, I like the Vudoo before they sold the company but had I not gotten a windfall, and was then able to afford a Vudoo, I would have been very happy with a B14r. Our son has a B14r and it’s nice.
So, I like the Vudoo before they sold the company but had I not gotten a windfall, and was then able to afford a Vudoo, I would have been very happy with a B14r. Our son has a B14r and it’s nice.
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