Which way to go??

[Jeff Kalina]

Considering either a Bergara B-14 R .22 LR Trainer Threaded 18" Carbon Fiber @ $1,100 or the Tikka T1x UPR .22 LR 20" @ $1,200

I have a CZ 457 MTR that has shot a 5 round/50 yd group down to .13" -once- and can also throw a round out 1/2" from
a group without thinking. Most good groups are .25-.3 range. I have been shooting for 10 months now. ARA and N50 mostly.
I had the Midas+ ammo matched at Lapua test center in Feb. That was good for about a .1 reduction in 5 shot group size.

Or I could just buy another $220 CZ Varmint Barrel and see if I get lucky.

I would consider doing a custom build if I could get a really top notch barrel and smith.

What would you do???

 

[oldrifleman]

As sworn member of buy more, spend more, get great toys, I am going to suggest getting a custom barrel for your CZ. You obviously fit it well, you know how to shoot it, you are just having flyers ( don’t we all). I would shoot this thing until it holds you back!

 

[Jeff Kalina]

I learned that a replacement barrel disqualifies you from staying in factory class unless it is defective.
I ordered a L3I barrel yesterday just to see what will happen.

 

[oldrifleman]

Good luck. Not really a fan of carbon fiber barrels. But I hear good things about the bergera.

 

[Jeff Kalina]

I wasn't a particular fan either till I watched one shoot lights out ARA last month.

 

[jpjulian]

I'll help spend your money.... Buy a Rim-X and be done with it, since you can't buy a Vudoo. See? Wasn't that nice of me?

 

[oldrifleman]

I'll help spend your money.... Buy a Rim-X and be done with it, since you can't buy a Vudoo. See? Wasn't that nice of me?

Now that is a true hide answer.

 

[Jeff Kalina]

Rim X is Swiss made and I do not buy anything Swiss. Now had you mentioned the 2500X or one of the 3-4 new actions coming to market you would have my attention.

 

[rhinofoot]

The Tikka is an excellent hunting rifle, it has a great trigger and is very accurate. The tikka can play with the bergara on the bench but the bergara cant play in the woods with a tikka. I'll go with the Tikka.

 

[MarkCZ]

Don't go with CF get the steel barrel.

 

[Masojoh]

I would pillar bed the MTR. Mine has a crazy cold bore flier that can all but be eliminated with either a bore cap (after you are done warm it up, put the cap on) or by breathing a breath into the chamber with a five count. I spent a few hours at the range a few weeks ago, and was able to see first round fliers at 35-40fps over average drop to 0fps over average.

I have moved my MTR between my Manners stock and my PDC custom chassis. It shoots center X, Lapua long range, and multiple flavors of eley really well.

You also cannot go wrong with the Jard trigger. I have two - one for each CZ I own.

I own a carbon B14R that my daughter has shot in competition for years. It shoots very well. But I would still go the CZ route if I were you. The L3I barrel I have is incredible as well. With the right ammo, I would bet in the right hands it would hang with even the fanciest custom rigs.

This is my heavy CZ sitting in a PDC Custom chassis with an L3I barrel. It is a tack driver, and given that you have the action, would set you back $1100-$1200 or so.

 

[Jeff Kalina]

thank you for all the detailed information! The PDC site does not show a model for CZ. Do they offer one?
I like the Jard trigger also. Which types of events do you compete in?

 

[Masojoh]

If you go in to the G5C or G5LE Rimfire offerings, there is a drop down for action inlet. Craig - the owner of PDC Customs - is one of the nicest and most humble people you will meet. I would encourage you to call him if you have any questions.

I shoot NRL22 and PRS22. I have a couple of center fire riles as well for PRS and NRL Hunter, but mostly do the Rimfire game.

If you are not capping your bore between strings, I would suggest you try that. The cheapest way is the finger cots that they sell on Amazon. I bought the orange ones to make them harder to miss. Hoz and Shield makes a magnetic one that is really slick (I use those now on all of my rifles). I won’t bore you with my testing results, but with my MTR, it has a very clear and measurable effect on the first round velocity being consistent with the rest, versus 35-40fps faster.

 

[bobby1028]

A replacement barrel moves you out of factory class, and the L3i will not fit the barrel channel on an MTR stock without sanding the channel open quite a bit. Both the Bergara and the Tika have the potential but no guarantee they will out shoot your MTR.