Exactly my experience.
which one, CZ, Bergara, RimX or voodoo
- Thread starter Killitgrillit
- Start date
Survey Says… “Elitist”
How many members and readers of this forum are National or International Champions, lone enough even competing at local club matches…. I purpose that maybe there’s a middle ground that balances a shooter’s skills, personal ambitions and budget.
The answer can’t always be “Bugatti” when someone expresses an interest in maybe buying a sports car.
dhenry132
Silver $$ Contributor
Several that just that I knowSurvey Says… “Elitist”
How many members and readers of this forum are National or International Champions, lone enough even competing at local club matches…. I purpose that maybe there’s a middle ground that balances a shooter’s skills, personal ambitions and budget.
The answer can’t always be “Bugatti” when someone expresses an interest in maybe buying a sports car.
MarkS
Silver $$ Contributor
For me Bergara. I have 2 Bergara B14R with Triggertech Diamond triggers and EC V2 tuners. The way they shoot I can't justify the cost of a Custom gun. I shoot long range knockdown steel matches and I can run with the custom guns. For me the 700 footprint and 700 triggers is THE thing for me. With trigger around $1400. I just got a Bergara BMR "a light sporter gun" It will shoot 85% of my B14R's. It's a micro action that takes a 700 trigger. They are marking a BMR-X that is in-between the B14R and BMR.
CZ has the most aftermarket stuff. Start with a 457 Varmint, you would want a new barrel. With your starter gun, You can go custom barrel, Chassis, and trigger for about $1800 to $2000 total. They will shoot very well.
Vudoo's, RimX and others now, great guns, but will run $3000 and up.
doclu60
Silver $$ Contributor
Lots, and I'm one of them. Do your homework before typing your mouth off on a well participated public rifle forum. There are many that post here that fit your description of pedigree. What's your pedigree?
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To the OP's question, I don't really play in the market you are asking about, but I do have a CZ 457 Varmint in .17HMR and really like the rifle. Fit and finish is excellent, lots of quality aftermarket parts, easy trigger to slick up with just a spring change. Now for .22lr, without a doubt, Bergara is crushing it in ARA Factory matches right now. Huge scores are being shot at a range I shoot Unlimited at from the Factory guys shooting steel barreled Bergara's. As mentioned, 700 footprint puts these rifles in a very favorable position as far as future upgrades. Trigger is a big one. Even if you don't end up competing, having a rifle that will compete is a lot more fun than one that will not.
Scott
Not sure what set you off… Pedigree???
One of the things that makes this forum great is the depth of knowledge and experience provided by top-tier competitors. Go back and read my posts. It is unclear how you misinterpreted what I wrote to mean that I either question the existence or deny the contribution of Champions on this forum?! Where/How did you come up with me calling out anyone about their “Pedigree”?
Perhaps you misunderstood my intended use of the term “Elitism”, which was joking about being a “Gun Snob”. My comment was directed at equipment, and not people, their shooting skills or their medals. I disagree with the opinion that only a premium firearm is capable, and all others aren’t worth owning. I believe the term used for these was a “Hugo”, which I assume includes “Yugo”. There are plenty of examples across various shooting disciplines where a factory rifle in the hands of a skilled shooter has outperformed shooters using premium rifles.
This forum represents the shooting community at large from the Average Joe to World-class Competitive shooters. The advise and feedback should take into consideration this broader range of viewers and participants. A CZ 457 or Bergara might be all that a particular shooter wants, needs, &/or can afford. He shouldn’t feel bad about this purchase.
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Oso said:
Survey Says… “Elitist”
How many members and readers of this forum are National or International Champions, lone enough even competing at local club matches…. I purpose that maybe there’s a middle ground that balances a shooter’s skills, personal ambitions and budget.
——————————————————————————————-
Okay - I think I understand where things went sideways …
So you read the bold sentence above and thought I was saying that there weren’t any Champions on the forum??? Just to clarify the above statement is an incomplete sentence that I short-handed, and assumed readers would close the loop. The complete sentence would have read:
“How many members and readers of this forum are National or International Champions, lone enough even competing at local club matches, as compared to the total membership/readers of this forum.”
I was attempting to highlight that the vast majority of readers / participants on the forum are Regular Joes. For the average shooter a CZ or Bergara is an upgrade, and may be all that they need. Calling everything less than an ultra premium rimfire rifle ($4k-$6k) as junk doesn’t help. For a lot of people this premium price tag is a rifle of a lifetime.
Survey Says… “Elitist”
How many members and readers of this forum are National or International Champions, lone enough even competing at local club matches…. I purpose that maybe there’s a middle ground that balances a shooter’s skills, personal ambitions and budget.
——————————————————————————————-
Okay - I think I understand where things went sideways …
So you read the bold sentence above and thought I was saying that there weren’t any Champions on the forum??? Just to clarify the above statement is an incomplete sentence that I short-handed, and assumed readers would close the loop. The complete sentence would have read:
“How many members and readers of this forum are National or International Champions, lone enough even competing at local club matches, as compared to the total membership/readers of this forum.”
I was attempting to highlight that the vast majority of readers / participants on the forum are Regular Joes. For the average shooter a CZ or Bergara is an upgrade, and may be all that they need. Calling everything less than an ultra premium rimfire rifle ($4k-$6k) as junk doesn’t help. For a lot of people this premium price tag is a rifle of a lifetime.
A 22lr rimfire will set you in your place at only 50 yards when I have quite a few centerfire rifles that shoot 1/2 MOA at 700 yards. Rimfire is a learning curve and everyone said it would make me a better shooter. I’m not sure yet but it definitely changes the game. I have a Bergara B14R that I mounted in one of my benchrest stocks. It’s got a Nightforce Competition scope and a Diamond trigger. Using my joystick front rest it’s a challenge. The box ammunition thing is probably the biggest challenge because there’s no way to build the ammunition to the barrel. Making the gun work with the ammunition, that’s the mission. I’ve found that just touching the lubricated bullets can move the impacts. I single feed because I don’t want the bullet to rake the entry into the chamber. The shooters consistency is so important.
From my experience, id spend less than a grand for a used 64 anschutz unless you are happy with a single shot than get a 54 anschutz.
Already have as good of a trigger as anything else that needs or has a aftermarket trigger.
Factory barrels are typically as good or better than 75% of custom barrels.
If you feel the need to change stocks for "looks" there are many many aftermarket stocks available.
But a 50 year old anschutz will hang right outa the box with all but the best full custom builds and you'll save a couple grand to spend on much needed ammo.
Already have as good of a trigger as anything else that needs or has a aftermarket trigger.
Factory barrels are typically as good or better than 75% of custom barrels.
If you feel the need to change stocks for "looks" there are many many aftermarket stocks available.
But a 50 year old anschutz will hang right outa the box with all but the best full custom builds and you'll save a couple grand to spend on much needed ammo.
I bought my son a 457 Varmint years ago. It's a shooter even all stock except for replacing the trigger spring.
I'm lefty so wanted one in lefty, but back then they were not to be found anywhere. I would have had to get a .17 and convert it.
I found a T1x for cheap in righty, so I bought it to mess around with. Overall, it just wasn't as nice as the CZ. The CZ has a better barrel profile and even the wooden stock was much nicer than the Tikka. So it got sold.
I was waiting for a lefty Bergara, but got impatient, so I ordered a Vudoo 360 in lefty.
It's a great rifle.
Shooting my stock Vudoo against my son's 457 with trigger spring and in an XLR chassis was neck and neck.
With the right ammo the Vudoo was better, but it's very ammo picky. The CZ shoots everything well and he even beat me when I wasn't shooting what my Vudoo normally likes.
I did replace my Vudoo barrel and also his CZ barrel since then.
Honestly, if the CZ was available in Lefty earlier, I would have just gotten it and been just as happy.
I'm lefty so wanted one in lefty, but back then they were not to be found anywhere. I would have had to get a .17 and convert it.
I found a T1x for cheap in righty, so I bought it to mess around with. Overall, it just wasn't as nice as the CZ. The CZ has a better barrel profile and even the wooden stock was much nicer than the Tikka. So it got sold.
I was waiting for a lefty Bergara, but got impatient, so I ordered a Vudoo 360 in lefty.
It's a great rifle.
Shooting my stock Vudoo against my son's 457 with trigger spring and in an XLR chassis was neck and neck.
With the right ammo the Vudoo was better, but it's very ammo picky. The CZ shoots everything well and he even beat me when I wasn't shooting what my Vudoo normally likes.
I did replace my Vudoo barrel and also his CZ barrel since then.
Honestly, if the CZ was available in Lefty earlier, I would have just gotten it and been just as happy.
Shifty6br
Silver $$ Contributor
Have a Rimx and a few 457's...heck even a 10/22 as well. One setup for strict target/bench, the others for general purpose/plinking.
You are going to get a mixing pot of recos and op,....either of all platforms mentioned will serve you well, all can be upgrade some costing more than others but can be tuned to your liking nonetheless.
The real question is.....can we really be content with just one 22lr rifle?
You are going to get a mixing pot of recos and op,....either of all platforms mentioned will serve you well, all can be upgrade some costing more than others but can be tuned to your liking nonetheless.
The real question is.....can we really be content with just one 22lr rifle?
Would I like an Anschutz or Walther or similar with a straight pull action, you bet. Can't afford one though. Balking at some of the cheaper end, more target oriented Anschutz's. I'm retired, I'm "po" now.
So, I bought a CZ457 AT-One, 4-5 yrs ago, seemed to have what I needed, grabbed a rail, had some rings and a good 4-20x50 scope already.
Cheekpiece didn't come up high enough, butt was too short, I'm 6ft, wide shoulders and long arms. Like a solid cheekweld.
Boyd's has extended stuff, stuff that was on it was kinda rickety when extended, and it would have been a 300.00 touch landed in Cda.
Got two CZ 25rd mags, didn't feed worth krap, too low, it was really bad.
Sat for 1-2 yrs, debating what to do with it.
Tried some add-on cheek risers, OK, but still short on butt, still fed like krap.
Found some low 30mm rings I could use on the dovetail, also found a deal on some low Burris XTR Sig rings, that didn't exist when I bought the gun. Also broke down, decided to take a chance and try ND mags for it.
The ND mags completely cured the feed issue, works beautifully now, never had better..
Then I grabbed an MDT Field stock on the BF sale, that cured all the fit issues and the scope height issues and gave me some more options as well.
The gun shoots well enough, trigger is good enough with YoDave springs in it. I just wanted it for some longer range gopher plinking capability and maybe some local club matches, playing with wind conditions to keep a bit sharper on that.
Took a bit to get there, but, it does what it was supposed to do now. Nice to be able to concentrate on shooting now, and actually have fun at it, instead of fighting the gun.
So, I bought a CZ457 AT-One, 4-5 yrs ago, seemed to have what I needed, grabbed a rail, had some rings and a good 4-20x50 scope already.
Cheekpiece didn't come up high enough, butt was too short, I'm 6ft, wide shoulders and long arms. Like a solid cheekweld.
Boyd's has extended stuff, stuff that was on it was kinda rickety when extended, and it would have been a 300.00 touch landed in Cda.
Got two CZ 25rd mags, didn't feed worth krap, too low, it was really bad.
Sat for 1-2 yrs, debating what to do with it.
Tried some add-on cheek risers, OK, but still short on butt, still fed like krap.
Found some low 30mm rings I could use on the dovetail, also found a deal on some low Burris XTR Sig rings, that didn't exist when I bought the gun. Also broke down, decided to take a chance and try ND mags for it.
The ND mags completely cured the feed issue, works beautifully now, never had better..
Then I grabbed an MDT Field stock on the BF sale, that cured all the fit issues and the scope height issues and gave me some more options as well.
The gun shoots well enough, trigger is good enough with YoDave springs in it. I just wanted it for some longer range gopher plinking capability and maybe some local club matches, playing with wind conditions to keep a bit sharper on that.
Took a bit to get there, but, it does what it was supposed to do now. Nice to be able to concentrate on shooting now, and actually have fun at it, instead of fighting the gun.
Killitgrillit
Silver $$ Contributor
Thx all, I went with a Cz 457 mtr
Topstrap
Silver $$ Contributor
In the end you'll find that other than creature comforts that look cool or maybe fit just a tad better nearly any decent rimfire rifle (or pistol) is plenty good enough for 95% of competitors, it's the ammo that will separate the pack along with developing the fine "finesse" that separates the best from the almost best shooters.
Like others have said, you don't need the most expensive rifle, scope or goobers to be at the top. Spend the money on good ammo for serious practice (not plinking) knowing why each shot went where it did, use top shelf for matches and keep those eyes and ears open paying attention to what the winners are doing at a match that keeps them at the top.
Topstrap
Like others have said, you don't need the most expensive rifle, scope or goobers to be at the top. Spend the money on good ammo for serious practice (not plinking) knowing why each shot went where it did, use top shelf for matches and keep those eyes and ears open paying attention to what the winners are doing at a match that keeps them at the top.
Topstrap
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