My New B14R Plinker

[alf]

After my debacle of trying to get my Waypoint 2020 to shoot, I gave up & went on the prowl for another 22.

When the smoke cleared, I ended up with this.

Bergara B14R heavy barreled action, bolted into a Manners EH1, APA bottom metal, Seekins 30 MOA rail, Seekings rings, and an Athlon Ares FFP 4.5-27x50 on top.

My goal is not to compete, but to find the cheapest ammo that shoots the best, which is kind of a compromise. I ran every brand & lot number of what I had on hand, & narrowed it down to two different lots of Federal Automatch. After several shoot offs, I decided to go with one particular lot. A quick trip to Wally World to stock up on what they had left found me staring a couple more lots. So I ended up buying one of each to test before committing.

As it turned out, one of those lots shot pretty good, so I went back & bought the remainder, 9 more boxes of 325 each.

The next day I shot three 10 shot groups at 50 yards that went 3/8, 1/2, & 5/8". Then three more at 100 that averaged 1 1/2". So, after reading about Harrells closing the door, I bit the bullet & ordered a tuner & tuner plug to hopefully close up the further groups. We'll see how that pans out.

Overall, I'm more than satisfied with my new plinker. Even more so with ammo at just under 6.5 cents a shot.

 

[7315br]

I totaly agree. I have two of the Bergara B14R rimfires. Nope...they won't stay with my 2500x...but they are not bad for a $1,000 rifle.

 

[gkgeiger]

My club offers a .22lr fun match. A while back the organizer said “let’s all shoot CCI std”. It was a fun match, since my B14R beat everyone, including 2 82G’s and 52E.

 

[alf]

My club offers a .22lr fun match. A while back the organizer said “let’s all shoot CCI std”. It was a fun match, since my B14R beat everyone, including 2 82G’s and 52E.

That's pretty cool. Did the club supply the ammo, or did you use your own?

 

[Leo_B]

After my debacle of trying to get my Waypoint 2020 to shoot, I gave up & went on the prowl for another 22.

When the smoke cleared, I ended up with this.

Bergara B14R heavy barreled action, bolted into a Manners EH1, APA bottom metal, Seekins 30 MOA rail, Seekings rings, and an Athlon Ares FFP 4.5-27x50 on top.

My goal is not to compete, but to find the cheapest ammo that shoots the best, which is kind of a compromise. I ran every brand & lot number of what I had on hand, & narrowed it down to two different lots of Federal Automatch. After several shoot offs, I decided to go with one particular lot. A quick trip to Wally World to stock up on what they had left found me staring a couple more lots. So I ended up buying one of each to test before committing.

As it turned out, one of those lots shot pretty good, so I went back & bought the remainder, 9 more boxes of 325 each.

The next day I shot three 10 shot groups at 50 yards that went 3/8, 1/2, & 5/8". Then three more at 100 that averaged 1 1/2". So, after reading about Harrells closing the door, I bit the bullet & ordered a tuner & tuner plug to hopefully close up the further groups. We'll see how that pans out.

Overall, I'm more than satisfied with my new plinker. Even more so with ammo at just under 6.5 cents a shot.


View attachment 1706014

Yikes, if that's a "plinker" I'm too poor for this stuff. Very nice rifle. Very nice.

 

[gkgeiger]

That's pretty cool. Did the club supply the ammo, or did you use your own?

We supplied our own. It’s nice to buy $4 ammo occasionally, and it’s easy to find

 

[MarkS]

My 2 B14R like SKLR best, but like Eley Contact for everyday shoot. Killough has it on sell for $6.00 / box $5.75 / case with free shipping for a case

 

[alf]

Yikes, if that's a "plinker" I'm too poor for this stuff. Very nice rifle. Very nice.

Thanks, I'll admit it got a little out of hand.....

 

[alf]

My 2 B14R like SKLR best, but like Eley Contact for everyday shoot. Killough has it on sell for $6.00 / box $5.75 / case with free shipping for a case

I may try some others in the future, but I'm pretty content with the Automatch for the time being.

A couple days ago, I set my 8" steel out at 165, 200, 250, and 12" at 300, & 400 yards.

3 shots at 165 went into a flat inch, 200 a flat 3", and then a 3 1/8" at 250.

1st miss at 300, then dinged it 7 times in a row.

I never did hit the 400 steel that sits on a little grassy hill, & just couldn't spot any impacts. The fickle left to right quartering to me wind did me no favors either.

 

[xswanted]

After my debacle of trying to get my Waypoint 2020 to shoot, I gave up & went on the prowl for another 22.

When the smoke cleared, I ended up with this.

Bergara B14R heavy barreled action, bolted into a Manners EH1, APA bottom metal, Seekins 30 MOA rail, Seekings rings, and an Athlon Ares FFP 4.5-27x50 on top.

My goal is not to compete, but to find the cheapest ammo that shoots the best, which is kind of a compromise. I ran every brand & lot number of what I had on hand, & narrowed it down to two different lots of Federal Automatch. After several shoot offs, I decided to go with one particular lot. A quick trip to Wally World to stock up on what they had left found me staring a couple more lots. So I ended up buying one of each to test before committing.

As it turned out, one of those lots shot pretty good, so I went back & bought the remainder, 9 more boxes of 325 each.

The next day I shot three 10 shot groups at 50 yards that went 3/8, 1/2, & 5/8". Then three more at 100 that averaged 1 1/2". So, after reading about Harrells closing the door, I bit the bullet & ordered a tuner & tuner plug to hopefully close up the further groups. We'll see how that pans out.

Overall, I'm more than satisfied with my new plinker. Even more so with ammo at just under 6.5 cents a shot.


View attachment 1706014

I love the way this looks.

I need another one now.

 

[alf]

I love the way this looks.
I need another one now.

Thanks, I went round & round on what to do.....

I liked the CZ trainer with the Manners, but didn't want the butt hook stock.

I liked the CZ MTR, but didn't want a wood stock, or the hassle of selling & buying what I wanted.

I've had a Bergara BMR carbon for a couple years, it shoots great, so.....

I looked at the B14R rifles, but didn't like the factory stocks, so I skipped the sell/buy angle again.

Then I started looking at the barreled actions, more specifically the heavy barreled option for a dedicated bench rig. Problem now is they do not come with bottom metal any more.

Then it all fell into place....

I got moving some boxes around, & low & behold, one had a brand new APA M5 bottom metal in it. Then, the Manners EH1 for a 700 S/A popped up for sale, which is a favorite, having a couple three already. So I ordered the barreled action, the Seekins base, & the Athlon, with the rings already on the shelf.

And VOILA', I have a new plinker just the way I wanted !!