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Which factory rifle to purchase.

golfer2b2000

I am looking for an accurate repeating rifle. There are three rifles basically on my mind. They are the Begara B-14, the CZ 457 in the Mcmillian stock configuration, and the Vudoo Apparation.
I want to be able to get the trigger down in the 10 oz. range, whether that requires replacing the trigger or not.
I think all these rifles are very nice although I have not handeled the Vudoo because dealers around here do not carry these rifles due to the cost.
I know I'll probably be well satisified with either of these rifles, but between the Begara and the Vudoo there's is roughly a 1000 dollar difference. Between the Begara and the CZ 500 dollars.
Just reaching out to get some feedback from you rimfire shooters out there.
Thank you
 
A CZ is the easy button--amazing factory trigger with a $10 spring swap- ( mine loves being at 12 oz no less)-The MTR is all you will need after you discover what ammo it loves--An MTR with happy ammo in the hands of a real marksman is almost unbeatable--for the $$ it can't be beat--I think most folks can't shoot the diff between a good CZ and all the other high $$ rifles available--
It is MUCH more about finding that "magic" lot of ammo than anything else in my experience.
A CZ does not need an aftermarket trigger--just a $10 spring
The MTR jams the bullet into the rifling--other CZ's do not--I also have an AT One 24 in barrel that will shoot with most MTR's
Ammo Ammo Ammo --that is the diff between winners and the rest When you find that lot it loves INVEST.
 
I have multiple CZs, pretty amazing value in my opinion. I had my wife shooting the MTR 22LR yesterday just to her warmed up before she shot her 6.5x55 getting ready for elk season. She was touching them at 50 yards with plain Jane CCI velocitor ammo,

If I had the funds I’d have to try a Vudoo though.

Edited, that was bad….
 
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golfer2b2000 said:
CZ 457 in the Mcmillian stock configuration
Click to expand...
I haven't seen the 457 with a McMillan stock option? I have one with the Manners. With the Manners, the CZ is priced higher than the Bergara.

I shoot more 17 HMR than 22 LR, but do shoot both. For Bergara I have a BMR and a B-14R both in 17 HMR. I have Vudoo's in both calibers as well and both have Greyboe stocks. I have a variety of CZ 455 and 457 in 22 LR, 17 HMR and 17 Mach2.

My Vudoos are slightly more accurate than the others. With the cost of 22 LR ammo that will likely perform the best in your rifle, I consider the cost of the rifle less important. If you shoot much with ammo that runs $15 to $20 or more per box and want the best performance.

I like the bolt of my 457 better than my B-14R, and I like the ability to switch barrels easily, shim the headspace (via barrel or bolt shims) and magazine availability and cost.
 
If you think that you are likely to go down the rabbit hole on 22 accuracy, you should bite the bullet and get the Vudoo. You wont need to be spending money down the road upgrading this or replacing that trying to squeeze out that little bit more accuracy. But, if you're doubtful that you will ever want that degree, save the bucks and get the CZ. Begara is great , but it;s definitely in the middle and the CZ can be upgraded rather easily.
 
jepp2 said:
I haven't seen the 457 with a McMillan stock option? I have one with the Manners. With the Manners, the CZ is priced higher than the Bergara.

I shoot more 17 HMR than 22 LR, but do shoot both. For Bergara I have a BMR and a B-14R both in 17 HMR. I have Vudoo's in both calibers as well and both have Greyboe stocks. I have a variety of CZ 455 and 457 in 22 LR, 17 HMR and 17 Mach2.

My Vudoos are slightly more accurate than the others. With the cost of 22 LR ammo that will likely perform the best in your rifle, I consider the cost of the rifle less important. If you shoot much with ammo that runs $15 to $20 or more per box and want the best performance.

I like the bolt of my 457 better than my B-14R, and I like the ability to switch barrels easily, shim the headspace (via barrel or bolt shims) and magazine availability and cost.
Click to expand...
Maybe it is a Manners. I'll have to check.
 
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Personally I don't think it matters, it's like the argument of Ford vs Chevy vs mopar, all 3 will do the same job, with that, worry less about the equipment, buy ammo, and practice, practice, practice. After several thousand rounds, hours of practice and being able to shoot the target clean, then worry about equipment.
I will not argue that a great trigger and a comfortable stock is a key to shooting well
 
I have 2 B14R steel with EC V2 tuners. Both shoot very well. I like the weight of the B14R. If money is not a problem go with a Vudoo. I friend of mine one from Vudoo and one from DI Precision with Muller 13 twist barrel and a EC V2 tuner. I would go with DI, if I were going to get a Vudoo. https://diprecision.com/vudoo-gun-works/mullerworks-barreled-action-by-di-precision/ A factory B14R with a Trigger Tech Diamond will run around $1300. a Vudoo will be around $ 2600 to $3750 depending on the chassis
IMO the 700 platform is the way to go, I have Trigger Tech Diamond in both of my B14R set at 8 oz.
CZ are great guns also.
 
Depends what you want it for: I have an Annie 1416 with the sporter barrel contour. Great balanced field gun. Much better workmanship bluing and checkering than the off the rack CZ but you pay for it. But the sporter contour is rare. I think that any of the top brands will shoot close to the same...because you will never get enough of the right ammo!! frustrating and can get very expensive for shooting pop guns.Cheaper to shoot a 6br. I have relegated myself to being satisfied with minute of squirrel at 100. Tac-22 will do it for me. My new Garmin crono confirmed the flyers were not the gun!
 
One thing to consider is, your NOT going to wear the barrel out like with a cf.. I would consider spending a bit more on a Vudoo, converted 40x, or (choke) a RimX action and get it modified by MODACAM to fix it.
All 700 footprints so accessories, triggers, stocks, etc are plentiful. Depending on what you want to ultimately use it for, you won't regret it long term.
 
It's the $$ and what you want it for?
I have at this time two CZ457's bang for the Buck shooting 50-100 yards on paper a Gas.
I have done some parts changes because I can. Like stated above find the right Ammo and have fun.
One of my CZ's is a change Barrel in a Chassis to 17HRM nice Barn Yard Cleaner.
Have Fun Life is Short.
 
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I think the Tilka is worth considering. Mine shoots the same as my cz. The factory trigger is a little heavy but not to bad. Good for hunting.
If you haven’t already, try to shoot each one with it’s preferred ammo.
My 455 and tikka both shoot about the same 5 shot groups at 100 typically average around 11/4” to 11/2” Some 3/4” or better.
The vudoo just flat hammers (has proof carbon barrel) but cycles like a bear due to the ammo it likes. First rimfire I’ve owned that can shoot 5 shots under 1/2” and usually under an inch at 100.

The others like ammo that don’t require as much jam so they’re more enjoyable to cylcle.
I really like the TT trigger on the vudoo.
I read on rc about the shoe slamming due to no over travel. Slamming, that’s funny.
If TT comes out with triggers for the other guns I’ll put them right in.
 
I really like the CZ457 action - bought an American to get a light sporter & because I liked the proportions of that stock. Bought a MTR because I wanted to try that odd-shaped stock & match chambered bbl. Then bought the Manners stocked Varmint Precision Trainer because I really enjoy shooting that same Manners stock (PRS1T) on three Vudoo & one Rim-X repeaters - people can have all the new-fangled chassis systems - they don't appeal to me in the least.

I had a couple of CMP Rem 40X actions converted to repeaters to use the V22 magazines, then barreled them myself with Benchmark & Krieger barrels, chambered with an EPS reamer. They both shot great, and were all I could ask for in PRS-style matches. But when Vudoo came on the scene, I just had to try that action, and after barreling it with a 22" Krieger and shooting it for a season of matches, I sold the older 40X repeater and bought another Vudoo, this one purchased as a bbl'd action direct from VGW with a 22" Bartlein in their Kukri contour. I couldn't be happier with the whole Vudoo experience - dealing with Paul & Jill at VGW has been very pleasant & satisfying, enough so that when they came out with the Three-60 action, I bought one and barreled it with another Krieger. Also wanted to get into ARA-style 22RFBR shooting, so bought one of the early V22S single shot actions with the Flavio Fare trigger, barreled it with a Shilen R5 ratchet, and put it into a McMillan Kestros stock. With lot-tested Lapua Center-X, it's amazing to shoot 5-shot groups that often wind up being not 'one ragged hole' but one slightly oversized hole.

After getting used to the consistent accuracy of the 40Xs & V22s with custom barrels, I wasn't satisfied with the CZs' accuracy any more. I sold the MTR, and re-barreled the American & VPT with Shilen ratchet blanks. The American's factory bbl never came close to shooting satisfactory groups - was 2+MOA at 50yds when new, and never really got any better, even after I pulled it and cut a precision 11* crown to replace the ragged, fugly factory crown. I wouldn't have gone to the expense & effort to re-barrel it if it weren't for how smooth & reliable the new 457 actions feed, extract, and eject. And any company that cares enough about customer satisfaction to equip a new action with a fully adjustable trigger in today's world full of hungry lawyers deserves a bit of respect. The CZ457 VPT's 24" bbl wasn't bad to begin with, and had improved a bit by the time I put 500+rds through it. But when I took it out to 100 & 200yds, it really fell on its face - couldn't keep 10rds on an 8" plate at 200. So after enjoying the fine accuracy of the American after doing the Shilen bbl for it, I put an .862" dia straight cylinder Shilen on the VPT, and have been very pleased with it. I hear a lot of reports from satisfied CZ457 owners when it comes to accuracy, but 2 out of 3 not being acceptable in my experience makes me wonder if I was just unlucky or what?
 
I've written about it before but here it goes again.

I got my son a CZ 457. Added a 30 MOA rail and swapped in the YoDave trigger. It was the regular Varmint version. I pulled it out of the stock and put it in a XLR Element 3.0 Chassis with all the internal weights. It just plain shoots.

It was so much fun, that I wanted a good 22lr too. I bought a Tikka T1x for myself. Replace the spring, bought at 30MOA rail, dropped it in an identical XLR chassis with weights. It shot well, but not as well as the CZ and just not as smooth. So I sold it and got on a waiting list for a lefty B14R, and kept looking / waiting for the 457 to be in stock somewhere in lefty.

Got tired of waiting, so ordered a Vudoo 360.

I'm glad I got the vudoo. It's smooth and shoots great. Very high quality all around.

With all the said, does it shoot better groups than the CZ? Most times, but sometimes not. The Vudoo is much more picky about ammo.

Over Veterans day weekend my son and I got out and I brought my KYL and some other challenge/game targets. He was shooting Federal Champion Standard Velocity and I had taken some SK Long Range Match that I wanted to test. I still haven't done a good ammo test, but mostly the vudoo likes Lapua. This was the first time shooting this ammo

That was the first time he ever outshot me. I will say some of it was the ammo. My vudoo just didn't like that lot of SK. The CZ shoots almost any standard velocity well.

So what am I saying? Get the CZ first. If you get hooked, then you can easily upgrade the barrel with a prefit, or sell it and get a vudoo.
 
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