Bergara or VuDoo

Bergara B14 vs VuDoo V22? This is like comparing a nice Toyota sports car to a Corvette. I do not own a VuDoo but I will. I do shoot against them a lot and have a high respect for them. Decision is likely gonna hinge on what you want to do with it. I shoot a lot of ARA BR matches just because my local club hosts them and their factory class is restrictive and does not allow high end elite 22's to play in the factory class. The Annies, VuDoo's, Winchester 52's, and even the Bergara are all bumped into the unlimited class which puts them up against the custom match rifles like the 2500 Holeshot or the Turbo, Hall, V22S, etc. Tough company for a production rifle, even a VuDoo. One of our local shooters is a former ARA champ who shoots a VuDoo V22. He shoots his in our local fun shoot match and that match has about 8-9 nationally ranked shooters in it every week. The rules are less restrictive and simple: Must shoot a repeater 22lr from 2 piece sand bag or bipod rests and no muzzle dampner devices allowed. Any ammo, any optic, no price limit. Most mods are legal. Our last match included: 1-V22 VuDoo, 1-Cooper, 2-Anschutz 54 repeaters, 1-Rem 541T, 1-Sako P94S custom with Walther bbl, 3-Winchester 52's, 2-CZ457's (AT-1 & MTR) and 1-Bergara B14 carbon bbl and my new bone stock CZ457 VPT.

I shot the CZ because I planned to shoot it in match competition starting in a few weeks and needed to finish breaking it in and getting trigger time with it. On the first card I shot a 248/10x in wind and tied the VuDoo but lost on x-count for 2nd place overall. One of the Annies got 3rd. On the 2nd card I shot another 248/11x in worsening wind for 2nd place with the VuDoo scoring 249/15x for an impressive finish and the Sako was 3rd. I am not saying the CZ is as good as the VuDoo. It is not. But it is very close and in the hands of a good marksmen the difference is small. That day I shot Lapua CX on one card and Midas+ on the other and the VuDoo shot Midas+ but often shoots Eley Black also.

The owner of the VuDoo plans to shoot his in ARA unlimited competitions this year. He has shot one such match already and was not in last place. I have a Sako Quad and a Win52B that can beat the V22 sometimes but not all the time. Both are special rifles. All the VuDoos are special rifles. It is the modern equivalent of the Win52 with all the modern features. They will be sought after for many years to come.
 
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Don’t as much experience as many on here. A fellow club member has 2 vudoo’s. I got my B14R in the fall and shot a 22 match with it using Center-X. Took second @50yds, first @75yds. The targets were quarter sized with the X ring being 22 cal diameter. Had many 9-10 ring hits with at least 6-7 center hits. No feeding issues at all. Mine has the carbon barrel (if that matters). Plan on upgrading the trigger, but love everything else. Really want to do a one on one against my buddies Vudoo and see how much difference there is, and whether or not the cost difference is justified.
 
I just recently bought a bergara b14r barrelled action to got with the mpa chassis that I'd planned to put a vudoo into.

It was purely about the money, my industry is heavily affected by Chinese trade sanctions and I couldn't justify the $3300 that a vudoo costs here in Australia as compared to $1200 for the bergara.

Having said that, I will order a vudoo in a couple months and will put the b14r into another chassis for my daughter.

I don't compete, I just enjoy shooting and I like knowing that I am the limiting factor, not my equipment.

** will post 6x5's and a range report when I get the b14r in the chassis and the scope fitted**
 
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I have the Steel Barrel B14R. It now has 879 rounds down the tube. This is the 6 x 5 Challenge I shot tonight when I got home. It is a great shooter with SK Ammo. My suppressor now has about 2k rounds through it and it is in need of a cleaning. Planning to do that Thursday and shoot a 6 x 5 again. I have a NRL 22 match this weekend. It will be #3 for me. I have been able to place 3rd & 2nd in the 2 previous months.

I will own a Vudoo by summer and will keep the Bergara for a loaner.
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It's nice to see honest group images rather than the 'best' group of the day.
It's still got me on the fence between the Bergara and the CZ LRP
I am 1 of 3 Bergara's at the range for NRL22 matches, 3-4 Ruger Precisions, 2-3 Tikas, 2-3 CZs of different models and 1 Vudoo. There are a mix of others 10/22, Savage SVFR and so on. Just depends on what the weather is like for the fair weather shooters. I really like my Bergara, but I will own a Vudoo. I bought the Bergara because I could get it a dealer cost. I saved up to build a RimX or buy a Vudoo & the Vudoo will win this one out.
 
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This is pre-review
Here's a full size IPSC at 470yds, red shots are mine, yellow ones are from another shooter.
This is even while adjusting, that's why the group would be smaller most likely.
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Next is several groups, some even return to zero testing or dialing in at 50yds.
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I also tested cold weather vs warm with SK ammo, but that video will be out soon hopefully

I am thoroughly impressed so far...
 
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One day I will own a vudoo. As of now I don’t compete, would be fun one day though. I just enjoy the high end things in life, and want to be able to pass them down to my kids. Can’t afford one now, but when I finally decide to get one I’ll pinch my pennies and get the vudoo. That will be one of those rifles that is still sought after long after I’m gone.
 
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I'm sure that there is something that a vudoo can do better that my B14r, but I haven't found it yet?...

I think you just hit the lottery and that's great for you. It's like the same thing as the random people who have CZ 457's that outshoot everything as well. The chance of it happening is rare. The same can be said for any factory rifle on any given day I could pick up a Ruger RPRR that could possibly outshoot a custom Defiance, more often than not, that won't happen though.

Ignoring the shooting aspect, the Vudoo cycles a whole lot nicer than the Bergara. I really don't like the way the B14R's bolt camming behaves, it has like a double lift kind of feeling.
 
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I think you just hit the lottery and that's great for you. It's like the same thing as the random people who have CZ 457's that outshoot everything as well. The chance of it happening is rare. The same can be said for any factory rifle on any given day I could pick up a Ruger RPRR that could possibly outshoot a custom Defiance, more often than not, that won't happen though.

Ignoring the shooting aspect, the Vudoo cycles a whole lot nicer than the Bergara. I really don't like the way the B14R's bolt camming behaves, it has like a double lift kind of feeling.
Yes, my T1x is definitely smoother when running the bolt.
I've been blessed with most of mine.
I feel it ends up being more about rifle/ammo combination than anything else.
Kind of like how we reload to remove that extra tenth of an inch in our group size.
Although I'd bet that the Vudoo shoots more types of ammo better than factory rifles do...
 
Buying a vudoo is Not an slam dunk! They have their problems just like any gun company. Just the price they comand i wound expect a peerless expierence, but this is a not what i had. I lost confidence and was between a rock and expensive piece of steel.
For Vudoo money, get a RimX and Shilen barrel, do some leg work.... Their is. No perfect "Vudoo Heaven"
 
Buying a vudoo is Not an slam dunk! They have their problems just like any gun company. Just the price they comand i wound expect a peerless expierence, but this is a not what i had. I lost confidence and was between a rock and expensive piece of steel.
For Vudoo money, get a RimX and Shilen barrel, do some leg work.... Their is. No perfect "Vudoo Heaven"
Appreciate your honesty
 
Buying a vudoo is Not an slam dunk! They have their problems just like any gun company. Just the price they comand i wound expect a peerless expierence, but this is a not what i had. I lost confidence and was between a rock and expensive piece of steel.
For Vudoo money, get a RimX and Shilen barrel, do some leg work.... Their is. No perfect "Vudoo Heaven"
I call bull shit!.

Mike would never let an issue go unfixed on a vudoo.

Was this a built rifle from Vudoo? Or was it the used 1 you were looking at?
I have both and the bergara is a fine rifle but not even in the same league as a vudoo. Nor should it be.
 
Buying a vudoo is Not an slam dunk! They have their problems just like any gun company. Just the price they comand i wound expect a peerless expierence, but this is a not what i had. I lost confidence and was between a rock and expensive piece of steel.
For Vudoo money, get a RimX and Shilen barrel, do some leg work.... Their is. No perfect "Vudoo Heaven"
You seem to be the exception, not the rule as far as your vudoo experience goes.

Absolutely sucks, but as above, I doubt Mike would allow one of his guns to go unfixed if there was an issue
 
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Buying a vudoo is Not an slam dunk! They have their problems just like any gun company. Just the price they comand i wound expect a peerless expierence, but this is a not what i had. I lost confidence and was between a rock and expensive piece of steel.
For Vudoo money, get a RimX and Shilen barrel, do some leg work.... Their is. No perfect "Vudoo Heaven"

i watched a second time fired/shot RIM X stop extracting rounds at a match...like you said they to have their issues just like any gun company.

curious what problem you had with your vudoo?
 
i watched a second time fired/shot RIM X stop extracting rounds at a match...like you said they to have their issues just like any gun company.

curious what problem you had with your vudoo?
Anything man-made can and will fail given enough time with some people...
Still, I'm sure Vudoo is an excellent rifle, but I'd be foolish to believe they are perfect.
22s are strange, you get some that are cheap and drive nails, but the opposite is also true at times.
 
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Anything man-made can and will fail given enough time with some people...
Still, I'm sure Vudoo is an excellent rifle, but I'd be foolish to believe they are perfect.
22s are strange, you get some that are cheap and drive nails, but the opposite is also true at times.

Agreed everything man-made can have failure. So I just judge companies now by how well they treat their customers. Vudoo has been very great to me in all my questions, fixing my rifle, tuning it at Nationals for me, and just constantly being responsive.

RimX is also great in terms of answering/servicing their actions, but given they don't sell a complete BA, it's just too much work going back and forth between a barrel mfg and an action mfg. Rather just have everything dealt with at once.

I spent this weekend working on a B14R that was having all sorts of feeding and light strike issues. I hope that Bergara will get him taken care of but not sure how long it's going to be and if he'll be ready in time for the match in 2 weeks.
 
Anything man-made can and will fail given enough time with some people...
Still, I'm sure Vudoo is an excellent rifle, but I'd be foolish to believe they are perfect.
22s are strange, you get some that are cheap and drive nails, but the opposite is also true at times.
Agree 100%...I had a CZ455 trainer that was an absolute hammer wish ida kept it but hated the trigger and I’m not fond of the aftermarket options.
 
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My vudoo had a wrough chamber not that bad but then after some time the bolt/feed from magazine jammed the lead into wrough chamber and the rifle was shooting 2+ moa. VGW wanted to hand re-ream the chamber by hand i said please do not but they insisted and the resulting gun was less accurate than when i first got it. (The bolt was replaced and magazine placement was fixed....) that was short way of summarizing it.
I got out of that situation and got a b14r that is getting a shilen barrel placed. Which i love the action but i can easly swallow a 500-650 dollar barrel and have control with a hell less money on the table.
The rimx looks superior especially the mag height adjustment and available option for pre-fit barrels.
My 2cents
 
I got out of that situation and got a b14r that is getting a shilen barrel placed. Which i love the action but i can easly swallow a 500-650 dollar barrel and have control with a hell less money on the table.
The rimx looks superior especially the mag height adjustment and available option for pre-fit barrels.
My 2cents

I spent the weekend shooting a hundred rounds through the B14R... coming from a Vudoo, that action is not fun to cycle at all. I mean I get it, RimX/Vudoo actions are 2x the price, but I think they're worth it.
 
I spent the weekend shooting a hundred rounds through the B14R... coming from a Vudoo, that action is not fun to cycle at all. I mean I get it, RimX/Vudoo actions are 2x the price, but I think they're worth it.
Yes, for vudoo money, an rimx and a barrel of choice is better!
my bergara action is not bad but who knows it is a roll of the dice. The Only take home is their is no “vudoo panacea”.
 
This is like comparing a Corvette is a VW bug. Lol
But I wouldn’t buy either because they’re both garbage, and that’s the not case with the above mentioned rifles. More like one is a Corvette, and one is a Lexus LFA (or insert some other boutique limited exotic that actually works).
 
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These were part of my first 200 rounds of my Vudoo with SK+. It can get a little better. It's the same kind of decision on saying getting a Tikka T3X versus a custom Impact/Defiance/Zermatt etc. My Tikka T3X also shot sub moa... don't need one or another to win a match.

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You Sir have good taste in calipers.. best made IMO.
 
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Agreed everything man-made can have failure. So I just judge companies now by how well they treat their customers. Vudoo has been very great to me in all my questions, fixing my rifle, tuning it at Nationals for me, and just constantly being responsive.

RimX is also great in terms of answering/servicing their actions, but given they don't sell a complete BA, it's just too much work going back and forth between a barrel mfg and an action mfg. Rather just have everything dealt with at once.

I spent this weekend working on a B14R that was having all sorts of feeding and light strike issues. I hope that Bergara will get him taken care of but not sure how long it's going to be and if he'll be ready in time for the match in 2 weeks.
Pretty sure I was the fella with the Bergara that you helped diagnose (RFGC 👍).

For the feeding issue: I went back to the factory mag latch. I also loosen the bolt by the buttstock and was able to push the entire trigger guard a bit forward. The mag seems to fit a lot more secure with little droop. I also cycled a few mags of dummies and they all Fed flawlessly.

For the light strike issue: I disassembled the bolt and, low and behold, found that my firing pin is bent like a pretzel (see pic). I've only dry fired with a spent casing. Emailed Bergara and they are sending me a few spares.

Not sure if all my issues will be fixed but I feel a lot more confident the rifle will perform as it should.

Thanks again!
 

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Pretty sure I was the fella with the Bergara that you helped diagnose (RFGC 👍).

For the feeding issue: I went back to the factory mag latch. I also loosen the bolt by the buttstock and was able to push the entire trigger guard a bit forward. The mag seems to fit a lot more secure with little droop. I also cycled a few mags of dummies and they all Fed flawlessly.

For the light strike issue: I disassembled the bolt and, low and behold, found that my firing pin is bent like a pretzel (see pic). I've only dry fired with a spent casing. Emailed Bergara and they are sending me a few spares.

Not sure if all my issues will be fixed but I feel a lot more confident the rifle will perform as it should.

Thanks again!
This is good to know, I know any manufacturer can and will have issues, no matter how bulletproof their products may seem.
Yet, I haven't had any issues with my B14r other than failure to extract unfired rounds sometimes...
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I'd most likely put my B14r accuracy against just about any other 22 rifle so far.
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I may try a Vuddoo at some point, but it's hard to justify as of yet...
 
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This is good to know, I know any manufacturer can and will have issues, no matter how bulletproof their products may seem.
Yet, I haven't had any issues with my B14r other than failure to extract unfired rounds sometimes...
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I'd most likely put my B14r accuracy against just about any other 22 rifle so far.
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I may try a Vuddoo at some point, but it's hard to justify as of yet...

what yardage is that group?
 
I have never shot a Vudoo. But... :) I was at the Lapua testing center in Mesa AZ. The test center had 3 vudoo rifles that were tested at the site. I can say with my own eyes, if I ever get the money, I will buy one. 10 shots at 50m in the test range. Vudoo has their own custom receiver holders at the range so they can test their rifles. I believe the group on 1 rifle was around .1 or .15 someone would have to chime in because I know someone here owns it. (I didn't take a picture and my memory sucks) Anyways, it made me cry after seeing those groups compared to my ruger 10/22 target. I will own a Vudoo one day.
edit - The true test of a barrel and action - since it takes human out of the equation. The test center also makes you fall in love with Lapua ammo.
 
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I have never shot a Vudoo. But... :) I was at the Lapua testing center in Mesa AZ. The test center had 3 vudoo rifles that were tested at the site. I can say with my own eyes, if I ever get the money, I will buy one. 10 shots at 50m in the test range. Vudoo has their own custom receiver holders at the range so they can test their rifles. I believe the group on 1 rifle was around .1 or .15 someone would have to chime in because I know someone here owns it. (I didn't take a picture and my memory sucks) Anyways, it made me cry after seeing those groups compared to my ruger 10/22 target. I will own a Vudoo one day.
edit - The true test of a barrel and action - since it takes human out of the equation. The test center also makes you fall in love with Lapua ammo.
Appreciate your info, however, it is impossible for a .22 cal bullet to print less than its diameter...

Take care
 
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Appreciate your info, however, it is impossible for a .22 cal bullet to print less than its diameter...
Must be your memory is slightly off, and I don't mean that as an insult.
Still, I'm sure that they shoot very well.
Take care
He's talking about center to center shot group. If all 10 shots grouped perfectly on each other your group size would be 0, or exactly your bullet diameter.
 
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He's talking about center to center shot group. If all 10 shots grouped perfectly on each other your group size would be 0, or exactly your bullet diameter.
That's right, I meant the bullet hole could be no less than .22, a one hole group.
I don't know if I could distinguish the center of 5 or 10 shot groups of .1?...
Most use the edge to edge rule as stated above, then subtract the bullet diameter.
Still, I read this wrong, good info though.
 
That's right, I meant the bullet hole could be no less than .22, a one hole group.
I don't know if I could distinguish the center of 5 or 10 shot groups of .1?...
Most use the edge to edge rule as stated above, then subtract the bullet diameter.
Still, I read this wrong, good info though.
electronic targets and apps like ballisticX make it easy
 
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Yes, for vudoo money, an rimx and a barrel of choice is better!
my bergara action is not bad but who knows it is a roll of the dice. The Only take home is their is no “vudoo panacea”.
My friend who has the VuDoo also had a problem with feeding from the mag and occasional misfire. He called VuDoo and they walked him thru the correct process for loading the mag and sent him a different firing pin spring which totally solved the problem. His had the ACE bbl and shoots on par with a Win 52 or a Annie 54. RimX makes a good product but you cannot get a rifle from them unless they have changed only actions and parts to make a rifle. If you are a gunsmith or know one great but that is not a perfect solution either. You can put a Shilien bbl onto a VuDoo it you desire. Lots of good rifles on the mkt now. We are blessed to be enjoying these.
 
even after hitting the lottery think the voodoo would end up pretty low on my bucket list defiantly below the battle ship on cinder blocks in the front yard and a touring mega bus to travel to all the gun ranges in the country . and my favorate the wearhouse full of powder , primers , and bullets , and cases all waiting for me to put together by hand .
 
Both are really nice, the new Vudoo 3 lug is smooth as Tennessee Whisky, very accurate. This ones in a prototype FDE Accuracy International AT-X chassis. Then Bergera is nowhere near as smooth, but it shoots very well, easily accurate enough to win at NRL22. This one is in one of Accuracy Internationals AXSR chassis (black) Eight shooters varying experience shot both out to 200 yards, boils down to how much do you want to spend:)
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Let me rationalize this.

Bergara, yes you have to buy a scope base. Ok $40. You want to replace the trigger, I get that $200. Here is what I don't understand, why would you need to replace that HMR stock? I mean, I wouldn't dream of doing that myself. I would never buy the B-14R with the initial intentions on replacing a Bergara barrel.

Vudoo, you say buy a barreled action and not replace anything? I guess so because you don't have anything else to start with, unless I missed something. So you are forced to buy at least the Bravo, $360. You have to buy a trigger, $200. That comes to around $2,350 vs. $1,050 for the B-14R with nice trigger.

Don't get me wrong, I like Vudoo products and will probably have one sometime this year. I just don't understand your thought process of WHY you have to replace the stock and barrel. I understand the trigger, I replaced mine. New people coming here and read your comment would make them think they couldn't compete with a stock B-14R. Enlighten me.
I have a Bergara and love it. It shoots great and I do like the HMR stock. My only reason for ditching the HMR stock and going with a chassis is for weight. My Bergara actually has more recoil than I would like when shooting precision. My buddy has a chassis and it’s so heavy and his gun doesn’t even flinch when he shoots. I’ve noticed on mine that the little recoil does affect accuracy to a point. As for the debate, I looked at the vudoo but didn’t want to wait. I bought my Bergara from another shooter that had many upgrades already like arca rail and scope mount. So for the price I saved a lot. I’ve since added a BnA trigger I found used on this site. The Bergara allowed me to compete right away and get better running matches. I will not and don’t have buyers remorse. If I get better at matches to where I’m actually good then things may change with rifle choice. But I’d first buy a chassis for my Bergara before moving on. But I need to improve my match skills before I’ll notice the gun making the difference. Bench shooting gives me and most a false sense of being a good shooter. I can, like most punch holes all day long from prone or bench. A Match is a completely different beast. Below is 50 yds with the Bergara shooting prone with original trigger. This is normal shooting with this gun. Groups with the new trigger have improved a tad. It really comes down to getting the gun rock solid on target to control that little bit of recoil. I’m starting to see why weight of the gun is so important. Less movement. I have a vortex viper 5x25x50 scope which helps too.
 

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