Modacam B14R barrel or Vudoo/RimX?

[hafejd30]

First start off by saying I have a B14R factory rifle in a MPA comp chassis

It has shot decent. Not super but good enough

I shot it a bunch last year and somewhere along the way left my suppressor on and based on my cleaning and borescope exam I have pitting in my barrel

Not a huge deal but I'm really hoping to stretch its legs this year in long range rimfire and torn on what I should do

I know guys here have owned many rimfires.

Would an upgraded B14R with the bolt smoothed out and custom modacam barrel be worth it. Or should a guy invest in a Vudoo or Rimx instead

I’m looking for accuracy. I don’t compete but if I did it be in a open class much like fclass as that’s what our local club does

Looking for opinions on which way to venture

Before someone says shoot it and see what it does. I plan to shoot it. I’m looking for the next step regardless.

 

[Ruslow]

I think your pocket book will be more a a guide than anything.As the shooting groups get tighter and smaller the pocket book gets lighter FAST!This is abig hole that once you start down it it is very deep.

 

[beetroot]

I recently re barreled a T1x, in hindsight I think I should've just gone for a Vudoo.

You don't hear about too many people customizing Bergaras, it seems most just jump straight to a Vudoo/RimX.
The only rifle you seem to see regularly customized is the CZ457 and I think that's because they have a track record of being reliable and are fairly easy to rebarrel with the prefit options.

I'm not usually one to just do what everyone else does, but the headaches I've had with my T1x makes me think the thousands of other people before me have got it right.

 

[DrA1]

I customized a B14R — re barreled at Crossroads Precision in TX. I went with a 25” mullerworks 13 twist, M24 contour. The chamber is a rem 52D and it shoots lights out. My action was smooth from the jump so I didn’t have shroud or spring work done. It of course has the Bergara “secondary tightness” on bolt closure but that is not an issue. It’ll run you about 1000-1200 to get it rebarreled so consider that before you make a decision. For reference I also have a Vudoo 360 with a mullerworks barrel 25”, 1.125 straight taper, nevius chamber by DI Precision. The guns shoot identically - average 5 shot groups at 50 yards = 0.3” consistently with lot tested ammo. Both shoot under an inch at 100.

The difference between the two is feel - do you like the 60 degree throw of the Vudoo or the 90 degree of the Bergara. The closure on the Vudoo is easier (likely the nevius chamber versus the tighter 52D), but running the bolt back and forth is easier on the Bergara (don’t know why— example, when I position my Bergara during a stage with the bolt open, if I aggressively move the gun into position, the bolt will slide forward and strip a round)

I love them both, but I shoot the Bergara more and my son shoots the Vudoo more.

I’ve had to replace extractors and tensioner springs in both. The Vudoo mag required some adjustment and the Bergara mags just worked — both in MDT and Aero chassis.

Can’t speak to RimX but the Modacam modx looks like a winner.

 

[Emerson0311]

I recently re barreled a T1x, in hindsight I think I should've just gone for a Vudoo.

You don't hear about too many people customizing Bergaras, it seems most just jump straight to a Vudoo/RimX.
The only rifle you seem to see regularly customized is the CZ457 and I think that's because they have a track record of being reliable and are fairly easy to rebarrel with the prefit options.

I'm not usually one to just do what everyone else does, but the headaches I've had with my T1x makes me think the thousands of other people before me have got it right.

The funny thing about my IBI barreled T1X is that once I opened up the headspace to run CCI Standard Velocity, it has run flawlessly.

 

[Lastsaint21]

I have a Vudoo, that Johnathan Fixed that Vudoo well Mike Bush could not. Johnathan turned it into a shooter. If it was me, I would trust my money with Modacam. He won't let it leave there until he is happy with it.

 

[ZCOklahoma]

I have two Modacam built Vudoos that are never leaving my collection. You can't go wrong with anything Modacam builds. I am hoping to pick up another soon for my wife.

 

[hafejd30]

So I shot it. Now this isn’t competition worthy I’m sure but it surprised me. You can literally see where the gun was shot suppressed, moisture collected only to one side of the barrel when it was laying on its side and caused some corrosion. I wish I took pictures but I definitely wasn’t happy about leaving it sit at some point with the can on.

I’m sure it was up at our camp where we pound through a 500 round box of SK between a couple rifles over the weekend and I left the can on

Anyways took it out for the first time this year. Up to a rainy and cold 35°

Shot one group at 50 yards. Took me a couple shots to get on paper as the new DNT wasn’t bore sighted. Shot out of my kids bedroom of a plastic folding table

50 yards. 8 shots of SK LR. I had 10 in the mag and I took the first couple to get on paper

Next I moved to 100 yards. Shot the rest of the 50 round box. My drop showed 6.1. Not realizing that was in moa I donated the first few rounds to the swamp behind my target

This is the last 3 groups at 100 yards. 30 consecutive shots with only 1 round which was the first of that group going outside 1 MOA. Otherwise 29 shots inside 1 MOA and think like 27 inside 3/4 MOA

Doesn’t seem like anything is changed as this is how it shot before.

My next question,

Is this considered good? I do want to build another 22 coming up for my wife and eventually kids to shoot with me. I’m thinking I may just put this one back in the factory stock and build out a high end one for myself. I’m not sure with the way this is shooting if it’s worth a new barrel after firing it

I did have 1 or 2 hang ups each mag where I had to reseat the round in the mag for the bolt to properly grab it. I’m also not super crazy about the bolt lift on this thing which makes me sway towards just upgrading down the road

On another note. This DNT rocks and blows the Arken it replaced out of the water.

 

[Jack_L]

That's adequate precision for PRS Rimfire.

 

[ma smith]

That's adequate precision for PRS Rimfire.

IMHO match rifles also are also getting too specialized to recommend a real "match build" for general plinking.

 

[Jack_L]

MHO match rifles also are also getting too specialized to recommend a real "match build" for general plinking

Agreed. My competition .22s are built for that purpose only. Still fun to just shoot from a bench, but I'm not taking a 20-something pound .22 rimfire out for a walk.

 

[BowChamp]

Does the pitting look like this??

 

[hafejd30]

Does the pitting look like this??



View attachment 8632498

View attachment 8632499

View attachment 8632497

No. I should have snapped some pics. I’ll post a similar image I found on internet. It’s more of a white looking spot. Perfectly clean bore. See all the lands. Then a spot that goes probably 5” from the lands forwards and on the left side only of the bore. Just in front of chamber. Right side is perfectly fine. These images are similar. You can’t really see the rifling in that area

I’m open to learning what it may be. First time I’ve scoped my .22 other than just looking at the carbon ring. Never seen this in my rifle calibers

Looks super rough in my bore scope. I cleaned with carbon remover. Then went back and cleaned following the procedure on the bore tech rimfire blend bottle. No change to this portion. The rest looks great

Says leading in this pic from an air rifle

 

[BowChamp]

No. I should have snapped some pics. I’ll post a similar image I found on internet. It’s more of a white looking spot. Perfectly clean bore. See all the lands. Then a spot that goes probably 5” from the lands forwards and on the left side only of the bore. Right side is perfectly fine. These images are similar. You can’t really see the rifling in that area

I’m open to learning what it may be. First time I’ve scoped my .22 other than just looking at the carbon ring. Never seen this in my rifle calibers

Looks super rough in my bore scope. I cleaned with carbon remover. Then went back and cleaned following the procedure on the bore tech rimfire blend bottle. No change to this portion. The rest looks great

Says leading in this pic from an air rifle
View attachment 8632537

Is it closer to chamber or muzzle? Pics of your barrel would be great.

 

[hafejd30]

Is it closer to chamber or muzzle? Pics of your barrel would be great.

I didn’t grab pics then shot a box of ammo over it today. Maybe I can try tomorrow to see what it looks like. Really irrelevant now with the fact I see no real change in performance after shooting. Which is why we all advocate shooting to see what the target tells haha

It’s in front of chamber area on left side. Like moisture accumulation then laid the rifle on a table. Or an issue in that exact area. I can see parts of it where the lands start. Then forward maybe 5”. Some more down the barrel as well but not as bad. Same thing all on the left side of the bore

 

[BowChamp]

I didn’t grab pics then shot a box of ammo over it today. Maybe I can try tomorrow to see what it looks like. Really irrelevant now with the fact I see no real change in performance after shooting. Which is why we all advocate shooting to see what the target tells haha

It’s in front of chamber area on left side. Like moisture accumulation then laid the rifle on a table. Or an issue in that exact area. I can see parts of it where the lands start. Then forward maybe 5”. Some more down the barrel as well but not as bad. Same thing all on the left side of the bore

Yep, target is the final say so for sure.

More out of curiosity now, seeing pics helps me learn.

 

[hafejd30]

Yep, target is the final say so for sure.

More out of curiosity now, seeing pics helps me learn.

It looks almost identical to the pic above. But mine has less detail between the grooves/lands. I’m still learning as well. I plan to take this thing to several hundred yards on steel coming up so don’t want it hampering my velocity spread either

If nothing else I’ll put back in its original stock. Then build out a nicer 23.5-25” setup. I want another one anyways.

Shooting at least proved to me the expectations on accuracy haven’t changed from before. I had a Vudoo 360 with a 20” Bartlein but never had time to shoot it. Sold that when I seen how good the B14R did. For my use anyways.

 

[beetroot]

So I shot it. Now this isn’t competition worthy I’m sure but it surprised me. You can literally see where the gun was shot suppressed, moisture collected only to one side of the barrel when it was laying on its side and caused some corrosion. I wish I took pictures but I definitely wasn’t happy about leaving it sit at some point with the can on.

I’m sure it was up at our camp where we pound through a 500 round box of SK between a couple rifles over the weekend and I left the can on

Anyways took it out for the first time this year. Up to a rainy and cold 35°

Shot one group at 50 yards. Took me a couple shots to get on paper as the new DNT wasn’t bore sighted. Shot out of my kids bedroom of a plastic folding table

50 yards. 8 shots of SK LR. I had 10 in the mag and I took the first couple to get on paper
View attachment 8632303
Next I moved to 100 yards. Shot the rest of the 50 round box. My drop showed 6.1. Not realizing that was in moa I donated the first few rounds to the swamp behind my target

This is the last 3 groups at 100 yards. 30 consecutive shots with only 1 round which was the first of that group going outside 1 MOA. Otherwise 29 shots inside 1 MOA and think like 27 inside 3/4 MOA

View attachment 8632328View attachment 8632329View attachment 8632324

Doesn’t seem like anything is changed as this is how it shot before.

My next question,

Is this considered good? I do want to build another 22 coming up for my wife and eventually kids to shoot with me. I’m thinking I may just put this one back in the factory stock and build out a high end one for myself. I’m not sure with the way this is shooting if it’s worth a new barrel after firing it

I did have 1 or 2 hang ups each mag where I had to reseat the round in the mag for the bolt to properly grab it. I’m also not super crazy about the bolt lift on this thing which makes me sway towards just upgrading down the road

On another note. This DNT rocks and blows the Arken it replaced out of the water.

Yes that accuracy is good, unless you are getting large ES/SDs lot testing of ammo is more likely to get an improvement than a new barrel.

 

[Defender32]

The rifle shoots good based on those groups. it is worth of shooting in any NRL22 or PRS Rimfire match.

order some rubber plugs of of amazon. SHOVE one in the chamber end of you barrel or the muzzle end and fill the barrel with Boretech C4 Carbon remover. Let that crap soak in there for 2-3 bays. remove the plug and scrub that barrel with a nylon brush till it bore scopes clean. You will get all that crap out of it. the suppressor and minor moisture will not kill the barrel.

If you want to spend the $1000-$1200 on re barreling I would not hesitate to send it to MCR or Rachel Precision for a new one. I have multiple builds by them both and those two work on projects well together.

 

[bobby1028]

Yes that accuracy is good, unless you are getting large ES/SDs lot testing of ammo is more likely to get an improvement than a new barrel.

I agree, clean the chamber and push a wet patch down the barrel, call it a day. That's good for a factory Bergara, might get a little better with some lot testing. Another case of throw away the borescope and look at the target !

 

[Bgriff008]

My B14 is as accurate as anything else out there being shot. If it wasn’t, I’d move on to a vudoo. Wouldn’t even mess with the barrel. All I’ve done to my B14 is add a lighter spring and sanded/filed and polished the feed ramp as suggested by Crossroads Precision rifles. The action is so smooth and light now. But the barrel has always been accurate. Any miss on the stage is of my doing, not the guns. Below is par for the course at 50 yds. I have other 50 yd groups that are tighter but this is standard out of my rifle.