Odds of getting a B14r with FTEX and FTEJ issues

[DMTYAGER]

I just got to shoot a friends 22lr B14R steel barrel model that was save for him installing a Jewel trigger (set at 6-8ozs) 100% stock. He let me shoot it about 50 times. He had six mags for it he loaded and handed to me as I shot. I shot the best fifty yard 5 shot 22lr group of my life, shot 10 bulls at 50 yards of a ARA card he had up and hit the bulls eye on all 10 then was hitting 2" steel targets with boring ease at 75 to 150 yards (he was dialing the scope for me) and a 3" steel target at 200 7x out of ten in a slight cross wind no less.

I have to say I absolutely love the way the gun fits me and I shoot it like it's an extension of my body.

He bought his from a LGS that still has one in stock. As I said I shot it at least 50x's and he shot it at least 300x that day. I shot SK Match Rifle and he shot that and RWS and Lapua ammo and had zero issues extracting or ejecting spent cases.

My question is does anyone have any idea what the odds of my buying a B14r that will have FTEJ or FTEX problems? I realize that's a tough possibly impossible question to answer but I'm not hurting anything by asking.

The LGS has only one left with a steel barrel in 22lr at a OK price below $1k so I'd like to go buy it ASAP so I ask that people please share their thoughts and opinions in answering my question.

Greatest of thanks
Art.

 

[sps3172]

I just got to shoot a friends 22lr B14R steel barrel model that was save for him installing a Jewel trigger (set at 6-8ozs) 100% stock. He let me shoot it about 50 times. He had six mags for it he loaded and handed to me as I shot. I shot the best fifty yard 5 shot 22lr group of my life, shot 10 bulls at 50 yards of a ARA card he had up and hit the bulls eye on all 10 then was hitting 2" steel targets with boring ease at 75 to 150 yards (he was dialing the scope for me) and a 3" steel target at 200 7x out of ten in a slight cross wind no less.

I have to say I absolutely love the way the gun fits me and I shoot it like it's an extension of my body.

He bought his from a LGS that still has one in stock. As I said I shot it at least 50x's and he shot it at least 300x that day. I shot SK Match Rifle and he shot that and RWS and Lapua ammo and had zero issues extracting or ejecting spent cases.

My question is does anyone have any idea what the odds of my buying a B14r that will have FTEJ or FTEX problems? I realize that's a tough possibly impossible question to answer but I'm not hurting anything by asking.

The LGS has only one left with a steel barrel in 22lr at a OK price below $1k so I'd like to go buy it ASAP so I ask that people please share their thoughts and opinions in answering my question.

Greatest of thanks
Art.

Aren't there known fixes for the FTEJ or FTEX issues? If you plan to use the factory stock, you reduce the odds that you'll have feeding issues, as I understand it. I'm always more worried about the barrel that I get on a factory rifle. Some group...some don't. Usually not much you can do to change things like that.

 

[DMTYAGER]

Except for installing a AM trigger I have no plans or intentions of ever modifying it any way whatsoever.
If it shoots equal to my friends I doubt my abilities could benefit from any other modifications other than a trigger job.

 

[DMTYAGER]

I just finished doing load development for my CVA Cascade in 450 Bushmaster which the barrel for it is made for CVA by Bergara and its a NO BS what so ever solid .6moa rifle with no less than three different of my reloads.

 

[hafejd30]

I have the steel version. It’s got 50 rounds of SK and 50-60 rounds of CCI and federal through it. I did have about 3-5 fails to ejects on it with SK long range in those 50. Don’t recall how the others did

 

[sps3172]

Except for installing a AM trigger I have no plans or intentions of ever modifying it any way whatsoever.
If it shoots equal to my friends I doubt my abilities could benefit from any other modifications other than a trigger job.

Go buy it. From what I read, the vast majority of feed related issues stem from aftermarket stocks and issues related to magazine fit. Extraction issues stem from a sloppy fit between ejector and action. Supposedly, Bergara began 'staking' the action/ejector junction. If your new rifle was prior to this change, than it's simple to stake it yourself (or have a gunsmith do it...).



As I stated above, the only real chance you take is related to how good the barrel/chamber is.

 

[DMTYAGER]

Thanks again.

 

[vaguru]

I have one of the first B-14R rifles that arrived in this country. Shot well over 15,000 rounds, never failed to extract or eject when operated correctly. The one fail to eject was shooting groups and wanted to check firing pin hit on a different brand of ammo. I operated the bolt way too slow and it just fell into the lug recess. Totally my fault, not the rifles or ammo.

Mine is steel, factory everything, not staked, trigger mod was done before it was popular up until last March. At that point I replaced trigger with a factory Remington 2 oz without issue.

Go for it, I don't see how you could go too wrong.

 

[Colt45guy]

My sample of 1 has not had a single failure to feed or extract that wasn't magazine related in over 2K rounds. I bought a lefty model as soon as it came out. One of my magazines had a tight spot that wasn't letting the follower move freely. A few minutes with 400 grit sandpaper wrapped around a popsicle stick smoothed that out and I haven't had any issues since.

 

[sawman556]

I've probably put 5k through my B14R in the last 2 months. Zero issues in both the factory stock and Xylo chassis using 10 different OEM mags. It's got a TT Diamond Pro set at 8 ounces. The only thing I'm not digging is the NF NX8 2.5-20 I put on it. I'm going to replace it once I figure out what I want. Got a DA Mask coming anytime now. I really enjoy this rifle. It was worth every penny I paid for it. Get one!

 

[allan harris]

My mate and I have three - The steel barrels are 2021 build & his carbon is 2022 build. All are fitted with Jewell triggers. Two are in the factory stock & one is in a KRG Bravo. We run a number of unmodified factory mags in each. Mine has fired over 4,000 rounds and the other two have fired several thousand more. NONE of these rifles have had a FTF, FTEx, FTEj or any feed issues whatsoever. We run SK/Lapua ammo. My "go to" 22LR of choice is the Anschutz 1710 DHB Classic - I have 2 of these and the B14R, with proven lot numbers of ammo, is right there with them accuracy wise.
As some one has already said, not all barrels are created equal. It works both ways - If I score a gun that won't function and I can't fix it, it goes down the road. If I score a gun that won't shoot accurately, I re-barrel it IF I think the cost is justified or it also goes down the road.
My opinion only! I hope you enjoy your Bergara.

 

[Aftermath]

Mine is the steel version. I have well over 1000 rounds of various ammo through it. Not one single issue with feeding or ejecting and amazingly accurate, even with some real cheap ammo. Factory stock, Mackbros mags, Timney trigger.

 

[4O6shootist]

Been around 2 different b14r for roughly 2k rounds, my rifle has been flawless, it's a few years old. Got the lady a left hand version for Christmas last year, it failed to eject a LOT. Staked the ejector with a center punch and golden. No fail to extract on either rifle.

 

[DeathBeforeDismount]

I would take it over something from ruger, tikka or CZ. Its one of the few guns you wont see go down almost every stage at a PRS22 match.

They are good cheap little guns.

 

[dbltap45acp]

I say go buy one. I bought a steel barrel version recently. Only have maybe 500-750 round through it so far. It’s in the factory stock and I dropped a Timney HIT trigger in that’s set at 8oz. I have had zero failures in the short time I have had it. I have mostly ran CCI, Norma Tac22, and some SK through it.

 

[MarkCZ]

I just got to shoot a friends 22lr B14R steel barrel model that was save for him installing a Jewel trigger (set at 6-8ozs) 100% stock. He let me shoot it about 50 times. He had six mags for it he loaded and handed to me as I shot. I shot the best fifty yard 5 shot 22lr group of my life, shot 10 bulls at 50 yards of a ARA card he had up and hit the bulls eye on all 10 then was hitting 2" steel targets with boring ease at 75 to 150 yards (he was dialing the scope for me) and a 3" steel target at 200 7x out of ten in a slight cross wind no less.

I have to say I absolutely love the way the gun fits me and I shoot it like it's an extension of my body.

He bought his from a LGS that still has one in stock. As I said I shot it at least 50x's and he shot it at least 300x that day. I shot SK Match Rifle and he shot that and RWS and Lapua ammo and had zero issues extracting or ejecting spent cases.

My question is does anyone have any idea what the odds of my buying a B14r that will have FTEJ or FTEX problems? I realize that's a tough possibly impossible question to answer but I'm not hurting anything by asking.

The LGS has only one left with a steel barrel in 22lr at a OK price below $1k so I'd like to go buy it ASAP so I ask that people please share their thoughts and opinions in answering my question.

Greatest of thanks
Art.

I have 2 B14R. my first one has had 2 or 3 FTE leaving the fired round on top is mag. It needs to have the ejector pinned, it moves, I will pinned after the shooting season. The new one, has no problem. You hear of problems when putting a barreled action in non factory stock or chassis.

 

[obx22]

I only own 1, steel, purchased from a bud who got two. I’ve been shooting it monthly in matches, practice, and goofing around at long range. In that time I’ve had less than 10 failures to eject, zero failures to extract, and might be able to blame some of those failures on tight barricades where the case might have bounced back in. I swapped from the HMR stock to a used BMP chassis for the added buttplate adjustment, and ease of bolt on accessories if I go there. I would recommend it to my friends, that’s the best endorsement I can offer.

 

[DMTYAGER]

View attachment 7974608
I only own 1, steel, purchased from a bud who got two. I’ve been shooting it monthly in matches, practice, and goofing around at long range. In that time I’ve had less than 10 failures to eject, zero failures to extract, and might be able to blame some of those failures on tight barricades where the case might have bounced back in. I swapped from the HMR stock to a used BMP chassis for the added buttplate adjustment, and ease of bolt on accessories if I go there. I would recommend it to my friends, that’s the best endorsement I can offer.

Thank you appreciate your vote of confidence.
Thanks to all a very great deal.
I am expecting delivery of my new B14R steel tomorrow.

 

[Working Man Tactical]

There’s a thread on on how modify the factory trigger. I did it for about $15, and my trigger to 1lb and it’s reliable. The factory stock imho is great. I added marinetex and rattle canned it, but it’s a tack driver. Good luck with yours!

 

[Tortuga]

My question is does anyone have any idea what the odds of my buying a B14r that will have FTEJ or FTEX problems?

Even if you buy a Bergara with the issues, the fixes are easy, inexpensive, and well documented. They are still a lot of gun for the price.

 

[68hoyt]

I have a steel barrel , no extraction issues ever but have some ejection issues and this are almost always with the same few ammo types especially Geco which is fine in everything else , the empty will fall back in the left side of the receiver or the extractor relief in the barrel and stick the bolt , the ejector lever moves freely and I was about to stake it when I came across a thread where the discussion was how many rifles use that set up without issue and how many Bergaras have no issue , the fix was to install a slightly heavier spring in the ejector ( right side of bolt ? ) I have not tested it extensively but as of now it seems to have fixed my ejection issue