Precision rimfire state of the Union for 2025, help get me up to speed please…

[jbell]

I was really into the precision rimfire game my whole life but the last 3 ish years my life has gone a little sideways (all in good ways) & left little to no time for this lifelong passion. But I am back! I want to build something new and get back into the mix.

I am curious who are the major players in the “custom” or high end precision rimfire game these days. I know of the tried and true such as Anschutz, Feinwerkbau, Walther, etc for single shot Olympic style guns, but how about the R700 footprint based stuff? It looks like there have been some big changes at VGW since Mike Bush left, are they only currently offering the 360? It looks like the RimX is still going strong. It seems the Ultimatum Duce kinda dropped out of the mainstream. I either forgot what happened or am not aware, did they ever really get that off the ground?

I will be keeping and eye on what comes out at Shot this year. Is there anyone else that has come to market with anything cool? I see Tikka is still doing the T1X and Bergara is holding their own as I am sure CZ is. Who else?

How about the top shelf custom rimfire gunsmiths out there? My go to was always Mark Penrod and I probably will still use him, but who has really made a name for themselves the last few years, especially in the repeater game?

 

[1911JMB]

All I can say is that in my area Vudu seems to be the market leader by a big margin. I'm running a CZ

 

[Masojoh]

Vudoo - still a major player. Still has factory magazines that need careful loading to avoid rim lock. L3I has come out with metal mags that I hear work well, and alleviate the rim lock risk. Has partnered with DI Precision for some of the custom builds as they have a clear focus on pistols now.

Rimx - still working great with pre fit barrels. Achilles heal is the fixed extractor. Two players offering bolt modification and barrel services to allow single round feeding. Modacam and Desert Precision Gunworks, though the latter only offers that service to guns he has built. Jonathan at Modacam will work on ones he has not built.

Deuce - seldom mentioned in anything I see.

Bergara - still doing well. KI Precision sells a barreled action and pre fit barrels for the action. I’m sure there are others, but in the circles I run you see either the stock barreled action or the heavy bergara barreled action (I have one of their heavy barrel factory guns that shoots great).

Elemental Industries has shared that he had a new action to be released this year. Has a patented bolt hold open feature that works quite well (I have a Rimx with that mod). I own and shoot two barrels chambered by him with really good results.

L3I has come on hot lately and I believe has plans to release a R700 footprint action. They are doing well in the CZ 457 game, their R700 mag is doing well, and a new chassis just came out.

Smiths - DI precision, Modacam, DP Gunworks (borderline unacceptable lead times for him, in my opinion). Elemental Industries, Rachel precision. Servos custom firearms.

 

[Emerson0311]

Ultimatum has a Gen 2 at shot 25. The bolt will be backwards compatible with a better extractor. My Duece shoots well, but feels a bit clunky and rough. Maybe just the nature of the custom 22 R700 beast?

 

[Defender32]

Builders:
Modacam, Rachel Precision, DI Precision, Servos Custom Firearms & ( DP Gunworks - ONLY builds his stuff and will not work with your supplied parts. )

MCR - MOD-X for the Rim X conversion to extractor cuts is an AMAZING upgrade to the best magazines in the game. I have 1 of the first 5 in the wild and it has been an amazing change in the rifle. The upgrade also changes the pin fall and that alone will change how your ammo shoots. This is something Jelrod has always done with his builds. I own 2 of Johnathan's Builds MOdX & 40X Conversion

Rachel Precision- Randy is an amazing Smith that thinks outside the box. He loves using Brux barrels and they are absolute hammers. A little tighter bore than the average RF Barrel and boy does it show down range. Very consistent on quality ammo. It's not hard to find a great lot of ammo on one of his builds. I have 2 of his builds. Gen 1 Vudoo and a ModX barrel. Randy and Johnathan have worked together and Rachel Precision is an approved Smith for a Mod-X barrel after you have the conversion done by MCR.

Servos Customs - Harrison is a younger guy in the business who has been spinning barrels for a LONG Time. He's not abrade to try different thing and do great things. Always a little innovation on a chamber cut and barrel cut. He builds his own in-house barrel tuner as well. It works very similar to the EC Tuners in the way it is mounted/ machined into the barrel.

 

[jbell]

Builders:
Modacam, Rachel Precision, DI Precision, Servos Custom Firearms & ( DP Gunworks - ONLY builds his stuff and will not work with your supplied parts. )

MCR - MOD-X for the Rim X conversion to extractor cuts is an AMAZING upgrade to the best magazines in the game. I have 1 of the first 5 in the wild and it has been an amazing change in the rifle. The upgrade also changes the pin fall and that alone will change how your ammo shoots. This is something Jelrod has always done with his builds. I own 2 of Johnathan's Builds MOdX & 40X Conversion

Rachel Precision- Randy is an amazing Smith that thinks outside the box. He loves using Brux barrels and they are absolute hammers. A little tighter bore than the average RF Barrel and boy does it show down range. Very consistent on quality ammo. It's not hard to find a great lot of ammo on one of his builds. I have 2 of his builds. Gen 1 Vudoo and a ModX barrel. Randy and Johnathan have worked together and Rachel Precision is an approved Smith for a Mod-X barrel after you have the conversion done by MCR.

Servos Customs - Harrison is a younger guy in the business who has been spinning barrels for a LONG Time. He's not abrade to try different thing and do great things. Always a little innovation on a chamber cut and barrel cut. He builds his own in-house barrel tuner as well. It works very similar to the EC Tuners in the way it is mounted/ machined into the barrel.

Is the firing pin adjustment changing the bottom of the cocking piece of the Rim X? The two I have owned both had a fair amount (more than I would like to see) on the top of the trigger sear.

 

[Defender32]

Is the firing pin adjustment changing the bottom of the cocking piece of the Rim X? The two I have owned both had a fair amount (more than I would like to see) on the top of the trigger sear.

I am not for sure. It is a Johnathan design and he don't give out those trade secrets on how it's done. I know all my RimX Builds from MCR have all been standard height seer for Bix'n Andy triggers.

 

[1911JMB]

why hasn't Anschutz been more accepted by the PRS community

 

[jbell]

why hasn't Anschutz been more accepted by the PRS community

Probably due to limited chassis options and cost. It's hard to offer something better for that community than a R700 SA compatibly for both chassis and triggers.

 

[Emerson0311]

why hasn't Anschutz been more accepted by the PRS community

I’ve heard about significant feeding issues also.

 

[jbell]

I’ve heard about significant feeding issues also.

Having owned 3 Anschutz Match 54 repeaters (2 of the 54.18 & also an 1807B, same action) & a LOT of rounds through them I can confidently say the feeding issues are from an improperly adjusted magazine well (they are adjustable, like about everything on an Anschutz). I can't speak to the 64 series repeaters. The match 54 repeater feeds excellent. I have heard of some extraction / ejection issues but I never experienced any.

 

[Emerson0311]

Having owned 3 Anschutz Match 54 repeaters (2 of the 54.18 & also an 1807B, same action) & a LOT of rounds through them I can confidently say the feeding issues are from an improperly adjusted magazine well (they are adjustable, like about everything on an Anschutz). I can't speak to the 64 series repeaters. The match 54 repeater feeds excellent. I have heard of some extraction / ejection issues but I never experienced any.

The negatives I heard were all in ACC chassis.

 

[jbell]

The negatives I heard were all in ACC chassis.

That really shouldn't matter as the magazine well / catch assembly is bolted to the action. There is some adjustment to exactly where it bolts up in the design of the system. But who knows really, sometimes weird stuff happens especially with rimfire...

 

[ma smith]

With the anschutz, seems there's no real track record or love for the 10rnd mags.

 

[Cowpokey]

With the anschutz, seems there's no real track record or love for the 10rnd mags.

I've got three Anschutz rifles, two 1712 (54) and a 1416 (64). The 10 round mags (4 of those) suck in both 1712 rifles, and do pretty "ok" in the 1416. All of those rifles feed perfect with 5 round mags, of which I have a dozen.

I think that's the main issue with Anschutz being in PRS, the mags are the shortfall.

 

[Kadams1563]

Call DI precision. Get a Vudoo 360 with a 25” straight tube.

Throw in chassis it stock of choice.

Buy SK standard + for practice and SK Long Range, Lapua Long Range, eley Match for comp and matches.

Go shoot a ton.

 

[ma smith]

What is the state of the art with Vudoo mags?

 

[jbell]

With the anschutz, seems there's no real track record or love for the 10rnd mags.

The Anschutz 10 round mags run like a sewing machine in the match 54 action & Fortner action, watch some biathlon 99% of the rifles on the line will be a Fortner and speed is king there. The 17xx series Anschutz actions are not Match 54 actions, they are the 54 sporter action (different triggers, different action screw locations, threaded barrels vs pressed & pinned, sandwiched recoil lug vs the mortise and tenon style. I have no experience with the 17xx series actions so I don’t know how they feed, I’m not sure what the difference is in that regard. Bummer though, I loved my match 54 repeaters.

 

[ma smith]

The Anschutz 10 round mags run like a sewing machine in the match 54 action & Fortner action, watch some biathlon 99% of the rifles on the line will be a Fortner and speed is king there. The 17xx series Anschutz actions are not Match 54 actions, they are the 54 sporter action (different triggers, different action screw locations, threaded barrels vs pressed & pinned, sandwiched recoil lug vs the mortise and tenon style. I have no experience with the 17xx series actions so I don’t know how they feed, I’m not sure what the difference is in that regard. Bummer though, I loved my match 54 repeaters.

Pretty sure rifles like the 54-18 repeater ("MSR") and 1827F (Biathlon) were originally setup/optimized around 5 rnd mags.

Check out IBU or in NRA small-bore regs. It's 5rnd/per mag in both disciplines.

 

[jetjock07]

I’ll second Elemental Industries. I’ve shot several matches with the owner and he’s a great guy. Everything I’ve seen from him just plain shoots. About to send him a barrel to spin up for my Rimx.

 

[J_D]

DPG has long lead times because Kenny touches every single action and barrel and they have to meet his standards which he backs up 100%.

I’ve owned almost every Rimfire except MCR, and Vudoo has screwed the pooch sole sourcing through one vendor. RimX is having serious QC issues and hopefully someone is ready to enter the game. CZ doesn’t support shooters, Vudoo and RimX aren’t where they were. I’m hoping Mike Bush, L3i, and DPG come out with their stuff to shake things up. It’s time.

That being said my DPG Vudoo is the best Rimfire I’ve ever owned. Waiting on my RimX modded version, and their just announced DPG action to test. What ever happened to Vudoo mags from last year’s Shot Show? Oh yeah, they are focusing on Handguns. The PE and Investors don’t care about us.

 

[Kadams1563]

What is the state of the art with Vudoo mags?

The bullet L3i mag is the business. It’s expensive but buy one and they are kick ass.

I use the L3i for the first mag and then a factory mag for a reload if necessary.

 

[jbell]

Pretty sure rifles like the 54-18 repeater ("MSR") and 1827F (Biathlon) were originally setup/optimized around 5 rnd mags.

Check out IBU or in NRA small-bore regs. It's 5rnd/per mag in both disciplines.

Ahhh yes, totally my mistake. It has been many years since I sold my last one. They were 5 round mags.

This was my favorite, an 1827B action that I had Mark Penrod put a 3 grove 15t Benchmark on and I inlet and bedded in the stock. It was a shooter!

These are the other 2 I had:

 

[Criver600]

Between my brother, two brother in-laws, nephew, and some friends. I know of 9 of the new Anschutz 1727F AT-X rifles that run 10, and modified 12 round mags flawlessly.

 

[jbell]

Between my brother, two brother in-laws, nephew, and some friends. I know of 9 of the new Anschutz 1727F AT-X rifles that run 10, and modified 12 round mags flawlessly.View attachment 8594623View attachment 8594627

Man those are awesome!

 

[steve123]

Once you own a Fortner it's hard to go back to bolt guns and it's also hard to talk oneself into letting go of the old 1827F to help finance the new 1727F.

In a fantasy world I'd have 4 or so Fortners built in different ways from a super featherweight carbine to a heavy BR rig.

I took my magazine hanger off one time for whatever reason and it's a must that the hanger is set "just right" for perfect feeding. It took me a long time of trial and error to get this done correctly but it was before, and is now, very reliable. Also the 10 round magazines have to be loaded so each case head is all the way back against the magazine. If these two things are done right then you're GTG.

 

[ma smith]

Unfortunately, the "real" 1827F action can't take proper mounts for running magnified optics.