Regular B14R barreled action or 20 inch heavy?

[paraman1]

I’ve been looking at the Begara B14r barreled actions and am trying to decide between the standard 18.5 inch version and the 20 inch MTU version. I am not the kind of guy who will leave well enough alone so even if I get the 18.5 inch version I’ll be changing stuff a year from now. Just wondering if the extra 400 bucks is gonna save me from rebarreling it a year from now or if I should buy the standard setup and save for a KI later?

 

[reelserious]

I have the 20 inch heavy barrel and it is amazing i must say. Consistent 1/4 groups at 50 yards and 1/2 inch at 100 yards

 

[usafa77]

Could you post those targets? I may need to buy a Begera.

 

[reelserious]

This is a 50 yard group shot a few days ago. The best part is it is with norma 22 match ammo only $8 a box

 

[reelserious]

This is a 50 yard group shot a few days ago. The best part is it is with norma 22 match ammo only $8 a box

 

[usafa77]

Awesome. I'm half way there. How about that .5 100 yd target.

 

[reelserious]

Awesome. I'm half way there. How about that .5 100 yd target.

I just throw those away. Pretty common on a windless day with good ammo. I am fortunate to have a 100 yard range with tall berms on all 4 sides, so very wind free for 22 shooting and testing ammo

 

[reelserious]

Found one still on cell phone 100 yards

 

[reelserious]

Found another. 400 yards

 

[usafa77]

Very impressive! Not many people who make that claim can back it up.

 

[DFOOSKING]

Have a Stainless since it came out last Christmas time. And a carbon since May 2019.

I have yet to see these things (seen a at least a dozen random B14R's) shooting anything close to make the claim the gun can shoot .5" groups at 100yds....even in calm conditions. Best 100yd groups I've shot were 4 consecutive 5 shot groups using Center X that somebody gave me. It averaged like .79". And that's substantially better than I get with my regular competition ammo. At 50yds my Winchester 52B smokes my Bergara's. But at 100yds and farther out....they do slightly better. Probably more of a ammo factor there.

To be honest. I haven't seen anything from my Stainless and my buddy's Stainless that says these shoot any better on average than the regular 18.5" models. Not that it's a slouch. When the gun is warmed up...it will do quite well....especially at 50yds. But the main reason to get the Stainless is the weight. Not sure what your really gonna do to modify a Stainless. A bolt knob? Some cerakote maybe? A tuner perhaps? Plan on a trigger upgrade. Plan on a stock of your choosing obviously since the Stainless doesn't come with one.

I personally ran the Carbon for years and combined with the other components.....an AICS chassis which is heavy......a Premier Heritage 5-25x56mm which is heavy.....the gun was very nice for my personal preference. The switch to the 18.5 blued barreled action isn't much of a weight increase versus the other parts. Maybe adding a pound. I went to the Stainless and the weight increase was like 3lbs. My current rig (using all different components) is heavier overall. Not sure I really like the added weight or were the weight is located honestly.

The one thing I really hate with these and I'm not sure it's a gun thing or an ammo thing. These guns are not cold bore reliable at all compared to other .22's I've got. It isn't uncommon to fire round #1 thru #4 or #5 at 50yds....and see rounds wildly wide. The gun has to settle in. Once settled in and hot/warm.....it drives round onto round.

And running my personal old all aluminum suppressor has lead to less than ideal performance. I never use my can on my Bergara's because of it. Damn shame. I will say I should get another can with what wait times have been lately. Perhaps a better outcome is yet possible IDK. I know all about the potential issues running a can....would just be nice to go out thrash bunny skulls with this thing.

 

[reelserious]

what ammo are you guys running with these "average" groups? In 22 LR its all about the ammo. The better the ammo the better the groups. I would be trying more kinds of ammo and perhaps see if you can get a good benchrest guy to try it out as a "control" group. And when i say benchrest guys I mean those guys with the 50 lbs front rests and the real stiff rear bags. I usually shoot with a humble harris bipod and a soft rear bag. The bench rest guys have the gun 100% steady when they break the shot with their 4 OZ triggers.

 

[DFOOSKING]

And when i say benchrest guys I mean those guys with the 50 lbs front rests and the real stiff rear bags. I usually shoot with a humble harris bipod and a soft rear bag. The bench rest guys have the gun 100% steady when they break the shot with their 4 OZ triggers.

Maybe I could find them an indoor range too. Might ss well get someone to use the rifle completely how it's not going to be employed. But I'm sure if you need a 50lb rest front and rear to outshoot me....I must be a push over.

Just buy better ammo ya say? At these prices Lapua can get fucked....

 

[reelserious]

the price of 22 ammo is ridiculous for the top end stuff. that's why I love my new bagara so much shoots great with $8 a box ammo and shoots one MOA with $4 a box ammo I use for practice.

 

[CageFighter]

This is a 50 yard group shot a few days ago. The best part is it is with norma 22 match ammo only $8 a box

my Ruger RPRR also loves that Norma Match ammo!