Vudoo Gun Works V-22 Rimfire Bolt Action

[Matt_3479]

Vudoo 360
Ks arms 1.250 1:14 twist 26”
Mdt acc
Tt diamond
Spearhead tuner
Apex rival 4-32x56

 

[mike_srt4]

Vudoo 360
Ks arms 1.250 1:14 twist 26”
Mdt acc
Tt diamond
Spearhead tuner
Apex rival 4-32x56
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Looks good, and shoots good!

 

[Gtar]

I just sold my Bergara B14R and bought myself a Vudoo. It's an early one but is a big improvement just in how smooth the bolt cocking is and it feeds and extracts so much better. Groups yesterday are not quite what the Bergara shot but it was first time out with it and it was a super clean barrel so I imagine it will get better. Groups in the photo were shooting off a bipod and playing with the tuner so not as good as it can get but not too bad. I gave it a run at 500m as well (mostly to try out the NF prism) and it was pretty decent, hitting the same rock a couple of times from 10 shots. Current setup is in an X-Ray stock, Jewel trigger, 40 MOA rail and Gen 2 Razor. Does anyone know what make the barrel is on the Gen 1? It's an MTU contour.

 

[flatland1]

Gtar - if it's the original barrel, you might contact VGW with the rifle's s/n to see if they can look it up in their records to tell you what bbl they used to put it together. Or simply take it out of the chassis and look for a small, uppercase letter stamped at the bbl's 6:00, an inch or so ahead of the action. An A would be their own ACE, B would be a Bartlein.

 

[Gtar]

Gtar - if it's the original barrel, you might contact VGW with the rifle's s/n to see if they can look it up in their records to tell you what bbl they used to put it together. Or simply take it out of the chassis and look for a small, uppercase letter stamped at the bbl's 6:00, an inch or so ahead of the action. An A would be their own ACE, B would be a Bartlein.

Thanks, I'll have a look.

 

[jbell]

I just sold my Bergara B14R and bought myself a Vudoo. It's an early one but is a big improvement just in how smooth the bolt cocking is and it feeds and extracts so much better. Groups yesterday are not quite what the Bergara shot but it was first time out with it and it was a super clean barrel so I imagine it will get better. Groups in the photo were shooting off a bipod and playing with the tuner so not as good as it can get but not too bad. I gave it a run at 500m as well (mostly to try out the NF prism) and it was pretty decent, hitting the same rock a couple of times from 10 shots. Current setup is in an X-Ray stock, Jewel trigger, 40 MOA rail and Gen 2 Razor. Does anyone know what make the barrel is on the Gen 1? It's an MTU contour.
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You mentioned that it is an early V-22, and based on the bolt assembly it looks to be a Gen1. In my opinion the Gen1 action with the melonited bolt was the smoothest action of them all…

 

[Gtar]

You mentioned that it is an early V-22, and based on the bolt assembly it looks to be a Gen1. In my opinion the Gen1 action with the melonited bolt was the smoothest action of them all…

That looks to be the case, it's got the Remington style cocking piece. I've used a Lithgow LA101 for a while and it is a lovely little rifle, I just didn't want to rebarrel it to add some weight. I bought the Bergara for the compatability with stocks etc and it's amazingly accurate, just a bit clunky and I got a bit paranoid after seeing some broken bolts. This honestly feels as though the bolt isn't even cocking compared to the Bergara and it feeds and ejects so much more consistently. I'm looking forward to shooting a match with it in a couple of weeks and seeing how it goes.

 

[whatsupdoc]

A few months ago there was some rumors about Vudoo coming out with a new magazine, anyone know if its
true.

 

[Rob01]

A few months ago there was some rumors about Vudoo coming out with a new magazine, anyone know if its
true.

Still being worked on.

 

[Csafisher]

Did they run into a patent issue or something? I thought it was supposed to be out months ago?

 

[Rob01]

Did they run into a patent issue or something? I thought it was supposed to be out months ago?

Yup was supposed to be a while ago but they want to get it 100% right before putting it out.

 

[mike_srt4]

Perhaps Zermatt did, Vudoo had the new mags at shot show. Looked like a very similar design. Which I thought was great due to the Zermatt mags working so well. I’ve been eagerly waiting. I emailed them a little while back and they said they weren’t happy with something and were changing them.

 

[RocketJ]

I really like the Vudoo and will probably get one eventually. though I understand the argument for the magazine’s form factor, I don’t compete and therefore don’t want it. What I’d really like is a more conventional bottom metal and small- format magazine. I doubt Vudoo is interested in doing this format, since they’re busy enough. I’m putting a feeler out to see if anyone has tried making such a change.
Jack

 

[Rob01]

I really like the Vudoo and will probably get one eventually. though I understand the argument for the magazine’s form factor, I don’t compete and therefore don’t want it. What I’d really like is a more conventional bottom metal and small- format magazine. I doubt Vudoo is interested in doing this format, since they’re busy enough. I’m putting a feeler out to see if anyone has tried making such a change.
Jack

Yeah I wouldn’t hold you breath. Vudoo likes to go forward and not back to tiny mags. Plenty of rifles take them or you could get a single shot Vudoo if the mag sticking out bothers you.

 

[whatsupdoc]

I really like the Vudoo and will probably get one eventually. though I understand the argument for the magazine’s form factor, I don’t compete and therefore don’t want it. What I’d really like is a more conventional bottom metal and small- format magazine. I doubt Vudoo is interested in doing this format, since they’re busy enough. I’m putting a feeler out to see if anyone has tried making such a change.
Jack

So much easier to swap mags in and out of a Vudoo vs a Anschutz or a CZ where you have to feel around, or turn the rifle
on its side to find the magwell.

 

[Cowpokey]

So much easier to swap mags in and out of a Vudoo vs a Anschutz or a CZ where you have to feel around, or turn the rifle
on its side to find the magwell.

Nothing more true has ever been posted on the Hide. I swapped my first mag in the Vudoo without looking 2 years ago. Been shooting Anschutz rifles (x3) for about 15 months and have to fumble around and/or look every time.

 

[RocketJ]

Well, I’ve recived the responses I expected. My thought was to use a light-barreled Vudoo action to build a custom sporter. The magazine as currently issued, for all its merits, would not be very visually pleasing. Probably I’ll come up with an alternative build idea at some point.
Jack

 

[Cowpokey]

Well, I’ve recived the responses I expected. My thought was to use a light-barreled Vudoo action to build a custom sporter. The magazine as currently issued, for all its merits, would not be very visually pleasing. Probably I’ll come up with an alternative build idea at some point.
Jack

Get a 5 round mag, it'll still stick out, but not as much.

 

[Rob01]

Yeah I was going to say get a 5 rounder also.

 

[whatsupdoc]

Well, I’ve recived the responses I expected. My thought was to use a light-barreled Vudoo action to build a custom sporter. The magazine as currently issued, for all its merits, would not be very visually pleasing. Probably I’ll come up with an alternative build idea at some point.
Jack

Now listen SON, sometimes selecting visually pleasing guns is like getting a smoking hot looking frigid woman.

 

[BowChamp]

Well, I’ve recived the responses I expected. My thought was to use a light-barreled Vudoo action to build a custom sporter. The magazine as currently issued, for all its merits, would not be very visually pleasing. Probably I’ll come up with an alternative build idea at some point.
Jack

Vudoo V22S on an ADL style stock?? This would look sharp and eliminate the need for mags.

 

[Precision Quest]

I picked up an L3i Mag for my vudoo and after adjusting it, so far no issues.

 

[Hoser]

Well, I’ve recived the responses I expected. My thought was to use a light-barreled Vudoo action to build a custom sporter. The magazine as currently issued, for all its merits, would not be very visually pleasing. Probably I’ll come up with an alternative build idea at some point.
Jack

I begged Vudoo for a flush 5 round mag for years and finally gave up. Lots of hunter types that I shoot with cant stand the size of the Vudoo mags. They understand the reason, but wont buy one.

I also asked L3 about it and they didnt think there was enough interest.

Long story short, start begging L3 for a flush fit mag.

Something like one of these size wise.

https://hawkinsprecision.com/hawkins-precision-hunter-magazines/

 

[Thesepaperwings]

Man I want one but molds are soooo expensive!

 

[Thesepaperwings]

I begged Vudoo for a flush 5 round mag for years and finally gave up. Lots of hunter types that I shoot with cant stand the size of the Vudoo mags. They understand the reason, but wont buy one.

I also asked L3 about it and they didnt think there was enough interest.

Long story short, start begging L3 for a flush fit mag.

Something like one of these size wise.

https://hawkinsprecision.com/hawkins-precision-hunter-magazines/

I bet I could make one without a button that was semi flush. Maybe glue it all together. Hmmm, might have to cut some down tonight and see how far it would have to go

 

[WeeHooker]

Looks good, and shoots good!

I'm liking that paint scheme. Very cool!

 

[Matt_3479]

I'm liking that paint scheme. Very cool!

Thank you

 

[Kadams1563]

So have a Gen I that I’m wanting to get rebarreled. It currently has a 18” Kukri profile (this was the trend back then) now I want to go to a 21” proof competition, MTU, M24. I have been reaching out to the “poplular” smiths who have been building a few of the top Vudoo’s being used in NRL/PRS style matches only to learn that the Gen I action cannot be rebarreled to match the headspace and that Vudoo has don MANY improvements and they recommend just buying another full barreled action with a 360 action.

Awesome to know my GEN I has so many problems and isn’t worth a rebarrel. LOL

Contacted Vudoo and they said they would look at doing the work starting at $700.

Who else is doing Gen I rebarrels?

 

[flatland1]

I'm not surprised at the $700 price tag for a re-barrel job. I've been buying Bartlein & Krieger barrels for my little one-man gunsmithing business since I started in 2005 - and even with the small discount they give someone like me who usually orders no more than a dozen blanks per year, the price per blank is up over $400 after Bartlein tacks on the $50-$60 shipping charges.

 

[Rob01]

So have a Gen I that I’m wanting to get rebarreled. It currently has a 18” Kukri profile (this was the trend back then) now I want to go to a 21” proof competition, MTU, M24. I have been reaching out to the “poplular” smiths who have been building a few of the top Vudoo’s being used in NRL/PRS style matches only to learn that the Gen I action cannot be rebarreled to match the headspace and that Vudoo has don MANY improvements and they recommend just buying another full barreled action with a 360 action.

Awesome to know my GEN I has so many problems and isn’t worth a rebarrel. LOL

Contacted Vudoo and they said they would look at doing the work starting at $700.

Who else is doing Gen I rebarrels?

That’s bullshit. If they can’t rebarrel it then that’s on them and not the action. Just had my Gen 1 rebarreled by Vudoo and no issues at all. I got my original barrel back to put on later if I wanted. Just have Vudoo do it.

 

[littlepod]

So have a Gen I that I’m wanting to get rebarreled. It currently has a 18” Kukri profile (this was the trend back then) now I want to go to a 21” proof competition, MTU, M24. I have been reaching out to the “poplular” smiths who have been building a few of the top Vudoo’s being used in NRL/PRS style matches only to learn that the Gen I action cannot be rebarreled to match the headspace and that Vudoo has don MANY improvements and they recommend just buying another full barreled action with a 360 action.

Awesome to know my GEN I has so many problems and isn’t worth a rebarrel. LOL

Contacted Vudoo and they said they would look at doing the work starting at $700.

Who else is doing Gen I rebarrels?

I've never heard of that around the Gen 1. I know that a rebarrel for a Gen2/V360 is $500.

 

[Rob01]

Depends on what is getting done. The standard rebarrel is about $550. Add in a tuner and it's about another $170 plus shipping for anything being done.

 

[68hoyt]

Wellllll, also , I know inflation and things go up but a few years ago they said if you wanted to change barrels send it in and what was it 300 swap barrels , you couldn’t buy a barrel blank for that much , just a couple of days ago on one of the threads a guy was happy that they had told him 500 to send it in and they would swap barrels , idk need to verify , nothing is inexpensive any longer .
You might need to call and verify with vudoo again

 

[Kadams1563]

Wellllll, also , I know inflation and things go up but a few years ago they said if you wanted to change barrels send it in and what was it 300 swap barrels , you couldn’t buy a barrel blank for that much , just a couple of days ago on one of the threads a guy was happy that they had told him 500 to send it in and they would swap barrels , idk need to verify , nothing is inexpensive any longer .
You might need to call and verify with vudoo again

Yea I recall Vudoo being $300-$500 for a barrel swap but $700 seems on the high end for starting price.

I was quoted this today.

 

[WeeHooker]

I'm not surprised at the $700 price tag for a re-barrel job. I've been buying Bartlein & Krieger barrels for my little one-man gunsmithing business since I started in 2005 - and even with the small discount they give someone like me who usually orders no more than a dozen blanks per year, the price per blank is up over $400 after Bartlein tacks on the $50-$60 shipping charges.

So have a Gen I that I’m wanting to get rebarreled. It currently has a 18” Kukri profile (this was the trend back then) now I want to go to a 21” proof competition, MTU, M24. I have been reaching out to the “poplular” smiths who have been building a few of the top Vudoo’s being used in NRL/PRS style matches only to learn that the Gen I action cannot be rebarreled to match the headspace and that Vudoo has don MANY improvements and they recommend just buying another full barreled action with a 360 action.

Awesome to know my GEN I has so many problems and isn’t worth a rebarrel. LOL

Contacted Vudoo and they said they would look at doing the work starting at $700.

Who else is doing Gen I rebarrels?

Unless you have some special attachment to your Gen 1, I'd just sell it and buy a brand new barreled action (Gen 2 or 3) in the upcoming labor day and black Friday sales. The price difference once your done will be near equal to the cost to rebarrel and you'll get all the enhancements FWIW, I have a Gen 3 in with vudoo now getting a 25"+/- Shillen Ratchet swapped in. Cost quoted me was $550 fully machined and installed. They get $550 for any GenII/III rebarrel with whatever barrel they stock IMHO, that's a pretty decent deal. Lead time is around a month right now.

 

[Rob01]

A Gen 1 is the same price to rebarrel. There is nothing wrong with a Gen 1 action.

 

[jelrod1]

Rob is correct on all accounts. There is nothing wrong with a Gen1. I like them. There is nothing any more difficult about them.

 

[ECK]

Just speculating here, but the Gen 1 has the old bolt stop which is prone to breakage. VGW told me on thing they can do is install the redesigned Gen2/3 bolt stop into the Gen 1 action, but it requires machining the action. Not sure what that costs is but it may account for difference between the $550 rebarelling cost and what they quoted you.

 

[Kadams1563]

Unfortunately, we are not accepting any gunsmithing work at this time due to a high volume of rifle builds. Currently, **** schedule is only open for new barreled actions or complete rifle builds. I would highly recommend a new build, especially since you have one of Vudoos older actions. There is a high risk of not being able to headspace your action correctly as well as bolt issues we commonly see when we rebarrel Vudoos older actions. Vudoo has made major improvements to there newer actions allowing the action to function much smoother, while also correcting there past quality issues. I have attached a link below to our Vudoo 360 builds for your reference. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.

This was one email I received. It appears to be strongly pushing me to upgrade my action that has many issues over the new 360’s.

I’ll probably have Vudoo do it with some more communication and see if they will “upgrade” the bolt while it’s there to the Gen 1.2 or whatever they called it.

 

[Rob01]

Just speculating here, but the Gen 1 has the old bolt stop which is prone to breakage. VGW told me on thing they can do is install the redesigned Gen2/3 bolt stop into the Gen 1 action, but it requires machining the action. Not sure what that costs is but it may account for difference between the $550 rebarelling cost and what they quoted you.

The Gen 1 bolt stop is not prone to breaking. Not sure where you heard that. Never heard that in my 6 years shooting my Gen 1 and knowing many others with them. The 360 had a bad run and had some bolt stop issues but not the Gen 1.

 

[Rob01]

Unfortunately, we are not accepting any gunsmithing work at this time due to a high volume of rifle builds. Currently, **** schedule is only open for new barreled actions or complete rifle builds. I would highly recommend a new build, especially since you have one of Vudoos older actions. There is a high risk of not being able to headspace your action correctly as well as bolt issues we commonly see when we rebarrel Vudoos older actions. Vudoo has made major improvements to there newer actions allowing the action to function much smoother, while also correcting there past quality issues. I have attached a link below to our Vudoo 360 builds for your reference. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.

This was one email I received. It appears to be strongly pushing me to upgrade my action that has many issues over the new 360’s.

That sounds like a them problem and not a Vudoo problem.

 

[flatland1]

Dittos to both of Rob01's above posts. I bought a Gen 1 action in 2017 and did the barrel work myself, with the aid of Mike's tenon drawing - no problems with headspace. 2nd & 3rd Gen 1s I bought were bbl'd actions direct from VGW; 22" Bartlein Kukri I left alone, but the ACE 18" Ranch balanced so far to the rear that I eventually pulled the Ranch bbl and replaced it with a Krieger #4 sporter contour that I finished at 22", and it now balances (in a Manners EH-1) right at the front edge of the DBM. I had no issue with doing that Krieger either. I've shot all three of these Gen 1 rifles extensively for 5-6yrs w/o and problems with the bolt stop or anything else... I'm not knocking the Three-60 actions - I love shooting mine. But there were some reported breakage issues with the boltstops on the early 360s, though I've yet to have any problems with mine.

 

[Kadams1563]

Dittos to both of Rob01's above posts. I bought a Gen 1 action in 2017 and did the barrel work myself, with the aid of Mike's tenon drawing - no problems with headspace. 2nd & 3rd Gen 1s I bought were bbl'd actions direct from VGW; 22" Bartlein Kukri I left alone, but the ACE 18" Ranch balanced so far to the rear that I eventually pulled the Ranch bbl and replaced it with a Krieger #4 sporter contour that I finished at 22", and it now balances (in a Manners EH-1) right at the front edge of the DBM. I had no issue with doing that Krieger either. I've shot all three of these Gen 1 rifles extensively for 5-6yrs w/o and problems with the bolt stop or anything else... I'm not knocking the Three-60 actions - I love shooting mine. But there were some reported breakage issues with the boltstops on the early 360s, though I've yet to have any problems with mine.

I have my 18” Kukri in a manners elite PRS. It doesn’t balance well at all that’s pretty much the only reason I’m looking at putting a much heavier barrel on it.

 

[68hoyt]

Evilio McDonald
Joe Chacon
John Scandal ( keystone )
Lee Gardner precision
Mark Penrod
Jonathon Elrod Modcam
Doan Treavor ( 6 month back log )

 

[ECK]

The Gen 1 bolt stop is not prone to breaking. Not sure where you heard that. Never heard that in my 6 years shooting my Gen 1 and knowing many others with them. The 360 had a bad run and had some bolt stop issues but not the Gen 1.

Paul at VGW told me that when I visited them last winter. He also said they offer a service to install the updated bolt stop on the Gen 1 action. Maybe I‘m using the wrong terminology. its the doo-hickey thingy on the side of the action that you depress to remove the bolt. Said the original part was just too small. The updated one is larger and more robust.

 

[Rob01]

Paul at VGW told me that when I visited them last winter. He also said they offer a service to install the updated bolt stop on the Gen 1 action. Maybe I‘m using the wrong terminology. its the doo-hickey thingy on the side of the action that you depress to remove the bolt. Said the original part was just too small. The updated one is larger and more robust.

Smaller does not mean they break. They work just fine. I would never get it replaced just to get a bigger one.

 

[DownhillFromHere]

Paul at VGW told me that when I visited them last winter. He also said they offer a service to install the updated bolt stop on the Gen 1 action. Maybe I‘m using the wrong terminology. its the doo-hickey thingy on the side of the action that you depress to remove the bolt. Said the original part was just too small. The updated one is larger and more robust.

Smaller does not mean they break. They work just fine. I would never get it replaced just to get a bigger one.

Agree with Rob... I know guys that run their bolts hard that never broke a gen-1 stop. Just because the part was made more robust in post-gen1 Vudoos doesn't mean the original is bound to fail. Rob, how many thousands of rounds have you put through your very-low-serial gen1? You've never said anthing to me about a broken bolt stop....
----
This noise about first-gen Vudoos not being suitable, for whatever reason, for rebarreling is such bullshit. Like Rob, I just had mine rebarreled. My new Bartlein 1:16 MTU cut to 22" shows a lot of promise; I've got nearly 500 rounds through it now and have started seriously working with the EC tuner I ordered with the barrel.
----
I met with Jonathan at Modacam during my RimX build saga and we talked about Vudoo vs. RimX barrel machining differences. Short version - RimX tolerances are close enough to support prefits; Vudoo has wider tolerances that do not support prefits - plus the complicating factor of extractor notches. Does that make Vudoo "bad?" Pfft. I have a rifle built on a Defiance Deviant action.... top-shelf action that did not support prefits due to wider tolerances... I could have gotten a Bighorn (Zermatt) Origin for way less $$ and stuck a prefit on it... whatever. "Different" doesn't equate to one being "bad" and the other "good."

 

[Rob01]

Nope never an issue with my serial number 10 action or Tony’s number 12 and we both run them hard like a centerfire rifles since 2017.

 

[Seasian]

Finally got my 360 back from Keystone. About 50 rounds into it, I was having extraction issues pretty consistently. Can't remember what the extractor is supposed to look like but I think I might have broken the extractor. The left side looks different. Hopefully this is my extraction issue. If not, I've got bigger issues.

 

[Rob01]

That’s normal for the bolt.