Bergara 22 Rifles

I have got to get a 22 rimfire rifle to create more range time while keeping ammo cost in check. I want a heavy barrel 22 and am looking at the Bergara and the CZ 457 varmint model.

Any comments on Bergara rifles. I would normally look to buy American, but there is not a lot of choices around, and I do not want a 10/22

I’m a big fan of the CZ 457. Mine is a tack driver with the standard weight barrel. A very well made rifle. I have a Leopold 2-7x on it. I imagine the varmint version is even better. Sorry, I have no knowledge on the Bergara.

I really like my CZ models 455 and 457. We have a pretty serious rimfire league at the club. My own personal observation is that the accuracy of any premium rimfire is dependent upon your willingness to buy top tier ammo and lot test it. Of course when you get on this program the .22LR is no longer cheap to shoot.

Another vote for the CZ. I have a 452 American and two 457s, a Varmint and Scout. You will be very pleased.

League shooter

I've been shooting in a 22 rifle league at my LGC for the last six years. Started with a 10/22 at 25 yards the first year and it shot pretty good. Second year moved to 50yards and the old 10/22 wasn't competitive. Bought a CZ 452 Varmint, it shot better but I was expecting more. Sold that and bought a Tikka TX1 which has been my most accurate 22rifle to date. Last year I bought the Bergara B14R with the carbon rapped barrel. I've tried numerous different ammo and have yet to find one I'm happy with. Don't get me wrong, I haven't given up on this rifle yet. I think it still needs more round down the tube. A friend of mine has the same gun and it's shooting light out. I really like the Bergara, sexy as all get out. Recommend the Tikka , it a real shooter with no frills. CZ are beautiful guns, can't knock em. On thing about 22 rifles, you can get a tack driver or a lemon. No matter the brand, you don't know until you shoot it. Also, thrown into all of that is finding the ammo that shoots the best in your particular rifle. Its not simple, but it's fun.

My old Club has a very large 22 and 17 crowd. Lots of bench shoots at 50 and 100 yards. Most shoot CZ's No Begeras.

I have a CZ457AT1 with a Timney 12oz trigger and Bergera B14R with a Timney "The Hit" 8oz trigger. They both shoot way better than me, the B14R is not as picky with ammo. Both really like Eley Match but will also do very well with many other less expensive ammo.

Look for an older CZ 453 Varmint, heavy barrel and single set trigger!

I'm a big fan of CZs; mine are the older 452s and 453 models; in .22lr, .22 mag and .17hrm [ a 2008 453 varmint w/ fluted barrel] All have been capable of MOA even sub-MOA

I spent 8 years on my High School and College Rifle Teams.

I wish there was a quick fix for the Marlin 60 trigger. There is an accurate rifle in there trying to get out, but the trigger action is gritty and is extremely difficult to keep clean.

LVSteve said:

I wish there was a quick fix for the Marlin 60 trigger. There is an accurate rifle in there trying to get out, but the trigger action is gritty and is extremely difficult to keep clean.

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You do not mention trigger pull weight in your post but if that is a concern M*Carbo has a spring kit for the Marlin model 60. I installed one on a model 60 I used to have and it reduced the pull weight by about half. Won't do anything for the gritty feel, but it made the rifle easier to shoot.

Narragansett said:

Any comments on Bergara rifles.

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You can get some pretty good info at the "Rimfire Central Forum". Link below is the Bergara section. Don

Bergara | Rimfire Central Firearm Forum

I use a Bergara B-14R for long range silhouette. It performs well out to 100 meters with most any ammo. Since we fire at 50, 100, 150 and 200 meters it's fed Eley Match. The rifle is plenty accurate at that distance with good ammo. The defect in the system is the shooter. All sorts of things go wrong in shooting 22's at distance from position inconsistencies to poor wind calls. I'm the weak link. That said I like the rifle, but have two caveats. I replaced the factory trigger with a Triggertech. You mentioned heavy barrel, so don't go for the carbon fiber wrapped one. Get the steel barrel. Mine is carbon fiber, but I hear steel barrels are more accurate. My beef is balance in offhand shooting. I thought the rearward center of mass would be best. But having hefted a B-14R with a steel barrel, I was wrong.

I have also used my CZ-452 Varmint in the same game. It's as accurate as my Bergara, but the stock isn't that great for the game I play. Of course, it's not the CZ-457 you mention but it speaks for CZ's quality.

I don't own or ever shot a Bergara in any chambering. I know a number of guys that have them and never heard a bad word about them.

For Ammo: My favorite is Eley Team EPS in the blue box. Out of my Anshutz 54 action Prone Rifle (circa 1966) it shot in the half inch range at 200 when I would do my job. It shot good in several target rifles and my good sporters!

I own a Kimber of Oregon 82 Varmint #133 of the first 250, it is fantastic, but not in production for a long time. So, my brother bought the successor, Kimber of America (Same guys as all the 1911's), Model 82 Varmint. Heavy fluted stainless barrel, laminated stock. He had difficulty spending money on quality ammo! However when we used my good Eley of a series that Federal no longer made, it shot just fine and his record is now 6 consecutive M&M's @ 100 yards! (My record is 7 consecutive M&M's at 200.) I have no idea how much of your money you want me to spend, but this is an American Made, High Quality, Magazine Fed and High Accuracy Adult Rifle. "Milk Carton" bulk ammo will get you Walmart results.

The cheapest "High Quality" ammo for 22's I found was in the 20teens, Aguila made a so called "Target Ammo: that the cases were primed by Eley and loaded in Mexico. In my Kimber Clackamas Government Target single shot, it did between 1/4 and 1/2 inch at 50 yards. I bought a case of it. 5000 rounds of medium quality ammo is way too much! So, I unloaded about 8 bricks by giving it to the 4-H range in Utica, Ohio.

Eley loads the best in the world, TENEX! I can't afford it; I buy 3 grades below that: Team in the Blue Box or Club in the Orange Box. They are the same except for the bullet. The Team has the EPS bullet (it has a little nipple for high ballistic co-efficient). The Club has a traditional Round Nose bullet. The EPS is great in single shot and bolt actions, the Club works in everything else.

RWS and Lapua make some super quality ammo also (I liked R-50 from RWS) but $35 a box of 50 before Covid, priced me out of the best Lapua!

A rifle not in current production is the Weatherby Mark XXII Bolt action. The barreled action is an Anschutz 64 and the stock is beautifully done by Weatherby. They are a traditional light barrel and shoot as good as any sporters in the world, so keep your eyes out for a used one, made in 22LR and 17 Mack2, 22 Mag and 17 HMR (Good ammo in any rimfire beside 22LR is very spotty! Hornady makes the best 17 HMR, but I had to test 5 different lots to find a lot that had no fliers! Then I bought about 4000 rounds of that lot!)

As you can tell. I believe that when you find something that works, buy all you can find!

Have Fun!

Ivan

If you don't mind a used rifle, why not a Remington 40X or 37 or a Winchester 52 (C, D, or E). The group shown was a five shot group with a measured center to center hits of 0.053" with iron sights.

AJ said:

If you don't mind a used rifle, why not a Remington 40X or 37 or a Winchester 52 (C, D, or E). The group shown was a five shot group with a measured center to center hits of 0.053" with iron sights.

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My goal is to find something newer and less costly. I used to have a 52D with 30X Unertl scope. Wish I still had it. There is good stuff around like CZ and Bergara. I just need to look more

I shoot RFBR matches at about 6K rounds annually.

For factory class the Bergara (steel barrel) and CZ 452, 455, 457’s are the top shooters.

I have this rifle set-up for unlimited. She’s a peach.






Pecked out on my iPhone.

WardenRoss said:

I shoot RFBR matches at about 6K rounds annually.

For factory class the Bergara (steel barrel) and CZ 452, 455, 457’s are the top shooters.

I have this rifle set-up for unlimited. She’s a peach.

Pecked out on my iPhone.

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That is Very nice!!

Narragansett said:

My goal is to find something newer and less costly. I used to have a 52D with 30X Unertl scope. Wish I still had it. There is good stuff around like CZ and Bergara. I just need to look more

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I had a Bergara BMR and it shot similar to my CZ's. I sold the BMR only because I already had a number of accurate 22LR's, Anschutz, Cooper, CZ, etc. and was just thinning the heard down some. I think you'll be happy with the CZ or Bergara.

You looking to buy a bergara and keep ammo cost in check ! Why not buy a Savage MKII BV or one of the other B* or B** models
I have a Savage BV with only a tuned acu-trigger now with a pull weight of 13oz . No mag issues ever some seem to have . Shoot .500 to .700 moa groups is more about the ammo you use but with some ammo changing ownership again and import tariffs ammo being available and expect ammo quality might be different from in the past .

I'm not really a match shooter or a range shooter do to what can be a waist of stand around time and seen I've seen club 22lr matches turn in to a piss'n contest about who won so I stopped going to clubs to shot . I can sit at home and ring 1" and 1.5" steels at 100 yards and 150 yards or visit a forestry range to shooting .

I'm still working thru some ammo bought by the cases of Federal 711b that I always found to be a good relaible ammo but now older ammo not newer stuff have a few bricks of discontinued federal 922a and sk rifle match bought by the case also back when Champion Choice was run by Hommer Person and his wife . What a wealth of info could be found threw those two folks .

The Savage MKII BV can still be bought in the mid 300 dollar range , then test ammo in a price range you can deal with .

Lets see some groups from all the rifles that have been discussed.