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Bergara 22 Rifles
- Thread starter Narragansett
- Start date
My .02 based on limited experience with the models you mentioned. I am no fan of my Bergara. I made the mistake of buying the carbon wrapped barrel model. I have not been impressed. The CZs have a better reputation.
You did not mention the T1x, but I have one and know others who do also. I’ve never heard a complaint and I’m happy with mine. My rifle is the 20-inch version and is a field weight rifle, not a target gun.
I’d replace the Bergara with something else but I keep hoping I’ll find something it likes and shoots well. It’s a nicely designed rifle, but mine doesn’t shoot as well as it looks.
You did not mention the T1x, but I have one and know others who do also. I’ve never heard a complaint and I’m happy with mine. My rifle is the 20-inch version and is a field weight rifle, not a target gun.
I’d replace the Bergara with something else but I keep hoping I’ll find something it likes and shoots well. It’s a nicely designed rifle, but mine doesn’t shoot as well as it looks.
Rodan
SWCA Member
Long post incoming:
Our .22 rifles are our staple shooters for nearly every range trip. Before retiring I shot .22 BR with my club, but our new location doesn't have a BR match. We do have a 'Pig' match, where we shoot reduced size steel pigs at 200m, and my wife and I both shoot that match. It's very challenging!
I shoot a Tikka T1X and my wife shoots a CZ 457 Varmint Pro. Both are in KRG Bravo stocks, and the CZ has a Timney trigger. I recently bought a CZ 457 in .17HMR to shoot the pigs when the wind is blowing.
Tikka
T1X @ 50yds with CCI SV
T1X @ 50yds with SK STD
The T1X was my first 'precision' .22 rifle. I was really just looking for a suppressor host, but nothing was available at the time, and the LGS had a T1X on the rack, so I bought it. I was immediately impressed with the accuracy.
It's very good with CCI SV, and Norma Match 22. Groups are about the same, but IME the Norma has slightly less flyers and performs a little better at 200m where we shoot our pigs. The pic above is a practice target with the size pigs we shoot at 200m.
The factory stock was terrible, so I replaced it with a KRG Bravo. IMHO a good stock that you can dial in to fit you is critical to consistent performance with a rifle. The Bravo has a lot of great features at the price, and has worked very well for me. My Tikka still has the stock trigger, and it's still my preferred .22. It gets shot 100% suppressed with a Mask HD.
CZ 457 -
CZ 457 @ 50yd with CCI SV
The CZ is a solid performer. Ours likes CCI SV, which makes me happy because it works well in all my .22s so I have a lot of it. I replaced the original AT-One stock with the KRG Bravo to dial in the fit. I also added a Timney trigger. Interestingly, the CZ doesn't like my Mask HD suppressors, so we shoot it unsuppressed. One of these days, I'll get around to doing some more testing to try to figure that out.
The CZ does have the advantage of a better aftermarket than the Tikka, and barrels are easy to swap, which could be important if you're looking for that last 1-2%.
The CZ is primarily my wife's rifle at this point, and I haven't shot it months...
Ammo -
Ammo is the key to accurate .22 shooting. I have found CCI SV to be very good for the price point, but you will deal with 2-3 flyers every 15-20 rounds. Norma Tac-22 and Match 22 are about equivalent for accuracy, with the Match 22 having a slight edge with a smaller number of flyers. The Norma bullet has a better BC and performs marginally better at 200m for us.
You can really go off the deep end with match .22 ammo and spend up to $25-30 a box for the top level ammo. I did a bunch of testing when I was shooting 50m bench rest and decided the additional performance just wasn't worth the $$ for me for a 'fun' competition at 50m. I'm now looking into doing some more testing, because at 200m the difference is more significant. Of course, at the moment, there's not much ammo available! I can't even re-stock on Norma Match right now.
Bergara -
I don't own a Bergara .22. Amongst the shooters at our local range there are only 2-3 I know of and reports are mixed. The biggest 'advantage' of the Bergara is R700 compatibility, though the aftermarket for the CZ and Tikka have both grown quite a bit in the last few years.
I do have two centerfire Bergaras: a Premium in 6.5CM and a B-14 Ridge .223 I built for my wife. Both in KRG stocks with Triggertech triggers. The 6.5CM is a laser. The .223 is brand new, and I'm still testing ammo. The .223 replaced a post-bankruptcy Rem 700SPS that was not impressive. The Bergara is a much nicer rifle out of the box, and already shoots better, even though I'm less than 100 rounds in.
Bergara Premium 6.5CM
Bergara B14 .223
TL, DR -
I don't think you'd be at all disappointed in the CZ 457, but if I were to buy another rifle tomorrow, it would be another T1X. For me the only compelling reason to buy the Bergara is to get the R700 pattern compatibility.
Our .22 rifles are our staple shooters for nearly every range trip. Before retiring I shot .22 BR with my club, but our new location doesn't have a BR match. We do have a 'Pig' match, where we shoot reduced size steel pigs at 200m, and my wife and I both shoot that match. It's very challenging!
I shoot a Tikka T1X and my wife shoots a CZ 457 Varmint Pro. Both are in KRG Bravo stocks, and the CZ has a Timney trigger. I recently bought a CZ 457 in .17HMR to shoot the pigs when the wind is blowing.
Tikka
T1X @ 50yds with CCI SV
T1X @ 50yds with SK STD
The T1X was my first 'precision' .22 rifle. I was really just looking for a suppressor host, but nothing was available at the time, and the LGS had a T1X on the rack, so I bought it. I was immediately impressed with the accuracy.
It's very good with CCI SV, and Norma Match 22. Groups are about the same, but IME the Norma has slightly less flyers and performs a little better at 200m where we shoot our pigs. The pic above is a practice target with the size pigs we shoot at 200m.
The factory stock was terrible, so I replaced it with a KRG Bravo. IMHO a good stock that you can dial in to fit you is critical to consistent performance with a rifle. The Bravo has a lot of great features at the price, and has worked very well for me. My Tikka still has the stock trigger, and it's still my preferred .22. It gets shot 100% suppressed with a Mask HD.
CZ 457 -
CZ 457 @ 50yd with CCI SV
The CZ is a solid performer. Ours likes CCI SV, which makes me happy because it works well in all my .22s so I have a lot of it. I replaced the original AT-One stock with the KRG Bravo to dial in the fit. I also added a Timney trigger. Interestingly, the CZ doesn't like my Mask HD suppressors, so we shoot it unsuppressed. One of these days, I'll get around to doing some more testing to try to figure that out.
The CZ does have the advantage of a better aftermarket than the Tikka, and barrels are easy to swap, which could be important if you're looking for that last 1-2%.
The CZ is primarily my wife's rifle at this point, and I haven't shot it months...
Ammo -
Ammo is the key to accurate .22 shooting. I have found CCI SV to be very good for the price point, but you will deal with 2-3 flyers every 15-20 rounds. Norma Tac-22 and Match 22 are about equivalent for accuracy, with the Match 22 having a slight edge with a smaller number of flyers. The Norma bullet has a better BC and performs marginally better at 200m for us.
You can really go off the deep end with match .22 ammo and spend up to $25-30 a box for the top level ammo. I did a bunch of testing when I was shooting 50m bench rest and decided the additional performance just wasn't worth the $$ for me for a 'fun' competition at 50m. I'm now looking into doing some more testing, because at 200m the difference is more significant. Of course, at the moment, there's not much ammo available! I can't even re-stock on Norma Match right now.
Bergara -
I don't own a Bergara .22. Amongst the shooters at our local range there are only 2-3 I know of and reports are mixed. The biggest 'advantage' of the Bergara is R700 compatibility, though the aftermarket for the CZ and Tikka have both grown quite a bit in the last few years.
I do have two centerfire Bergaras: a Premium in 6.5CM and a B-14 Ridge .223 I built for my wife. Both in KRG stocks with Triggertech triggers. The 6.5CM is a laser. The .223 is brand new, and I'm still testing ammo. The .223 replaced a post-bankruptcy Rem 700SPS that was not impressive. The Bergara is a much nicer rifle out of the box, and already shoots better, even though I'm less than 100 rounds in.
Bergara Premium 6.5CM
Bergara B14 .223
TL, DR -
I don't think you'd be at all disappointed in the CZ 457, but if I were to buy another rifle tomorrow, it would be another T1X. For me the only compelling reason to buy the Bergara is to get the R700 pattern compatibility.
VAPA
Member
VAPA
Member
MrOverlay
Member
I have a B-14 with heavy barrel. Excellent rifle, I've only shot SK rifle match which is very accurate.
All that being said, you won't go wrong with either one.
All that being said, you won't go wrong with either one.
AJ
US Veteran
One thing that I have noticed is no one shoots with iron sights. Is this a lost art?
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Just another 22 shooter
Member
At our local range we have a 22 NRL and Long gong match every month. Many VUDUs and high end guns. But down around the $1000 range, most are Bergara and CZ547, with Bergara slightly edging out the CZs. I have a CZ547 MTR that I really like. I don't think you can go wrong with either.
AJ
US Veteran
I think many of us suffer from "Old eyes "!
I am 73 and I wear glasses. The sight picture is a bit harder to pick up at times. But it gives me immense satisfaction to shoot irons as well, if not better than most do scopes.
☺
Just another 22 shooter
Member
Rodan
SWCA Member
I enjoy the challenge of shooting irons, and we have a local 'Military' match that requires 'as issued' pre-1950 military rifles. I shoot a '96 Swedish Mauser, and can get very close to 1MOA at 100 yds. The aperture sight guys (Garands, 03-A3s, etc.) have a leg up on those of us with open, barrel mounted rear sights. Still, I need full lens readers to see a sharp front sight, and I'm still messing with front sight heights to get the sight picture I need.
For shooting precision .22s at anything beyond 50 yds, I prefer a telescopic sight. I don't think I could shoot our 200m .22 match with irons... the target (~5"x8") would be nearly invisible, and the kind of wind adjustments necessary would be impossible to judge.
For shooting precision .22s at anything beyond 50 yds, I prefer a telescopic sight. I don't think I could shoot our 200m .22 match with irons... the target (~5"x8") would be nearly invisible, and the kind of wind adjustments necessary would be impossible to judge.
Fishinfool
Member
Pete - A couple thoughts. I have been "into" .22 rf competition shooting for the last couple years. Mostly "ARA" 50 yard bench. I have noted that some of the guys shooting the Bergara's built on the model 700 platform have feeding issues. A known issue. The non-cf wrapped barreled versions seem to shoot more accurately. Bergara can make a fine rifle - My Bergara chassis rifle in 6.5cm is probably the most accurate rifle I own. I just haven't seen it carry over to the RF lineup?
Personally, the CZ 457 for the win. My CZ 457 AT1 is a solid 1/3 inch, 5 shot group at 50 yards gun, and often times a little better. Mine loves SK Rifle Match ammo. Smooth action, and great feeding reliability. Replace the rifles trigger spring with the "Yodave" version for a crisp 12 oz trigger.
You mentioned the Varmint version. Its a nice rifle, but for only a couple hundred more, the "MTR" version has a full bench style stock, and a special match grade barrel with a tight match chamber - a step up from the already impressive standard CZ rimfire barrels. It is rare to find a CZ that is not a shooter. Styling is odd, but you might like a AT1 version like mine with the adjustable comb and LOP - Easy to adjust the rifle to fit you just right.
Larry
Personally, the CZ 457 for the win. My CZ 457 AT1 is a solid 1/3 inch, 5 shot group at 50 yards gun, and often times a little better. Mine loves SK Rifle Match ammo. Smooth action, and great feeding reliability. Replace the rifles trigger spring with the "Yodave" version for a crisp 12 oz trigger.
You mentioned the Varmint version. Its a nice rifle, but for only a couple hundred more, the "MTR" version has a full bench style stock, and a special match grade barrel with a tight match chamber - a step up from the already impressive standard CZ rimfire barrels. It is rare to find a CZ that is not a shooter. Styling is odd, but you might like a AT1 version like mine with the adjustable comb and LOP - Easy to adjust the rifle to fit you just right.
Larry
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AJ
US Veteran
I don't shoot a lot of center fire any more. I do shoot a Swede CG-63 at 100 yards with irons, but those are with Swedish aperture sights.
I do shoot various sized bullseye at 50 yards. This one shown is a 10 meter Air Rifle target at 50 Yards. It is with irons and is five shots. You can see what size the bullseye is by the size of the nickel.
Attachments
The chances of getting a great shooting cz with beautiful wood under factory mud finish is high.Some bergaras shoot very good but i don't care for their magazines and how they ride my shooting bags.You said you don't want a 10/22 but if you sent one to randy at CPC to work over you would keep it.TX1 is a great shooting gun but i like wood stocks and is expensive to replace.
AJ
US Veteran
Except if a person can't shoot well with a scope, what chance do you think they would have with iron sights?
Tom,
About half of the folks I see at the range "can't hit a bull in the rear end with a bass fiddle" at 50 yards with irons or a scope. They buck, jerk, flinch and some other things. It is even worse on the pistol range.
My initial training was by my Grandfather. He taught me the fundamentals of gun safety and marksmanship. He then handed me an iron sighted Savage Model 7 and taught me some more about sight alignment and trigger control. After that session on paper, he threw several tin cans (long enough ago the soda can were not aluminum) out in the impact area (read trash dump on the farm). He then had me shoot at the cans and watched until I hit the can with every shot for 10 shots (a full magazine).
AJ
US Veteran
Never shot a 541T. I have used the 40X and Model 37, they are good. I have used the 513T and while not up to the big boys, with a good trigger yanker using it, it will hold it's own. Thanks for the heads up on the 541T.
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