Rimfire rifle project: building on a Bergara

This is the story of a family rifle-building project, with the aim of creating a lightweight and super-accurate rimfire we could all use, based on a Barbara action and using a few high-quality aftermarket components.

We parents who enjoy firearms hope our kids will also catch the shooting bug, and in my case one daughter out of four so far enjoys her shooting. She has a .357 lever gun as well as my dad’s old .22 bolt gun, but her lack of a precise-shooting modern .22 became obvious.

Bergara custom with MDT chassis and ZeroTech scope — The completed Bergara with MDT chassis, ZeroTech scope and Timney trigger has proven itself on the bench and in the field

I have a Bergara B-14R with steel barrel and factory stock that is very accurate but also very heavy. She enjoyed shooting it off the bench but it is simply too heavy for her to use outside a fixed position. It did, however, provide the inspiration to build her a special custom rifle based on some of the great components currently available to shooters in Australia.

First, I obtained a Bergara B-14R Carbon action with carbon-fibre barrel, sticking with what I know because the Bergara platform is highly accurate and uses the Remington 700 footprint, providing the widest possible range of options for triggers, stocks and chassis.

These barrelled actions weigh just 2.3kg (5lb) with the 46cm (18”) carbon barrel, which has a standard 1:16” twist.

Then we considered whether to use a traditional target or sporting stock, or whether to go to a chassis system. We both liked the adjustability and accuracy of a chassis but this rifle was being built to be an all-purpose, multi-use gun.

The downside of most chassis systems is that they are heavy, and in my daughter’s opinion many of them are pretty ugly; cosmetics were an important feature in this build.

I was talking with the MDT importer, Cleaver Firearms. They know my daughter and her size and aversion to heavy rifles, so suggested we look at the new MDT HNT26 model. This has a folding stock (a fixed version is available for NSW) with adjustable cheekpiece and adjustable length of pull, and it is astonishingly light at 737-878 grams (26-31 ounces) depending on configuration; the non-folding non-ARCA rail version is lightest.

The HNT26 destroyed all my beliefs that using a chassis meant heavy, heavy, heavy. It is a revolutionary piece of kit.

This thing almost floats away, it is so light. Apparently, MDT (a Canadian-based maker of stocks, chassis and accessories) realised that many younger shooters love the ergonomics and looks of a chassis but wanted lighter ones so they could realistically use them for hunting in the field.

Bergara B14-R barrelled action, MDT chassis, ZeroTech scope and Timney trigger — MDT’s HNT26 chassis fits many actions including the Remington 700 footprint, which is what the Bergara B14-R uses

In making this one, MDT succeeded spectacularly. This chassis is ideal for hunting and at the range, is very adjustable and folds down for a very compact profile when travelling.

MDT offers the HNT26 for many rifles including the Remington 700 platform as well as the Tikka T3x and Howa 1500 ranges, with many variations. They are not cheap, but we were going for best, not cheapest on this build and to be honest I don’t think cheap goes along with good when it comes to chassis systems.

We chose MDT’s carbon black Rem 700 short-action folding version as it perfectly matched the colour and texture of the Bergara B-14R Carbon barrelled action, and once they were installed together it looked like it came out of the factory that way. Cosmetically, we were already doing well.

Next, we needed a trigger. Well, we wanted a trigger, because the Bergara actually comes with an excellent one from the factory — as good as many aftermarket triggers — but we were going for best possible, so we decided on a Timney Remington 700 (imported by both Cleaver Firearms and NIOA).

Timney trigger in Bergara with MDT chassis — The Timney trigger has a straight blade and a light, perfect release. Note the magazine release in the front of the trigger guard

The model is called The Hit. It is a straight trigger with a factory setting of just 226 grams (8oz), which can easily be adjusted upwards from that. This trigger is heavenly to use. It seems to know when you want to fire and works with your finger. It’s as close to perfect as I have ever felt in a trigger.

The terrible downside of course is that once my wallet recovers I will no doubt decide I need another Timney for my own Bergara.

Next came the scope. For this build we chose the ZeroTech Trace 4.5-27×50 scope with R3 reticle as it was able to handle target precision as well as hunting, close-in plinking etc without being too heavy.

ZeroTech offers some amazingly clear and reliable scopes for the money and with its Australian owner, TSA Outdoors, having a 50-year history and offering a lifetime warranty, the brand is really worth a look. I am using ZeroTech more and more as my go-to scopes.

ZeroTech Trace 4.5-27x50 scope with R3 reticle — The ZeroTech Trace 4.5-27×50 scope is larger than some people might opt for on the light little rifle but it suits Graham’s objectives very well and matches the outfit’s capabilities

We could certainly have gone lighter, and are considering a little Leupold VX-3HD 2.5-8×36 CDC if it turns out the rifle is used mostly for hunting.

After cleaning the action, we had the Timney Hit trigger installed, ensuring the safety still worked and that we could thump the rifle down without it firing accidentally.

After we were sure of the safety side, we matched the action to the MDT chassis and were pleasantly surprised that it fitted like the proverbial glove, sliding into the chassis like it belonged, and once bolted down it looked like it was a factory match as the carbon on the barrel matches the MDT chassis carbon so well.

Our finished rifle was just under 3.2kg (7lb) without a scope. Before you think that’s not so light, this is a thick-barrelled target action in a folding-stock chassis we are talking about and for that it is a fantastic weight.

The balance was excellent. We had been worried it would be way too light at the muzzle, but it actually balances very well, especially with the ZeroTech scope installed, which seems to centre the mass.

We used a 20 MOA EGW pic rail and Leupold 30mm medium rings to mount the scope.

Once we had done all the fun project stuff of assembling the rifle, we had to find out if it would really shoot after all our hard work and bucket loads of cash.

We fired a few fouling shots and got it roughly zeroed on a steel plate at 50 metres, then tried a group with SK Standard .22 LR. At that 50 metres, our first group was 6mm (.24”), or less than ½ MOA. We were both ecstatic that the rimfire had started so well.

Rifle accuracy with SK Rifle Match .22 LR ammunition — The rifle has a preference for SK Rifle Match ammo, which it shot with stunning accuracy

It turned out this is one of the least fussy rimfires I have ever seen, accuracy-wise.

It does have a preference for SK Rifle Match, with our best group measuring 4.5mm (.18”).

The humble CCI Standard 40-grainer generally grouped around 13mm (.5”) at 50m, meaning cheap precision plinking is always on the menu.

We tried some hunting ammunition and the CCI Velocitor got truly amazing results for a hyper-velocity .22 cartridge.

Bergara B14-R carbon barrelled action, MDT HNT26 chassis — The carbon-fibre weaves in the Bergara barrel and the MDT chassis were a beautiful match, as if they were meant to go together

If we are after top-flight competitive accuracy then we use one of the SK loads and it consistently shoots into the 5mm (.2”) range.

It’s an absolute tack driver and so much fun, whether nailing empty shotgun hulls at 50-100 metres or trying to ring a steel gong at 300 metres (a long, long way with a .22 LR).

This Bergara custom truly is the all-round multi-use rifle she wanted to shoot and that I wanted to build.

It was an expensive project, but it was fascinating to see just what we could put together using premium components.

Now I can barely pry this rifle away from my daughter. She loves the thing. It has become a rifle that is used for a multitude of tasks.

Graham would like to thank Cleaver Firearms for assisting with this project and providing a wide range of ammunition for the test.

SPECIFICATIONS

1. Action

Type: Bergara B-14R Carbon barrelled action
Weight: 2.3kg (5lb)
Barrel: 46cm (18”), 1:16” twist, carbon-fibre outer wrap
Magazine: 10-round polymer, AICS-compatible
Distributor: Herron Security and Sport
Price: $1369

2. Chassis

Type: MDT HNT26 non-ARCA folding
Weight: 737-878g (26-31oz)
Material: Carbon-fibre, titanium and aluminium; rubber cheekpiece and recoil pad
Distributor: Cleaver Firearms
Price: $1990-2390 depending on configuration

3. Trigger