Boyds At-One Bergara B-14R Rimfire Trainer Upgrade

Bergara makes some of the best entry-level .22LR’s on the market. As much as I love the B-14R, the factory stock doesn’t fit me as well as I would like. To amend this, I swapped it with a Boyds At-One with thumbhole!

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About the Project

While at the Ultimate Reloader Ranch, Gavin tasked me with looking through his safe and seeing what I might be interested in shooting. I immediately grabbed the Bergara B-14R, a rifle I have at home and am familiar with.

The one qualm I have had with my rifle is that the factory stock doesn’t fit me exactly how I would like. Gavin had a Boyds At-One buttstock with thumbhole on hand for me to compare.

Factory Results

I started out shooting 50 yards off a bench with Lapua Long Range .22LR with the factory stock. Though I could see clearly through the scope, I also set up a tablet to my right to watch my shots through Longshot Hawk and mark them if I desired.

Instead of aiming at the one-inch dot targets, I decided to take a single shot in the white of the paper. I believe the one-inch dots are too large at 50 yards and can lead to extra variability. Taking a single shot in the white created a new finite aiming point. This method also works at 100 yards if you have a high enough magnification scope, but I wouldn’t push it past 150 yards. At further distances, splatter targets are nice.

It took me a few shots to get used to this particular rifle, but the last five or six shots went through the same hole. This begs the question, with these results, how does the stock not work for you? It’s not that the stock doesn’t “work” but rather that I have to work harder for the same results. Gear makes a difference.

Results with Boyds Stock

Even though .22LR is a low-recoiling caliber, it’s still extremely important to properly torque the action screws. With the factory stock removed, I placed the barreled action in the Boyds stock and added the bottom metal. From here, I used the Wheeler F.A.T. Wrench Set to secure the screws.

The Bergara factory stock had a twist lock for comb adjustment and spacers for length of pull adjustment. In contrast, the Boyds At-One features push buttons for the length of pull and cheek riser. With the length of pull fully extended and an estimated cheek riser position, I settled down on the rifle. I immediately noticed the narrower forend.

Boyds already thought ahead with an interchangeable forend, grip, and lower buttstock for greater personalization. With 3D printing, possibilities are nearly endless. One of the greatest upgrades was the thumbhole. It made it easy to stabilize the rifle and I prefer it to a traditional pistol grip.

Though with a slightly heavier wind, I walked through the same shot process I had with the factory stock. With the same ammunition, the 9-shot group was one solid, round hole. There were no flyers and I felt so much more comfortable shooting it.

Deciding to push my luck, I decided to try some offhand shots at steel rockchuck D-M targets at 130 and 180 yards. Offhand has always been difficult for me, largely due to shoulder issues.

What I wanted to see was if having the thumbhole allowed me to get a better grip. It did help and I made consistent hits on both targets though I still wasn’t as steady as I would like.

Conclusion

Comparing the two sets of 50-yard groups, it was no contest that I shot more consistently with the Boyds At-One.

I felt much more comfortable, didn’t have to work as hard, and my groups reflected that. Moral of the story? Gear matters. Just because something “works” doesn’t mean it’s as good as it could be. The Boyds At-One made a tremendous difference for me and has versatile adjustments designed to fit numerous shooters. It is also available in a variety of footprints for a number of different rifles!