I wanted to do a build thread documenting my Vudoo journey and experience. Hopefully this will help someone in the future with decisions on setups, accessories, etc. Worst case it’s just some fun eye candy and entertainment for the community.
Long Post Incoming - I realized I can be a bit long winded and delve into details quite heavily because that’s what I look for. However, I’ve added TL;DRs after each segment for a brief summary for those that just want to skim. Feel free to scroll past my essay sections and look for the:
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Decisions and Ordering Process:
As many of you will recall, this journey started out with asking the forum if they could sell me on a Vudoo over a RimX. After some great input and feedback, I decided that the ability to swap pre-fit barrels was not as important to me as a 60 degree bolt throw. I also received reassurance that the common complaint about feeding issues because of the magazine design was mostly due to people not loading carefully. So, I decided to take the plunge.
The next step was deciding on a barrel length and contour. Again, with a lot of feedback from the community, both here and on SH, I was able to make an informed decision. I decided on the longer wait time to order one of the Bartlein 1.20 Straight Contour Barrels in 24 inches. The main reason for doing this was balance. I will be using the rifle mainly in NRL and PRS competitions and balance is a huge factor. Also my range doesn’t allow for muzzles to be pointed up at all so for practice I have to keep the rifle level. A well balanced setup makes that a lot easier - holding/carrying it with my hand just in front of the mag well and it not tipping up when on a bag/barricade.
Mid November I called Vudoo and placed my order for the Three-60 Repeater Action (black) with the 24 inch straight 1.20 inch Bartlein Barrel (spun polished). I was quoted 3-4 months for the lead time which seemed reasonable. The Barreled Action arrived at my FFL this week and I scooted on down to pick it up.
Overall my order experience was extremely positive. The team at Vudoo are super great people and very happy to answer any questions and address concerns. I was able to speak with Paul (the owner) a couple times before ordering, getting some feedback on my choices. I mainly dealt with Jill after that. They were very kind even when I bugged them a few times over the last month to see if the barrels had come in from Bartlein.
When I first got the barreled action home and unpacked I was extremely pleased. The packaging was top notch and the quality of the parts definitely lived up to my expectations. The finish on the action is pristine and the barrel’s spun polished finish is stunning (I really like the look of polished barrels).
The barrel is a bit comically large for a rimfire gun, but I’m still very happy with my choice. Cycling the bolt for the first time was an absolute joy. Buttery smooth and very solid feeling overall. I am extremely happy I decided on the 360 action as the 60 degree bolt throw just feels right to me.
I’m not sure if I dig the bolt knob, but we’ll see how it feels when I get it out to shoot. Feels a bit chunky to me after getting used to the Area 419 knob on the CZ. I did pick one of the Area 419 knobs for the Vudoo though so I’ll try both out and see which I like more.
Overally, very impressed with the build quality, fit & finish, and the packaging of the barreled action. I wouldn’t hesitate at this point to recommend them to anyone.
I decided to give the TriggerTech Diamond Single Stage a try as everyone raves about it. I’ve never actually used an upgraded trigger on a bolt action so I decided to splurge a little and get the highest recommended option. I was tempted by the Timney options, but figured I can always swap out later if I decided to.
The one part of my selection I’m still unsure of is the flat faced trigger lever. I really like the flat trigger on my Sig and from what I’ve read it all comes down to preference. Hopefully I made the right choice for me, but we’ll find out as I get to shoot it more.
I picked up a couple different chassis options for the Vudoo over the last few months. One of them will end up being for our R700 .223 Trainer, but I like having options. First chassis I picked up was a second hand MDT ACC Premier (Gen 1). I am a big MDT fan and really like the feel of this chassis. It is a little less stiff/solid than I’d like, but I’ll end up giving it a try. Shortly after I came across a great deal on an MPA Matrix Pro with the full weight kit. This is a chassis I’d been eyeing for quite a while because of its features and I just like the look. I have mixed feelings about the Raspberry Blue Cerakote finish, but figured if I love it I can change that later.
I decided to try out the MPA as the R700 is already mounted and balanced in the MDT and I just kind of like the features a bit more for a competition setup. The wide forend, integrated ARCA rail, and endless adjustability is what drew me to this chassis. Obviously I’ve never been able to shoot in a competition with it so we’ll see how I actually like it.
If neither chassis tickles my fancy I’ll be selling the MPA in order to pick up a Manner PRS-TCS stock. I’ve absolutely loved shooting our CZ 457 VMTR in the Manners stock (one from the CZ 457 VPT MTR) so there is a good chance I’ll go that route down the road.
Now I know I’ll get some crap for this, but for now I have an Arken EP-5 (5-25x56) as the scope. Was curious to try it out after hearing mostly good things about it for so long (for the price). Have tried it out now on my 10/22 and haven’t been overly impressed. It’s better than the Athlon Argos BTR that I had previously, but not on the level I’d like. So in the next couple months I’ll be looking for a new scope. I’m not ready to step up to something like a ZComp, so I’ve been leaning toward trying out the Athlon Cronus BTR Gen II.
Trigger Install:
Any of you that have put together a Vudoo probably already know this, but the trigger pins are royal pain to get in. I watched some videos of R700 trigger installs and they looked way easier to drive in. Took quite a bit of pounding with a hammer and punch. Not the end of the world, but definitely not a “fun” experience. I was kind of scared I was going to damage something with how hard and many times I had to whack them.
I set the trigger to about 1lb pull weight for now. The CZ is currently set at 1.5lbs which I’ve been pretty happy with so I didn't want to go too low to start off. I’m sure I’ll play with it more as I get more comfortable.
Chassis Mounting:
The barreled action was already quite heavy (*Edit/Update: 9 lbs 4.9oz with bolt and trigger) so my vice struggled to hold it while mounting it into the Chassis. Ended up just flipping it over on my sled and got it in. I set the torque to the chassis recommended level of 65 in-lbs. Fitment looked spot on and this barrel took up most of the available barrel channel space.
It might be ever so slightly skewed to the left side of the channel but I wasn't sure if I should loosen everything up and try to get it perfectly centered. Any advice or input there would be appreciated.
Scope Mounting:
Nothing really exciting here. I did use the Vudoo recommended “Medium” 1.1 inch rings (Vortex Pro-Series for now) for the scope and it’s d*mn near perfect height over bore with the 40 MOA rail. I was originally going to go with a 30 MOA, but Vudoo (I think it was Greg or Jill) recommended I just go for the 40 MOA to get me to further distances and could still do zero at 50 yards.
Balancing:
As I said before, I chose the 24” 1.20 Straight barrel for balance purposes and others have said they were able to get away with no weights in the MPA Matrix Pro. I tested it right away after getting the scope on and it will balance on a bag without weights, but it is still a tad butt heavy and will rock back if you touch it. While not a huge issue, my range has super strict rules about barrels pointing over the berm so I wanted it to stay put if it gets bumped.
I added 3 of the internal weights to the front along with the steel spigot. This combination gave the rifle a really solid balance feel on the bag. I can tap it, slap it around lightly, or bump it and it won’t rock back. It is a touch heavier than I was hoping. I was aiming to stay around 18 lbs, but I’m just over 20lbs. However, the Arken EP5 is heavy (almost 40oz) so hoping once I upgrade I’ll be able to remove one of the internal weights and drop another half pound.
Overall, I’m happy with the balance and will report back after some practice, testing, and matches.
End of the Beginning:
I’m very happy with the rifle and with Vudoo Gun Works. So far it has been an excellent experience and I can’t wait to get out and shoot it. I have plenty of ammo testing and learning to do on this gun (and in general). I will post updates as to what changes I make to the rifle, ammo test results, etc here as time goes on. I generally can’t leave well enough alone so you’ll probably see a good number of changes happen with the setup over the next year.
Thanks for reading and a special thank you to everyone who’s helping me with advice throughout this journey. The RFC community is truly something special.
Long Post Incoming - I realized I can be a bit long winded and delve into details quite heavily because that’s what I look for. However, I’ve added TL;DRs after each segment for a brief summary for those that just want to skim. Feel free to scroll past my essay sections and look for the:
Decisions and Ordering Process:
As many of you will recall, this journey started out with asking the forum if they could sell me on a Vudoo over a RimX. After some great input and feedback, I decided that the ability to swap pre-fit barrels was not as important to me as a 60 degree bolt throw. I also received reassurance that the common complaint about feeding issues because of the magazine design was mostly due to people not loading carefully. So, I decided to take the plunge.
The next step was deciding on a barrel length and contour. Again, with a lot of feedback from the community, both here and on SH, I was able to make an informed decision. I decided on the longer wait time to order one of the Bartlein 1.20 Straight Contour Barrels in 24 inches. The main reason for doing this was balance. I will be using the rifle mainly in NRL and PRS competitions and balance is a huge factor. Also my range doesn’t allow for muzzles to be pointed up at all so for practice I have to keep the rifle level. A well balanced setup makes that a lot easier - holding/carrying it with my hand just in front of the mag well and it not tipping up when on a bag/barricade.
Mid November I called Vudoo and placed my order for the Three-60 Repeater Action (black) with the 24 inch straight 1.20 inch Bartlein Barrel (spun polished). I was quoted 3-4 months for the lead time which seemed reasonable. The Barreled Action arrived at my FFL this week and I scooted on down to pick it up.
Overall my order experience was extremely positive. The team at Vudoo are super great people and very happy to answer any questions and address concerns. I was able to speak with Paul (the owner) a couple times before ordering, getting some feedback on my choices. I mainly dealt with Jill after that. They were very kind even when I bugged them a few times over the last month to see if the barrels had come in from Bartlein.
Initial Impressions (barreled action):
When I first got the barreled action home and unpacked I was extremely pleased. The packaging was top notch and the quality of the parts definitely lived up to my expectations. The finish on the action is pristine and the barrel’s spun polished finish is stunning (I really like the look of polished barrels).
The barrel is a bit comically large for a rimfire gun, but I’m still very happy with my choice. Cycling the bolt for the first time was an absolute joy. Buttery smooth and very solid feeling overall. I am extremely happy I decided on the 360 action as the 60 degree bolt throw just feels right to me.
I’m not sure if I dig the bolt knob, but we’ll see how it feels when I get it out to shoot. Feels a bit chunky to me after getting used to the Area 419 knob on the CZ. I did pick one of the Area 419 knobs for the Vudoo though so I’ll try both out and see which I like more.
Overally, very impressed with the build quality, fit & finish, and the packaging of the barreled action. I wouldn’t hesitate at this point to recommend them to anyone.
Trigger Selection:
I decided to give the TriggerTech Diamond Single Stage a try as everyone raves about it. I’ve never actually used an upgraded trigger on a bolt action so I decided to splurge a little and get the highest recommended option. I was tempted by the Timney options, but figured I can always swap out later if I decided to.
The one part of my selection I’m still unsure of is the flat faced trigger lever. I really like the flat trigger on my Sig and from what I’ve read it all comes down to preference. Hopefully I made the right choice for me, but we’ll find out as I get to shoot it more.
Chassis/Stock Selection:
I picked up a couple different chassis options for the Vudoo over the last few months. One of them will end up being for our R700 .223 Trainer, but I like having options. First chassis I picked up was a second hand MDT ACC Premier (Gen 1). I am a big MDT fan and really like the feel of this chassis. It is a little less stiff/solid than I’d like, but I’ll end up giving it a try. Shortly after I came across a great deal on an MPA Matrix Pro with the full weight kit. This is a chassis I’d been eyeing for quite a while because of its features and I just like the look. I have mixed feelings about the Raspberry Blue Cerakote finish, but figured if I love it I can change that later.
I decided to try out the MPA as the R700 is already mounted and balanced in the MDT and I just kind of like the features a bit more for a competition setup. The wide forend, integrated ARCA rail, and endless adjustability is what drew me to this chassis. Obviously I’ve never been able to shoot in a competition with it so we’ll see how I actually like it.
If neither chassis tickles my fancy I’ll be selling the MPA in order to pick up a Manner PRS-TCS stock. I’ve absolutely loved shooting our CZ 457 VMTR in the Manners stock (one from the CZ 457 VPT MTR) so there is a good chance I’ll go that route down the road.
Scope Selection:
Now I know I’ll get some crap for this, but for now I have an Arken EP-5 (5-25x56) as the scope. Was curious to try it out after hearing mostly good things about it for so long (for the price). Have tried it out now on my 10/22 and haven’t been overly impressed. It’s better than the Athlon Argos BTR that I had previously, but not on the level I’d like. So in the next couple months I’ll be looking for a new scope. I’m not ready to step up to something like a ZComp, so I’ve been leaning toward trying out the Athlon Cronus BTR Gen II.
Putting it all together:
Trigger Install:
Any of you that have put together a Vudoo probably already know this, but the trigger pins are royal pain to get in. I watched some videos of R700 trigger installs and they looked way easier to drive in. Took quite a bit of pounding with a hammer and punch. Not the end of the world, but definitely not a “fun” experience. I was kind of scared I was going to damage something with how hard and many times I had to whack them.
I set the trigger to about 1lb pull weight for now. The CZ is currently set at 1.5lbs which I’ve been pretty happy with so I didn't want to go too low to start off. I’m sure I’ll play with it more as I get more comfortable.
Chassis Mounting:
The barreled action was already quite heavy (*Edit/Update: 9 lbs 4.9oz with bolt and trigger) so my vice struggled to hold it while mounting it into the Chassis. Ended up just flipping it over on my sled and got it in. I set the torque to the chassis recommended level of 65 in-lbs. Fitment looked spot on and this barrel took up most of the available barrel channel space.
It might be ever so slightly skewed to the left side of the channel but I wasn't sure if I should loosen everything up and try to get it perfectly centered. Any advice or input there would be appreciated.
Scope Mounting:
Nothing really exciting here. I did use the Vudoo recommended “Medium” 1.1 inch rings (Vortex Pro-Series for now) for the scope and it’s d*mn near perfect height over bore with the 40 MOA rail. I was originally going to go with a 30 MOA, but Vudoo (I think it was Greg or Jill) recommended I just go for the 40 MOA to get me to further distances and could still do zero at 50 yards.
Balancing:
As I said before, I chose the 24” 1.20 Straight barrel for balance purposes and others have said they were able to get away with no weights in the MPA Matrix Pro. I tested it right away after getting the scope on and it will balance on a bag without weights, but it is still a tad butt heavy and will rock back if you touch it. While not a huge issue, my range has super strict rules about barrels pointing over the berm so I wanted it to stay put if it gets bumped.
I added 3 of the internal weights to the front along with the steel spigot. This combination gave the rifle a really solid balance feel on the bag. I can tap it, slap it around lightly, or bump it and it won’t rock back. It is a touch heavier than I was hoping. I was aiming to stay around 18 lbs, but I’m just over 20lbs. However, the Arken EP5 is heavy (almost 40oz) so hoping once I upgrade I’ll be able to remove one of the internal weights and drop another half pound.
Overall, I’m happy with the balance and will report back after some practice, testing, and matches.
End of the Beginning:
I’m very happy with the rifle and with Vudoo Gun Works. So far it has been an excellent experience and I can’t wait to get out and shoot it. I have plenty of ammo testing and learning to do on this gun (and in general). I will post updates as to what changes I make to the rifle, ammo test results, etc here as time goes on. I generally can’t leave well enough alone so you’ll probably see a good number of changes happen with the setup over the next year.
Thanks for reading and a special thank you to everyone who’s helping me with advice throughout this journey. The RFC community is truly something special.
