Hardware & Tuning

Custom Rimfire Builder Essentials

Tuners, balance weights, bolt handles and feed upgrades for the Tikka T1x, CZ 457, Bergara B-14R and Ruger 10/22. Every product below was checked on the maker's page (or the named seller where noted) on the date shown. We haven't tested these hands-on.

Some links may be affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you (disclosure). Prices are as listed on the date shown and change often; we don't track stock. These are gun parts, so we don't link them on Amazon.

1. Harmonics & muzzle control

A barrel vibrates as the shot goes off, so the muzzle is moving when the bullet leaves. Slower rounds exit later than faster ones; if the muzzle is swinging upward at the right rate at that moment, slower bullets leave at a slightly higher angle and land at the same height as faster ones ("positive compensation")^[1]. A tuner is an adjustable weight at the muzzle that shifts that vibration timing. In one measured rimfire case (Eley Tenex, 26 in barrel, 50 m), a 200 g muzzle weight turned vertically strung groups into round ones^[1]. What a tuner can't do: fix bad ammo, a loose action or poor bedding, and a setting that suits one ammo lot may not suit another. Treat maker accuracy claims as claims^[3].

2. Balance & chassis weights

Where the weight sits matters more than how much there is. A slightly front-heavy rifle tends to "hang" on target, but too much weight up front works against you, and big box magazines can get in the way of balancing a rifle on a barricade^[2]. A full-length Arca rail lets you slide the rifle back and forth on a tripod or barricade to find a stable spot^[2]. There's no single correct balance point (we found no source for a fixed "3 inches forward" rule); move weight in small steps and check it on the props you actually shoot from. MDT notes its forend weights can cut recoil, help you spot your own shots and balance the rifle^[4]; Area 419's rail takes brass weights you add or remove^[5].

Not included: Catalyst Arms bag riders. The Apex Bag Rider we found is made for the Ruger Precision Rifle and Ruger Precision Rimfire, not the T1x, CZ 457, B-14R or 10/22^[9].

3. Action & cycling

A bigger or swept-back knob is easier to grab, and Anarchy says its swept design brings the knob closer to the shooter for less movement between shots^[6]. Before buying, check two clearances: the knob against your scope's eyepiece and turret when you lift and pull the bolt, and the knob against your chassis or stock. Low rings plus a big knob can collide; check with the ring height calculator and by hand on an unloaded rifle. On semi-autos, extraction depends on the extractor hook: Volquartsen says its EDM-cut extractor's hook sits .005 in closer to the rim and is chamfered to avoid catching the next round^[7]. That part is for the 10/22 only.

Corrections to our original list: Anarchy's swept CZ bolt handle is for the CZ 455; for the 457 they sell M6x1 knobs^[11]. Lumley's titanium handle is a T1x part; we found no Lumley CZ 457 handle^[8].

4. Feed & reloads

Extensions add rounds by lengthening the factory mag; some reuse the factory spring, which may need stretching or a spacer, so test feeding before a match. Extended releases and catches give you more to press on during reloads. Makers' fit notes are in the table.

Not included: Waters Rifleman billet magazines. Their T1x page lists only the factory 10-round Tikka mag (A$70), and we found no Waters billet mag for the T1x or CZ 457^[10]. Note also that DIP's CZ part is an extended magazine catch (about 2 mm longer), not a paddle release.

Full matrix

Some links may be affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you (disclosure). Prices are as listed on the date shown and change often; we don't track stock. These are gun parts, so we don't link them on Amazon.

Related: trigger spring guide · CZ 457 barrel swap · T1x as a T3x trainer · all gear

Sources

1. Geoffrey Kolbe, “Using barrel vibrations to tune a barrel” (rimfire, Eley Tenex, 26 in barrel)
2. RifleShooter, “Rifle Balance and Why it Matters While Shooting” (Mar 2025)
3. ATS Slimline product page (Kinetic Security Solutions)
4. MDT M-LOK Exterior Forend Weights page
5. Area 419 Universal Weight-Tunable ARCALOCK page
6. Anarchy Outdoors T1X adjustable bolt handle page
7. Volquartsen Exact Edge Extractor page
8. Lumley Arms T1x titanium bolt handle page
9. Catalyst Arms products (Anarchy Outdoors brand page)
10. Waters Rifleman Tikka T1x page
11. Anarchy Outdoors CZ 457 product list