I had a couple Cz452 rifles that I sold off. They’ve discontinued the 452 trainer and replaced them with the 455 series and replaced those with the 457s. Are they just as good, improved, inferior? The only gripe I recall with the 452 was the safety.

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I told you not to use Lifebuoy

Outstanding. If anything, they have improved. For what you pay, you’re getting a whole lot more.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

My CZ-457 is very accurate and shoots great. They make them in .17 HMR as well which is a marvelous round. Knocks squirrels out of the highest Georgia pine.

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I invest in Lead and Copper!

I would stay with the 452 or the new 457. Go to Rimfirecentral and click on the Brno/CZ forum. Lots of info

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Charlie

Had a 452 varmint. Sold it and got a 455 with the 22lr and 17 hmm bbls. Wish I’d kept the 452. Haven’t shot a 457 but they seem to be much improved over the 455. If I have the opportunity to sell or trade the 455 into a 457 it’s gone.

So which of the 3 would you say is the best? And what is improved in the 457 over the 455?
Thanks

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I told you not to use Lifebuoy

I currently have a few CZ452's and an old Brno Mod-1 (with which I won a Rimfire Sporter competition a few years ago when I could still bend into position and could see the targets without optics). My 452 Style is my most accurate rimfire rifle, often giving me 3/8" groups at 50 yards (scoped, benched and with premium ammo). I used to have a CZ455, but it's ability to turn down its bolt handle with the bolt pulled out bugged me and it was never as accurate as the 452's, so it got sold.

I have not shot a 457, but they seem to have a good following on RFC. I have many 22LR rifles to choose from, but the 452 Style almost always goes to the range with me. Voodoo's, Anschutz's and a few others may be more accurate rifles, but for their cost differentials they are not worth it for me (0.300" vs 0.375"; $2000 vs $500). -S2

Anything CZ is good!. I have the 452 with beautiful wood,
I wish they made the semi auto 512 in 22 LR not 22mag.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I bought a 455 a couple of months ago and have been happy with it. After reading a couple forum posts the biggest differences between the it and the 457 seem to be the bolt throw and slight trigger differences. Barrels and magazines are interchangeable. The bolt throw of the 457 allows for larger scopes.

My 455 was an impulse purchase because a local shop had picked up a couple oddball product numbers at a trade show and had them priced fairly cheap - $330. I had wanted one for a while and it had a threaded barrel so I took it home.

It looks like the 457's are $50 to $100 higher priced. If your looking for a serious target gun it seems like the 457 is the logical answer. If just looking for a fun to shoot, accurate .22 the 455 is definitely adequate.

Acorn.

They have completely redesigned the bolt and incorporated a side mounted safety similar to Remington 700’s. Supposed to be a smoother operating bolt. Easier to manipulate safety too.

To expand on my earlier post, my father has three CZ rifles. All newer models. A 223/556, 211 Fireball, and 22LR.

He absolutely loves them. All have been varmint hunting with great success.

In comparison he also has a a Ruger 77/22 which is hard to beat unless you step up to an Anshutz. And also a Ruger American 22LR. He likes the American well enough but it is nowhere near as well built and refined as the CZ. The 77/22 is built on a center fire platform which is heavier.

I keep wondering when CZ will raise the prices on their rifles. Hope they don’t.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

I have three 452's and never use the safety. Seems like the 452 have an edge accuracy wise over the current 455-457 lineup.
The 452 is highly thought of on Rimfire Central....

I would look for another 452....but that is just me............

Randy

I've had a 455 for about 5 years. Never experienced a 452 or 457 so can't help you there. CZ is high quality no matter what model. 457 may be improved but seriously, I can't see how much better the barrel could be. 1 MOA or better with a good scope. I ring 18" steel with it at 200 yds with a lot of holdover. No joke. I've made some doubters believers.

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That's just somebody talkin.

I have a number of CZ rimfires.

The CZ 513 "Farmer" was the low end CZ .22 LR. The trigger is heavy and the adjustment options are very limited. However, it has a CZ 452 receiver and a quality barrel. Mine is just as accurate as any other of my CZ rimfires, once you develop the skill to manage the trigger. It's a single hole 5 shot rifle at 50 yards and 1 MOA at 100 yards with





As an aside *Hear me very clearly on this*

You'll encounter shooters who seem to think and promote the idea that unless you have a sub 2 pound trigger or something measured in 20 or less ounces, you can't shoot accurately. That's total BS. Shooters shot service rifle competition for decades with 4 1/2 pound triggers. A lighter trigger makes it *easier* to not disturb the rifle while the shot is released, but it's also a *crutch* for people with deficient skills.

I have a CZ 453 American, and it's consistently a 1 MOA at 100 yards rifle. The difference between the CZ 452 and the CZ 453 is the single set trigger and additional action screw on the CZ 453.

My CZ 453 American is in between my Winchester Model 52"R" sporter and a 10/22.



I also have a CZ 453 Varmint. You'd think the heavy barrel would equate to more accuracy but that's not really the case. I've shot more smaller groups (1/2 MOA 5 shot groups at 100 yards) with the Varmint than the American, but the Varmint has also produced more 1 1/2 MOA groups at 100 yards. It has the same 1 MOA average, but it's less consistent.



I also have a CZ 455 Heavy Varmint. There was a lot of concern that the swap barrel system in the CZ 455 would adversely impact accuracy but that didn't prove to be the case. This CZ 455 heavy varmint is easily just as accurate and consistent as my CZ 453 American.



I don't have a CZ 457, in large part because I just don't like the looks of the rifle. I don't like the lines of the stock or the receiver. But that's just me. I suspect they shoot just fine.

a friend was over for a day of range shooting a few weeks ago and I ran several rounds thru his 457. sporter style gun. I was inpressed. they have installed a Rem. M 700 style safety on the right side and the bolt lift is only 60 degrees. major change. I have a 452 varmint in 17 HRM that is a very good shooting gun. I love the style of the Bruno, CZ action and think that are very accurate guns for the money. They have a new bench style gun out called the MTZ that looks interesting for the money. Some of the 452 22lr are amazing on the accuracy with the high end ammo.

bb57 - How does the accuracy on the Browning - 52R compare to your other guns? I have one I picked up in 1992 and just added the second one to the stable last week.

I have a LH 452 in 17HMR that I have had for a couple of years. Wish now that I had purchased a .22LH and a .22 Magnum because non of the current production rifles are in LH at this time. I love CZ handguns as well and currently own three of them.

The 452s are legendary rifles.

Accuracy reports on the 455s and 457s have guys strongly holding on to their 452s. Quality control at CZ has dropped in recent times and it’s more or less considered a fact among benchrest shooters the older barrels shot better. The interchangeable barrels on the “new and improved” (yeah right) models have been a source of complaint by target shooters for one thing.

I have a 452 Military Trainer with BRNO aperture sights and have 0 intentions of selling mine.

IMHO, you should have kept yours.

I bought a 452 Trainer in like new condition at a club swap meet a few years ago for $300. Rather plain stock with little grain, probably Birch. However, it is the most accurate .22 I have. Being 72, I got a little 2X7 Leupold and can drive tacks with it. CZ makes great guns. One of my top 9mm handguns is a CZ75.

I haven't owned a 457, but have several 452's and a couple 455's. I really don't notice any accuracy difference in the 452's and 455's I've owned and/or shot. No models of the CZ's are in the class of my Anschutz 54's or some of the higher priced rifles, but they're fantastic guns for the money. They're my favorite "affordable" rifle by a long shot. I'm sure somewhere down the road I'll end up with at least one 457.

There's a good looking 452 lux for sale here in the classifieds

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Charlie

I have both a 452 Lux and 452 American that are tack drivers. I also had a 452 Ultra Lux(29"barrel) that I sold to a club member. The one listed is a Lux, but the OP errantly referred to it as an Ultra Lux. Just sayin..........

The 457 has the "proper" safety.

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NRA Life Member

I have two of them - the "won the wood lottery" example above, plus another with normal nice but not fancy walnut.

Both are accurate 5 shot very slightly greater than 1 MOA rifles at 100 yards I used both in some of the "squirrel sniper" shoots they used to have, where you needed 8 out of 10 consecutive shots on a 1 1/4" bullseye superimposed on a squirrel at 100 yards. They'd do it, but not usually on the first or second attempt. My CZ 453 is *slightly* more accurate and would do it on the first or second attempt.

There is variation in both the Model 52Rs and the CZ 453/453/455, as you'll get some that are a bit more consistent than others (my 453 American and Varmint for example). And to be fair, I think there is a little more variation in the Model 52R rifles, at least by report form people who own them.

Dropped into my LGS after mowing my lawn this AM And lo and behold they now stock CZ457s. Trainers were $425, Scouts $450 and a walnut stocked Varmint was $500. OK price?

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I told you not to use Lifebuoy

Not bad. But I’d offer to mow his lawn if he’ll knock $25 off the price.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

I’d rather just pay the extra $25 and let him mow his own. I hate cutting grass.

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I told you not to use Lifebuoy

I have 6 of them but this 452 FS is my favorite. Off a bench at 50 yards (my back yard range) I can cover a 10 shot (or 30) group with a quarter.

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Pass it on.
Mark

Bought the .22lr/.17 combo yrs ago and never looked back.....Outstanding rifle!

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Interesting thread. I have 2 .22 bolt actions I haven't shot in years. Can somebody please give me an idea what type of ammunition they use to obtain such fine groups? Inquiring minds want to know.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Most of the rimfire bench group at My club shoot 452's, and 457's, a couple of 541T's and an Anschutz. Biggest accuracy change seems to be inch pounds of tightening stock screws on all of the rifles. Makes a difference.

There's no quick answer to this question; each rifle seems to have its own preference. However, there are a few generalities that may be shared:

Most rifles do best (accuracy-wise) with standard velocity (SV) ammo; 40 gr. solid lead, uncoated or un-plated, velocities at around 1050 fps (below the speed of sound). Common wisdom is that supersonic ammo starts to tumble as it drops below mach-1, which degrades accuracy.

A good place to start is CCI SV ($0.08 per round when available). A horrible place to start is Remington Thunder**rds ($0.05 per round, but I wouldn't inflict this junk on anybody). In fact most Remington rimfire ammo is considered to be more of an insult rather than something to be taken seriously.

The best 22LR ammo that ever was IMHO was Federal Gold Medal "Ultramatch", made with dimpled primers. They stopped making it around 20 years ago after the 1992 Olympics because it was too expensive. Sure wish that I had bought more of it. Today's Federal Gold Medal is nothing like what it use to be. Here's an old discussion about it from Rimfire Central:
Federal Gold Medal Dimples - RimfireCentral.com Forums

Today's best 22LR target ammo is probably Lapua's "Midas+" and/or "Center-X", or Eley's "Tennex". You'll pay between $0.25 and $0.45 PER SHOT for today's good stuff.

My shooting abilities seldom justify such high expenses and I'm generally satisfied with SK's "Standard+" and "Flat Nose Match" ammos ($0.10 to $0.15 per shot) in most of my rifles. I'm quite happy with 3/8" at 50 yards.

Hope this helps. -S2

Glad I caught the thread. Just read an article review on the CZ offerings in the Sept. issue of Guns&Ammo magazine. M.S.R.P. for the 457 Varmint MTR is $752, CZ 457 Provarmint for $588, and the 457 Training Rifle for $449. Sure sound like great accurate rimfires.

The short answer for reasonably affordable non match ammo is:

1) Sk Standard Plus works well in most rifles.

It's capable of 1 MOA at 100 yards with no more than 1-2 fliers per box of 50, and runs around $5.50-$5.75 per box.

Sk Match is the same ammo made on the same machines but is selected based on the results of lot testing. In my experience it shoots as well as Sk Std. Plus, but with no fliers. It runs $7.50-$7.75 per box of 50, and Sk Std, Plus gives more bang for your buck if you are not shooting for score where 1 or 2 fliers can matter.

Sk Magazine is what's left over that doesn't meet the standards for Plus or Match. In my experience is has 3 to 5 fliers per box of 50. Still, it's great at long range where the decreased consistency is lost in the noise of errors in range estimation. Cost is around $25 per can of 500, which again makes SK Std Plus the best bang for the buck.

Wolf Match Extra is the same as SK Match. Same ammo off the same machines, and testing to the same standards, just packaged in the Wolf Match Extra box.

Wolf Match Target is the same as Sk Standard Plus. Same ammo off the same machines, and testing to the same standards, just packaged in the Wolf Match Target box.


2) CCI standard velocity.

CCI SV is popular with a lot of shooters and it also shoots well in many rifles. It also tends to be less expensive. It's fairly easy to find at around $3.50 per box of 50. It can be found for a lot less from time to time. I bought 9000 rounds last year at $23.00 per brick ($2.30 per box of 50).

It's my go to round in my High Standard Victor pistols. They shoot SK Match better, but I don't. So for me it make sense to spend half as much and shoot CCI SV.

They make CCI Green Tag as well which is supposed to be their more accurate/consistent competition ammo. But I've never noticed any difference in accuracy or consistency compared to the regular CCI SV. CCI Green Tag runs around $14.00 per 100 and for that money I prefer SK Match.

The Federal Ultramatch was indeed some premium grade ammo that was based on the Russian Olymp which was handloaded to extremely rigorous standards as the Russians wanted the finest regardless of cost.

However, more Olympic and State, Regional, National and International championships have been won with Eley Tenex than all others combined.

There are a number of fabulous offerings by a number of manufacturers, RWS R100-R50, Fiocchi SMV320, Lapua Midas + etc. but when it comes to winning the overwhelming choice is still Tenex.

Each rifle will have tendencies toward one or another, usually Standard Velocity.

The least expensive and quite readily available is usually CCI 0032 Standard velocity ammo.....the SK seems to do quite well when you can find it.........

Randy

Yes, I think those are OK prices. I paid $425 for a 457 American model last year. I have three other CZs, all 452 models, and they are indeed deserving of their reputation for quality, accuracy, and value. The Scout has a noticeably shorter length of pull than the Trainer or the Varmint (12" vs. 13.75"), and that just makes it feel "too short" to me.

I have two, both 455 models, a Ultra Match & a Varmint both excellent shooters, I think the accuracy of the CZ, be it a 455,452, Etc: is dependent largely on two things , first the ammo, both of mine are very ammo sensitive, second, the shooter, I have found over the years that most of my shooting problems can be traced back to me!!


jmop

Picked up a CZ 455 American .22LR about a year and a half ago. Outfitted it with a Williams receiver sight and ramp/bead front. I expect this will be a good small game rifle. I am very favorably impressed with the craftsmanship and finish work on the CZ. The bolt-mounted safety would be easier for me if it worked like the old Model 70 Winchester, but it is exactly the reverse and will take some getting used to.

Rifle came with nice CZ steel 1" rings so I have added a 3-9X40 scope and that will clear the receiver sight if I remove the aperture, so no adjustments to speak of when changing from scope to iron sights. At least that is the results I hope for. I like a receiver sight for most field use, but I can foresee some situations in which a scope will be nice to have.

Still looking forward to some range work. I was just getting the new piece ready to go when my cataracts demanded surgery, then my elbow and wrist surgeries on my strong arm, now pending surgery on the weak arm.

First the kids, then the grandkids, now along come the great-grandkids. It has gotten nearly impossible to hold onto a good .22 rifle around here.

I have the CZ511, great shooter but the magazines are NON-existent.

Got my first one in 2011 a 452FS/mannlicher in .22mag. I'm a sucker for Mannlicher style stocks (I think I have 9)......... got my last this past spring; a used 452FS in .22 magnum!!! These are great little "walk in Penn's woods" varmint rifles. My original .22mag will shoot 100yd 1-1.25 groups with a 1-4x20 Leupold scope. Smallest groups are in the .9 range.



In between I got....... a couple each of 452 Trainers (used) and 452 FS's ( one new and one used) in ,22lr .... a Scout (new) for my youngest son.

Not all my CZs are 452s........ three 527s including a FS in .223/5.56 (The FS was new the Americans were both used) and a new old stock(08) 453 Varmint w/ a heavy fluted barrel and single set trigger in .17hmr................

All make me

Most used were acquired for between $300 and $425 the most expensive was the new 527FS in .223/5.56 at $720

The only ones I set out to acquire were the 452FS in .22lr and 527FS in .223...... the rest were stumbled on in LGS or being sold by friends to upgrade to another CZ.

These CZs have been the most fun I've had with a rifle since my High School and College Rifle Team days.

I have a half dozen other .22 rifles but the CZs are the ones that go to the range and woods.