Looking at a Ruger 77/22, Browning T-Bolt, or CZ 455.

Whatcha think?

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

Value-CZ
Looks-Ruger

You just can't beat the CZ's for performance and value. My 452 Varmint will hold under an inch at 100 yds. on a calm day with the ammo it likes and I can't even begin to guess how many prairie dogs I've knocked over with a 455 American. Both are terrific rifles.

CZ..........I like mine

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Cheers, Charles
SWCA #2442

Can't speak of the other two choices, but I do have a 77/22 and love it.

I have always liked the looks of the 77/22 but never shot one.
I can speak of the CZ performance as i have one of those in
.17HMR and it shoots lights out.
Best of Luck on whatever you decide. With those 3 choices
you won't go wrong.

Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

Kimber, game over.

I'd go with the T-Bolt. I've got an original from 1967 and it's a very fine rifle. The new ones are just as good, plus they've got a 10 rd mag. But the Ruger and the CZ are excellent choices, too.

As do I...bought mine almost 20 years ago, put a good Leupold scope on it, and have been enjoying it ever since.

I would look for a minty older Winchester or Remington tube fed rifle. I have a very early (1935) Remington M34P and it is dead accurate, with a fine trigger and light and lean. Find a 60's or 70's vintage quality one from either and you will be pleased. Steel and walnut...

I have a CZ and am very happy with it.

I have a CZ 453 American which is the predecessor to the CZ 455 IIRC and has its single set trigger set to 1/2 pound. It is the slickest most accurate .22 I own and have ever shot (at any price)! Beautiful wood, ALL metal construction and parts, quality built. You will NOT do better for the price! You fellas might laugh or think I am nuts, but I think this 453 American is every bit as accurate and quality oriented as an Anshutz - at least form my experiences with the Anshutz rifles which by the way is at least two to three times the price.

The new Browning T Bolt is just OK, and NOT the same as the original Belgium made ones. Personally I was never a huge fan of the straight pull bolt, but I will give it high marks for accuracy.

The Ruger........ well, it's a Ruger.

Buy a Savage and you'll have $$$ left over for ammo. Most underrated .22 rifle on the market. Savage outsells everyone when it comes to long guns. Great value for the money and they're accurate. Here's one of mine with a Nikon scope; a tack driver.

All three are fine rifles. That being said, I have a new T-bolt that is a tack driver and FWIW is a lot faster on follow-up shots than the other two. The T-bolt has really fine fit and finish also.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of those three.

I bought a Ruger 77/22 from a pawn shop a few summers back.
It feels a lot like my centerfire Ruger bolt rifles and shoots very well.

Of the ones you mention, the CZ is hands down the better. Not mentioned that I prefer is an Anschutz sporter. These guns inherit accuracy from the match grade target rifles they build for the Olympic shooters. Unfortunately they do cost somewhat more.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

What he said.... I've got two CZ .22's and a .17..They all drive tacks...
JIM.................

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SWCA # L-1911

I think knowing exactly what Your requirements of the rifle are going to be may help in determining the best answer.
That the used gun rack is a great place for finding great .22's not mentioned like an old Mossberg Winchester or even Anschutz.

There are so many truly great .22 bolt actions that some more specifics could really aid you in the long run

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

Been shooting a plain Jane, synthetic stock Savage that is as accurate as anything I've tried short of BR 22 Heavy Barrels. If the CZ's, Kimbers, Ruger and whatnot are of the same accuracy, just take your pick.

I purchased CZ 452 scouts as Christmas presents for my young niece and nephew. I was so impressed with the accuracy of both, I purchased one for myself followed by a 452 FS (full stock) model.

IMO, one of the best values out there in a rimfire rifle.

Of the three rifles, I've had the opportunity to shoot a 455 and can't imagine you regretting the purchase. Good trigger, accurate as the ammo it's fed, nice finish and moderately priced.

Bolt .22lr is one of my favorites. I can sit for hours at the club's Plinking range bouncing bottle caps around and never get bored.

I chose a Savage FV-SR. 16'' fluted and threaded barrel. Target size bolt handle and Accutrigger. It was a perfect match for my intended shooting... after a few aftermarket parts... stock, trigger guard, bottom metal, bipod and a can... I was ready to put a scope on it and shoot. Tons of fun.

T-bolt is the one I wish I had. I am lefthanded, so LH T -bolt.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

Without a doubt, CZ!

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GOA
USA Shooting Supporter

I agree with the CZ pick. The T-Bolt is OK. The Rugers are a hit or miss (pun intended) choice. Check over at Rimfire Central.
Mine was a bad shooter, with the usual bad Ruger trigger.

Someone above said the CZs shoot as well as the Anschutz sporters. I agree. My wifes CZ scout shoots exceptional groups.
The target below was just casual shooting with a Leupold 2-7 rimfire scope.





I continue to be impressed by CCI Velocitors. They also shoot exceptionally well in my K22 and Ruger MKII. For hyper velocity ammo they are great.

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Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69

Well I have a Ruger 7722 that I bought soon after they first came out way back then. It has a 4X Leupold of that era on it and I like to describe that gun as a sporter that thinks it’s a target rifle.

Shot a lot of squirrels with it and it has won me a bunch of coffee/soda/lunches over the years. (And generally a fun gun to shoot for any reason)

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

Been considering a Marlin XT-22TSR... Bolt action, tube fed, and takes 25 short, 19 long, and 17 long rifle. Any opinions on this one?

Link... Marlin Model XT-22

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Semper Fi

I have personal experience with all three rifles plus several others. The 77/22's are great if you get a good one and mediocre otherwise. Mine was mediocre. I have a T-Bolt which is my wife's favorite bolt rifle. The Browning is very accurate with ammo it likes. My CZ-452 training rifle is just plain awesome with many kinds of ammo and is a real value compared to the others. My most accurate .22 is the Marlin 880 SQ "Squirrel Rifle" from around 1990 made with match chambered heavy barrels left over from a military competition rifle contract. It is ugly as sin but puts just about any standard velocity .22 ammo into under a half inch at 50 yards.

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Virtue,Liberty & Independence

I've had a few CZ 452's (still have a Super BRNO 2500, and 452 17hm20), and have a Ruger 77/22 varmint in matte grey. Also have had Anschutz's, Sako, etc.
I don't think you can tell much differance in accuracy with bulk ammo, which is all I ever shoot. I'de say get the one that has the best action and finish. In my case, that is Anschutz.

For the money, I'd buy a Savage, and get one with a wood stock. If I were spending more, I'd get the CZ Varmint.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

The CZ 455 Training Rifle, CZ 455 Lux, or CZ 455 FS (Mannlicher stock) are wonderfully accurate rifles, and all nice to look at as well. The Mannlicher is gorgeous, in my opinion.

If you can find a used (discontinued) 452, they are just as good, and cheaper (usually).

CZ would also be my recommendation; either the 452 or 455. There's lots of variety in stock configurations, sights and barrels; and they're generally pretty accurate right out of the box. That said, there are a couple of things to know about CZ's:

1. Except for the 453's (set trigger models) CZ triggers typically need some work done to reduce pull and creep; easily done with a $14 "Yo Dave" kit, or by trimming the factory springs and/or shimming the sear pivot points. Rimfire Central has a lot of excellent info on this.
2. If you don't already have one, you will probably need a micro-torque screw driver to adjust the action bedding screws, and you will likely spend some time finding the optimal bedding for accuracy. Each rifle is a little different. Alternately, you could pillar bed the action, but that takes a bit of courage and skill, or some bucks to find somebody that knows what they're doing.
3. CZ's can be ammo-sensitive, as are just about every 22 rifle. Mine seem to prefer the moderately higher priced standard velocity stuff (SK/Wolf, Lapua, Eley & RWS) for optimum accuracy (< 0.5" at 50 yds).
4. CZ's require higher rings for scope mounting than Rugers or Browning's due to ocular-end bolt clearance. Scope rings aren't provided by CZ and they tend to be a bit pricey. Some of the earlier 452's have metric dovetails which can be difficult to find.

Despite all of the above, I believe that CZ's are a much better value than any other bolt action 22. Ruger's can be made to be great, but unless you're very lucky, accuracy to match or exceed the CZ will cost you as much as an Anschutz. -S2

I was going to pull the trigger on a trade for a Kimber Government model .22, as a last effort to make sure that I was getting a good deal I asked a couple of the guys that shoot alot of competition with .22s and was warned off unless I could get it for less than $500. Both of them told me to get a CZ target rifle if I wanted to really get my moneys worth, they both said the Kimber was highly overrated and certainly not worth what the guy thought it was as they can be got from CMP for a great deal less. One of the guys shoots an old classic model 52 Winchester that he has shot since his college days and won quite a few medals with, the other guy shoots an Anshutz model with heavy barrel, I trust in their recommendation. They both also had good things to say about some of the Ruger 77/22's although both were leaning towards the CZ target for the money and the fact that it is rarely hit and miss with CZ, they are pretty reliably good rifles. I've tried one and really liked the trigger, if I ever make the decision I would probably go with a CZ.