For CZ .22 Fans

[Fishinfool]

A couple months ago, a friend bought a CZ 457 AT-One. Got to shoot it last week, and I was impressed.

I have a bunch of .22 rifles, but nothing really that is a dedicated target gun since I sold my HB Mossberg target rifle. Lately, I have been spending more time at the range, and rifle shooting for groups off the bench. I don't pretend to be an F Class expert, but I enjoy my feeble attempts. Figured I would get some use out of a good bench .22, so on the hunt we go.

Turns out CZ has about sold out of these rifles, with another shipment maybe late summer. But, I found a new one locally, don't you know, and below retail.. I mounted a Vortex Strike Eagle 4x24x50 scope in Talley rings, and hit the range today.

From the bench, I tried a variety of .22 lr ammo, from bulk Remington to the good stuff, like Federal Gold Metal Target & Match, Eley Match. Worst 5 shot groups at 50 yards was Winchester bulk high speed - 1.7 inch groups. Remington Thunderbolts about the same. But, it took a shine to CCI standard velocity, as well as the Federal Gold Medal stuff, which I luckily have almost a case of. With ammo it liked, it was a sub 1/2 gun at 50 yards, with some groups impressively smaller if I did my part. Not bad for a new gun, 1st time shooting it.

Quick note about the rifle & glass. The Vortex Strike Eagle 4x24x50 was bright and clear, with accurate and nice feeling click adjustments. It is a second focal plane scope, illuminated reticle, and one heck of a deal at $299.99 on closeout at Euro Optic. The new, FFP version just introduced is like $800.00.

The rifle is usual CZ quality, which is to say well made, smooth, and accurate. The adjustable, laminated stock is supplied by Boyd's, and according to what I have read, is better finished on the CZ guns than the version Boyds sells at retail. The 16 inch bull barrel is stiff and accurate, as well as threaded at the muzzle.

I read somewhere guys down south were spraying white paper plates with a sugar / water mix, hanging them up on backstops, then getting back about 50 yards, and shooting the resulting flies for score. Gonna have to try that.

Larry

 

[Fishjager]

Funny, CZ 457's are great guns. I have one like in your picture except it has a 24 inch barrel (rare and hard to get).Might still be for sale. They are super accurate and fun. Nice shooting. By the way, try some CCI standard velocity. It will surprise you. TAC22 is also pretty good in these.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I liked CCI SV so much I bought a case. No, not a brick....... a case.

Works in my 455 very well. I would say 1 MOA consistently.

 

[1sailor]

CZ makes nice 22's. I have one of the 455 Trainers with the tapered 24" barrel. Very accurate and pretty well balanced for a long gun. The range markings on the rear sight are pretty darn close to real life.

 

[Rodan]

I also bought a CZ 457 with the AT-One stock, only to discover the stock didn't work for me at all, and the available adjustment was minimal. Should have just bought the standard stock!

I swapped it out for a KRG Bravo, and I'm working on getting the gun dialed in. Current optic is an Athlon Ares 4.5-27x50. Shooting mostly CCI SV, and only have around 100 rounds through it so far. I've found it takes 250+ rounds for most .22s to start shooting their best.

 

[Bullet Bob]

Man, that's fashion forward! Here's an old fogey 452. I didn't win the wood lottery, for a relatively short time they offered an "Extra" wood option for about $100.00 over the $400.00 base price. My favorite is still my old beat up 1957 BRNO #5 though.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

CZ makes rimfire rifles the way Winchester and Remington were doing about 60 years ago, serious tools for knowledgeable users.

My last acquisition (2019) was a CZ Model 455 American .22LR, blued steel, 20.5" barrel, nicely checkered walnut stock in the classic sporter style. Came with CZ factory steel 1" scope rings, but I opted for a Williams Shorty front ramp and bead with a receiver sight. My goal was a light and compact rifle for small game use and I am very pleased with the result.

 

[diyj98]

I have several CZ rimfires myself. I feel they're the best bargain in rimfire rifles. Not as refined as Anschutz and some others, but for the price, they're very hard to beat.

 

[LostintheOzone]

CZ makes rimfire rifles the way Winchester and Remington were doing about 60 years ago, serious tools for knowledgeable users.

My last acquisition (2019) was a CZ Model 455 American .22LR, blued steel, 20.5" barrel, nicely checkered walnut stock in the classic sporter style. Came with CZ factory steel 1" scope rings, but I opted for a Williams Shorty front ramp and bead with a receiver sight. My goal was a light and compact rifle for small game use and I am very pleased with the result.

CZ makes rimfire rifles the way Winchester and Remington were doing about 60 years ago, serious tools for knowledgeable users.

I had a Rem 512 as a kid. I shot dozens of jack rabbits with that rifle. I could hit them out to 75 yds with the standard irons on the rifle. I sat on the edge of an alfalfa field at dusk as they came in from the brush to eat the greens. Serious attention to barrel regulation back in those days. CZ has found that winning combination again. They cost a little more but they shoot like 50-60's Remington's and Winchester's.

Only somebody that had one would know that.

 

[.38SuperMan]

I traded a few years ago for a 457 training rifle and really love shooting it just as it came from the factory. I have a couple of precision 22’s but sometimes like going old school bolt action with open sights. And yes everything I’ve seen of theirs is very well made. I think they’re even had a positive impact on Colt.

 

[skyhitoy]

CZ457

Here is my CZ457 Arken 6-24x50 Arken rings area 419 30moa rail area 419 bolt knob timney trigger gg&g bipod

 

[Patrick L]

I inherited my father in laws CZ 452. Just the basic European style one with a beech stock, nothing fancy. It never ceases to amaze me how small it groups for just a plain sporter.

 

[BB57]

I have a number of CZ rimfire rifles, including a CZ 453 American. It’s a CZ 452 American but with an additional action screw and a very good single set trigger.

The comment above that CZ makes bolt action rifles for serious users, like Winchester and Remington used to is an accurate statement, The CZ 452, 453 455 and 457 are not quite up to Model 52 Sporter or reissue sporter standards but quality is still very high and they are on average a bit more accurate.

My CZ 453 American and CZ 455 Varmint Heavy are both 1 MOA 5 shot group at 100 yards rifles with SK Std Plus, while all three of my Model 52 sporters are 1.25 MOA rifles.

My CZ 455 Varmint Heavy. The stock is laminated wood with a non skid paint on top.

My CZ 455 Varmint Heavy shoots just as well as my Bergara B-14R.

I also have a budget CZ 513 Farmer, which is a CZ 452 with a basically horrible non adjustable trigger. But if you have the skill to get past the poor trigger the barrel and action on my particular rifle is just as accurate as my CZ 455 Varmint Heavy.

I also have a CZ 453 Varmint. It’s again a CZ 452 Varmint with a second action screw and a single set trigger, as well as a slightly different heavy barrel profile.

You’d think the heavier barrel would boost the accuracy compared to my CZ 453 American but that’s not quite the case. The American is a consistent 1 MOA rifle. The Varmint averages 1 MOA but it does it with a percentage of 1.5 MOA groups that are balanced out by an equal percentage of 1/2 MOA groups. It’s a lot less consistent, and thus by my definition less accurate. I rate it as a 1.5 MOA rifle.

That said, both of my 453s are within the norm for CZ rifles from the budget 513 to the 452, 453, 455 and current 457. They all can vary a bit between 1.0 and 1.5 MOA accuracy.

My Model 52s will also shoot 1/2 MOA groups (this is a 100 yard group)…now and then. But doing it now and then doesn’t make them 1/2 MOA rifles.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Dad gave me a Remington 511-x Scoremaster in 63 or 64..... my go to field gun until I retired it in favor of a CZ 452FS/Mannlicher in 2012.

My 453 Varmint is in .17hmr

Great guns....... good to great wood!!!!!

 

[Fishinfool]

Man, that's fashion forward! Here's an old fogey 452. I didn't win the wood lottery, for a relatively short time they offered an "Extra" wood option for about $100.00 over the $400.00 base price. My favorite is still my old beat up 1957 BRNO #5 though.

"Fashion Forward" - I like that phrase. Yea, the AT-One is an acquired taste...lol.

Love that wood on your 452. The "standard" wood on my 452 isn't close, but it does shoot well.

Larry

 

[Fishinfool]

Here is my CZ457 Arken 6-24x50 Arken rings area 419 30moa rail area 419 bolt knob timney trigger gg&g bipod

Nice rig. I was considering an angled rail, but don't plan on shooting past 100 yards, and already had the Talley 30mm / 11mm rings from another CZ .22.

Larry

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

Count me in as a CZ fan. Got this a couple months ago.



It really likes Lapua Midas M. Of couse they don't make it anymore

 

[rockquarry]

Funny, CZ 457's are great guns. I have one like in your picture except it has a 24 inch barrel (rare and hard to get).Might still be for sale. They are super accurate and fun. Nice shooting. By the way, try some CCI standard velocity. It will surprise you. TAC22 is also pretty good in these.

Until you get into the expensive, real target ammo, I've found CCI SV is capable of surprisingly good accuracy in more guns than anything else remotely close to it's price range. I have a number of .22 handguns and rifles, and CCI SV is all I've bought for a good while now, always by the case.

I've tried lots of other .22 ammos. Many are a waste of money if you have any interest in decent accuracy. A bonus with the CCI SV is that it will function in most .22 auto rifles and handguns that usually need HV .22 LR to function properly.

 

[Fishinfool]

^^^^^ Day in and day out, CCI SV has been the most consistently accurate affordable ammo out of all my .22 firearms. Few have not liked it.

The expensive stuff like the better grades of Eley, Lapua can really impress in the right gun, but they are a lot of money for plinking.

Larry

 

[huntsman22]

457 scout plinker for the kiddo's..... and me