THE BEST 22LR RIFLE I HAVE EVER SHOT IN MY LIFE!

About 20+ years ago I was looking for a SUPER accurate, very well made and beautiful high end 22 LR bolt action rifle. I looked at a Kimber Super America, Anschutz, Winchester, Remington etc. A few were OK but they were either stupid expensive or just not up to the standard I was looking for.

A good friend and shooting buddy turned me onto CZ - At the time I was unaware they even made long guns - silly me. I went to a LGS that had a CZ453 American in stock and it was love at first sight! The rifle has a gorgeous Walnut stock, beautiful deep bluing, no plastic on it at all, a buttery smooth bolt action and best of all a single set trigger. The single set trigger can be set for any weight you like as the regular trigger can be as well. No creep, no take up, no over travel and the best trigger I own on any firearm - handgun or long gun.

I installed a Leupold rimfire scope on it (3-9) which by the way also has a fantastic parallax adjustment on it. That is so so important on a 22 caliber rifle than is typically used between 10 yards and 150 yards. Most fixed parallax scopes are useless and totally blurry and inaccurate at 10 yards! The Leupold is mounted to the rifle with Burris Signature scope rings for perfect alignment before I even use the scope adjustments for windage and elevation. The rifle will consistently shoot 1/8" - 1/4" groups out to 50 yards and 1/4" - 3/8" groups at 100 yards. I am SURE the rifle can do better, but that's as good as I can shoot it. I am 70 now - lol. The target below was after fine adjusting it at 25 yards to do some squirrel hunting up at my friends hunting cabin a few years ago. CCI Mini-Mags are the rifle's ammo of choice but works almost as well with Federal's blue box #510.

After a bunch of my shooting bud's shot it, they went out and bought their own 453 American's. Th LGS sold 9 of them just to my friends - not kidding here! The only sad part of this is that soon after we all bought one of these fantastic rifles, they were discontinued by CZ because they said it cost them too much to produce. I also suspect the did not want the liability for the single set trigger as it can be set super scary light! They came out with several similar models afterwards (no single set trigger) and even though the newer models were descent, none held a candle to the very high quality of the 453 American - not even close! The barrels were thinner, the triggers not nearly as good, the trigger guards were made of plastic and over-all just not the same quality. Still good, but the 453 American was just a gem! In shooting contests I have always beaten guys shooting Anschutz, Kimber's, etc. Yes - it also depends on one's shooting ability, but the contests were mostly from a bench position so the rifles themselves make a huge difference.

At the time I believe I paid around $575 for the rifle and about $425 for the scope and signature rings. IMHO, I would take this rifle to any competition for accuracy, quality and overall perfection. Anyone looking for an incredible 22 LR rifle and who stumbles across one, I would say - BUY IT! Caution..... they did also make this rifle in .17 H&R Magnum as well (which I would not recommend because of the round itself), so be careful if looking for & buying one. The .17 is not something I am personally fond of - noisy, expensive and hard to get ammo. Plus, you just can't see the tiny holes in a target at 100 yards - even with a pair of good binoculars.

I have not really looked for one of these rifles lately and they are rarely available (used market) as most of my shooting friend's already have one. If you can find one used in good condition, it is a hell of a rifle and IMHO, about the best 22LR rifle you can readily and affordably buy now days. I will go so far as to say one of the best rifles for the money ever offered over the last 75 years.

In my old age I'm beginning to love plinking with a bolt .22lr rifle. I dont have near the nice (but pricey) setup you have, especially when it comes to the optic. My Ruger American Rimfire in .22lr is capable of shooting one-inch groups at 50 yards. The scope is a relatively inexpensive Leupold Rifleman, 2x7 mounted with standard tip-off mount rings. This target was ten rounds of Wolf Match ammo at 50 yards. I think it could do even better with a quality rimfire scope and different mount setup.

My best ever 22rf rifle was Montgomery Ward Model 830 Westernfied bolt action. Accurate to 100 yards.

Good 25 yard rifle, will shoot on par with the old Remington 513's, Winchester 75's and the upper tier Mossbergs. Stretch their legs to 50 yards and not quite as accurate.

The target below was shot with a Winchester 52D made in 1965 with Redfield International iron sights, This was shot at 50 Yards benched. The target is a 10 meter air pistol target. 5 shots of SK Rifle Match.

I have a CZ 455. Though it doesn't have a wood stock or a set trigger it works fine for me. It's draw is that a .17 HMR barrel can be used without any modification to the rifle. That wasn't the reason I purchased however.

I grew up using a .22LR for lots of things including shooting rabbits, crows and tin cans. I had some pretty nice 22's in the 60's, a time when quality was the rule rather than the exception. CZ has literally gone back in time and produced the best quality they can and stay slightly above the median price point. My 455 is better than any Remington or Winchester I had in the 60's.

As far as I know the 455 was recently discontinued, which makes it the 2nd in 450 series to be discontinued. All that tells me is they don't have a large profit margin and costs to manufacture have exceeded the market they were in. 457 has become very expensive for a 22LR rifle.

I routinely shoot mine at 220 yd plates. It isn't that difficult to hit an 18'' plate if there is no wind. IMO CZ quality is worth a few hundred bucks more than a Ruger or Savage.

I am a big CZ .22 rifle fan. I have had this CZ 452 "Trainer" since 2009, have put many thousands of rounds through it and it still looks like new. Here is a steel rabbit target shot at 100 yards, prone position, five rounds on target:



With it's newer CZ 457 .22 Magnum brother, this one is quite worthy as well:

TJm15.38 said:

In my old age I'm beginning to love plinking with a bolt .22lr rifle. I dont have near the nice (but pricey) setup you have, especially when it comes to the optic. My Ruger American Rimfire in .22lr is capable of shooting one-inch groups at 50 yards. The scope is a relatively inexpensive Leupold Rifleman, 2x7 mounted with standard tip-off mount rings. This target was ten rounds of Wolf Match ammo at 50 yards. I think it could do even better with a quality rimfire scope and different mount setup.

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I really like using those zeroing targets. I generally use them with a centerfire rifle at 100 yards.

jake1945 said:

My best ever 22rf rifle was Montgomery Ward Model 830 Westernfied bolt action. Accurate to 100 yards.

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My second most accurate 22 rifle is a cheap Marlin Glenfield model 25 that my Dad purchased for me as my very first rifle when I was 11. It has a Birch stock, a chrome plated bolt and came with a "Marlin" 3/4" junker scope. I still have it and believe it or not, the cheap Glenfield really shoots!! Not as accurate as the CZ 453 American, but more accurate than rifles costing many times as much. As a kid I spent many a Saturday plinking away. I have since upgraded the scope which cost a lot more than my Dad payed for the rifle, or for that matter than it's probably worth now. LOL!!

Just as an aside, my very first Shotgun was a 12 gauge Savage Stevens (a model 77 I think) with an adjustable twist choke. I had it for about 4 years and sold it - I was never a fan.

I sure don't intend on parting with my old CZ BRNO #5 Deluxe .22 LR. It wears an old Redfield 4x scope and it shoots well under a minute of a cottontail.

Love the .22 rifles. My most accurate vintage is a 1958 Marlin Golden 39A, Next is a Remington Fieldmaster 572 pump from 1971, Marlin Model 60 is very accurate for the price. S&W 15-22 is very accurate for the shorter barrel when compared to the ones above.

I also love the 22 rifles. I have a CZ 452 varmint with the heavy barrel. It is the most accurate rifle I have. My son has claimed it for his. I shoot a Browning TBolt. It was worked over by a gunsmith prior to my purchase. The trigger is really nice. It is the one I hunt with.

CZs are beautiful rifles no doubt. The ones with Mannlicher stocks are in a league of their own. I wanted one in .223 but ended up with an Inter Arms “ mini Mauser”. Deal I couldn’t pass up.

Same here Chief.

Several years ago my father wanted something lighter than his Ruger 77/22 which is extremely accurate after upgrading the trigger.

He wanted a nice rifle and expected the same accuracy. I found a CZ 455 for him. He was beyond happy.

In addition to the 455 he now has one in 223 and 221 Fireball. All tack drivers and varmint killers.

+1 on the CZ Chief!

I picked up a left hand 452 about 4 years ago for rimfire sporter matches, and am in love with it. It shoots way better than I can and the action is just as you describe…..butter!

I will say that the most accurate .22 I’ve ever shot is my Kimber 82G US marked that came from the CMP.

Kimberly was just a phenomenal shooter. I would use it for some of our indoor winter league .22 matches that are shot off bags. Attached are a few pics of Kimberly and a couple of her groups. The sudden death target is a 50’ match of 5 shots for score. If you cut the edge of the scoring ring your total goes to zero. The 7 shot group was a partial box of wolf extra target that I thought I’d finish up and she printed exceptionally! I have an inexpensive air rifle scope on her that works well!

My most accruate 22lr rifle was a Weatherby Mark XX11. In my younger days I could from bench rest put them into a dime size group at 100 yards open sighted. It would routinely best my brother's Anschutz. The only rifle we have now is a 10/22 which is far more accurate than I am. For the money I have not seen better.

zwartepiet said:

+1 on the CZ Chief!

I picked up a left hand 452 about 4 years ago for rimfire sported matches, and am in love with it. It shoots way better than I can and the action is just as you describe…..butter!

I will say that the most accurate .22 I’ve ever shot is my Kimber 82G US marked that came from the CMP.

Kimberly was just a phenomenal shooter. I would use it for some of our indoor winter league .22 matches that are shot off bags. Attached are a few pics of Kimberly and a couple of her groups. The sudden death target is a 50’ match of 5 shots for score. If you cut the edge of the scoring ring your total goes to zero. The 7 shot group was a partial box of wolf extra target that I thought I’d finish up and she printed exceptionally! I have an inexpensive air rifle scope on her that works well!

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I shot the target below with a Kimber 82G from CMP. This was shot from the bench at 50 yards with iron sights. Was using SK Standard Plus ammo. Should have kept the rifle. That is 0.167 center to center.

Toss up between my 1813 Anschutz SN 001 that I bought from Lones Wigger Jr. The other candidate is my 52 D Winchester in an Anschutz prone rifle stock.
As good as the CZ rimfire is it will not be competitive in 3-4 position or outdoor prone matches. I have 4 of them....steel chickens in rimfire silhouette hate them as do live p. dogs here in Montana!!

Randy

My most accurate 22LR was a mid 60's Anshutz 54 prone rifle. I would shoot it off a bench rest. At 200 yards you would hit M&M's 60 to 75% of the time! This was with Eley Team EPS ammo.

I had a GM Kimber; I never found an ammo that gave M&M size performance at 200 yards. Does anyone have a Government Model Kimber (Clackamas) that doesn't have a utility knife cut down the stock?

I sold them about 12 years ago. Still have a very accurate Kimber of Oregon Varmint SN 0033 (My brother has the same thing but Kimber of America. about 66% as accurate) I also have a Weatherby Mark XXII bolt action. Anshutz 64 action stocked by Weatherby. They shoot well and are all pretty! Best shooting sporter I ever messed with.

Ivan

With 9 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren the challenge of hanging on to a .22 rifle has become very difficult. For many years I have treasured an early (1939 vintage) Winchester 62A I acquired from the original owner in near perfect condition, but that has become so valuable that I hesitate to drag it into the woods for small game season.

A few years ago I added a CZ Model 455 American .22LR. Absolutely beautiful rifles, walnut stock beautifully checkered, polished and blued steel, the way rifles were meant to be! I caught mine for under $400 in 2019, prices have climbed since then.

My primary use is small game, mainly cottontails and grouse. I added a short front ramp with bead and a Williams receiver sight made to fit the CZ dovetail. Slender, lightweight, perfect for my needs. The folks at CZ-USA provided me with a spare magazine, something I always like to have for any mag-fed firearm.

Also have the CZ factory 1" steel scope rings. Maybe I'll get around to working with the rifle with a good scope also.

The CZ rimfire line-up is truly outstanding! I've been hunting with .22 rifles since about 1959, several great Winchesters, Marlins, and an Anschutz. From the current crop of production firearms the CZ rifles (452, 453, 455, 457) are tough to beat.

Another feature some may appreciate is interchangeable barrels to convert from .22LR to .22WMR and .17HMR, if the owner feels those needs. Swap out the barrels, install or remove the mag well block for the appropriate magazine, everything on the same action, looks easy to do in only a few minutes.

Current crop of grandkids are eyeing mine and trying to make their claims, but I'm not quite done with it yet.

+1 on the CZs. I too inherited my FILs 452 trainer. Plain, almost ugly, but man will it shoot.

When he passed, I was planning on keeping his old Remington he had since he was a kid, strictly for sentimental reasons. I was cleaning the CZ up in preparation for selling it, and I was struck by its quality and almost total lack of plastic. I ended up keeping the CZ instead.