AMMO FOR CZ 453 / 452 AMERICAN

[chief38]

I have posted a few times that I own a CZ 453 American and also posted that I get my best accuracy with either CCI or Federal (blue box) 40 grain Hi Velocity Round Nose ammo. If I do my part a 5 shot group stays within 1/4" at 25 yards. I run a Leupold Ultra Light Rimfire 3-9 x 33 EFR Scope with Duplex sight. Groups are shot from a sandbag rest on a pic-nic table and the temperature has little effect on groupings.

Some state that they have terrific results with Eley Match Grade ammo but when I tried it the groups opened up over 1.5" at 25 yards! A call to CZ-USA a few years ago resulted in the tech telling me that the CZ .22 LR's actually have tight bores and like the HV stuff better. I even get better groups with the Winchester Wildcat ammo which I consider "junk". So I stick to the CCI, Federal and any HV promo ammo (like the Wildcats) that I have and 1/4" groups are what I usually achieve.

I'd be interested (just for S's and Giggles) in hearing from others who own CZ 452's and 453's at what they find is the most accurate in theirs.

 

[Wee Hooker]

I don't have my 452 any more but I will say that in my rifles with good accuracy potential, Wolf Match Target has been my go to ammo for the last 10+ years. It always produces tight groups , is reasonably priced and is not all that hard to find.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Chief, I recently bought a 455 Varmint for my dad. His experience is the same. CCI and Federal blue box perform the best. He refuses to buy match grade ammo when he can cover his grouping with a quarter at 50 yards. On a good day he uses a nickel.

 

[K-framer]

Do understand that every rifle is different. This is especially true of .22 rimfire rifles. I have never seen two that actually liked the same ammo, or at least, the same lot of a particular cartridge.

The long and short of it is, you'll have to find out what your rifles like "the hard way". I would suggest trying as many different brands and types as possible. Eventually, you'll find what works.

As to the Eley Match, it is hit or miss, like any other. What match grade ammo offers is great consistency, much more so than ordinary stuff. But, if your rifle(s) don't like it...they don't like it.

I have a well-used CZ 452 myself, which I have used for benchrest competition for some time. My CZ likes some lots of Eley, but not others. It does like "ordinary" Federal Auto Match, very much. It likes CCI Standard Velocity, as well. Many rifles are more accurate, in general, with Standard Velocity ammo, so I'd recommend concentrating your efforts there.

The photo I've attached is of a dime, shot through at 150 yards, with my CZ 452. I used Eley Match for this....but a particular lot that the rifle really likes. Most lots of the same ammo, in my rifle, are nowhere near this good.

 

[steamloco76]

I had a CZ-452 until recently. Wolf Match and Aguila Standard both shot into 1/3rd to under 1/2 inch groups at 50 yards from my rifle. CCI Standard went 1/2 to 3/4 inches.

You may want to try Geco and SK also. Both are European brands and I've heard other CZ shooters boast of great groups with them.

 

[Krogen]

I use a 452 Varmint to shoot long range silhouette. We shoot at 50, 100, 150 and 200 m. Believe you me, 200 m is a challenge for a 22 LR. I have been shooting CCI standard velocity. It will produce 1" to 1 1/2" groups at 100 m >if< there's no wind and >if< the shooter doesn't flub it. Sometimes, I think the tides and phase of the moon enter into this, but so far I can't prove that.

Interestingly, at 200 m, CCI standard gives vertical stringing. I rather doubt it's velocity variations. I suspect it's bullet variances that affect the ballistic coefficient. The bullet drops around 17" between 200 yds and 200 m, so things are getting pretty dicey at that range.

The usual advice is standard velocity is best for targets since it doesn't fall from super- to sub-sonic and cause instability. In my case, high velocity at 200 m cured my vertical strings.

So for the next few matches, I'll use HV at 200 m. Meanwhile, I'll try other standard velocity rounds to see if the vertical stringing is isolated to CCI SV or not.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I have several 452s in 22lr;a Full Stock, Scout (sons/wife's) and Trainer,......... mine will all do <1/2 inch at 50 with CCI and even some balk ammo..............


sub .3 inch groups are not uncommon.......

 

[Hang-Fire Hank]

FED AUTO MATCH

Surprising no one's mentioned this ammo. About a dozen of us who shot LR Silhouette found it more consistent at the 150-200 yd. animals w/a variety of make/model rifles (e.g. Winch 75, CZ 452, Anschutz). We also shot at 100-200-300 yd. plates & still found the best results. Two classes, both iron sights or scopes.

Having said that, the gent in this thread who stated that .22 rifles are ammo brand sensitive is completely spot on.

Hank M.

 

[Fishslayer]

I don't own any high end target .22s but I was pretty shocked at the improvement in my 10/22s with Aguila SV... the plain sort, not the more expensive match ammo. Same with CCI SV but the CCI is a bit more pricey and harder to come by...