Just an outstanding .22lr rifle

[Ribwizzard]

So, after a few posts , and listening to the recommendations of you fellow members, I chose a CZ 455 American for a .22lr rifle.
At 49 years of age, I'm no where new to the world of firearms, but pretty much skipped over the .22 rifle. I went from bb & pellet guns straight to 9mm &.45 pistols, and shotguns of course, then the .357's , then AR15 & AR10's and 700's and M70's in several calibers. And have been shooting a 617 and a old H&R top break .22 for quite a few years, but no .22 rifles.
Boy have I missed out on some fun, seriously!
I just truly enjoyed shooting this little bolt action rifle today.
So, it's a CZ 455 American, I put a Leopold vx-freedom 2-7x 33 rimfire MOA scope on Leopold medium rings.
Didn't bore sight it or anything, just bolted it on. Check out my first target at 25 yards walking it in.

 

[Bob L]

Congrats on your new 22 rifle. There is nothing like taking a little 22 and heading to the range just to play for the day. Even now after 60 years from the first time I went out, it is still just as fun to go out with your buddies or grand kids and dream up different events to pretend. Enjoy the rifle and thanks for the range report.

 

[Univibe]

Hope you have better luck than I did. I bought a 452 American about 10 years ago. Brand new in the box. It came with a target signed by somebody that indicated it had shot a very small group.

There were two problems with the gun. First, there was some kind of burr in the bore that inhibited running a cleaning rod through the bore.

Second, the bolt that came with the rifle would not fit in the receiver. It inserted part way, but the machining was apparently wrong either on the bolt or the receiver.

The company I bought it from, Gander Mountain, didn't want to deal with it. It would have cost money to ship it somewhere for factory service, or to have a local smith look at it. So I sold the stock and magazines and scrapped the defective parts.

Then I bought a Ruger 10/22 and it's been spitting lead ever since.

But sometimes I still wonder: how could a rifle with those defects shoot, let alone shoot a tiny group on a target?

 

[Ribwizzard]

So, scope just barely fits with medium rings. Got 1/8" clearance with the bolt. But gives me perfect cheek weld. That 2 x7 was ordered by mistake as I originally was going for 3x9, but am happy with it as it fits the gun and round perfectly.
I started out with CCI mini mags. Here is my 2nd target where I moved out to 50 yards.
And no, I was not using the plastic gun holder as a bench rest. I was shooting off the wooden block covered with the towel behind it. Range was hot and humid and steadily had dust devils blowing around, then 2nd half was in the rain.

 

[JayFramer]

The old now discontinued 452 series was a better gun. Much more accurate. I have one of the military issued models and it is superb.

 

[Ribwizzard]

As you can see in my last post, by the time I got to the 9 o'clock dot, I felt it was sighted in at 50 yards, so moved it to 75 yards between rain storms.
My Minimags were experiencing about a 2" bullet drop at 75 yards but were still holding 1" groups. I switched to CCI velociters, which corrected the bullet drop but opened the groups up some.
The first target is minimags at 75 yards using compensation lines ,
The next targets are at 75 yards, velociters, rain and foggy glasses target in crosshairs.
How freaking fun is this!!!

 

[Ribwizzard]

Maybe some have bad experiences, but for me, with right at $500 in the whole set up, to shoot like this first time out on not such a perfect day, and not getting to serious about it, .....I couldn't ask for any better. The fit and finish is superb, the long bolt stroke was smooth and felt natural, and I didn't even have to think about the trigger. It may not be perfect, but its perfectly what I wanted.

 

[Patrick L]

I too sort of rediscovered the joys of a .22 rifle sort of late in life (I'm 53). In addition to my almost 40 year old 10/22, I picked up a Ruger American Rimfire last summer. I'm just blown away by how well a silly $300 rifle can shoot. I strive for a dime at 50 yards. I can't always do it, but I did enough times to know the rifle is certainly capable when I do my part. I can always do a quarter.

I set my gun up with both scope and aperture sights. I use the scope to test ammo and shoot groups, then use the peep for off hand practice.

I also have my grandpa's old Mossberg single shot, and that's a shooter too!

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Kids have pretty well cleaned out my .22 rifle selection. Next to last was a 1960's Marlin 39A, which I recently gave to my older son. He has 3 children and 3 grandchildren so it should get a good workout.

Only one I have resisted letting go of is a 1939 Winchester 62A. I acquired it from an estate about 20 years ago. Condition is a solid 95%. Shoots postage stamp sized groups at 50 yards with original iron sights.

I do like the looks of the CZ 455 American. The 455 Lux model is very nice also, more of a classic European styling. Very appealing rifles.

 

[Fishinfool]

Nice rifle, and nice shooting. I think a lot of shooters out there have forgotten the fun of spending a day at the range with a quality .22 rifle.

I have a CZ 452, among a couple CZ's, and it, like the others, are well made and accurate rifles. Real blued steel and walnut, just like we used to make here in the US...

Larry

 

[series guy]

Very good shooting. I really like my 455. I was sighting it it at our indoor range. The target is a five shot group at 25 yards. I haven't had a chance to shoot anything but steel outdoors yet but I'm sure the groups will be good. Try some SK ammo some time for serious target shooting. Cut the group size in half with my gun.

 

[kenjen]

got a ruger 10/22 and put about $500 into it and it would shoot 1/2'' groups at 50yds, got a CZ 452 and right out of the box it would put 5 shots into 3/8 or less group at 50yds and one hole 5 shot groups at 25yds, also able to hit wooden match sticks and split playing cards at 25yds. on a regular bases. try some target ammo like SK, WOLF, ELY you will see those groups really shrink.

 

[Wee Hooker]

I have two cZ's. A 455 Varmint and a (just purchased) 455 Ultra Lux. Both are beautifully finished and scary accurate. All I've done to each is lighten the trigger a bit . As a long time .22 Benchrest shooter friend of mine put, it. "The CZ 452 and 455 rifles are more accurate than any $400 .22 rifle has a right to be". I would agree!
They certainly are allot of fun.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Enjoy your new rifle. That wood sure is pretty.

I wish I'd gotten a wood stocked .22 rifle as my first one. Instead, I got the plastic Ruger American Rimfire, which shoots so well I can't justify another with a full safe.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Got my first CZ rimfire about a decade ago; a 452 FS/mannlicher in .22 magnum... it's become my walking in Penn's Woods rifle. My best groups at 100yds have been just under .9 inches...... generally groups are 1-1.25.

Since then I've added several more CZs. 452s in .22lr, a 453 Varmint with single set trigger in .17hmr and an American and FS 527 in .223/5.56.

IMO the CZ line are just about the best bang for the buck going rimfires going from $300-500..... to get a better rimfire will cost you about another $400-500.

 

[growr]

rifle

Hope you have better luck than I did. I bought a 452 American about 10 years ago. Brand new in the box. It came with a target signed by somebody that indicated it had shot a very small group.

There were two problems with the gun. First, there was some kind of burr in the bore that inhibited running a cleaning rod through the bore.

Second, the bolt that came with the rifle would not fit in the receiver. It inserted part way, but the machining was apparently wrong either on the bolt or the receiver.

The company I bought it from, Gander Mountain, didn't want to deal with it. It would have cost money to ship it somewhere for factory service, or to have a local smith look at it. So I sold the stock and magazines and scrapped the defective parts.

Then I bought a Ruger 10/22 and it's been spitting lead ever since.

But sometimes I still wonder: how could a rifle with those defects shoot, let alone shoot a tiny group on a target?

Let me understand this...you have a brand new rifle with several glaring defects and instead of returning it to the manufacturer under warranty you part it out?

Wow...........

Randy

 

[627Pro]

Ribwizzard - Congrats on your new CZ 455, those are some fine out-of-the-box results! CZ makes some great rimfires. I started out with one, now I have four. They shoot great, are well finished, and provide results above their price. I had Leupold VX-1 2-7x28 scopes on all of mine until I upgraded a few with higher power scopes. The bolt throw/lift is a bit high on the 452 & 455, and higher rings are often required (I have CZ rings, BKL 257, or Burris 420076 rings on mine), but most rimfire scopes will still clear with no problem.

As others have noted, try a few different types of ammo. No need to get into the high priced competition stuff, but I've found mine shoot SK Standard +, Wolf Match Target, Geco Bolt, CCI standard velocity, and Norma Tac 22 pretty well. Besides, ammo tests give you another reason to spend time at the range.

Univibe - I can't believe you parted a new gun out for apparent manufacturing defects. It would have been easier to contact CZ-USA and get a Return Authorization. But what's done is done. Those 10/22s can be addictive too.

 

[S&W ucla]

Hope you have better luck than I did. I bought a 452 American about 10 years ago. Brand new in the box.

There were two problems with the gun. First, there was some kind of burr in the bore that inhibited running a cleaning rod through the bore.

Second, the bolt that came with the rifle would not fit in the receiver. It inserted part way, but the machining was apparently wrong either on the bolt or the receiver......But sometimes I still wonder: how could a rifle with those defects shoot, let alone shoot a tiny group on a target?

IMO, The real 1st problem was buying from Gander Mountain. I'm pretty sure what you call a burr in the bore was the ejector. It sits in the boreline and with bolt removed can rub against a cleaning rod unless a rod guide is used to keep it down. You have to pull firmly rearward on the trigger to insert the bolt until it completely closes. Same design as many 22 bolt guns. I can almost understand the salesperson not knowing, but when you took it back and explained the "problems" you were having, someone there should have been able to handle it. May have had something to do with Gander Mountain going bellyup. I really like the CZ .22 bolt guns, sorry you had an unfortunate experience. Ruger .22s are good too

 

[Imissedagain]

Try some 50' NRA four position targets as well.... if they still shoot that discipline.
I recently tried to mount a T-36 on a 9422 22LR lever gun but only the 2.5x28 Leupold fit with the Buckhorn removed.
Now the No.1V with the T-36 must be brought along as a spotting scope.....
The Buckhorn will go back on the lever gun once we find the most accurate ammo.

 

[Kapuna]

Love the CZ rifles... have a 455 Varmint and a 452 Mannlicher in .22 LR...
Both will shoot a clover leaf at 50 yards with a good scope and standard velocity ammo (1050-1070 fps)...
Walmart CCI Std Velocity (3.47 a box) does surprisingly well... SK Standard Plus does even better in mine...
I have found the .22 ammo in high velocity is a bit too unstable for target shooting...(your mileage may vary)....
If you wanna splurge a bit, try RWS R50 ammo...
It'll spoil you...