how good are the varmint rifles for bench shooting?

I like the CZ455 Varmint, it is nice and heavy so you just need a good scope for 100 yards. 50 is fun, 25 yards with that rifle is just boring :p
 
Mr. Friendly said:
looking at the CZ 455 Varmint options...liking the Tactical Trainer. :)
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Not sure what model that is.. Do you mean the Varmint Precision Trainer in the Manners stock, or the Tacticool in the Boyd's Pro-Varmint stock?

I've not heard good things about Manner's pillaring work... so buy that with it in mind to re-pillar and glass bed the action.

I built a custom 455 with a Boyd's Pro-Varmint stock, it does well off the bench but as a general rule I don't shoot with "free recoil" benchrest type techniques unless it is a benchrest specific stock on a purpose built rest for such a rifle. I use a two-handed, firm hold technique and have yet to meet a rifle that does not respond well to it, but you can drive yourself nuts trying to find just the right grip pressure, cheek pressure, etc, and try to keep it consistent using BR techniques on a non-BR rifle :rolleyes: suit yourself.

If I ain't shooting sub-moa at 100y with it, I ain't happy...



 
The CZs are nice rifles, although accuracy results vary a bit from rifle to rifle as you would expect from a moderately priced sporting rifle. Without getting too far into the weeds, I'm just going to say it really depends on the degree of accuracy you expect from it.
Most will shoot a 5 shot group into 3/4" at 50 yards, a few will do better than that, and a few will be worse. That's using decent mid grade match ammunition such as Lapua Center-X.
The 452 platform is generally considered to be slightly more accurate than the 455, whether that reputation is deserved or not is a matter of opinion.
I have two, a 452 Varmint and a 455 American, both in 22 LR. Of the two, the 452 is an easier rifle to shoot for accuracy primarily due to stock design and greater mass (inertia).
Have a look at Rimfire Central's CZ-BRNO forum, there is a monthly 100 yard challenge that is a pretty good showcase of what CZs are capable of. Some of the rifles are mostly stock, some heavily customized, and others in the Honorary division are different animals entirely.
 
I am ammo testing my CZ 452 Classic at 300 yards on calm days right now, I know at 100 it's sub MOA, now trying to find the ammo that gets me that way way out there
 
Suggest you have a look at the 1/2" challenge thread. There are a substantial number of CZ 45X rifles on that list and for good reason. Short of getting into an Anschutz, the 452 is probably the best you can do <$1000. Throw in the yodave kit (thanks, yodave!) and you're good to go.
 
Many of us have great hopes for the new Tikka T1x due out this summer.
If they're anything like the Tikka T3 and T3x, they should be very solid performers.
There's no "varmint" version as yet, however.
 
thenerdboy said:
Suggest you have a look at the 1/2" challenge thread. There are a substantial number of CZ 45X rifles on that list and for good reason. Short of getting into an Anschutz, the 452 is probably the best you can do <$1000. Throw in the yodave kit (thanks, yodave!) and you're good to go.
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A number of months ago when my CZ 452 Varmint was new, My friend and I installed a yo dave kit. I was incredibly pleased with the safe 11 oz pull. Since then I have used the rifle a fair bit. The pull weight is now 8.8 oz. I'm ecstatic about this, I love it.
 
Mr. Friendly said:
nothing competition minded...just thinking about having fun reaching out 50 - 100 yards.

looking at the CZ 455 Varmint options...liking the Tactical Trainer. :)
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i picked up a CZ452 Varmint to do a little fun bunch shooting with.
totally love that gun!
i literally shot the wings off a wasp at 50m the first time i had it out.
damn wasp landed on my target and i was like...... should i?
scope creeps over and pop nailed him!

totally worth the money to pick one up to train with.
i started with that.
then i built up a 223 bolt gun.
went back down to a 17hmr.

im thinking of going up to a 6.5 creedmore maybe next year and then 308 after that once i decided on a platform.
just something about reaching out and saying "hi" from far away that is very appealing.

i have a video up about it.

 
wayupnorth said:
im thinking of going up to a 6.5 creedmore maybe next year and then 308 after that once i decided on a platform.
just something about reaching out and saying "hi" from far away that is very appealing.
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If you're going to get into 6.5 Creedmoor, there would be little reason to ever move into 308 as the 6.5 ballistics are far superior, IMO. You'll sacrifice a bit of barrel life (less than the 6mm variants) but gain a huge edge in drop and wind corrections over the .30 cal. If I had to have both, I'd probably look at shooting a factory 308 action for a while then rebarreling into 6.5 something with one of the popular match barrels.
 
Sakoman .308 said:
A number of months ago when my CZ 452 Varmint was new, My friend and I installed a yo dave kit. I was incredibly pleased with the safe 11 oz pull. Since then I have used the rifle a fair bit. The pull weight is now 8.8 oz. I'm ecstatic about this, I love it.
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Absolutely! I couldn't believe how bad the 452 trigger was out of the box. The pull weight must have been several pounds and I found it very difficult to hold on target through the pull.
 
I'm thinking of getting a CZ 455 for the exact same purpose, 95% of the usage will be shooting gophers but I want nearly BR accuracy.

Leaning towards the 455 because I can swap out the barrel for a Lilja one, not sure if this is the way to go.

I know from my centerfire experience that the factory barrel on a rifle (no matter what brand) will only take you so far in your accuracy journey.

Is that the same with rimfires?
 
surfclod said:
I'm thinking of getting a CZ 455 for the exact same purpose, 95% of the usage will be shooting gophers but I want nearly BR accuracy.

Leaning towards the 455 because I can swap out the barrel for a Lilja one, not sure if this is the way to go.

I know from my centerfire experience that the factory barrel on a rifle (no matter what brand) will only take you so far in your accuracy journey.

Is that the same with rimfires?
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CZ 455 shooters on RFC report that a simple drop-in Lilja replacement barrel alone does not reliably result in the near BR accuracy you desire. If you are willing to glass bed and pillar the rifle, get an aftermarket barrel shimmed to correct headspace, probably replace the trigger, then you can be satisfied. For more on accurizing a CZ 455 see the very informed posts in this thread w w w.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1023105

There are factory rifles that offer a better chance of getting a .22LR that will offer top notch accuracy without modifications but you have to be willing to pay for something like an Anschutz.
 
Fortunately for shooters, Lilja has addressed the issue of "drop-in" fit and now includes the shims with their 455 barrels "This newest run of CZ 455’s 22 LR have the new shim kit design, and new ‘Lilja 2’ chamber. Please see instructions below for installation." http://riflebarrels.com/shop/drop-in-barrels/cz-455-precision-barrel/

surfclod, obviously you can't expect any build off a factory action to match a true custom BR, but you can get some impressive results that are just a fraction behind the BR rifles. It can be done with a 455, but as noted above there is a little more to it than just dropping in a barrel. The barrel is the heart of accuracy, though, and will get you like 90% there with proper fitment. Expect to polish and deburr the striker and bolt body, re-shape the striker tip, add at least a yo-dave kit, pillar/bed, and test a bunch of ammo. If you can do the work yourself and sell the factory stock/barrel, you can come in a couple hundred $$ cheaper than say a brand new Anschütz 64 Tactical Trainer while being more accurate than the average Annie if you've done all the work correctly. Although it can happen, I wouldn't place any bets on any brands factory built rifle matching what a custom (as described above) can do. For what you want, start with a match-grade custom barrel and build off that, it is your best bet. Heck, do it on a 64 action ;) It'll cost more but you get a better trigger out-of-the-box, a more refined action, and a factory stock well suited to your uses depending on what you select (MPR, for example). A 455 custom with the Boyd's Pro-Varmint and adjustable comb option is also a great platform.
 
I recently picked up a 452 Varmint and really like the rifle. Been to the range once, had decent results with Federal Gold Medal Match And Aguila high velocity. I have noticed there is a bit of lateral movement (left/right) of the action and barrel in the stock. Did some research and it seems that pillar and devcon bedding should stop this, it looks like a bit of work, but results should be positive. Will update once the work is done.
 
Crashman said:
I recently picked up a 452 Varmint and really like the rifle. Been to the range once, had decent results with Federal Gold Medal Match And Aguila high velocity. I have noticed there is a bit of lateral movement (left/right) of the action and barrel in the stock. Did some research and it seems that pillar and devcon bedding should stop this, it looks like a bit of work, but results should be positive. Will update once the work is done.
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I did that with my 455 American, it certainly improved the way the action sits in the stock. It's rock solid now, no movement whatsoever. It improved accuracy slightly, as did the other mods that rifle has had.
The 452 Varmint I have simply shot better out of the box, it still has a slight edge over my 455. That may also be a result of the rifle being more stable with greater mass.
What torque are you using for your action and barrel lug screws?
 
Chilly807 said:
I did that with my 455 American, it certainly improved the way the action sits in the stock. It's rock solid now, no movement whatsoever. It improved accuracy slightly, as did the other mods that rifle has had.
The 452 Varmint I have simply shot better out of the box, it still has a slight edge over my 455. That may also be a result of the rifle being more stable with greater mass.
What torque are you using for your action and barrel lug screws?
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I have only had it apart once, and that was after my one and only range session. I have since learned that 25 inch pounds seems to be the recommended torque setting. One other thing I should mention is the barrel lug is loose in the dovetail, it will slide right out once the action/barrel is removed from the stock. I am not sure if that is designed that way?
 
Mine is loose also. There are three trains of thought re the barrel lug. One says to remove it entirely, a second says to lock it in place with a set screw, and a third says it should float freely. I'm in the third camp.
Mine seems to shoot best with 15 inch pounds on both screws. Having said that, all the front screw does is hold the lug in the stock, how much force it exerts on the barrel dovetail is anyone's guess. I think very little, ideally it would allow it to float in the barrel.
I put an epoxy "pad" about the size of a quarter between the barrel and the forearm on my Varmint, directly above the sling stud. The intent is to reduce stock flex when using a bipod. It reduced the vertical element in my groups by probably 30-50%. If you do that, wax the barrel channel first so you can remove the epoxy if you want to. Also apply a couple coats of shoe polish to the barrel first, the same as when bedding an action.
 
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