Which .22 LR Bolt Action

CZ 455 or CZ 457. Both are fantastic. CZ rimfires are that middle ground between feeling high end and having an affordable price. They have a cool feature of swap-able barrels for 17hmr, 22wmr, and 22lr. They can be hard to find as they only come in to the country a few times a year but it's a cool feature. The 455 and 457 use the same barrel system, and the same magazines.

Leavenworth said:
That is a very nice rifle but it seems more of a collectors item ?
Leavenworth
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Not really. CZ has some specific CZ 452's that are really really ornate with etching, and really nice wood. Those would be collectors items. The LUX branding is just their nicer wood, and checkering line up not really up there with the more expensive collectors models they've done over the years. Sometimes simply the wood grain can make it a collector, as the wood lottery with CZ is a real thing. Some just come out amazing looking some plane.

CZ no longer makes the CZ 452, or 455. The 457 is their current iteration and is probably the most inline with a modern bolt action. Less bolt throw, and a western style safety. The 452, and 455 have 90 degree throws. If I remember correctly the 452 has worse barrel clearance for free floating, and didn't have swap-able barrels. And both the 452 and 455 have safety's that are European styles.

Example of CZ 452 higher end.
 
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No love shown for the lovely and very accurate Steyr Zephyr II.
Got mine from Nordic Marksman.
A pleasure to carry and shoot.

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I have to agree with a CZ. They have "cheaper" models all the way up to "crazy" prices. All have shot great to phenomenal with no malfunctions in my experience.
 
The CZ 457 is a wonderful rifle. The bolt is so smooth and accuracy is wonderful. I have the Canadian edition and the stock is just lovely. Many places seem to sell out of the 10 rounder magazines (polymer or metal, doesn't seem to matter) so I try to grab them when I can. I have a Leupold VX Freedom on it and it is fantastic shooter and a real pleasure to take to the range.
 
Another couple of questions if you don’t mind !

#1 I realize with a longer barrel it improves accuracy . So if used for target shooting accuracy and accuracy in hunting with .22 LR
what is a ideal length ?

#2 Also I see some manufacturers offer Varmit barrels , thicker barrels . Is this also for more accuracy ? I know thicker barrels keep accuracy I believe as the barrel dose not heat up as quickly and shots stay on target .
As an example a pencil thin barrel on a centre fire after a few shots the accuracy diminishes as compared to a thicker barrel .
Leavenworth
 
Barrel thickness in a rimfire as far as over heating, is a non starter. I have sporter, varmint and the long barreled trainer and accuracy is great from all of them. I like the heavy barrels my wife loves the long barrel trainer with the solid walnut hog back stock, the sporters are a wee bit easier to carry in the bush or in the field. I would suggest you try on all three versions and choose the one that is right for you. Also be careful on the "trainer" model as they have a cheaper "beechwood stock"? or the solid walnut one, I would spend the extra money on the walnut myself. Good luck, just remember CZ rifles wear IN not out. :)
Also if you have kids the Scout is an awesome rifle as well.
 
Long barrels are great if you want to use iron sights or a rear mounted peep sight and take advantage of the longer sight radius, but they don't necessarily add accuracy over a shorter barrel. There are just many variables mostly being in the ammo and what a barrel likes. Some people also use barrel tuners to fine tune the vibration characteristics of the barrel for different ammo when chasing tiny groups.

What do you want to do exactly? Iron's? Optics? Expensive target ammo or mid level?

16"-20" length is what I would consider, I like shorter barrels and the difference in velocity between 16"-20" is minimal. A thick barrel will be stiffer and so will a shorter barrel, a thin barrel will be lighter weight and so will a shorter barrel.

There are way to many choices, maybe you should get a few..... :)
 
Tinybear said:
I have had great luck with savage 22s. Both of mine (A22, Markii FV) have be wonderfully accurate. The A22 has been stone reliable. The mark II needed a new set of extractor/ejector and new spring after about 800 rounds and has been problem free for thousands since.

I also have a CZ 457 Canadian. It’s a great quality feeling rifle, super smooth bolt and a joy to shoot. Off hand it’s one of if not these most balanced rifle I own. But at the end of the day at the 100yard range I get a good half inch tighter group with savage on average than with the CZ no matter what ammo I have tried (Eley, SK, CCI, Winchester).

So my vote would be a Savage mark II for targets and a CZ for hunting. My optic and rifle on the savage cost less than the cz
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I have the wood stock version (Mark II G) that's very affordable, and with the factory trigger adjusted down a bit under 3 lbs it shoots incredibly well. It's my go-to for hunting small game.


I prefer the Tikka T1x to the CZ but they're both nice and the wood is certainly very nice on the CZ. Can't really go wrong with either.

OP If you're able to, handle a few at your local gun shops and see what you like. Often I expect to like something then find it's not quite my taste in hand, and other models I hadn't considered surprise me.

Barrel length beyond 18" or so doesn't improve accuracy unless using iron sights for the longer sight radius. However, longer barrels tend to be quieter if that matters to you.

I have noticed most barrels have some drift as they heat up, about 1/2" at 50 yards. Thicker barrel helps but it still occurs.
 
If I were to do it all over again I would go with a CZ, Tikka or an Anschutz. With the CZ and Anschutz I would try to get a heavy barrel and with the tikka I would be doing a barrel swap seeing as I shoot LH heavy barrels are hard to come by in anything.

Currently I have a LH Ruger 10/22 Model that has a 16.5" heavy barrel. It was the easiest LH to get at the time and while I am not top of the class at 100 yards by any means (more like bottle of the barrel as I learn) I think it will be perfect for my little bit of target shooting fun and all the grouse and rabbit I can handle.

Eventually one Day I may look at putting a 20" Kidd Barrel on it with the 1/2" at 50 yards but for now I am happy until I get a LH Bolt 22 Im sure.

B
 
I had a CZ 452 and multiple savages over the years… within the past year I started shooting Anschutz.
Hands down the most accurate 22 I’ve ever shot!

From now on it’s only Anschutz… keep an eye out for a decent used one!
 
not to hijack, but is it ALL anshutz? Sometimes I see some on the EE for like 3-400$. Surely they aren't also capable of 1/2" MOA like the $1000+ dollar models?
 
Jahnj0584 said:
not to hijack, but is it ALL anshutz? Sometimes I see some on the EE for like 3-400$. Surely they aren't also capable of 1/2" MOA like the $1000+ dollar models?
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Generally the Match '64' and '54' models, ...not going to be $300-400. You might be able to find an old single shot 'CIL 190' for $500-600
 
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Jahnj0584 said:
not to hijack, but is it ALL anshutz? Sometimes I see some on the EE for like 3-400$. Surely they aren't also capable of 1/2" MOA like the $1000+ dollar models?
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Unless the price is especially good or the condition especially poor, it can be expected that $300 - $400 Anschutz rifles will be Flobert action models, sporters that are light weight and the least expensive models made by Anschutz since production resumed after WWII.
 
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