CZ American 20 vs 24 inch

[slinkylegs]

Alright, so I understand that the 4" of barrel length makes no difference for accuracy and negligible difference in MV and perceived noise, but how is the balance of the rifle between the two? I ask because I see that CZ sells the walnut American in 24", whereas the beech model is 20" (as is the Canadian). My local shop doesn't have them to compare side by side, so I thought I'd ask in case people have experience handling the two.

 

[Suther]

Gosh that seems like a long barrel for a 22lr without sights. At least if it has iron sights one can justify having that much barrel for the increased sight radius...

 

[StefanGreybeard]

Gosh that seems like a long barrel for a 22lr without sights. At least if it has iron sights one can justify having that much barrel for the increased sight radius...

So with something like the 457 Lux or Training models (that have iron sights), that'd be why they have 24" barrels?

 

[Suther]

So with something like the 457 Lux or Training models (that have iron sights), that'd be why they have 24" barrels?

I can't say that is specifically WHY they have 24" barrels, but the longer barrel would make them functionally more accurate when using the iron sights. A 24" barrel isn't more accurate than a 20" barrel, but a longer sight radius generally means the person behind the gun can be more accurate with it.

I suspect this is why a lot of older 22s have 20-24" barrels, meanwhile newer stuff has trended towards shorter barrels. If you're going to mount a scope barrel length beyond 16" doesn't mean much for a 22lr, but far more people just ran with the iron sights in the days of old.

 

[grauhanen]

If the wood quality matters, keep in mind the 20" barrel is available on the beech stock model, the longer 24" is on the walnut. Walnut is usually preferable.
As far as accuracy, shooter aside, it will be determined by two things -- the luck of the barrel lottery and the ammo used. Some CZ barrels are better than others and there's no way to know until it's tested. Ammo MV isn't an issue here, so if all else is not a factor, then it will depend on what looks best to the owner and how it balances (four inches won't make a significant difference with balance with a thin, pencil American barrel).

Alternatively, forgo the American and get the new CZ 457 Range, also available with 20 and 24 inch barrels. This model has the CZ match chamber.

 

[Canuck65]

You'd have to WANT the 24" for some reason (balance, looks, sight radius, etc). There won't be any real accuracy difference, but that extra length slows your bullet down a couple hundred fps - something to keep in mind.

I don't think the American comes with irons (CZ must think Americans all use scopes), so I can't think of any practical reason to get the 24.

 

[StefanGreybeard]

Alternatively, forgo the American and get the new CZ 457 Range, also available with 20 and 24 inch barrels. This model has the CZ match chamber.

I'm looking intently at the 457 Canadian, with it's red-finished walnut stock. It's real pretty.

 

[grauhanen]

I'm looking intently at the 457 Canadian, with it's red-finished walnut stock. It's real pretty. ��

The Canadian has a beech stock.

 

[grauhanen]

You'd have to WANT the 24" for some reason (balance, looks, sight radius, etc). There won't be any real accuracy difference, but that extra length slows your bullet down a couple hundred fps - something to keep in mind.

That figure of "a couple hundred fps" is nonsense. A four inch difference in barrel length would more often than not be in the low tens of feet per second between the two.

In any case, unless someone chronographs two individual rifles such as the CZ's in question he can't know which will be faster. Despite the wisdom of internet forums, barrel length doesn't necessarily dictate average .22LR MV averages.

 

[Toolman]

but that extra length slows your bullet down a couple hundred fps - something to keep in mind.

Not in my experience. I run a 26” barrel on my 2500x and my 40x had an almost 28” barrel and my MV’s were not much different than what I get with my 18” 457.

 

[KLS]

I prefer 20” barrel. 24” is just a bit too long. I have both.

 

[kjohn]

I bought an American, not realizing that it had a 24” bbl. So, I bought another one with a 20” bbl and swapped stocks. I don’t recall, but I thought they both had walnut stocks. My other 457’s are 20”. The 24” seemed too long for me. I am not concerned about super accuracy. Most shooting these guns will see will be in a gopher patch.

 

[Suther]

That figure of "a couple hundred fps" is nonsense. A four inch difference in barrel length would more often than not be in the low tens of feet per second between the two.

In any case, unless someone chronographs two individual rifles such as the CZ's in question he can't know which will be faster. Despite the wisdom of internet forums, barrel length doesn't necessarily dictate average .22LR MV averages.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a 24" barrel produce more velocity than the 20". I'd expect 20" on average to be slightly faster, but a sample size of 1 of each length would basically be up to random chance.

 

[StefanGreybeard]

Really, because the description I've seen on a bunch of retailers describe it as walnut.

 

[call2arms]

My preference would be walnut and 20”.

Buy both and switch stocks

 

[Meroh]

So with something like the 457 Lux or Training models (that have iron sights), that'd be why they have 24" barrels?

It depends what you as a customer want. A longer sighting radius in theory will give more precision. I had a Brno Mod4 for a time; factory barrel was just under 30", peep sight mounted at the back of the receiver; sighting radius was over 36".

My eyes got old and I could no longer shoot well with the irons; put a scope on it, and it was way too heavy to be practical. I still have a 452 (Brno Mod2) that I run with factory tangent sight and hooded front. It is about 24" with a light profile. Sweet rifle.

I traded my Brno4 for a CZ455 Super Match 20" barrel and put a good scope on it. For it's purpose, perfect length and ballance.

For me, the 20 just looks better than the 18".

 

[kjohn]

I have Canadian and American Red 455’s. I like them. Doesn’t matter to me if they are walnut or beech, they all shoot good.

 

[Meroh]

I'm looking intently at the 457 Canadian, with it's red-finished walnut stock. It's real pretty.

The Canadian has a beech stock.

Yes, indeed. Beech. Also, the one that I had (455) had water soluble black stain in the texturing on the stock. Got caught in the rain and there was black everywhere. Got home, washed it out and redid with a bit of Minwax ebony stain.

Great rifle, really shot, but being a .17HMR, it showed me why I don't love the .17 HMR caliber; couple less than clean kills on groundhogs.

 

[Meroh]

I'm looking intently at the 457 Canadian, with it's red-finished walnut stock. It's real pretty. ��

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a 24" barrel produce more velocity than the 20". I'd expect 20" on average to be slightly faster, but a sample size of 1 of each length would basically be up to random chance.

All the data I have seen shows the opposite. anything beyond 16-18" shows a reduction in FPS. You can only put so much powder in a .22 RF. In centerfire shooting, with a longer barrel, you can often get more velocity by putting more slower burning powder in the cartridge.

In the .22, the only way you can get more velocity is use faster burning powder with a lighter projectile. Lighter projectile as less weight therefore less force is required to get it moving, so the faster burning powder will not overpressure and blow the case out. End result is a bit more speed.

 

[Gillshot]

I just got the 457 with beech stock and 20” barrel. I think it balances just fine. Tried out 5 different types of ammo, CCI standard velocity was the favourite, did a 0.5” group at 50 yards. I have not tried any match ammo yet.