Looking at Savage or CZ

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bumperfood

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I am set to buy my .22 bolt action repeater now; finally. After much research I have decided on a CZ 452 or a Savage Mark II. Both fit my requirements and price range. I will mount a scope on it, for general use, not competition. This is where my "confusion" sets in. Many of the rifles, I have seen, are designed for open sights, and the stock is lower (where you would put your cheek) then the barrel, few seem to have the raised cheekpiece, other than some of the savage models. I like the look of the thumbhole model, but I think it might be a little awkward in the field ( might be great at the range though). What does one do after mounting a scope to get the cheek a little higher up on the stock? I see pictures of scopes mounted on rifles with stocks designed for open sights, and it seems to me that your cheek would barely touch on the stock in order to get a good sight picture through the scope. With a rifle such as a CZ 452 American or Varmint, (or others that come without iron sights) is the stock high enough to still get a good sight picture through the scope with some cheek pressure on the stock?

Maybe I am just overthinking all of this. What do you regular rimfire shooters think?? Thanks for you input.
 
Sometimes a pillow under the butt helps........... : D
Find yourself a merchant that has inventory and get them
to set one up for you.
Meaning, lightly tighten a set of rings and put a scope you
wish to purchase on it.
Shoulder the thing and see how it fits.
Seems us iz awl different in build.
Go visit Curlie, I am almost certain he can/will help you out.
 
Here's my setup. I love it. Savage MKII BVSS Canadian Exclusive. The Monte Carlo style stock is a perfect fit for me, and the hefty weight of the rifle itself I prefer tosomething light weight. The scope is a Bushnell 50 6-24x. The scope I picked up cheap, but if I were going to change it I'd go for something more quickly adjustable for varying ranges. The fluted barrel sure draws out the heat.

img_0594-0.jpg
 
The Savage action feels like they machined a piece of pipe, very toy-like. Plus like many rimfires the bolt handle is at mid-point on the bolt and it cocks on closing.
The CZ is really a miniature Mauser action and it feels just like a small centerfire, cocks on opening and the finish is much nicer.
The triggers are similar enough with the Savage being a little better stock, but 20 minutes of easy work gives the edge to the CZ.

As for cheekweld: so long as you choose a scope which doesn't require high rings then the cheek weld isn't that bad with any of the straight comb stocks. Conversely you can just place the butt higher on your shoulder, it's a rimfire afterall.


-Grant
 
I'd argue that the CZ 452 wasn't a mini mauser, but it does seem to fall into the realm of controlled round feeding. I've handled quite a few bolt 22lr's, and I've found that the CZ feels the best built. I own 4 of them, as one just went walking out the door today to a young guy that really, really wanted it. The american, varmint, silhouette and style all have higher cheek combs, and work great with scopes.
 
I have a CZ Brno Model 2-e, which is almost identical to the 452. Love it. Recently got a CZ Brno 511, also love it. Now I have a CZ 452 Lux on the way. I'm kind of a sucker for iron sights. Anyhow my vote is go with a CZ, you won't regret it

Adam
 
I have a couple dozen rimfires with many Savage and CZ's... The Savage is a better trigger... Someone above said 20 minutes of work and the CZ is a better trigger, which is true... However with 20 minutes of work on the Savage trigger it will be better than the CZ will ever be until you drop in an aftermarket trigger... Having said this, I am not steering you to a Savage rifle... CZ has better overall fit and finish... If you like walnut and blued metal, then get the CZ. The Savage action is not "toy-like" it is steel and very functional, but all of my Savage rifles are more tempermental than my CZ's when it comes to action screw tension. You can't go wrong with either really, handle a bunch and go with your first gut reaction... To sum it up, if I could only have one bolt .22 it would be a CZ.
 
I've had a number of savage rimfires, and while they were all shooters, they are more temperamental than my CZ for sure. I quite liked all my savage rimfires, but i love my CZ! I agree with the statement about the CZ feeling more like a centerfire. Fit and finish are much higher quality, zero feed issues, and extremely accurate. My CZ is a lux as I wanted iron sights, but i also put a Karsten cheek piece on one of my savage centerfires which I absolutely love!
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The American, and Varmint have the higher comb that is idea for mounting a scope. The others have a comb that is more suitable to using iron sights. I have 4 CZ's, and 3 of them are scoped, and all are a blast to shoot.

My best advice is one I picked up from someone either on here, or on RFC. When buying a rimfire, remember that you're probably going to be putting more rounds through this firearm than any of your others due to cheaper ammo, less recoil for proper training, and easier to introduce to novice shooters. Why cheap out on a firearm that is going to be one of your most used? Get a good rifle that you're happy with, and if inclined to mount a scope, put a good scope on top...not a pile of crap.

Thanks,
Cal.
 
kamlooky said:
Find yourself a merchant that has inventory and get them
to set one up for you.
Meaning, lightly tighten a set of rings and put a scope you
wish to purchase on it.
Shoulder the thing and see how it fits.
Seems us iz awl different in build.
Click to expand...

This. Fit is a very personal thing. Or, an adjustable cheekpiece as has been suggested, Karsten or TacPro.
 
Thank you all for your very thoughtful and pertinent advice. My apprehension at mounting a scope has been somewhat alleviated, especially after hearing that using a rile with a higher comb (CZ 452 American, Savage Mark II BRJ) will allow mounting of a scope with out the use of aftermarket cheekpieces. I will be heading into town tomorrow and Nanaimo on the weekend, and will stop in at a few stores to check out what they have.
I found another site “rimfire central” that has some good articles on scope/rifle combinations that their members have used successfully. I usually don’t rush into things and don’t impulse buy, so with a little more research, I am sure I will get something I will be happy with.
I also note that some of the sponsors on here sell the rifles that I am considering. Is online buying the wave of the future I wonder? I am not adverse to buying online, but I prefer to shop locally; hopefully the companies I support will stay in business, and are there for me when I need them. If I can get a reasonable deal nearby then great, but I will check out sponsors sites as well.
There is a gunsmith operated store in a town near me and I will head there as well. Thank you again, now its just a question of finding what I want (need).
 
Lots of us are over at RFC too... I have a parts sticky in the Savage forum... it is a good resource if you want to do aftermarket upgrades to a Savage rimfire.
 
I had a Marlin .17hmr, and agree that the fit/finish quality of the Savages is generally better then the Marlin. The CZ, on the other hand....
I bought a CZ512 in .22 mag, and almost immediately put my Marlin up for sale. Don't get me wrong, the Marlin shot great - but it just didn't feel right any more after using the CZ. Needless to say, a CZ455 Varmint in .17 HMR is on it's way to me - should be here tomorrow. No-one locally had one in stock, but I had handled one before. That's the downside of the higher-end rimfire stuff - smaller stores don't tend to stock it much, and it can take awhile to order in.
 
"Here is my 452 with dip rail and leupold prw medium rings could go with lows even I am pretty sure."

Google was my friend here, I had no idea what you were talking about, but your rifle looks like what I am looking for. Leupold site was very helpful as well. I certainly am learning things on here.
 
"I've got a 455 American in Victoria that I could bring to Duncan this weekend if you want to handle it."

Thank you for the offer, if I was travelling alone that would be great, however my "significant other" will be with me, and it's hard enough getting her to come inside a sporting goods store; let alone travel an extra two hours so that I "handle a gun". I should be able to see something at Wholesale Sports, and she likes it because of the camping gear and clothes.
 
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