Loving my CZ 452 Ultra Lux

Zedbra

Zedbra

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Due to all the good things I have read about the CZ .22s, I waited to find a 452 Ultra Lux, which I finally ordered Christmas day from Prophet River as they were having a no tax plus free delivery sale (and Clay was also answering back and forth emails on Christmas Day with me). Since receiving it, I have only had it to the range twice and that time was spent trying out different ammo; but today I got to spend some quality time and stretch its legs a wee bit.

I wanted a 452 Ultra Lux as I have no intentions of modifying it, I wanted a .22 to shoot with iron sights only as our range has a few different target shoots with .22 open sights. Well, I "worked from home" today and low and behold - I ended up at the range around lunchtime. Huh. It was foggy as heck, I was the only one there, and I had a whole bunch of solo time planned for my new CZ 452 Ultralux.

All groups were shot offhand with factory open sights, trying different ammo types. I've found my UL prefers CCI Standard Velocity or CCI Blazer - any jacketed bullets are not predictable. I can only imagine what this thing could do with bags or a stand and a scope.


If you look through the fog in the middle of the picture you can just make out my target stand - that is what I was shooting at when it was at 100 metres.



First 5 groups of 5 shots at 25 metres (not yards). All groups except top right was with CCI Standard Velocity




Best 50 metre group of 10 shots




Best 100 metre 10 shot group - though some rounds came up from the bottom target; I was getting tired of trying to see the target through the fog by the time this groups was over.




100 metre targets - all were 10 shot groups, or at least they were supposed to be groups




I was just about to leave but decided to run some more mags through my MKIII Hunter and my fourth round in on the first mag the shot didn't sound right, so I unloaded and had a peek and hoping not to see.....yup, a squib. First time this has happened to me with a .22LR. When I stripped my gun at home later there was unburned gunpowder all throughout my pistol. That could have turned out worse, I imagine.

 
Thank you for those targets, I do prefer black over the red. I'll give my office printer a work out later this week. ;) I wasn't able to see my holes in these red targets at 100m either, it was just too foggy I think as my spotting scope goes to 80x I believe.
 
I picked up a few sets of Burris Signature medium rings and thought I would see what scope I could fit on my 452 Ultralux without removing the rear sight. I am planning on going with a Williams rear adjustable sight or dioptic set-up on the rifle, but wanted to try a scope out and see how it shoots that way.

I quickly tested a 6-24 x 50mm Sniper scope I had laying around - there was no way that was going to fit. So I broke open a new Zeiss Terra 4-12 x 42mm I had sitting around from a warranty replacement and it just barely fits on the rifle. There is maybe 1-2mm between the front bell and the rear iron sight and about 2mm between the rear ocular of the scope and the bolt. I'm going to try to shoot this set-up this weekend.







 
Zedbra said:
I picked up a few sets of Burris Signature medium rings and thought I would see what scope I could fit on my 452 Ultralux without removing the rear sight.

The only scopes I have tried that fit behind the rear sight and clear the bolt, mounted with the rings you purchased, are Leupold Rimfire VX-1 (or VXi) 2-7x28 or fixed 4x28.

You could very easily remove the rear sight but that wouldn't be much help if you can not clear the eye piece with your bolt. If you just want to see what your rifle can do with a scope, your current set up will have to do. BTW, watch out for parallax error while shooting...and let us know how it works out.
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Zebra, congrats on your new CZ!
I have owned several over the years and they all enjoyed CCI Stingers for hunting gophers in Alberta.
I found them a little pricey, but found that American Eagle HP worked just as well too.
Different poi though.
As mentioned there is the parallax to contend with when using a centre fire scope on a rim fire gun.
Focus is the issue at close ranges...I asked about the ability to change parallax in the optics section and Leupold scopes are easy to adjust along with several other mentioned brands.
Have you checked out RimFire Central?
Bucket loads of useful information there.
Tight Groups,
Rob
 
I just mounted this Zeiss to see how it would fit and what the rifle is capable of shooting through glass at 100m; I'm going to try to get to the range today with it to stretch its legs a wee bit. The scope isn't staying for long, as mentioned, I am looking into a diopter for this 28" barreled beast. The Zeiss has such poor eye relief that it actually would need to be mounted similar if it was staying put. :)

The CZ may have been a little pricey, but thus far I am quite happy with the purchase. I think I would like the rifle more if it had a flush magazine, though. I shoot mostly off-hand and the 10 rounder makes me stretch my hand around it to get a solid hold.
 
Zedbra said:
I just mounted this Zeiss to see how it would fit and what the rifle is capable of shooting through glass at 100m; I'm going to try to get to the range today with it to stretch its legs a wee bit. The scope isn't staying for long, as mentioned, I am looking into a diopter for this 28" barreled beast. The Zeiss has such poor eye relief that it actually would need to be mounted similar if it was staying put. :)

The CZ may have been a little pricey, but thus far I am quite happy with the purchase. I think I would like the rifle more if it had a flush magazine, though. I shoot mostly off-hand and the 10 rounder makes me stretch my hand around it to get a solid hold.
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Zedbra:
I also shoot off hand most of the time and don't like a 10 rounder for the same reason. Just get a couple of more 22 LR CZs that come with 5 round mags and you will be set!
 
Kody said:
Zedbra:
I also shoot off hand most of the time and don't like a 10 rounder for the same reason. Just get a couple of more 22 LR CZs that come with 5 round mags and you will be set!
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I like how you roll. So....anyone have any feedback on a 455 American? ;)

Well, I took the CZ to the range and I couldn't get enough elevation from the scope to zero it; I took it off after about 20 rounds. Anyone want to trade something for a Zeiss Terra 4-12 x 42mm?
 
Don't give up yet. If you have access to a set of the +/- 0.020 Burris offset inserts (about $ 10?), you will definitely get enough elevation and you might or might not get enough clearance for the bolt. If you install the front insert as -0.020 and the rear as +0.020, you will get additional eye piece clearance of about 0.050. I can't tell from the pictures if that's enough for the bolt to clear or not.
If you clear the bolt/eye piece, you can remove the rear sight and move the scope forwards.
Kody
 
geologist said:
My 455 likes Thunderbolts as a cheap accurate round. It's best with Minimags.
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Mine prefers lead tips, I've been sticking to Blazers or CCI SV. Jacketed bullets strayed quite a bit, I was wondering if that is because of their .221 bore diameter.

Kody said:
Don't give up yet. If you have access to a set of the +/- 0.020 Burris offset inserts (about $ 10?), you will definitely get enough elevation and you might or might not get enough clearance for the bolt. If you install the front insert as -0.020 and the rear as +0.020, you will get additional eye piece clearance of about 0.050. I can't tell from the pictures if that's enough for the bolt to clear or not.
If you clear the bolt/eye piece, you can remove the rear sight and move the scope forwards.
Kody
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Kody - I just wanted to try a scope on there, I had no plans of keeping it on this rifle. I have a Williams adjustable rear sight on its way and am trying to find all the pieces for a proper diopter set-up. With a 28" barrel, this thing deserves open sights. I will just need to shop for another .22 to put a better scope on. ;)

I have heard of the Burris offset inserts and if I was keeping the scope, I would be going this route or adding another lift rail. The bolt cleared the ocular no problems with that set-up.
 
Zedbra said:
Mine prefers lead tips, I've been sticking to Blazers or CCI SV. Jacketed bullets strayed quite a bit, I was wondering if that is because of their .221 bore diameter.



Kody - I just wanted to try a scope on there, I had no plans of keeping it on this rifle. I have a Williams adjustable rear sight on its way and am trying to find all the pieces for a proper diopter set-up. With a 28" barrel, this thing deserves open sights. I will just need to shop for another .22 to put a better scope on. ;)

I have heard of the Burris offset inserts and if I was keeping the scope, I would be going this route or adding another lift rail. The bolt cleared the ocular no problems with that set-up.
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When you get the Williams peep sight, I (amoung many I suppose) would like to know (and see) how it fits and if it works with the factory front sight. Also, you need to try SK or RWS ammunition in that rifle: My CZ452 THV shoots the SK standard plus and RWS club identically, and very well. (Which is pleasing as this is one of the least expensive European rimfire ammo) I had a Zeiss Conquest on the rifle, and like yours probably is, parallax setting for shooting under 100 yards is atrocious.

I'll see about digging out some groups shot with the SK and RWS ammo. In calm conditions, my 452 manages 200 yard silhouette shooting, <0.5" at 50yards as will yours with the right ammunition.
 
New Camper said:
When you get the Williams peep sight, I (amoung many I suppose) would like to know (and see) how it fits and if it works with the factory front sight. Also, you need to try SK or RWS ammunition in that rifle: My CZ452 THV shoots the SK standard plus and RWS club identically, and very well. (Which is pleasing as this is one of the least expensive European rimfire ammo) I had a Zeiss Conquest on the rifle, and like yours probably is, parallax setting for shooting under 100 yards is atrocious.

I'll see about digging out some groups shot with the SK and RWS ammo. In calm conditions, my 452 manages 200 yard silhouette shooting, <0.5" at 50yards as will yours with the right ammunition.
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I had to Google both of those ammunition types, I've never seen either of those two brands and I stop in a lot of gun shops as I travel throughout the province. I plan on keeping this thread updated, so I sure will keep you informed how the Williams sight works.
 
Zedbra said:
I had to Google both of those ammunition types, I've never seen either of those two brands and I stop in a lot of gun shops as I travel throughout the province. I plan on keeping this thread updated, so I sure will keep you informed how the Williams sight works.
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I have bought SK standard plus from Prophet River.

The groups on the white and dot targets were shot shortly after I bought my 452 from Prophet River: At the time, it was completely standard and topped with a Weaver K6. The group on the red target was shortly after I had installed a Yodave trigger kit on the same: Distances and group sizes are written on the papers. With the correct ammo, your rifle will be able to do the same. (these are five shot groups) Yodave is a CGN member, and Prophet River also sells the trigger kits for improving an already decent trigger. Oddly, I don't have 100yard targets laying around. Probably weren't worth keeping around... which is a declaration of my failure, not the rifle's. That is something I shall have to remedy.

8lr5ndQ.jpg


My first CZ rifle in present form: I played a bit more with the trigger kit and it's now very crisp and light. I fitted Burris signature bushing rings (~25moa and are easily obtained) to allow more use of the scopes limited adjustment for silhouette shooting out to 200 yards. Lots of bolt handle clearance as well and if Burris had a 3/16" lower ring I'd have bought those instead. I only have a large scope because I shoot pests from 20' out to silhouettes at 200 yards: Parallax adjustment is a necessary feature. Next on the want list is an open sighted Lux in 22WMR.
Aot8WCO.jpg
 
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