My new CZ. Scope suggestions

T

Tinybear

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
I have A love hate relationship with my Savage Mark II FV. When it’s working it shoots awesome and fits very well with the butt pad/cheek riser. But It’s had some extraction issues ( just installed new parts from savage last night will see how it goes). But after my last range visit with the savage and the ensuing frustration of having to manually extract every round, I decided to spring for the CZ I been drooling over. Didn’t really need yet another .22 but they are so fun and I prefer shooting my now 5 .22’s over my .223 cheaper and way way less noise.

So the new rifle is a CZ 457 Canadian. And I gotta say feels and looks better than even the pics could show. Can’t wait to shoot it this afternoon. Picked up some 11mm Burris signature med rings (love these rings I have them on my A22 and my Axis2 in the weaver variety). Problem is with the medium height the 4-12 banner 2 scope I robbed off my Mark II won’t work as it sits too low and the parallax adjustment ring touches the barrel. So put on a junky 3-9x40 with no parallax adjustment to try it today.

My question is about what would be a good low to mid cost 12x or better zoom scope with side parallax. 1” tube and no bigger than a 40mm.

My use is bench rest paper punching at 25y and 100y. Nothing more as that’s all available at my range. I find at 25y the 2-7x and 3-9x zoom scopes I have a hard time to be consistent with it.

FB6-F0-B79-C3-D0-46-AD-8-CD2-23-E06-D57-E3-A7.jpg
 
I think parallax adjustment is useful with .22s, considering their practical range. As far as I know, most scope models that have "Rimfire" in their model designation have parallax settings at either 50, or 60 yards. I've seen AO scopes that focus down as close as 10 yards, so an off-the-shelf 3-9X hunting scope with a parallax setting of 100 yards+ wouldn't serve the OP well for his 25 yard shooting. There is some debate on that, as you can reduce the effect of parallax error by lowering the magnification...but that's the shooter working around the scope's limitations.

My CZ wears a (discontinued) Sightron S1, 4-12 AO with their Hunter Holdover Reticle (HHR), my most recent .22 scope purchase was a Burris 4.5-14 SF with their E1 "ballistic plex" reticle. I actually like the Burris a little more, but don't have allot of time behind it yet. The magnification dial takes way too much effort to adjust, and the small/fine "floating" reticle makes leveling the scope a bit of a chore. I don't have/own one of the scope leveling kits, I rely entirely on what "looks" right, at my own peril. lol I know I've leveled scopes in my shop and they looked perfect...only to take the gun shooting and realize I've missed the mark.
 
I just bought a similar rifle but in the CZ 455, the look of the red stain stock and clean barrel really caught my eye. I am looking for a scope to put on it and initial thoughts were the Leupold VX Freedom in 3-9x40 or 4-12x40. The vortex diamondback 4-12x40 caught my eye too but I have had a vortex viper go back for warranty a few times...... I think I am leaning away from a rimfire specific scope thinking that a normal 3-9 or 4-12 could be re purposed on a hunting rifle at some point if required? Maybe I am completely wrong and should stick with a rimfire specific scope? Anyway I am interested to see which way you go and will be following to see what others recommend.
 
A-bolt243 said:
I just bought a similar rifle but in the CZ 455, the look of the red stain stock and clean barrel really caught my eye. I am looking for a scope to put on it and initial thoughts were the Leupold VX Freedom in 3-9x40 or 4-12x40. The vortex diamondback 4-12x40 caught my eye too but I have had a vortex viper go back for warranty a few times...... I think I am leaning away from a rimfire specific scope thinking that a normal 3-9 or 4-12 could be re purposed on a hunting rifle at some point if required? Maybe I am completely wrong and should stick with a rimfire specific scope? Anyway I am interested to see which way you go and will be following to see what others recommend.
Click to expand...

If you want to shoot consistently accurate at ranges below 100 yds. then go with a rimfire specific scope or a scope with adjustable parallax. Do not use a scope with fixed 100 yd parallax, it will not work properly.
 
I have Leupolds on all but one of my CZ rimfires. I only use them for gophers, so no Hubbles. Mostly 2-7 and 3-9.
 
I have a leupold vx3 4.5-14x40. But it’s and adjustable bell for parallax.
But I find that power range is awesome for a 22lr.

I would agree parallax adjustment is best for rimfire.
 
regulate34 said:
I have a leupold vx3 4.5-14x40. But it’s and adjustable bell for parallax.
But I find that power range is awesome for a 22lr.

I would agree parallax adjustment is best for rimfire.
Click to expand...

Sound advice in my opinion. Parallax is very important in most shooting situations. If you move your head with the gun stationary and the crosshairs move on the target, well you can figure out whats going to happen.
 
What ammo were you shooting in the Savage? buy the plastic 10 round mags for the CZ. ...if you can find them. Grab a brick of SK rifle match to go with it.

For a cheap end scope with side focus, I would go with an Athlon Argos or Vortex diamond back in FFP...
 
The savage was tried with SK Flat Nose Match, Winchester super x, CCI minimags (both RN and HP), and mostly CCI SV. It like the SK the best but would be fine failing to extract after 50-100 rounds. The cci seems fine up till a week ago. Contacted savage and the sent me new extractors and a new spring clip. Shot about 50 CCI SV and 45 SK flat nose match today ran flawlessly and shot very well.

Now the CZ was a revelation. Shot very well when I could do my part. But at the 25 yard range it took me a bit to get a consistent gun mounting, so point of impact wasent always consistent. Groupings were ever so slightly better than the savage, (didn’t think I’d see a difference at 25 yards but it was there) The more I shot it the better I got at keeping this consistent. Scopes a must as most my shooting is at 25 yards though.
 
Hey Tiny, Ive been looking at picking up a B22 Precision myself and found these vids that you might be interested in. Seems like you have some spare parts to try it out on now. :)



Ok back on topic. cheers
 
Tinybear, I have a B22 and a CZ455 and both have the Cabelas Covenant C-4 6-24x50 30mm FFP-SF. I've found that even at 50yds I 'want' the better precision of the 24X and the SF makes it practical. For 100yds you'll surely want the 24X if you want to keep under 2". And the SK line is the lowest quality you should expect accuracy with. The CCI-SV is OK but the SK is better. The B22 came with Weaver mounts and the CZ has a 0*-CZ rail. On both I use the Vortex Pro LOW rings and the B22 has lots of clearance for the bolt BUT the CZ is sorta snug for the bolt, about 1/4" of room to throw. And the 50mm bell is also about 1/4" off the barrel (about 1/8 for the B22). Your Cz457 should have lots of room for the bolt with the 60* throw but you may need a rail or higher (MED) rings to keep off the barrel.
PS - I NEVER have had any "Extraction Problems" with my B22, but I keep the chamber clean and NO Carbon Ring EVER.

CZ455-4-15-22-5006.jpg
[/url][/IMG]
IMG-20220502-095535.jpg
[/url][/IMG]
IMG-20220502-095548-1.jpg
[/url][/IMG]
 
Athlon Neos 4-12X40 with fast reticule focus, side focus that goes down to 10 yards, reasonnable glass, .22LR reticule all that for around 200$. Not bad. Or the always very good Burris FFE1 4.5-14X42!
 
Picked up a bushnell prime in 4-12x40. Fits the gun Nicely and optically is clearer than the 6-18 vortex cross fire II I have on my .223 rifle. So far very happy with both the rifle and scope. Shooting experience is great. Last trip out fed this one a variety of ammo, CCI SV, SK Standard +, and CCI Mini Mag HP. At 25 yards shot all well with a slight edge to the SK I think.
F36-A59-EF-C595-4195-9-E8-B-0-CABFCC58647.jpg


As for the savage it has about 300kms in now since replacing the extractor and it’s not had a failure since. If it keeps this up I’m a very happy man. Need to try some new ammo though as almost out of SK Flatnose Match it really liked. CCI sv is good in it but has the odd flyer. Will try the SK standard + next range trip. Not end of world to run the cci though.

Looks like these two rifles are pretty good shooters. Will be fun competing with my old man going forward.
 
Last edited:
If you like the SK Flatnose I’d buy whatever you can find. It’s no longer produced which is too bad cuz many seemed to have great results with it. Mustn’t have been a big seller. Great the rifles are performing for you and the extraction issues are solved.
 
I just ordered a 457 American in 17 HMR with a Leupold VX Freedom. Still waiting for it to show up though. I was cheap with my 455 and put a Vortex Diamondback on it and while I can headshot grouse with it, it is a low quality optic IMO.
 
I whacked probably around 100 gophers yesterday with a VX-Freedom 2-7x33 scope on my 457 American .22. No parallax, set on about 4x. Scored about 19 out of every 20. I sit on a little folding stool and use a light (cheap) camera tripod with a rigged swivel. I have Leupolds on all but one of my CZ's. No parallax on any of them. I struggle along...:p
 
Bad Bob said:
If you want to shoot consistently accurate at ranges below 100 yds. then go with a rimfire specific scope or a scope with adjustable parallax. Do not use a scope with fixed 100 yd parallax, it will not work properly.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say it "will not work properly", exactly. Less than ideal, but will definitely work. I completed the 50yd challenge (22lr, 5 groups on the same target sheet, .5" or less at 50yds) with a Vari-X III 2.5-8 mounted on my CZ452 Varmint. You just have to be aware of the parallax effect and watch for it, IMO.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom