Savage MkII or CZ 455 - Help a centerfire guy out

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countyboy

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Hi Guys

Thanks in advance for reading my post!!!

I am looking for a decent quality accurate rimfire. Budget is about $600 for the rifle and for the short term I will put one of my spare bushnell banner 4-12's on it. I currently have only one rimfire rifle, a remington viper that I received as a gift from a friend. I really don't like it. I don't like the amount of plastic it is made of (pretty much all of it) or the trigger pull/weight.

I am considering 3 rifles but am open to other suggestions.

2010 CZ 455 American (adj trig)
2010 Savage MkII TR (accu-trig) (I like the stock)
2009/10 Savage MkII BTVS (accu-trig... stainless and hbar I think) (I like stainless generally)

How much plastic do these rifles have? I don't like plastic!

Caliber choices:

Range Use:
I am leaning to .22LR as it is inexpensive and I can use it at my club indoor if I want to.

Cost:
I have been reading up on the .17HMR which looks really cool but seems a tad expensive for punching paper (says the guy who uses a 308 for this currently lol). I am unsure if there is a reason to get a .17HMR and forget getting a .223 to reload for later. Cost is a factor but not the main one. My reloaded 308's cost me about $1 each for match ammo so .25 for a HMR is not a big deal if it works well. The .17 ballistics are impressive.

Hunting Potential: I don't hunt currently but I believe there is not be much centerfire hunting allowed in my county (definitely not for deer but maybe varmint?) This may be a reason to go .17HMR.


I was away from the sport for about 12 years but I am now getting back into it. I currently have a 308 Rem 5R that I reload for but I am looking for a low recoil rifle so I can shoot more in a range visit. I am just shooting 100 yard now but I plan to shoot 200/300 in 308 this season as well. I like the potential for .17 to reach 200/250/300.

I have no qualms admitting that my shoulder gets sore after about 30 rounds in the 308. In my mind 30 308 = $30 = 200 .17 HMR.

Thanks for reading my long post and for helping me
 
I'm not sure the .17HMR is really going to perform out to 300 yards. Maybe 200 max if it isn't too windy. The CZs are really nice guns for the money. Most guys will recommend you get a .22, and for good reason.
 
I scouted for the 'best' .22 rifle for my father within about the same expense range. We settled on the CZ 453 American, and he's been the happiest camper because of it. With the wood stock (which is really nice to handle), nice action, and AMAZING single set trigger, if I had to go with those, i'd say CZ.

I can't say I've looked at the 455, but the 453 has been amazing and then some.
 
Savage Mark II-BV Accu-Trigger Rifle

By Randy Wakeman
Savage Model 14
Illustration courtesy of Savage Arms.

The qualities that have endeared .22 rimfires to me since my childhood remain the same. They are just plain fun, cheap to feed, and tremendously useful for pest control, target practice, training new shooters, and so forth. There is more fun and utility contained in a decent .22 rimfire and a brick of .22 long rifle ammo than you can easily find elsewhere.

Over the years, dozens of rimfire rifles have come and gone around here. Most of them have been lever guns and semi-autos, for decent bolt actions have been too pricey, in large measure, for my tastes. And all too often the reasonably priced .22 bolt guns I've used have suffered from horrid triggers, poor fit and finish, and accuracy that is less than stellar.

As supplied, the Savage Mark II-BV's Accu-Trigger broke at a crisp, clean 3 lbs. with no grit and no take-up. The function of the rimfire Accu-Trigger is the same as the acclaimed Savage center-fire Accu-Trigger. Savage had to redesign the trigger to properly fit their rimfires, tooling up for the downsized components. I'm delighted that they did and you will be as well. It is a fabulous trigger, and elevates the Savage rimfires to a whole new level.

The Mark II's heavy barrel has a recessed semi-target crown. The rifle weighs about 7-1/4 lbs., and the laminated stock is very attractive featuring functional cut checkering. Savage's metal finish is striking, showing no tooling marks at all. Savage metalwork and bluing continues to impress.

Cosmetically, it is an attractive rifle with one exception, that being the poorly done plastic trigger guard. A metal trigger guard needs to be substituted, and it can't be too soon.

The accuracy of the Savage Mark II-BV is no less then astonishing. This is absolutely the most accurate .22 rimfire I've ever fired. The test target supplied by Savage with this rifle was fired on May 1, 2006, with Federal Gold Medal 40 gr. target ammo. It measures an incredible .400 inches at 100 yards.

The Savage Mark II BV comes with aluminum Weaver style bases installed. The supplied bases measured undersize in width at .811 inch, which can create a problem with many Weaver style scope rings, so choose your rings judiciously.

The Savage Mark II-BV has a 5-round metal detachable box magazine. My understanding is that the 10-round Savage rimfire clip magazines also work in this rifle.

At the range the Savage Mark II-BV was 100% reliable. No matter what I did, there were no failures to feed, no failures to extract, no failures to positively eject. The brass was all positively, crisply dented. The safety is a dream to get on and off, as smooth as can be. The magazine locks into place with an audible click. The rimfire AccuTrigger on this rifle is nothing short of remarkable; no grit or creep. It is a delight to use.

The 2006 Savage Mark II BV is a standout rifle. I can't imagine anyone who will not thoroughly enjoy it. This .22 is highly recommended for anyone and everyone. You'll not find a better performing .22 LR repeater for the money.
Click to expand...
http://www.chuckhawks.com/savage_markII-BV_rifle.htm

Personally, I'd buy a Savage before a CZ. That won't go over well here.;)
 
Countryboy, I was in your exact position last spring. Exact. I recently sold my Remington Viper and picked up a CZ.

Get the CZ. It will shoot slightly better than the Savage, But is of much higher quality. After having owned the Viper you will quickly appreciate a higher quality build. The CZ's have a nicely machined receiver, not just a milled piece of tubing. Their wood is well inletted, and occasionally above average.

I have a CZ 452, and I use it to compete in silhouette. They love Eley (which can be had for a reasonable price depending on the grade you purchase), and it's got a real well made feeling. I'll be purchasing a few CZ's over the next few years to fill out my collection.
 
I bought the Savage MK-II with Accu-trigger for my wife and I liked it so much I bought another one for my self. I have never fired the CZ, but I believe you would be happy with the Savage
 
I've owned both at one time or another. I still own the CZ.

The Savage was, for the $200 I think I spent on it (brand new), not a bad value -- it went bang, and was minute-o-bunny-rabbit accurate, which is what I initially bought it for -- but the bluing was cheap and wore off quickly and easily, the accuracy off the bench was mediocre at best (2 inches at 50 meters), and the action was already starting to feel pretty heavily worn after less than a dozen bricks of ammo. But, it was a $200 gun, and it's unfair to expect a $200 gun to be an "heirloom quality" rig.

My CZ on the other hand, (a Silhouette model), I bought it from a guy on EE who'd done a LOT of silhouette shooting with it (he estimated 10,000+ rounds). I have since put another 10,000+ through it, and if you were to handle the gun, you'd think it was in nearly-new shape. It still shoots down around 1/2 inch groups at 50 meters with cheap ammo (DynaPoints), and I couldn't be happier with it. If I ever sell it, it will only be to help fund purchase of a brand new 455.

If you want an inexpensive fun gun that you'll be selling off and trading up out of in a couple of years, get a Savage. It is well worth what they sell for; just remember they don't sell for much. However, if you want the last 22LR bolt gun you'll ever need or want, get the CZ.
 
Oh, and on the 17HMR -- yeah, it looks kind of cheap when compared to your 308, but you can shoot 500 rounds of 22LR for what it costs for 50 rounds of 17HMR. And, you don't really gain much with the HMR, other than a flatter trajectory (and maybe a bit of accuracy, depending on the gun). A 22LR will reach some very long distances indeed (I shoot to 200 meters with mine), you just need a 22LR that has some good accuracy, and a scope with target-turrets so you can dial the elevation in for whatever range you're shooting at.
 
pilgrim said:
+1 on CZ :)
Click to expand...

:agree:
I'll go with those who recommended CZ. Simply better built, better design, materials and workmanship, accuracy is excellent, affordable, lots of pride of ownership.

The Heavy barrel Savage MKII models will be as accurate, though. But for me, a MKII is like a wife who can cook well but is homely, but a CZ is a wife who does everything well and is hot as well.

I have Savages, Lakefields (the MKII is a Lakefield design), Marlins, Winchester, Cooey, CZs. Among these low and mid-range priced 22s, my favorite is the CZ for all the above reasons.
 
+1 on the CZ. You won't regret it.

Go with a .22LR general purpose plinking/paper punching. The cost is far lower. Since you reload, you would be better off getting a .223 for a varmint rifle with more reach than a .22LR. The .223 can also be used with reduced loads if you want something quieter.
 
I have a CZ 452 .22 mag. It is well made and accurate. I lucked out and got one with nice, dark walnut to boot. I think accuracy-wise the Savage can hold it's own with the CZ, but as far as quality, style and fit and finish, the CZ is the winner. You probably wouldn't be dissapointed with the Savage, but in my opinion the CZ is worth the extra cash. I don't think you can do better for the money.

I've never had a .17HMR, but I've shot a couple and I prefer the .22WMR. It's a little more versatile, has a better selection of ammo and is slightly cheaper to shoot.
 
Thanks for your advice guys.

I still am not sure about the MkII or CZ but I am definitely going .22LR.

Questions:

1)455 American vs 453 Varmint I know the 455 American is a new model and has the single set trigger but how does it compare to the 453 Varmint? Would there be any difference in accuracy between the two? Is it worth the extra cost?


I think it will come down to which trigger I like better. I hear great things about the accutrigger but I like the sound of the single set. I love a minimal pull trigger. I have tried cz pistols (75/85) at my club and thought highly of the craftmanship.

I will have to ask around my club in Kingston and see if anyone has examples of either. Anyone here close to Kingston?
 
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