accurize CZ452 22lr?

[rap36case]

I have a cz452 in 22lr I purchased last year. I have been shooting Eley Match at 100 yards. I can not seem to get below 1moa and I know it is possible from reading here.

I have put a Basix trigger in the weapon, scrub the barrel with SmoothKote, shooting from bench with 4mph over right shoulder. Vortex Diamondback 3 to 9-50mm scope.

I noticed the barrel lug is loosely attached to the barrel via a dovetail groove and then tightened with a bolt through the stock. This does not seem optimum to me. I am wondering if there is some way to free float the barrel, glass the action or some simpler alternative.

 

[XTR]

You may get better answers at rimfirecentral.com

 

[Lesloan]

<1/2 MOA at 100 yds. with a .22 is a totally different matter than it is at 50 yds. Whatever you get at 50 yds. you can most likely triple at 100, maybe worse. Some questions:

1. Which 452 do you have?

2. Is the rifle in a BR stock, or something similar? If not, do you use a skid plate? Getting really small groups off a rest is hard with any sporter.

3. What kind of front rest and rear bag are you using?

4. What is the trigger pull?

5. Have you considered a scope with more magnification? 9x really doesn't cut it at 100 yds. See if you can borrow a good scope with at least 24x and a FCH or small dot (1/8") reticle.

Right off hand, I'd say if you're getting anywhere near an inch at 100 yds with 5-shot groups already, you're doing very well indeed. As I said above, that's a totally different animal than 1/2" at 50, and is really hard to do with any .22, especially a sporter with a low magnification scope.

I second the nomination to take a good look at Rimfire Central. These folks specialize in .22's, and there's a very sizeable and knowledgeable bunch of CZ folks there.

 

[mattlewis]

I'll ask a couple more questions.

What are your groups like at 50?

Do you know that Eley match is what your rifle likes best?

 

[Fotheringill]

I will echo the recommendations above about going to rimfirecentral with these questions. The CZ section is second to none.

 

[delmartin]

lesloan is correct in every way. The only thing is you didn't say if you have bedded the rifle. These firearms are helped a great deal by a good bedding job.
Del

 

[Fotheringill]

lesloan is correct in every way. The only thing is you didn't say if you have bedded the rifle. These firearms are helped a great deal by a good bedding job.
Del

AND pillaring before you bed.

 

[Dave T]

I think he answered the "did he bed the gun".

I am wondering if there is some way to free float the barrel, glass the action or some simpler alternative.

 

[XTR]

I don't know what the guys over on RFC will be able to tell you about the 452, but I got a 453 because it has two action screws. Long ago I put up a post documenting my pillar bedding of mine over on Snipers Hide. It will shoot 1MOA at 50 yards with SK Rifle plus. Never bothered with ammo that cost 3x more.

 

[Lesloan]

I don't know what the guys over on RFC will be able to tell you about the 452, but I got a 453 because it has two action screws. Long ago I put up a post documenting my pillar bedding of mine over on Snipers Hide. It will shoot 1MOA at 50 yards with SK Rifle plus. Never bothered with ammo that cost 3x more.

Some 452's have 2 action screws (e.g., the 452 American) and some have 1 action screw and 1 in the barrel (for example, the Silhouette.) I have had 2 452's, now down to one FS 'cuz I gave my Silhouette to my daughter. Other than the addition of YoDave triggers, they are both bone stock. After a bit of playing with action screw torques both will pretty consistently group 1/2" (1 MOA) at 50 yds.

I've never heard that 453's will outshoot 452's. The only difference I know of between the 2 is the trigger.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I did some work to my 452 varmint, with wolf ammo it shoots .3s and .4s at 50 yards. I removed the dovetailed barrel lug, free floated the barrel. Drilled and tapped the tang for a second action screw, installed pillars and bedded the action.

 

[Dave T]

I did some work to my 452 varmint, with wolf ammo it shoots .3s and .4s at 50 yards. I removed the dovetailed barrel lug, free floated the barrel. Drilled and tapped the tang for a second action screw, installed pillars and bedded the action.

Sounds great, will you do mine? Just kidding, I sent mine to a well know stock guy that has pillar bedded almost every gun I own and he wouldn't touch my 452 because of the Cylindrical Nut, what's up with that. Isn't this an odd design?
Dave T

 

[Fotheringill]

I removed the dovetailed barrel lug, free floated the barrel. Drilled and tapped the tang for a second action screw, installed pillars and bedded the action.

THAT makes a lot more sense the what they have with the front barrel lug (which found needed a washer AND very light torque - about 12 in/lbs.)

 

[rap36case]

<1/2 MOA at 100 yds. with a .22 is a totally different matter than it is at 50 yds. Whatever you get at 50 yds. you can most likely triple at 100, maybe worse. Some questions:

1. Which 452 do you have?

2. Is the rifle in a BR stock, or something similar? If not, do you use a skid plate? Getting really small groups off a rest is hard with any sporter.

3. What kind of front rest and rear bag are you using?

4. What is the trigger pull?

5. Have you considered a scope with more magnification? 9x really doesn't cut it at 100 yds. See if you can borrow a good scope with at least 24x and a FCH or small dot (1/8") reticle.

Right off hand, I'd say if you're getting anywhere near an inch at 100 yds with 5-shot groups already, you're doing very well indeed. As I said above, that's a totally different animal than 1/2" at 50, and is really hard to do with any .22, especially a sporter with a low magnification scope.

I second the nomination to take a good look at Rimfire Central. These folks specialize in .22's, and there's a very sizeable and knowledgeable bunch of CZ folks there.

1. I have a CZ452 Varmint with thumbhole stock.
2. I use a heavy front bench rest and rear sandbag.
3. The scope is a 3.5 to 10x50mm Vortex Diamondback
4. I installed a Basix adjustable trigger with 4LB squeeze
5. I know less the 1" at 100 is possible. My 452 likes Eley Match the best. I have seen much smaller groups reported on this site.
6. Yes, I have a 6 to 24 FFP on my 308 for 1000 yards. More magnification would be better.

I am wondering if I need to do something with the dovetailed lug on the barrel and forend of the stock. It slides out when the stock is removed.

 

[rap36case]

I just e-mailed Aaron, a gunsmith at CZ. I am hoping he will also have some good advice.

 

[Fotheringill]

My bet is that Aaron will tell you the rifle specs is for 1"@50 yards. That is what I was told.

I pillared and bedded and that reduced groups significantly on a 452 UL. At $.30/pop on match grade ammo, good luck with finding the right ammo. I did and found Lapua Midas+ was best in one CZ and Eley Match (I won't tel you lot # since each rifle will react diffferently) in another.

 

[Cort]

I accurized my CZ by giving it to my son-in-law and buying an Anschutz. The "accurized CZ" shoots very well.

Cort

 

[Dubya]

I did some work to my 452 varmint, with wolf ammo it shoots .3s and .4s at 50 yards. I removed the dovetailed barrel lug, free floated the barrel. Drilled and tapped the tang for a second action screw, installed pillars and bedded the action.

Sounds great, will you do mine? Just kidding, I sent mine to a well know stock guy that has pillar bedded almost every gun I own and he wouldn't touch my 452 because of the Cylindrical Nut, what's up with that. Isn't this an odd design?
Dave T

I had considered doing the same thing, so tell me more ie; where on the tang did you drill and size of tap and screw???

Thanks, Gary.

 

[Hammer47]

Not too sure I would not try a more powerful scope at and beyond 100 yds. I shoot lots of long range 22 and would not be able to do well at all with anything less than 18X or more at that distance. Get an "automatic" freefloat by placing a shim under the bbl lug. This raises the bbl and provides clearance. A couple layers of electrical tape usually does the job. This by no means is as good as an honest pillar and bed job which is not too hard to do with the CZ rifle. If you go the pillar route lose the bbl lug and tap the receiver hole for a true 2 point action bed job.

I do not remove the bbl lug, merely provide stock clearance around it. It hurts nothing by just being there. Strangely enough my most accurate 452 is in the stock configuration with the bbl nut in use. It shouldn't work but in this case it certainly does.

 

[searcher]

You are right, higher power scope would help tremendously. So would getting trigger pull down another 25% or so. Getting that rifle bedded will help no matter what I am sure. As for your ammo, the Eley Match ammo is one of the BEST for 100-yard shooting. Try different velocities (listed on the batch). My rifle shoots best at one velocity batch @ 50 and another @100.