CZ 452 American or CZ 453 American 22lr Rifle

[6789boat]

I've narrowed my choices down to either a CZ 452 American or CZ 453 American 22lr rifle. I would greatly appreciate your thoughts and advice as to what are the differences and which is preferable.
Many thanks.

 

[XTR]

I have a 453 Varmint that I really like, that said, the trigger setup for the set trigger makes the trigger a longer reach compared to any other rifle I've shot. It may not be to your liking. There is also more support and after market stuff for the 452. Compared to my Jewells on my target rifles it feel very different.

You can get some kits to make the triggers on the 452s better.

I did my first bedding job with my 453 and pillar bedded it into a tacticool stock. Off of a bipod it will shoot 5 shot 1/2 inch groups at 50 yards with SK Jagd Rile plus or most of the other "better than walmart" rimfire ammo.

Be aware you can go a long way down the rabbit hole looking for accurate rimfire ammo.

You may want to go over to rimfirecentral.com and ask in their CZ/Bruno forum. You'll probably get more experienced opinions.

 

[6789boat]

Thanks. What do you mean by more after market stuff and support for the 452? It's my understanding that the only difference between a CZ 452 American and a CZ453 American is the single set trigger. I appreciate your remarks. Thanks.

 

[XTR]

Not quite. The 453 action screws are different. The trigger hanger is much larger to accommodate the set trigger so the inlet is different, and I believe the dovetails on the top are a different width (I think)

Basically what I meant was:

A 453 will not drop into a 452 inlet if you want to change stocks.
Kits for the 452 trigger are out there and nothing for the 453 that I've seen

You should try a 453 before buying one. I'm 6'4" and have long fingers, the reach to the trigger on a 453 is probably too long for most people.

 

[6789boat]

XTR, thanks ! Do you have the names of any of the trigger kits for the 452 ? I am likely getting a 452 if the price is great for NIB !

 

[XTR]

Go to rimfirecentral.com there is a whole forum dedicated to CZ/Bruno rimfires, and it is the most active forum on the site after the 10/22 forums

 

[Rustystud]

I bought a 455 American with 22LR barrel and HMR17 barrel. I have only shot the 22LR barrel. Wished I had bought a 452 due to the aftermarket accessories. I did a trigger job on my 455 and it now has a 4 oz trigger and no creep or over travel. I have harvested 153 squirrels in the last 15 months with it. I am glad that I purchased it.
It has been a fun rifle to shoot.
Nat Lambeth

 

[Outrider27]

I too bought a 455, the .22 Varmint model, and I have no complaints. I installed the YoDave trigger kit and ended up with a trigger pull of 12.5 oz. with one of the heavier springs, just because my first try (weakest spring) came in about 2.5 oz. ( ) and I really didn't want to mess with that on a rifle for use in the field. And the YoDave kit was only about $22 including shipping.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I have a 452 varmint. I am not a set trigger fan. They can induce some wierd vibrations. With a stone you can make that cz trigger excellent. Mine breaks around a pound, zero creep. They have one action screw and a barrel screw, which I didn't like. I removed the barrel screw, free floated the barrel, drilled and tapped the tang to add a second action screw, then pillar bedded it. It shoots in the .3's at 50 with wolf ammo. Mine is not very ammo sensitive. I believe the american has 2 action screws from the factory. I would go that route if I was to do it again.