CZ 455 (457) or Tikka T1X

[T.Rhodes]

I'm thinking about a bolt gun for NRL22 matches and these two are within the budget and both seem to be on the better side of performance. Currently using a Ruger 10/22...well the receiver is still a Ruger; Green Mountain barrel, Kidd bolt, Archangel stock, BX trigger. I just got rid of a Ruger American Rifle Target for feeding problems, extracting problems and so-so accuracy.

So, would like to try a bolt gun again and am wondering how these two might work. let me know your thoughts and/or experience related to the Tikka and CZ 455/457.

 

[Gary Schiefelbein]

What about the Cz 453?But for the ones you mentioned.The t1x

 

[dolek]

I don't own a Tikka 1X yet,but I have owned a CZ 455 in the past . I vote Tikka ,maybe my 455 was a lemon ? It was going to be like a stock 10/22 in the longrun...in need of barrel and trigger, etc. . Just my personal experience .

 

[bdale]

I don't own a Tikka 1X yet,but I have owned a CZ 455 in the past . I vote Tikka ,maybe my 455 was a lemon ? It was going to be like a stock 10/22 in the longrun...in need of barrel and trigger, etc. . Just my personal experience .

I'm with daleboy on this I own a CZ455 Varmint lemon all the way, should have put that money towards the Tikka

 

[T.Rhodes]

If I understand right, the 453 is a discontinued model. So the current CZ's are 455 and the just released 457 - 452 if you're left handed.

Both CZ and Tikkas' are scarce in availability it seems. I did find a 455 at Sportsman's on clearance for $399. But want to be sure to get right one this time...hence the poll. And Tikka looks to be a real contender in this race.

 

[holstil]

I'm with daleboy on this I own a CZ455 Varmint lemon all the way, should have put that money towards the Tikka

I thought you said you got that thing shooting.

 

[holstil]

Love my 455! I have a tikka on the way and plan to say the same.

 

[bdale]

I thought you said you got that thing shooting.

Here today gone tomorrow most unpredictable rifle i have ever owned

I know the guy that runs the gun store I bought it at working on a trade

 

[Mark W]

I have a 5 CZ rifles in the safe with one being a 455 American. All of them including the 455 shoot way better than they should for a rifle in their price range.

I will say that my 455 didn’t really come into it’s own and really tighten up until I had ran a few bricks of ammo through it. I can’t help but wonder if some of the negative comments that I read about were due to not shooting enough and spending the time to find the ammo that it likes. It does take a while to run 1000 to 1500 rounds through a bolt action 22 but it was well worth it in my case.

The CZ 557 and Tikka T1X are both very interesting. I’m not sure that a man could go wrong with either choice. Maybe someone should buy one of each and do a series of head to head tests.

 

[Sundown]

I have a CZ455. Built a Benchrest Stock for it with pillars. Shot numerous types of Ammo and it shot really great with Federal Ultra Match. I was at the range and it shot a .27" 5 shot group. The guy shooting next to me said Hey can I shoot that once. He shot a group nearly as good. I took it home feeling pretty good about my shooter. A couple weeks later I took it out again and got a terrible group. Tried again and the same thing, left the range. The next time I took it out it shot great again. All I can say is different day different conditions. Same Ammo different days. Long story short, you may have a shooter just the wrong temperature/humidity conditions. I have put that shooter to the side because, you just don't know when it's going to shoot or not.

 

[dolek]

I have a CZ455. Built a Benchrest Stock for it with pillars. Shot numerous types of Ammo and it shot really great with Federal Ultra Match. I was at the range and it shot a .27" 5 shot group. The guy shooting next to me said Hey can I shoot that once. He shot a group nearly as good. I took it home feeling pretty good about my shooter. A couple weeks later I took it out again and got a terrible group. Tried again and the same thing, left the range. The next time I took it out it shot great again. All I can say is different day different conditions. Same Ammo different days. Long story short, you may have a shooter just the wrong temperature/humidity conditions. I have put that shooter to the side because, you just don't know when it's going to shoot or not.

Pretty much same story here,never knew from day to day how it would shoot . I tried tons of ammo,tweaked trigger ,etc. .

 

[holstil]

That does suck!
Odds should be way in your favor should you get another one.

 

[Mark W]

I have a CZ455. Built a Benchrest Stock for it with pillars. Shot numerous types of Ammo and it shot really great with Federal Ultra Match. I was at the range and it shot a .27" 5 shot group. The guy shooting next to me said Hey can I shoot that once. He shot a group nearly as good. I took it home feeling pretty good about my shooter. A couple weeks later I took it out again and got a terrible group. Tried again and the same thing, left the range. The next time I took it out it shot great again. All I can say is different day different conditions. Same Ammo different days. Long story short, you may have a shooter just the wrong temperature/humidity conditions. I have put that shooter to the side because, you just don't know when it's going to shoot or not.

IMO, consistent .27” 5 shot groups from a sub $500 factory barreled rifle are extremely unrealistic even in an upgraded stock.

What were the groups like on a bad day?

On the bad days did you get a great group that was opened up by a flier or a shotgun pattern?

Did you ever try shooting that lot of Federal Ultra Match ammo over a chronograph in search of your variable? Better grades of of Eley, Wolf, and SK all shoot more consistently than Federal UM in my 455.

Intermittent issues are always more challenging to diagnose but I love a challenge!! It would take a ton of data (which you may have) to make me believe that temp and humidity were making any significant difference in 50 yard groups.

 

[Sundown]

Mark, Everyone can have an opinion, I voiced mine. The fact was as I stated above.
The groups spread out to about a 1/2" group...I tried different Eley brands, I tried Wolf, Remington sub-sonic, the SK...It puzzled me so much that I disassembled five rounds of each brand I shot and weighed each component and length to see the consistency of each. The UM were more consistent in powder, bullet and brass weight. I measured rim thickness.
The fact was Myself and another individual shot the same tight group one day and the next time it wouldn't shoot. Same cleaning regiment, same everything except weather conditions. There was nearly no wind in both shooting schemes.
Good luck Guys it's all for fun, whatever your Game!

 

[T.Rhodes]

Based on discussions here, I'm leaning towards the Tikka. Mark is probably right that I couldn't go too wrong with either one. But the magazines look better on the t1x.

 

[dolek]

IMO, consistent .27” 5 shot groups from a sub $500 factory barreled rifle are extremely unrealistic even in an upgraded stock.

What were the groups like on a bad day?

On the bad days did you get a great group that was opened up by a flier or a shotgun pattern?

Did you ever try shooting that lot of Federal Ultra Match ammo over a chronograph in search of your variable? Better grades of of Eley, Wolf, and SK all shoot more consistently than Federal UM in my 455.

Intermittent issues are always more challenging to diagnose but I love a challenge!! It would take a ton of data (which you may have) to make me believe that temp and humidity were making any significant difference in 50 yard groups.

Do you actually shoot 22 Rimfire ? If so,do you do it outdoors...like where temperature makes a HUGE difference ?

 

[dolek]

Based on discussions here, I'm leaning towards the Tikka. Mark is probably right that I couldn't go too wrong with either one. But the magazines look better on the t1x.

Good choice,CZ has many vocal fanboys...I listened and drank the kool-aid a few times. Once you tear into one you soon find out they are on the crude side...and need tons of tweaking that you would not expect.

 

[holstil]

Daleboy, that is unfortunate. I know that has to be frustrating to get all amped up about something just to be let down. I hope your next rifle is a hummer whatever you get.

Do you still have that 455? What model is it? I have a 17hmr barrel here I wouldn't mind dedicating to its own platform. How much you want for it?

Edit: I just reread where you "had" a 455.

 

[Mark W]

Mark, Everyone can have an opinion, I voiced mine. The fact was as I stated above.
The groups spread out to about a 1/2" group...I tried different Eley brands, I tried Wolf, Remington sub-sonic, the SK...It puzzled me so much that I disassembled five rounds of each brand I shot and weighed each component and length to see the consistency of each. The UM were more consistent in powder, bullet and brass weight. I measured rim thickness.
The fact was Myself and another individual shot the same tight group one day and the next time it wouldn't shoot. Same cleaning regiment, same everything except weather conditions. There was nearly no wind in both shooting schemes.
Good luck Guys it's all for fun, whatever your Game!

Sundown, I meant no disrespect and certainly wasn’t questioning your results. My opinion from the additional info is that you had a pretty good shooter on your hands for an inexpensive factory rifle. I guess it’s about expectations sometimes.

My 455 will shoot in the .2s and .3s some days. Most days are sub 1/2” with Wolf MT. Other days it will open up to as much as 3/4”, usually because of a flyer that ruined the group. I’ve shot over a chronograph enough to see that the flyers also vary greatly in velocity.

All in all that performance was well within my expectations for a inexpensive factory rifle so I’m happy as clam. I guess someone with higher expectations could be sorely disappointed.

 

[T.Rhodes]

Well, I'm going to Scheels this morning - they have a T1x in stock at $469. Pretty sure it'll be coming home with me.