CZ Rimfires...need info.

[jb1000br]

esp. looking at the 452/453 varmint.

Anyone have good pictures? With and without stock? trigger group? Close-ups?

Performace data? other experiences?

Other suggested rimfires in the same realm?

I particularly like the fact that the barrels are threaded, not pinned/pressed/clamped...

Thanks,
Jason

 

[Wolfdawg]

jason

Here is a GREAT site for CZ 452's.

http://www.cz452.com/

Wolfdawg

 

[Forum Boss]

Jason,

Here's an article on the CZ 452, but not the set-trigger version: http://www.gunsandammomag.com/long_guns/GA_cz_042505/

Looks like I was correct regarding the Brooks trigger conversion--it does require more than a spring replacement. A bushing is used to reduce sear engagement:

 

[Gollum]

I have a 452 Trainer,same as a Lux, but with cheaper wood), and it has shot sub 1" 5 shot groups at 100 yards. I have a 6.5-20 Burris on it, and a Brooks trigger kit that is set at an honest 1/2lbs. Wolf Match Extra shoots the best so far.

The American has a better stock for scope use, as it has a highter comb. I'm in the process of restocking mine with a Richards Microfit "Tac-Driver". The stock on the Trainer is great for opens, but too low for good cheek weld with the scope. Check out the CZ forum on Rimfirecentral.com

I'm real happy with my first CZ rimfire, planning to buy more.....

 

[Forum Boss]

Gollum, if you've never bought a Richard's Microfit stock before, be sure you like sanding--and can do some clean up on the inletting. They are very rough as delivered, and the inletting on my Savage stock required extensive rebuilding with glass and epoxy.

This is not to be confused with Richard's Custom Rifles of Virginia--he makes great stocks that are correctly inletted and good to go.

 

[johnvic]

I have a 452 varmint model, put a Brooks kit in it when I bought it a couple years ago, it shoots Eley Mach2 ammo into a ragged hole from the bench at 50yards. Amazing little rifle... The pic here is a 10 shot group from 100yards on a perfect day with the Eley ammo.
JT

 

[Forum Boss]

John,

Nice 10-shot! I bet a lot of centerfires couldn't do that. Glad to see someone else shooting the 17 Mach 2. Here's a couple of tips. Grafs.com has the Eley on sale for $4.39/box. If you know someone with a C&R FFL you can get it for even less. Zanders also has it really cheap but they only ship to dealers.

Also, if you can get your hands on one of the Nielson rimfire concentricity checkers, you can probably knock your 100-yd group size down by 25-30%. We found a few rounds per box of the Eley showed .009+ run-out. No way you can drive those back into the group. Also, check the crimp. We did find some correlation between group size and crimp uniformity.

 

[memilanuk]

I've had four, and fondled several more

First was a CZ452 Varmint .22LR. Shot very well, but I never could get used to the recoil lug attached to the barrel not the receiver. Mental thing, I guess. Sold it and got...

Second was a CZ452 American .22 WMR. Shot ~1" groups @ 100yds w/ a Simmons 1022 3-9x32mm scope... great for knocking grouse off low branches and that sort of thing Never should have sold it!

Third was another CZ452 American, in .22LR. A little dinged up by now as it's got carried around a bit both by myself and the boys. It has a Brookie trigger kit, the allen head screws, etc. Haven't benched it for a while now, and may not... it's a field gun. As long as it holds minute of grouse or ground squirrel @ 50yds, I'm happy.

Fourth is another CZ452 American in .17 HMR. Brookie trigger kit & allen head screws. Currently has a BSA 3-9x Sweet 17 scope on it. Makes short work of ground squirrels out to 150 or so. It could probably make hits further out, but between the wind, tiny,moving) target, round fore-end and low powered scope I felt I was about at the limit for me. BTW, it works a *lot* better when you remember the $&*@#ing magazine when you go on a trip to suppress infidel ground squirrels... way too many got by me while I was fumbling around trying to single load a .17 HMR into the chamber while *not* dropping it down the magazine hole... :,

I'd give the Ruger 77/22 points on looks, but I've heard comments that indicated hit or miss in the accuracy department. I'd still love to get my hands on an old Rem 541T-HB, though.

Monte

 

[jb1000br]

Good info guys...Monte - Recoil lug on the barrel?? Got a pic out of the stock?

How bout a pic of your 452 american out of the stock?

TIA,
JB

 

[memilanuk]

jb,

I don't have the Varmint anymore. I'll dig around the 'Net and see if I can find some pictures. The Americans all have the same bedding as you see now.

Monte

 

[johnvic]

Monte,
I had several 541-THB's a couple of years ago and then decided to get into the centerfire playground and sold them all, I kept the CZ Mach2 for squirrels, guess I'll save it for the Grandson to have in a few years. I never had a 541-T that would not shoot good, they all were tack drivers. Had a Sporter that had been fancied up back in the 60's or 70's, it had a big long tuner that locked on the barrel with a set screw, it had an old Fagen thumbhole stock and I could tell it had been handled pretty rough in it's day, I tried some Wolf Match Extra in it since all the other 541's liked it, it would outshoot anything in the gun safe but it was the ugliest little piece you ever laid eyes on. Whenever some of the guys would come out to the house to plink around at 50yds I would go in and get it and usually would clean their clocks with it. Keep an eye on Auction Arms.com and Gunbroker, sometimes you can sneek up on one but they are getting scarce, don't think that the 504 is doing as well as it was supposed to.

JT

 

[Zed]

I have a 452 in 17 HMR. I thought I was ordering the "varmint" model when I put the money down. I ended up with the skinny barrel and couldn't be happier with the accuracy. If five shot groups are over 1", I did something wrong. The trigger on mine is pretty crappy though. Definitely good deals for the money, in my opinion.

 

[LOBO]

Here's the range report on my 452 Varmint. I couldn't be happier with the gun!

http://www.snipershide.net/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=118788&page=1#Post118788

Chris

 

[arthurj]

I've got the 452 varmint in 17 hmr. It easily does under 1" at 100, most of the time around .5". I sanded out the barrel channel replaced the trigger spring. My trigger needs some more work, but it is still much better than the factory setting. It is a fun gun to shoot.

 

[JavierMena]

jb1000br, let me tell you something: CZ rimfire rifles shoot great. I've had several and currently own two. I'm a dedicated bench-rest shooter. We have a BR-50,rimfire class) in Spain with two subcategories, Open,any weight, any customization) and Stock,weight limited to 3,850 kilograms ready to go, factory made, but you can still change trigger). Although I have a great Feinwerkbau match rifle for the former, I get my best results overall in the latter with the CZ 452 Lux.

The distance is 50 metres and of course, we shoot for groups.

I agree, the trigger is extremely creepy. Many shooters install a ball pen spring in the bolt, so it becomes very soft. Mine was smoothened by a gunsmith, tho'.

I took second place in the 2005 Nationals with a final sum of 54.65 milimetres for five five-shot groups ... about 2", average: 10.93 mm ... a bit over 2/5". Smaller group was obtained on the third series: 6.51 mm ... a bit over 1/4". Not bad, is it? And that's just an example, as the guy who beat me did better, but he was shooting a Sako Varmint.

The competition is limited to .22 l.r. ammo but you can use any scope magnification,I have a Tasco 8X32X44 I only dial to 28X).
I found long ago my rifle shoots best with Lapua Midas M or Master M. Surprisingly enough, the other brands don't shoot quite as well. May be the secret is that I weigh and sort my ammo by rim size, following Layne Simpson's advice.

Good shots.

JM.
In short order I'll attach some pics for you to believe.

 

[DukeDuke]

The 452lux in 22lr, that I have shoots perfectly! My guess is that if the CZ's had a price tag of 800-1000$ most people wouldn't doubt their quality.:thumb:

 

[ba_50]

My CZ 452 American .22 will keep wolf match target about 1/2" or better at 50 Yards. I once put 5 shots into 5/16" @100 yards. It has the Brook's trigger kit. The rings are for round tops and not flat like the CZ. It might shoot better if I could find the right rings.

 

[BulletShooter]

I have 452 got it about 6 years ago has a bull barrel and when I got it, the trigger was heavy 3-4lb so I cut the spring until it is now 4 oz.sweet little shooter.

 

[stosh]

I have a 452 .17 HMR Varmint model and I love it! Shoots great but the trigger sucks! Just ordered a Timney for it. I have a BSA Sweet 17 scope which is BDC for the .17 HMR but starts at 100yds and goes to 300 what a waste, it should start at 50 and go to 200.

Stosh

 

[stosh]

Installed the Timney triger last night. Had to remove some wood from the stock but not a big deal, the dremel worked well. Adjusted to 3 lb and it is 100% improvement, no creep or drag just snap! Can't wait to go shoot it!

Stosh