• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

Help me pick a ground squirrel rifle!

I snagged my Annie 1715HB at a local pawn shop for $600 with an old Leupold M8 6X aboard. Deals can be found if you poke about. I also had a CZ 452 Varmint 17HMR prior to that. Both shot well on ground squirrels or rock chucks, but I just liked the Annie better for reasons we're all aware of.

I regard our buddy snert highly, but disagree with the 17M2. Limited range, sketchy ammo availability, less varmint-smacking effects when compared to the much more popular 17HMR which seems available everywhere.

I'd take my time, monitor LGS's, gunbroker and the like and eventually you'll find a nice one.
Could be that ol snert was thinking squirrels as in them critters in trees...despite the fact that upon review the post is clearly talking about them wierd things with tails that dig in the ground out west.....
 
Okay thanks for all the help guys. I just ordered the last Lilja 17hmr cz varmint barrel he had in stock so I guess I am getting the switch barrel 457, which makes alot of sense. In the pics this latest model looks alot more refined and Americanized compared to the last cz I inspected back around 2014. Browning lost out because of pressed pinned barrel and the need to spend another 250 bucks to have an acceptable trigger and non plastic trigger guard. wtf. Anschutz too much of a hassle to find the right one as I have a time constraint.
 
Okay thanks for all the help guys. I just ordered the last Lilja 17hmr cz varmint barrel he had in stock so I guess I am getting the switch barrel 457, which makes alot of sense. In the pics this latest model looks alot more refined and Americanized compared to the last cz I inspected back around 2014. Browning lost out because of pressed pinned barrel and the need to spend another 250 bucks to have an acceptable trigger and non plastic trigger guard. wtf. Anschutz too much of a hassle to find the right one as I have a time constraint.
good luck w your project!
 
Okay thanks for all the help guys. I just ordered the last Lilja 17hmr cz varmint barrel he had in stock so I guess I am getting the switch barrel 457, which makes alot of sense. In the pics this latest model looks alot more refined and Americanized compared to the last cz I inspected back around 2014. Browning lost out because of pressed pinned barrel and the need to spend another 250 bucks to have an acceptable trigger and non plastic trigger guard. wtf. Anschutz too much of a hassle to find the right one as I have a time constraint.

I have the same thing I am using for wood chucks out. Lilja barrel, Boyd's stock, Leupold VX-3 EFR 6.5-20x40. I think it will work out well for you.
 
I have seen several of these do well in 17 HMR, while the style of stock is not everyone's cup of tea they can be adjusted to fit just about anyone in terms of LOP and cheek weld.
No contest with respect to the trigger being factory and definitely not comparable to an Anschutz, on the other hand it hits the budget.
I tried one the last couple of seasons. I put a tuner on and found it shot well with a bipod.

https://ruger.com/products/precisionRimfire/models.html
 
I have the same thing I am using for wood chucks out. Lilja barrel, Boyd's stock, Leupold VX-3 EFR 6.5-20x40. I think it will work out well for you.
I will have the same setup just older vx2 a.o. that has the fine cross hairs. ( i have small rodents to shoot at!) Did you ever try your stock barrel?
 
  • Like
Reactions: DRK
No, I got it from one of the guys at Lilja directly, did a little trading earlier this year. I have spots I am hunting it is getting too tight for a centerfire, this will be my first season with a RF.
 
I will have the same setup just older vx2 a.o. that has the fine cross hairs. ( i have small rodents to shoot at!) Did you ever try your stock barrel?
VX2 AO 6-18 is a great scope. Esp fine cross hair. l have YET to understand the current video game reticles on current Leupolds.
BTW. Midway has great prices on CZ 457 Varmints. Best deal to me is their 457 Varmint combos. 17HMR plus 22LR barrel
 
VX2 AO 6-18 is a great scope. Esp fine cross hair. l have YET to understand the current video game reticles on current Leupolds.
BTW. Midway has great prices on CZ 457 Varmints. Best deal to me is their 457 Varmint combos. 17HMR plus 22LR barrel
Yes thats why I bought it. Found it NIB old stock but i tink I had to pay like 450 bucks for it. Glass is just fine for daylight varmints. They come up on the campfire or can place a wtb ad.

Got my gun bought at a private gun shop in PA same price as midway. Picked up 1500 rds of hornady locally for 28c ea. that will take some getting used to!
 
Last edited:
I have never handled a 457. My 455 is a sweet shooter and so were a couple 452 before that. Its overall my favorite gun with a fluted cz barrel. It started as a 22lr. Find a used one and put a new barrel on it if it is not a shooter. A 457 in a bravo could be sweet too, but the action is ugly. I don't think you will better a cz unless you get a vudoo or something fancy like that.
DSC_0319.JPGDSC_0298.JPG
 
VX2 AO 6-18 is a great scope. Esp fine cross hair. l have YET to understand the current video game reticles on current Leupolds.
BTW. Midway has great prices on CZ 457 Varmints. Best deal to me is their 457 Varmint combos. 17HMR plus 22LR barrel
Plus one on the 6-18 VX2. I like the fine plex. It is small enough to work on a RF, has classic lines, tracks well, the plex can be learned for hold off and it is reasonable, especially if bought used. I have three, all bought for $375 or less.
 
Whatever you pick, it BETTER be damn accurate. You're not shooting chucks or yotes.

Yup! I will test out the stock barrel first, after shooting a box or two through it. If it dosen't shoot then I have a Lilja arriving the same time as the rifle. I can return the Lilja if the stock barrel dosent pan out. Hope it does as the Lilja is only a 100 bucks less than the cost of the rifle!

The main reason I chose the CZ was the switch barrel capability for the above reason, plus secondarily having the option to shoot 22lr. But then I got to thinking after the fact on how can the bolt work for both 22lr and the larger dia 22mag case? I found the answer and that is CZ uses a much stronger firing pin mechanism so the pin can pierce thru the outer rim of the smaller diameter 22lr to get ignition. Some say this creates inconsistent ignition from round to round affecting accuracy. Nothing can be easy!
 
I was slow seeing this but down the road you may want to think about a Volquartsen Summit action, Lilja or other Ruger 10/22 style barrel 17hm2 build. If you like the straight pull it really is a pretty nice action and can easily be switched between the 22lr and 17hm2. All other components are Ruger compatible. I love the 17hm2. Current main one is Rem action Anschutz barrel 17hm2 and shoots great as have all of them I have built or bought. Your CZ/Lilja should shoot great.

Also if you have the chance to buy a Browning T bolt mine had a awesome trigger but heavy. After some work was able to get that ridiculously low. This one was a sporter in 22lr but shot everything so incredibly well.
 
I was slow seeing this but down the road you may want to think about a Volquartsen Summit action, Lilja or other Ruger 10/22 style barrel 17hm2 build. If you like the straight pull it really is a pretty nice action and can easily be switched between the 22lr and 17hm2. All other components are Ruger compatible. I love the 17hm2. Current main one is Rem action Anschutz barrel 17hm2 and shoots great as have all of them I have built or bought. Your CZ/Lilja should shoot great.

Also if you have the chance to buy a Browning T bolt mine had a awesome trigger but heavy. After some work was able to get that ridiculously low. This one was a sporter in 22lr but shot everything so incredibly well.

True but I dont find the 17hm2 ammo to be but a few cents cheaper but with less performance and less availability locally without paying for additional freight. I only shoot out of my area for ground squirrels and chucks for a short period every year so an accurate bolt in 17hmr will work fine and keep the farmers happy that I am not damaging their irrigation. I would be more into rimfire but anymore the ammo is too expensive for what it is. If I can't put 10 22lr in an inch at 100 then I'm not interested and to do so costs at least 30c a pop for the decent ammo. I can load much better performing centerfire 17 cal for close to what the rimfire costs but I don't want to crank out 2000 17-223's for squirrel shooting so the 17hmr sounds good! I think my 22lr days are dwindling other than for shooting grouse.
 
Last edited:
Got my 457 Varmint today! I take back anything derogatory I originally said about CZ. They have changed in 10 years! Fit 'n finish is as good as needs to be. Lazer stippling is sharp and perfectly even. Bluing is a nice dull even polish. Bolt feels great..very short throw now. I got one with a purple splotch on the butt. Butt pad is nicely fit. IMO a nice deal for $620. Now to see how it shoots and how the trigger is once it gets out of jail. Hopefully tomorrow.
 
Nice. Youll love the CZ. Ain't nothing wrong with CZ457s. I don't care what anyone says, they flat out shoot, and they're not a bad looking rifle either. And I think you'd be ahead by putting that Lilja on there anyway. CZs shoot typically very well with factory barrels, but it ain't no Lilja or Bartlein at the end of the day...

I have a 457 in a 22LR with a Bartlein, bedded into a Boyds varmint stock, 8 oz trigger, 5-25x Venom. It shoots 3/4"-1" 5 shot groups at 100 yards with various types of SK every time. One of my favorite rifles. Have taken it out to 500 yards on a 20" plate

20221031_095411.jpg
 
I sold a 17 HMR CZ 453, a model that had a set trigger and was very accurate. CZs aren’t super impressive for fit and finish but that rifle was accurate, so our my CZ 457 22s, an MTR and a premium. That’s being said one of my favorite 22 rifles is my old T-Bolt, my Dad’s old rifle with a peep. It’s the rifle I use much of the time when hunting tree squirrels. I think you would enjoy one.

Edit: I see now you snagged a 457, I’ll be surprised if it’s doesn’t shoot and I agree, they have come a long ways AND they got the safety right, that always bugged me about the 452s….
 

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Forum statistics

Threads
165,301
Messages
2,193,026
Members
78,816
Latest member
dancercc13
Back
Top