I came across a shop with a half dozen 24" CZ 455 Varmint Tacticool rifles in stock.  These were discontinued in 2018 and while I still see them all over the place on GB, I skipped the 455 series, and just plain despise the 457 series rifles, so I thought it might be time to pick one up.

They were listed at $449, and they also had a Vortex 4-12x40 tactical scope listed for  $299.  The scope would not be on my list at all for a centerfire rifle tactical rifle, but the 100 yard parallax setting, ok optics, a decent MOA reticle, and enough elevation adjustment for shooting standard velocity .22 LR out to 300 yards without a 25 MOA rail, and another 30 MOA in the reticle was enough to prompt me to ask what kind of deal I could get on both.  They said they could do 15% off, so I took them both home for $680 out the door.

The trigger has a lot of take up, but adjusted down to a nice, crisp, 2 pound pull.



Now I need to figure out what to do with it.

I already have a CZ 453 Varmint and a CZ 453 American in .22 LR and both of them will shoot 1 MOA 5 shot groups at 100 yards with SK Std Plus.  I also have a pair of Model 52Rs that will shoot 1.25 MOA at the same range with the same ammo, along with a pair of CZ 99 Precisions, and a Rem 541S that deliver similar accuracy.  I also have an Anschutz 64 Match and a Rem 541XR that fill the bill with diopter sights at 50 yards for prone and 3P fun.

I do like the CZ 455's composite stock for field use as I don't have to fret over dings, etc, it isn't overly heavy for field use, and the ergonomics are quite good for three position shooting.  Consequently, I am interested in seeing how it shoots at 100 and 200 yards as a potential go to .22 LR long range plate rifle.

However, while I have plenty of .22 LR rifles, and three .22 Hornets all of which are sub MOA and 2 of which are 1/2 MOA capable, I don't have a .22 WMR rifle.  The swap barrel potential of the CZ 455 is basically why I bought it and I'm looking for input and experience on the pros and cons of .22 WMR versus .17 HMR, versus .22 LR in a CZ 455 Varmint.

.22 WMR accuracy has always struck me as spotty at best, and it's the reason I went with the .22 Hornet for shorter range, less noise, varmint applications in between .22 LR and .223 Rem ranges.

I have no experience with 17 HMR.

I have the short barreled version of that 455. I really enjoy it. I just wanted to comment that the stock on it is wood laminate not synthetic, so don't bang it into anything too hard.  Please let is know how it groups.

Could you elaborate,  on why you despise  the 457?

I don't like the aesthetics of the 457.  The 452, 453 and 455 all shared the same classic lines on the receiver, and on the American and Varmint stayed with fairly classic lines.  The 457 went with a center mounted bolt handle and sharper angles on the receiver that I just don't find to be pleasing to the eye.  The stock lines are also just a bit "off" and the checkering looks cheap.

On a positive note, they finally got rid of the stamped bottom metal, which has always been the only "cheap" feature on the CZ rimfires.

I like my CZ 453 American and and my wood lottery winning CZ 453 Varmint far more than the CZ 457.



The CZ 452 and CZ 453 didn't quite have the elegance of the Model 52 Sporter, but they came pretty darn close (and the grand finale CZ 452 would have matched it if it had lost the stamped bottom metal) and IMHO it was superior to the Rem 541.


https://oi1111.photobucket.com/albums/h470/SDBB57/Rimfires/D0405970-092B-4FC6-8856-1273C75ADE14-20900-0000240E5EEEECBB_zps77fbba34.jpg

The CZ 452/453 had better lines than the 77/22, and was head and shoulders over the Zastava made Rem Model 5 and CZ 99/MP 22.



The CZ 457?  Meh...

Laminate stocks are about 50% glue by weight. They are composite material stocks, just not in the sense that most people think of as most people associate composites as resin and fiberglass or graphite over a wood or foam core.

I took it to a 50 yard indoor range today (I need to find a 200 or so yard range in the MSP area, if you have any suggestions).



It started out way below my expectations:



But was much improved after about 50 rounds;




And, even with the shaky table and no rear bag, it started shooting very nice one hole 5 shot groups by the end of the second box of SK Std Plus:



As it is now, it's not far behind my Anschutz match rifle at 50 yards.  If it continues to shoot this well with Sk Std Plus, I'm probably leave it alone and keep it as my go to long range .22 LR.

----

My Ruger 77/22...not so much.  It's going to need some serious work.

There are all kinds of ranges with distances over a 100yds
DelTone in St Cloud has 200yds
Oakdale  is open to the public on weekends during the summer
Hudson Rod Gun is open to the public
Not sure these have over 200yds
Beaverbrook has open hours to the public

Private clubs unless hosting events...
Gopher at Harris goes to 1000yds
Post 435 @ Elko goes to 200yds
Elk River Sportsmans Club goes to 600yds
NorthStar @ Redwing goes to 600yds
Faribault near Kilkenny goes 600yds (if they are done reconstructing?)
Dakota County @ Rosemount goes to 300yds
Forest Lake goes to 400yds
Minnetonka Sportsman (Mound) goes to 100yds
Minnetonka Game and Fish / MRC (Nowthan) goes to 300ys for sure, with steel to 400?
Rainbow Sportsman (Cokato) goes to 300 if River not up
Delano Sportsman goes to 100yds

Thanks, I appreciate it!

Pillar bed it?

Oversized bolt handle?

Put a Bscar or Mr. Fly trigger in it?

20 or 30 MOA scope base?

Different trigger guard bottom metal?

Extended mag latch?

Aftrmarket barrel?

Paint the stock?

Lotsa of stuff you can do to a 455.

I've been building this one piece mealing it out of parts.

Spend a ton of money is what’s next lol



Buy good ammo. Mine loves Eley Club

I've been eyeing one myself... picked up a RPR Rimfire recently and it is just a blast to shoot, I enjoy it much more than I expected.  However I don't see myself putting any money into the setup as it has it's shortcomings - I'd much rather put money towards a CZ TBH.  The 455 VT seems like a good LR starting platform that would allow meaningful further upgrades if desired...

I notice there is both a 16" and 24" barrel version - any preference of one over the other?

I like long barrels on long range and target .22 LRs.

I've chronographed numerous lots of .22 LR match grade ammo over the years and I've noted that longer barrels almost always produce a lower standard deviation in velocity.  Long sight radius isn't the only reason smallbore target rifles have 26"-28" barrels.

You'll hear people state a 16" barrel will be faster, but in long range .22 LR shooting, you'll want to use standard velocity anyway.  It's more accurate as it doesn't have to transition to subsonic velocity, and it drifts less in the wind.

If you want to suppress it, then 16" makes more sense to keep the rifle's OAL down.  But I'm not a big fan of suppressing standard velocity .22LR ammo.  It's already pretty quiet, especially in a 24" barrel and passing through a suppressor doesn't help accuracy.

Thanks, I was thinking along the same lines, but wound up with a 457 - since I was returning the RPRimfire due to the FTE issues, I was limited to purchasing current stock, and they didn't have any 455's avail.  I thought long and hard about stepping up to the Trainer, but as luck would have it both models were OOS, so went with the 457 Suppressor Ready 16.5".  100yd's is my norm, 200 sometimes for fun, so I think it'll do fine.

That CZ 453 is very nice looking.
Now I have to get one like it

I have one of these and love it.  Already have defended my garden from 2 rabbits this spring with headshots at about 35 yards and that seems to have kept the rest away.

You need to add a suppressor for sure.  I'm using my YHM Mite with the upgraded Stinger internals. Ammo is Eley, can't remember the exact type since I bought a bunch of different types to try out.  Still need to get more magazines.

Just picked up a CZ 455 Tacticool.

Any suggestions on scope mounts/rings?

Would prefer something like a picitinny base if it exhists.

TIA

DIP Products makes a picatinny base.

Attached File


Love my 455. I shoot it almost every day

Area 419 is what you seek. They have the built in level on their bases and offer 20 moa as well.

Attached File

Any suggestions for an oversized bolt handle?

check out Anarchy Outdoors

Glades Armory

They are notorious for causing head spacing issues.

The anarchy outdoors ones haven’t had issues that I am aware of.