Scope for CZ 455 American?

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Howdy

I don't know a whole lot about scopes.

I would like to buy a CZ 455 American for informal target shooting. This is the model that comes without iron sights. I would like to put a variable power scope onto it.

Most of the 22 rimfire variable power scopes I have seen are in the 3 - 9 power range. Frankly, I would like something a little bit more powerful. I have an inexpensive Simmons 3-9 power scope on my Ruger 10/22, and I would like something a little bit more powerful. I am only talking about shooting at 100 yards max, that is the length of the range at my club. But when I look through the 3 - 9 power scope on the Ruger, at 100 yards the bullseyes are pretty small. I would like something that will enlarge them a bit more. I will mostly be shooting from a rest, so I am not too concerned about the shake that happens with more powerful scopes.

I am not adverse to spending a bit of money for a nice scope, I just want a variable power scope a bit more powerful than what is on my 10/22. Also, I guess the body of the scope needs to me 1" in diameter.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.
 
That is essentially the same question I asked earlier:
Another one here, I just purchased a CZ 455 American .22LR. As such, I am looking for a scope. I see the recommendations above and they aren't quite what I am looking for.

Budget, 250-350 for scope and rings.
Purpose, informal target and plinking.
Magnification, low, I would like something that starts closer to 2x.
I prefer covered turrets, just one less then to accidentally mess up.
Finish, and this is the one that makes it hard, I would prefer gloss, not matte. The reason is simply that I want it to match the rifle.
. . . in this thread.

I will tell you that I have decided on the Leupold FX-1 Rimfire 4x28. Now it is just a case of finding one in blue instead of Matte. I do see that you are looking for something with a lot more magnification. I don't recall seeing any rimfire specific scopes with more that; but, as I said, I was focused on less weight and magnification.

. . . so, basically I am little help. . . The only one with more than 9x that I saw was the Nikon 6729 Prostaff 4-12x40; yes, that one has a 1 inch tube..
 
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I am looking for the same for my 452 . I am thing about the Mueller 4.5-14 ao . I would spend more , so I am watching this thread . If I was only going to use it for 100yd. target shooting I would get the Weaver T36 , but I might want to hunt with it some , although I have other .22's that I use .
 
So the budget options I am comfortable recommending are the Simmons whitetail classic 6-20x50 for $75. after code CRM0168385 $15 off 100
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...mm-adjustable-objective-mil-dot-reticle-matte

Next would be the Mueller apv 4.5-14x40 for $105 https://www.amazon.com/Mueller-Rifle-Scope-Black-4-5-14/dp/B000SULCTA this scope bats way above it's weight class. The turrets are a little mushy, but optically I prefer it to the Burris fullfield 2, vortex diamondback, and sightron s1, and Leupold vx1 (all in 4-12x) I ran this scope on my cz for a few years until I replaced it with a weaver grand slam that nachez puts on sale periodically (though not at the moment) natchez does have Bushnell trophy,s on sale for about $130 or less with coupon codes. 3-12 or 6-18x. Those aren't bad scopes.

The athon scopes are supposed to be a good value, but you might have to return 1 or 2 to get a good one.

After that you get up into the $200+ range and the vx2, grand slam Burris mtach, Nikon monarch or protstaff 7's etc all be come pretty good options.
 
I have Leupold VX2 4-12 and 3-9 on my CZ rimfire rifles. Nice combination.

If i add another I’ll try a Tract Optics rimfire scope. It’s available in 4-12. I have one of their centerfire scopes and I’m impressed with the quality, plus it’s under $200.
 
I am not adverse to spending a bit of money for a nice scope, I just want a variable power scope a bit more powerful than what is on my 10/22. Also, I guess the body of the scope needs to me 1" in diameter.
You’re going to run into several issues with responses here.

Many will assume you want a cheap scope simply because it’s a .22, even though you’ve said you’d pay more. And, most will suggest an underpowered model because they’ve not shot competition. You can’t hit what you can’t see.

I have a Leupold VX3 4-14x40 on my CZ 453 Varminter. I can clearly see .22 holes at 100 yards. To me, this is critical for target shooting. I’ve shot multiple.4’s at 50 yards. Sub 1” at 100 with the right ammo. Certainly not “all day long”, but it’s happened more than once.

With the continuing improvement in scopes and prices going down, I suspect you will be able to get a nice scope for less than mine cost
 
If it were me I’d probably get a Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14x42 AO. They run about $300.00. My philosophy is to spend as much money as I can afford on the optic for a rifle. There obviously is more than one way to skin a cat.

My second choice would be this Sightron for 200.00.
https://swfa.com/catalog/product/view/id/187314/
Cdb1, I have had both of those scopes, as well as the diamond back 4-12ao. They have all been sold or traded away while I still have the Mueller. The build quality does not seem to be quite as good, and the turrets are mushier, but optically it has proven to be superior and has been good enough to for 223 recoil.

It wasn't just me either. I had 3 sets of eyes look through all 3, and the Mueller was rated best, then 2 people liked the sightron and 1 the vortex. The Burris came along later, after the sightron was gone but it came up short to the diamondback up to about 10x, then the diamondback got dark and lost resolution compared to Burris.

Personlly, for calibers under 243, I'd buy them in this order: Mueller, sightron, vortex and Burris. Over 243 I'd buy Burris, buckmasters ii, sightron s1, vortex, Mueller. And if you can find a grand slam on sale at natches, if is superior to all of the above.

But when it comes to scopes, everybody has a favorite, and different eyes like!e different brands. Ymmv.
 
^ Thirded, I had one ridding around on my 7mm for years, got droped, scratched, and generally beat on but did exactly what it was supposed to do. I got tired of the weight and size, and sold it on ebay for more than it cost me to buy it originally.
 
Howdy Again

Thanks for all the input.

Perhaps to further clarify, I plan to shoot the CZ 455 American at ranges up to 100 yards. But I will also be shooting it closer. The closest will probably be 25 yards. I will not be shooting it in any competition, just informal target shooting at the range. I don't hunt, so that is not an issue, and I don't intend to be shooting .17 or 22 Mag, so the one barrel will be all I need. I also have no need for the heavy varmint barrel.

I just want a nice target 22 that I can shoot at the range, and maybe kick around some soup cans at the 100 yard berm.

Midway's price for this rifle is $377.99. I have not tried pricing it through my local dealer yet.

I fired one at the range a few months ago, and I liked the rifle a lot. However the owner had a scope on it, probably about 3-9X. As I have said, I would like a little bit more power, and it would certainly be nice to be able to see my bullet holes at 100 yards. The scope that fellow was using required tall scope mounts for the bolt to clear the scope.

I don't mind spending some good money for a scope, but seeing as what I will be using it for I don't think I want to spend more than the rifle costs. At least not much more.

Thanks,

Driftwood Johnson
 
Cdb1, I have had both of those scopes, as well as the diamond back 4-12ao. They have all been sold or traded away while I still have the Mueller. The build quality does not seem to be quite as good, and the turrets are mushier, but optically it has proven to be superior and has been good enough to for 223 recoil.

It wasn't just me either. I had 3 sets of eyes look through all 3, and the Mueller was rated best, then 2 people liked the sightron and 1 the vortex. The Burris came along later, after the sightron was gone but it came up short to the diamondback up to about 10x, then the diamondback got dark and lost resolution compared to Burris.

Personlly, for calibers under 243, I'd buy them in this order: Mueller, sightron, vortex and Burris. Over 243 I'd buy Burris, buckmasters ii, sightron s1, vortex, Mueller. And if you can find a grand slam on sale at natches, if is superior to all of the above.

But when it comes to scopes, everybody has a favorite, and different eyes like!e different brands. Ymmv.

Our eyes are different. I see better through Burris scopes than I do Mueller.
 
I’d be more inclined to look at a specific model within a brand rather that lumping all models of a given brand together. Guys get all wrapped around the axle about “Leupold is better than Vortex”, etc.

IMO, this is foolish and short sighted. I can tell you that virtually all the time, the higher end of a common manufacturer is superior to another’s lower end, and vice versa. Also, what was true 10 years ago may not hold today because of changes and improvements in a product line.

I’d set a general price point and get recommendations that fit those parameters. Otherwise, it’s kinda like saying “I need a vehicle. Which is best?” Someone that needs to haul five kids and groceries is different from a guy that is a farmer and needs a truck.

Dedicated target shooters use up to 36x, even at 100 yards. Highly doubt if that would fit your needs, but it could fit your price point and clarity requirements
 
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Howdy Again

Thanks for all the input.

. . .

Midway's price for this rifle is $377.99. I have not tried pricing it through my local dealer yet.

. . .

Thanks,

Driftwood Johnson

Quite literally, I purchased one last week, it was less than that:
CZ 455 American 22LR 20.6 Inch Blued Barrel Wood Stock 5 Round
806703021102 1 $349.99 USD
That was from Impact Guns in Utah.
 
Unless you're pretty certain that you will want to interchange barrels, I would buy a 452 instead of a 455. The 455 is a good rifle too, but the 452 is more akin to your no-lock Smith & Wesson revolvers vs. the newer ones with a lock -- just more old school and directly connected back to the original BRNO models that the CZs developed from. And if you read up a lot on RFC, you'll find that the 452 is probably slightly more likely to be super accurate. Again, not that a 455 isn't a good gun.

For scopes, based upon the shooting you describe I would highly recommend a 6-24 variable (if not something that goes even higher), such as the Sightron SII, Weaver V-24, or better. I have these two scopes on CZ 452 Americans (and some other guns) and they work very well on the Americans. I have a Sightron Big Sky 36 x 42 that I use on an American sometimes, but frankly, I find the 36X to be less FUN than the 24x. 36X is a bit better for knocking a tenth of an inch off your groups shooting your BEST possible at 100 yards, but the view through the scope, the "fussiness" with the higher power and all... I just find the 24x range to be more fun most of the time. And if you want to, you can dial it down of course. My favorite V-24 reticle for target shooting is the Varminter, but that's personal preference.

Here's the scale of the Sightron on a 452 American (the top gun in the photo - and also the same scope on the 550 on the bottom). The Weaver V-24 is a little bit shorter.
lhTzq0c.jpg
 

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I have a Mueller APV on my 452 American and like it. I have had better scopes on .22s, but the APV has been fine for my purposes, and I like the adjustable objective.

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Turbo, that rifle 2nd from the top (a 527?) is gorgeous. Is that factory wood? If so you won the wood lottery.
 
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I appreciate all the suggestions and am checking them out.

Apparently the CZ 452 is no longer available except in a very expensive, limited edition version, or a left handed model.

I want brand new, don't want to go on a 'hunting expedition' so I think I will stay with the 455.

Yeah, I'm the guy who likes vintage Smith and Wessons, but I think in this case I will order something easily available.
 
Turbo, that rifle 2nd from the top (a 527?) is gorgeous. Is that factory wood? If so you won the wood lottery.
It's a 527 Classic (aka American), what CZ called a factory custom. They sent a total of 120 of them to the US in 2010 through 2012 or 2013 (mine is a 2010 model). This group of guns had nice wood with a special finish (a finish unlike any of the regular CZs, in person it reminds me of finishes I've seen on some custom guns from Europe), and mahogany grip and forend caps. I've seen photos of one other 527 and about 5 different 550s that were built the same way. They were all quite different and each very nice in its own way. The wood figure, that is. I think the metal on mine is probably standard finish, but it seems to be polished ever so slightly more prior to bluing than my 2010 FS, so they may have paid a little more attention to them - not sure. Here's a picture of it in natural light outdoors.

uBOwKLC.jpg
 
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Apparently the CZ 452 is no longer available except in a very expensive, limited edition version, or a left handed model.

I want brand new, don't want to go on a 'hunting expedition' so I think I will stay with the 455.

Yeah, I'm the guy who likes vintage Smith and Wessons, but I think in this case I will order something easily available.
The Right Hand Americans are still fairly easy to find new. Even though CZ "discontinued" them in 2012 or so they've made several batches of them since - typically a couple batches each year it would appear. There was a big batch available over the past few months, mostly dried up now, but you can still fine a NIB one.
Like this one: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/785383023
Or this one, but it's a bit pricey now that the supply has dried up a bit: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/784013418
One from a very good seller I've purchased from before, wouldn't be surprised if he has multiples: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/783972797

They pop up pretty often, even "unfired" in the box, then a big batch is liable to show up and Whittaker and possibly others will be selling them for under $400 for a few weeks.
 
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Howdy Again

I went to the range last weekend with my Ruger 10/22 and my spotting scope to do a little bit of comparison. With the spotting scope dialed to 20X I could see 22 caliber bullet holes easily at 50 yards. I could see them at 100 yards with the scope dialed to 40X. But it was pretty plain to me that even off a rest I would never be able to hold a 40X scope steady enough to shoot consistently at 100 yards, whether I could see the bullet holes or not.

So I have scaled back my expectations a bit. Seeing bullet holes at 100 yards no longer seems to be as necessary as I thought before. At 100 yards I was still able to kick around soup cans with the 9X setting on my Ruger. So something with a max magnification of around 15X or 20X will probably be fine.
 
I can see 22 holes at 14x, and usually at 12x. Cannot at 9x. and I have poor vision. you could also get some of those high viz targets....
 
I am not the OP; but I made a decision. I went with Leupold 4x rimfire. I ended up picking up a used on because I wanted the gloss finish, not the current matte. I feel pretty safe with a used Leupold because of their warranty.

All that being said, it is pretty clear that we want different things from the scope. I am more concerned with "moment of aluminum can" accuracy than target. I can't even imagine trying to use 15x-20x while standing. That is one of the good things about shooting sports, we can be in a similar game, shooting, but play in a manner that makes it distinctly different.

I am certainly interested in what you get and how it works out for you.
 
I picked up two Nikon Prostaff II Rimfire 4-12x for a Savage and a Ruger I am trying to get setup. It ran out of elevation while trying to bore sight it on the Savage but no issues with the Ruger. I am planning on shooting them Monday if I can swing it.
 
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