CZ 452 American Classic or scout?

[Redlg155]

Fellow Shooters,

My daughter asked that I get he a .22 for her 15th birthday. After much consideration I decided on a CZ for her. Hopefully there will be some to choose from at the Pensacola gun show this Saturday.

Now comes the next choice...the scout or American Classic? She will be able to handle both rifles, but the scout would probably be a bit more 'freindly" to her siblings should they want to shoot and for her to shoot offhand. My primary consideration is that she have a nice accurate rifle. Whether or not the scout gives up anything in the accuracy department, I don't know.

I also need to mount a scope. Any suggestions on rings and can I get a standard weaver mount rail or will I be restricted to the .22 type rings?

Good Shooting
Red

 

[YodaVader]

From what I have heard the Scout is quite an accurate rifle as well as all of the CZ 22s. Seems all are capable of a high degree of accuracy. I have a Special and it is amazingly accurate. The CZ rifles are equipped with an 11mm or 3/8" dovetail machined on the receiver top. The American has the 3/8" and the rest have the 11 mm - I believe. A lot of CZ shooters on rimfirecentral.com use BKL rings. I have a set of Milletts on mine. Go there and get on the CZ forums - a lot of helpful members. Here is target - 10 shots at 50 yards using a benchrest of course. Scope used was a Burris 12X and ammo was Lapua Master L.

 

[goon]

I have no pretty target to show you. It is long gone.
What I have for you it some firsthand knowledge.
After I finished zeroing the rifle, I took a shot at a wasp on the backboard of the target. I missed it. I then had a hole in the white paper next to my target.
Being the redneck I am, I decided to shoot at the hole. It was better than the wasp, because it actually held still. I put five rounds into the same hole at 50 yards. I was only capable of this because I was shooting from sandbags, but the gun will do it.
IMO, if you get your kid a CZ you will only have to worry about one thing; your kid may soon be able to outshoot you.

I have a full sized 3x9x40 on my CZ with no problems. A 32mm objective may be better for your daughter because she wouldn't have to stretch to look through it, but there are no problems in mounting one. You will need rings that will clear the rear sight, but Millet makes them and they work just fine.
My CZ is like a laser for squirrels.
If I can see them, I can hit them.

 

[makarov]

The American has a much nicer stock than the Scout. The Scout has adjustable sights, but they aren't as nice as the ones on the Lux or the Special Trainer models. If I were purchasing for a 15 year old I would seriously consider one of the full size guns (not the Scout) - get a Scout too for the younger kids. If you plan on only shooting with optics of some sort get the American. Otherwise the sights on the Lux or the Trainer (same gun with a beechwood stock) are truly excellent. They have a hooded adjustable front sight and a ladder sight in the back. Much nicer than any sights on guns twice the price. It is certainly good training to learn to use open sights too.

 

[Cosmoline]

NEITHER

Get the 452 LUX, not the American. The American is just the Lux with the awesome tangent sights removed for bizarre reasons.

The tangent sights are awesome. They cancel out the rainbow trajectory of the .22, and you'll feel like you're shooting a centerfire rifle. Use them and you will wonder why you ever thought you might need a scope.

 

[YodaVader]

The American is just the Lux with the awesome tangent sights removed for bizarre reasons.

There are a few other notable differences:

Lux

European style stock
Has a longer barrel
Lux has one action bedding screw and one barrel lug bedding screw
Lux does not have deep blue high gloss fininish on receiver/barrel

The Lux is most similar to the Special/Trainer - difference being stock material.

 

[Cosmoline]

Still, go with the lux. Every CZ "American" rifle makes me ashamed of my country. We're such a bunch of idiots! Tearing off iron sights so we can have "clean lines" or some nonsense.

 

[capbuster]

I tend to agree with Cosmoline about the CZ452 lux. The rifle feels right for me and it does an excellent job with the iron sights. When I shoot it, I feel like I am shooting a scaled down Mauser with a most excellent trigger.

 

[Redlg155]

Hmmm..it's looking good for the 452 LUX.

Although she knows how to shoot with open sights, it wouldn't be bad for her to practice with them. Hopefully they have some at the show for a reasonable price.

I talked with her again this evening and I gave her the choice between the ease of fire with a Ruger 10-22 autoloader or the increased accuracy of the CZ. She told me she would take accuracy of the CZ over having an autoloader even though she's never fired a bolt gun before.

If I get a good enough deal, I just might pick up two of them!

Good Shooting
Red

 

[JohnBT]

Ha! I can't see iron sights anymore and as cheap as I am I certainly don't want to pay for something I'm not going to use. My newest CZ is a .22 WMR American. Nice rifle.

John

 

[MolonLabe416]

Either rifle will give her a life time of service. I'd lean toward the full size. Maybe get the scout later as a group gift for Christmas?

Go to www.rimfirecentral.com and scroll down to the CZ area for information about the CZ.

It's a great rifle. Accurate and well made. I shoot mine several times a week.