CZ 452 Range Report

[BryanP]

This past week I lucked into a smoking deal on a pair of used CZ 452's. One is a Lux in .22wmr and the other is a CZ 452 Standard in .22lr. I had never heard of the Standard before, but apparently it's a Lux with a beech stock instead of walnut. Except that CZ's site also says the Standard has no checkering and this one does. Go figure.

Despite fighting a nasty head cold, I couldn't resist playing with my new toys. I picked up a box of .22WMR since I didn't have any, grabbed a mix of .22lr and headed to the range to try them out.

I quickly discovered that I don't shoot .22wmr any better than I do .22lr. Since it's a moderately expensive round and I'm not a hunter, I suspect I'll end up selling the Lux. Although I am tempted to swap the stocks before I do. Eh. The walnut is nice but the beech is actually quite pretty.

After hearing all the stories about 452's on this board I wasn't surprised to find that for iron sight shooting this is the most accurate rifle I have played with. Granted, for me that's not saying much. I'm the original "minute of pie plate" shooter and I never can find enough range time to get much better.

In order the pictures are the Lux I'll probably be selling, the Standard I will most certainly be keeping, and a 5-shot target fired at 50 yards with cheap Remington .22lr ammo. Again, the shooter is definitely the limiting factor. For me this is excellent accuracy from irons.

 

[SiggEd]

Nice 452s. I love my 452 "Special". The "Special" ,as marked on my box, is the checkered version of the Standard or Trainer. It looks just like yours. I was out enjoying mine today.

 

[BryanP]

Ah. Well that probably explains it. Mine must be a "Special." Good to know. I didn't see anything like that listed on CZ's web site so I'm guessing.

 

[YodaVader]

I had the same pair myself - the Special or Trainer and a Lux 22 mag with a really nice walnut stock. I ended up selling the Lux just like you are talking of doing. Like you mentioned the accuracy with the open sights on the Special was better than anything else I have owned.

Just last weekend I picked a 452 American in 22lr. I have a Weaver V16 on it. Actaully came off the Special. I am thinking of going back to the open sights on the Special for a while.

 

[SiggEd]

I just went back to open sights as well. I put an Eric Brooks ghost ring sight blade on it. I like it alot.

 

[SiggEd]

I just went back to open sights as well. I put an Eric Brooks ghost ring sight blade on it. I like it alot.

 

[BryanP]

Hmm. That ghost ring sight blade is interesting. I may have to try that some day.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

My boss bought a 453 varmint yesterday to match my 452 varmint. Both of us were on the 100 and I have to say we were both impressed with the cz's. After about 1200 rnds I am about ready to crack mine open and do a brook's trigger job and then see how she does.

What ammo does your like? I have now eliminated Federal classic and game shot. Particularly game shot. It tends to have two groups over 50 shots at 100 yrds for some reason.

 

[dm1333]

CZ 452s dominate the rimfire benchrest class that I shoot in. I wish I had bought one instead of my T/C R55 just because of the aftermarket support they have. The latest edition of Gun World has a neat article on the sport of Biathlon (could it get any better than Nordic skiing and shooting?) and one of the competitors stated that the CZ is a pretty popular beginners rifle. Can't think of a better recommendation than that!

 

[elmerfudd]

Mine really likes American Eagle. It doesn't do nearly as well with Winchester Super X. I can get consistent 1/2" groups with the American Eagle at 50 yards though. I haven't tried too many other cartridges yet, since I've still got about 2 bricks of AE left and it shoots so well. It's a 452 Varmint with the stock trigger. I'd like to replace the trigger with a Timney though.

 

[jad0110]

BryanP,

I am jealous, those are some beautiful CZs you have there. I've always wanted to get one with factory irons, as I hear they are among the better factory sights around. I was about to add one to my collection, but decided on an AK variant for now as I may not be able to buy one depending on how the elections go.

I was leaning towards the Lux myself, but I had never heard of the standard. I don't even think it is mentioned on CZ's webpage. Interesting. How much less was it than the Lux (if you don't mind me asking)?

 

[BryanP]

jad0110,

I have no idea what the price differential is. They were used and I got them as a pair for $250 total. Shocked the heck out of me. I had never heard of the standard either until the guy selling mentioned the name. I did a little googling and found it listed here:

http://www.ceskazbrojovka.com/index.php?p=32&idp=2&ids=8&idz=22&lang=en

I see no mention if it all on CZ USA's site. The closest thing I could find is the CZ 513 Basic (linked below) and mine is definitely not a 513.

http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=46

 

[Matt-J2]

As well, new, the Lux in .22mag is more than the Lux in .22lr, by around $50 usually. So it will have a larger price gap between it and the special/trainer.


Here, at the Scheels, the Lux in .22mag was $399, I put a trainer on layaway for $300. Lux in .22lr should be at $350. You can also check out http://www.whittakerguns.com/ for pricing. They're listed cheaper than I can get them here, but after shipping, transfer, etc it evens out or works out a hair cheaper just to hit up Scheels.

 

[mcnownaw]

I have a 452 with the beech stock and the good (tangent) sights. If I recall, it was the ZKM model? Has checkering on the pistol grip, and a beech stock. I have to admit i think I purchased it for the sights. I find it a lot of fun to move the tangent sight from 25 to 50 to 75 meters as I shoot different targets. For me, it makes up for all the milsurp centerfire rifles with nice tangent sights that start at 100 and go to 1000 that I dont get to adjust at all on the 100 yrd range I shoot at.

SiggEd, what size Eric Brooks sight did you get? I am very interested in getting one, but I cannot decide what size to get. I would probably squirrel hunt as well as target shoot with it, so I dont think I would want the smallest size. . . . .