CZ 455 or Savage Mark ll? Help!?

[GreatCanada22]

I've wanted to buy myself a nice .22 LR rifle for a while now, and I've (sort of) narrowed it down between the CZ 455 series (Not sure between the Varmit or American series) and the Savage Mark ll line (between the BRJ or BTV models)
Reviews I have read say that the CZ has a nice solid, well built feel to it, and it is also made out of real wood. The Savage Mark ll's look very good as well, I just can't decide! The Savage's are made out of laminated wood, and I don't have any experience with that- do they have the same feel as real wood (Walnut, in the CZ) Does anybody have experience with these guns? I need some re-assurance that I am getting the best gun. They are all in the high 400 dollar range. Which is the better buy?

Ps, if you have another 22lr rifle that you absolutely would reccomend, please tell, I'll check them out!

Thanks, Josh

 

[Tim the student]

I have a CZ 455 American. Its a good gun, very precise. It has a very nice solid feel to it. I put a Yodave trigger kit in it to lighten up the trigger and take just a bit of creep out. The trigger was ok before, but I wanted it a bit lighter. The action was a bit rough initially, but smoothed out very nicely in less than a hundred rounds. It is very smooth now. I do not regret my purchase one bit.

All that said, I am a big fan of Savage rifles. They are shooters, thats for sure. I do hate their plastic stocks though.

If you are in the States (not sure with your user name), Buds has the American for $370. I got mine from Whittakers for less than that earlier this year, with shipping factored in. I'd buy from them again in a heartbeat.

 

[viking499]

I am a fan of the CZ's, but the Savage might suit you also. Handle both if you can and see what you like. The CZ will also give you the ability to change barrels down the road if you ever think you might want something like a HMR or 22Mag.

 

[ultratec1]

I just recently aquired a CZ452 in .17hmr. I will say this.... I will have a 452 in .22!!!! That gun is a tack driver and smooth as glass.

 

[benzy2]

I have two CZ 452's and one Savage MkII. I enjoy shooting all of them. I really like the iron sights on the 452 trainer model and quite honestly have neglected both the Varmint 452 and the MkII of late because of those irons.

I hesitate to spend for the fancy versions of the MkII. To me, that rifle is a budget buy and at it's best in the cheapest form. If I were to buy one again today, I'd buy the cheapest heavy barrel model, toss it in a $100 aftermarket stock, and be done under $300. Many of the Savage stocks can be had through Boyd's. Most run under $100 new and finished. I have troubles paying $400 for a $200 rifle in a $100 stock.

I don't think you will gain much if any accuracy going with the CZ. What you do gain is build quality. Comparing the three rifles I have together, the CZ feels like it's a small centerfire receiver chambered for a .22lr while the Savage feels like a rimfire receiver. Some of the wood CZ puts out is nice and I think it looks better than a laminate. From a functional point the Savage laminate will probably work better through temperature and humidity changes than the beech or walnut of the CZ.

To me, I like the CZ better. To me, and this is only my opinion, the CZ feels like a rifle I would be glad to hand down to children or grandchildren. It feels like it will shoot just as well in 100 years as it does today. The Savage feels like a tool, something that is meant to be used hard and put away wet, something to be used for a purpose and nothing more or less. If I was on a tight budget I'd grab a Savage and never feel bad. If the price difference didn't matter I'd buy the CZ. It's why I have two CZ's and only one Savage and why I really haven't had any desire to sell any of the three.

 

[GreatCanada22]

Thank you for the responses! You stated you have the 452 models; do you have any experience with the 455 model? Thanks for the informative answers!

 

[benzy2]

Handled a few but that's all. I'm not thrilled with the changes made. Not that they are bad, just that they don't benefit me and the old design worked so well. Seems the 455 is close to being the equal quality wise as the older 452. Not sure it's better but not sure it's worse either. It certainly has advantages for some people.

 

[viking499]

As with benzy, I hav only handled. I also only have 452's. I think many were waiting to see what would happen when the first came out. I think there was a few "teething" problems early on, but those seem to be resolved. All seems to be good with the 455. You are seeing more and more comments online. And more and more good comments.

Check this out for more info......
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=18

 

[Bushpilot]

If you want a higher quality rifle go with the CZ. IMHO the CZ 452 was a better rifle but the CZ 455 isn't bad. Briefly, the differences are; screwed on vs clamped on barrel, single vs double locking lugs and the magazines are different. They are very similar otherwise, many people wouldn't even notice much of a difference between the two unless it was taken apart and pointed out. As far as the Savage is concerned, I've heard they shoot well. However, if you look at the two side by side it is obvious that the Savage is a more cheaply made rifle tucked into a fancy stock and has that "it's built like an inexpensive .22" look about it.

 

[sixgunner455]

I have a Savage MKII FV, my friend has two CZ 452, a youth model and a full-sized one. Both CZ are very nice, and I would happily own either. I love my Savage, though. It is rewarding to shoot, and while I don't really like the stock out of the box, I added some length to it with a recoil pad, added a cheekpiece, and put a pound of weight into the stock when I added the recoil pad. It is quite tolerable now, until and unless I decide to upgrade. I am planning to stiffen the fore end with some carbon arrow shaft pieces and some epoxy or acraglass or something.

That still won't give the fore end the full, wide feel that works so well for me, but it will also not add much to the money spent on the rifle. I knew the stock would be a project when I got it. It has too much drop, and it's not long enough, and the fore end is too flexible. The laminated stocks feel very, very nice. I just didn't feel like I could justify spending the extra money for one when I was shopping for this rifle.

I like the CZ and the Savage much more than my old 10/22. Much more rewarding to shoot, for me.

 

[Magwa45]

I have been thinking about a CZ rimfire and they look like nice guns, very attractively built. But I do have a Savage MkII. It is a heavy barreled 22 lr with a laminated stock, which I bought pre-Accutrigger. I installed a Rifle Basix trigger and put a cheapo Bushnell scope on it and the thing will shoot quartersized three shot groups at 50 yds. It is absolutely reliable, a solid shooter. You won't regret buying a Savage.

 

[ALAN THOMAS]

I also have the Savage MII with heavy barrel, cheap stock, cheap scope, .5 inch groups 50 yards, cheap ammo, occasional flyer. Accutrigger still adjusted as came from factory. CZ is a great looking gun and I considered it but have grown to love the Savage. I have owned eight Savages from utterly cheap to antique (actually Stevens Favorite) to good mid range and have never been able to find fault with any of them. Best bang for the buck in all of shooting.
Alan

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Get the 455. Later down the road you can swap on a LIlja barrel for a real tackdriver.

I have a 455 & 452. I shoot them about 3 days a week.

 

[Rustle in the bushes]

I was making the same choice as you and went for the CZ. I am super happy that I did.

Action will need to be worked in front of the tv before it smooths out.

Stock is infinitely better than the savage. CZ offers the FS Mannlicher style too which I got- so fine.

the trigger kit costs 10$ and is super easy to do making this gun even better. its my current favorite

 

[redneck2]

I got the CZ 453 (?) Varminter, heavy barrel. Has the single set trigger. It's gotta be one of the best triggers ever. Set it's probably 10 oz maybe. Haven't checked it. Very easily adjustable

Topped it with a 4.5x14x40 VX-3. Super sweet.

My S-I-L has a Savage target model with Accu-trigger. It's really nice, but the trigger still isn't as nice as mine.