Finally made up my mind on a rimfire rifle

T

TonyAngel

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Joined
Feb 12, 2010
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4,146
I recently got bitten by the rimfire bug again. I originally had my heart set on a Bergara B14R. I've had the opportunity to get behind one on a handful of occasions and really liked it, but then a Ruger Precision wave swept across the range where I shoot and that caught my interest. The Ruger looked like a good deal at about half the price of the Bergara.

Still, I thought the Bergara shot better. After some thought and getting over the initial excitement over the Bergara, it dawned on me that there were things that I didn't like about the Bergara, for my purposes.

So, I continued to ponder. Well, last weekend, I got to shoot a CZ 457 Varmint and an RPR in the same day, back to back. Man, that CZ was sweet. It shot very well with CCI SV at 50. I immediately got online and ordered one. I'm really hoping to have it by this weekend.

I've been doing quite a bit of looking around for replacement barrels. I'd like to have one in a lighter "walking around" profile. Anyone know of a good source?

I really hope the one I get shoots as well as the one I shot.
 
TonyAngel, be careful that you keep that CZ under strict watch. For a lot of people, they tend to multiply and next thing you know you have several rifles and handguns, and even some of the excellent BRNO guns that were the precursors to the CZs. ;)

I've been doing quite a bit of looking around for replacement barrels. I'd like to have one in a lighter "walking around" profile. Anyone know of a good source?
Click to expand...
You might also consider a completely different gun for the non-bench shooting. Changing barrels isn't actually something a lot of people will do once they get a gun dialed in and shooting really well with a given barrel.

I have all styles of CZs from the early big BRNO varmint guns to the modern Scout. I like all of them, but my favorite "walking around" CZ is the 452 Trainer, Lux, or FS. The Trainer/Lux style is also available in the 457.

452 Trainer (which is same as the Lux, but with Beech instead of Walnut); with the 24.6" barrel it's pretty quiet, especially with Standard Velocity ammo, which I find to be a very desirable feature for walking-around gun:
Q5C22fq.jpg

452 Scout (if you want the smallest, lightest walking around gun, but with the same CZ build quality and accuracy potential as the full-size guns):
vQJMv9b.jpg
 
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Ive had a 457 and have an RPR....the 457s plain nicer. The .17barrel was equally as accurate as the RPRs
My factory.22 barrel wasnt as accurate as id like so it got swapped out for a Lothar Walther.

I havent shot a b14 yet, but since i traded my 457 to my ffl buddy i may grab a steel barrel BMR to replace it. My Rangers a field rifle, the heavies are more fun off the bench.

Let us know how you like the Varmint!
 
TonyAngel said:
So, I continued to ponder. Well, last weekend, I got to shoot a CZ 457 Varmint and an RPR in the same day, back to back. Man, that CZ was sweet. It shot very well with CCI SV at 50. I immediately got online and ordered one. I'm really hoping to have it by this weekend.

I've been doing quite a bit of looking around for replacement barrels. I'd like to have one in a lighter "walking around" profile. Anyone know of a good source?

I really hope the one I get shoots as well as the one I shot.
Click to expand...

Congrats on the incoming CZ457 Varmint!

There is a member over at Rimfire Central that got a what I believe is a CZ457 Varmint with the 20.5" bull barrel. He took it to a gunsmith and simply had the barrel cut back to 16.x" to make it a handier walking rifle for him. It lost some muzzle weight and changed the balance, for sure.

I wish I could find that old thread. He shortened the forend of the stock a bit as well.

Edit: Found.

https://www.rimfirecentral.com/thre...tock-modifications-conclusion-thread.1263674/

https://www.rimfirecentral.com/threads/weight-difference-between-cz-457-20”-and-16”-bull-barrels.1262669/

https://www.rimfirecentral.com/threads/why-is-my-new-barrel-so-loud.1264059/
 
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I will definitely post some pics and groups. All I have to throw on it right now is a 2-10x gen 2 pst. Still on the fence between the arken ep5 and epl4 so no decent glass till I sort that out in my head. We'll see how it does with the 10X.

It's kind of funny, I haven't even gotten the rifle yet and I'm already tearing it apart in my head. I guess I need to see how it shoots first. If it meets expectation, I'll have to consider getting a scout model in the future. If it doesn't shoot as well as I hope, I'll be shopping for another barrel and I'll have the stock one to cut down and have it turned to a taper.

Yeah, I'm kind of excited. More excited than I've been about a rifle in a while.
 
MarshallDodge said:
I really like the CZs, and have a couple, but the Bergara feels so much more like the real thing.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know what you mean, but then that's kind of what I didn't like about it. I don't mind my .22 feeling like a .22. The long throw, the size of the magazines, etc. I'm not looking for a trainer, but if I was, I would have gone for the Bergara.

I'm familiar with Yo Dave upgrade. I already ordered one to hold me over while I ponder a Timney.

This actually isn't my first tryst with a CZ. I had a 452 a while back, but I abandoned it in favor of a 40X.

I went and took a lot around and apparently getting a pull off barrel isn't hard, so I'm not too worried about that at this point. I've really gotta quit putting the cart before the horse. Lol.
 
TonyAngel said:
I will definitely post some pics and groups. All I have to throw on it right now is a 2-10x gen 2 pst. Still on the fence between the arken ep5 and epl4 so no decent glass till I sort that out in my head. We'll see how it does with the 10X.

It's kind of funny, I haven't even gotten the rifle yet and I'm already tearing it apart in my head. I guess I need to see how it shoots first. If it meets expectation, I'll have to consider getting a scout model in the future. If it doesn't shoot as well as I hope, I'll be shopping for another barrel and I'll have the stock one to cut down and have it turned to a taper.

Yeah, I'm kind of excited. More excited than I've been about a rifle in a while.
Click to expand...
I narrowed my search down to a RPR and CZ457 some months back and got alot of damn good feedback on the CZ and watched alot of videos on them, I got my finances a lil twisted at the present time but as soon as things start balancing back out I plan to order a 457. If a RPR appears in front of me between now and then I can't say I won't buy it, but I really want the 457, gonna have to find it online since no shops around me carry any and the one that used to said they haven't been "allotted" any in years. (Strange, not sure about that aspect of retail) but it sounded like CZ doesn't send them much of anything because they don't sell enough of em).:confused:

Been wanting a nice scoped bolt action .22lr for a while now. Can't wait, good luck on yours and I hope you enjoy it. My 10/22 will make do for now...... :thumbup:
 
You made a good choice.The CZ's I've been around are well made and they're very accurate.I have a B14 Trainer and a Ruger Precision rmfire and I'm pleased with both guns.The Bergara is a great rifle for benchrest shooting,and it's like handling a centerfire.I have an HMR in 6.5 Creedmoor and the two rifles feel alike except the 22 barrel is 4 inches shorter.As for the Ruger,I like it for long range and shooting off a bipod it is very nice.The adjustable butt stock works great with a bipod and no bag or just a round bag to support the rear.I put a Timney 2 stage trigger in mine because the factory trigger isn't very good to me.
 
TonyAngel said:
I recently got bitten by the rimfire bug again. I originally had my heart set on a Bergara B14R. I've had the opportunity to get behind one on a handful of occasions and really liked it, but then a Ruger Precision wave swept across the range where I shoot and that caught my interest. The Ruger looked like a good deal at about half the price of the Bergara.

Still, I thought the Bergara shot better. After some thought and getting over the initial excitement over the Bergara, it dawned on me that there were things that I didn't like about the Bergara, for my purposes.

So, I continued to ponder. Well, last weekend, I got to shoot a CZ 457 Varmint and an RPR in the same day, back to back. Man, that CZ was sweet. It shot very well with CCI SV at 50. I immediately got online and ordered one. I'm really hoping to have it by this weekend.

I've been doing quite a bit of looking around for replacement barrels. I'd like to have one in a lighter "walking around" profile. Anyone know of a good source?

I really hope the one I get shoots as well as the one I shot.
Click to expand...
I have a CZ 457 ProVarmint. It's sweet with my SilencerCo Sparrow suppressor.
Here's a pic of it.
20230308_180458.jpg
 
I did get my rifle in and took it out yesterday. I first setup the trigger and then went to check out the whole "easy swap" barrel thing. I pulled the barrel set screws and went to remove the barrel and ... it won't come out. I mean, I'm sure I could get it out with maybe the help of a torch or a vice or something, but there's a real friction fit going on. I actually like the fit.

As I hoped, this particular "standard" stock does have pillars, so I'm gonna hold off on bedding it for a bit.

The weather was horrible. Heavy rain and wind gusts, but I was determined to shoot my new toy. Unfortunately, it shot just very ok with CCI SV. On the other hand, it loved Federal Auto Match.

I have some SK and Eley coming in, so I hope we have some good weather next weekend. I'll report back with pics of groups and hopefully a scored ARA card.

Oh, I wanted to ask .... the first shot on a cool barrel flies way out. Is this normal for a stock barrel? This kind of took me by surprise. I'm thinking there might be a high spot in the bore. I'm hoping I'm not gonna have to replace this barrel.
 
TonyAngel said:
I did get my rifle in and took it out yesterday. I first setup the trigger and then went to check out the whole "easy swap" barrel thing. I pulled the barrel set screws and went to remove the barrel and ... it won't come out. I mean, I'm sure I could get it out with maybe the help of a torch or a vice or something, but there's a real friction fit going on. I actually like the fit.

As I hoped, this particular "standard" stock does have pillars, so I'm gonna hold off on bedding it for a bit.

The weather was horrible. Heavy rain and wind gusts, but I was determined to shoot my new toy. Unfortunately, it shot just very ok with CCI SV. On the other hand, it loved Federal Auto Match.

I have some SK and Eley coming in, so I hope we have some good weather next weekend. I'll report back with pics of groups and hopefully a scored ARA card.

Oh, I wanted to ask .... the first shot on a cool barrel flies way out. Is this normal for a stock barrel? This kind of took me by surprise. I'm thinking there might be a high spot in the bore. I'm hoping I'm not gonna have to replace this barrel.
Click to expand...
Mine took a few hundred rounds to settle in, I also dont think my barrel was quite as good as normaly comes from CZ. My barrel also fell right of the reciever with the set screws released lol....both did actually, but the .17 shot sub 1/2moa the .22 was closer to 2-3moa.
 
New CZ457 .22 mag.
Old WW Super X HP ammo.

Cleaned and took to the range.
Took a few shots to settle in (about a dozen).
My last 4 shots were in the Shoot N C bull at 50 yards.
Target is their 8" version, the red center not that big.

May shoot for a group again this coming weekend, since hunting w it is done (til after deer season, for fox n yotes).

Read about some barrel to receiver slop causing first shot fliers. If mine shows that, proly try some epoxy.
 
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