For you Rimfire Fanatics

[lastofthebreed]

Found a CZ 455 at the local pawn shop the other day. What's so unusual about finding a CZ at a pawn shop you ask? It turns out this one had been fitted with a Lilja 22 LR barrel and a Timney trigger. After a bit of haggling, it followed me home.



Well, I took it to the range today. After trying several brands of ammo, I settled on CCI SV as my "go to" load. Here is a pic of a representative 10 shot group using the aforementioned CCI SV. Shot at 50 yds. The aiming dots are the size of a quarter.

 

[Olympus]

That's a good find, provided you didn't over pay. I personally like the Yo Dave trigger kit better as it goes down a lot lighter. You might try some other ammo. You should be able to get 5 rounds inside a dime with easy with that Lilja barrel.

 

[bannockburn]

lastofthebreed

Fantastic pawn shop find! Nice 10 shot group too!

 

[Walkalong]

That's a nice find indeed.

 

[Steve Cover]

Nice find.

Steve

 

[lastofthebreed]

Olympus: Check the group out, it's a ten shot group. The five shot groups could be covered with a dime. $525 out the door, did I get burned?

 

[Olympus]

Olympus: Check the group out, it's a ten shot group. The five shot groups could be covered with a dime. $525 out the door, did I get burned?

The Lilja barrel sells new for $410 alone, so I'd say you did real good on the price.

It's hard to tell from the picture, but if the dots are the size of a quarter, that's basically 1 inch. It looks like your 10-shot group is wider than the orange dot. I can count 8 different holes, which means only 2 rounds went through a same hole. With the right ammo, that barrel should shoot 10 shots in one big ragged hole. I have owned a 455 Varmint in the past and I put a lot of rounds through it, so I know what they are capable of shooting. I think if you experiment with the ammo, you'll get some tighter groups.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

Is it bedded?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I love CZ rimfires and have several. You got good deal considering the Lilja and trigger. I don't think your group is a good as it could be or should be for a aftermarket barrel. With a little shooting and ammo trial and error, it will probably do better.

 

[Olympus]

I would definitely try some different ammunition first. Then check that the barrel is free floating. Then I would check that the action screws aren't too tight. My factory barrel didn't start tightening up until after I'd shot close to 500 rounds through it. Could be someone installed the new barrel and needed cash quick and sold it before breaking in the barrel fully.

If you're looking for a more traditional mount for the scope, almost all CZ rimfire owners are using BKL rings on their rifles. I can recommend the BKL rings also.

 

[farmerboy78]

Try some rws r50 and elec black box. My two rifles like those

 

[tark]

You stole it at that price. Great find.!!!

 

[Llama Bob]

I've got one of those 455s, and truth be told I've got a love/hate relationship with it. There's two problems I've encountered:
1) there's a lot of barrel to action flex due to the mounting system, making it very difficult to work out a functional stock arrangement
2) first shot fliers due to lead buildup in the bore. Cleaning resolves the problem, but only temporarily.

It's possible a Lilja barrel would solve 2), and due to a larger shank diameter maybe even 1). Hasn't been worth the money to find out though when my 10/22 LVT outshoots it. I hope yours works out well.

 

[lastofthebreed]

Went back to the range today. Not particularly happy with the groups. CCI standard seems to be the best so far. Haven't found any Eley locally to try. RWS was so-so. Thanks for the tips on the bedding. I am not a fanatic as far as shooting for groups. I much prefer to be hunting. The 455 will probably see some action in the squirrel woods in the next few days. If I decide I really don't want to take the time to do what's necessary to get it shooting bug holes, I can always put it up for sale and recover my investment. In the meantime, I've got a T Bolt that will do very nicely, thank you.

 

[Olympus]

Wolf Match Target always shot the best in my gun, but I did pretty dang amazing with Eley Club (I think it was). Purple box but they discontinued it a while back.

Every gun is different and likes different ammo.

I've found that a good quality scope with some high magnification will make shooting tighter groups easier. I'm running a Weaver T36 (straight 36x) on my Kimber 22 and you'd be surprised at how little movement will affect your shots. You don't see that movement with a lower magnification scope.

 

[redneck2]

I'd second the thing about Wolf Match. Mine shoots .4's or better @ 50 yards. Since you have a different barrel, that may change things.

FWIW...if you haven't cleaned it really well I would. You never know what ammo was used before. Also check the crown really well

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Wolf is decent ammo, but there always seems to be a flyer in every box.

 

[22250Rem]

I would have jumped on that instantly...... That's a nice score. I've had a deposit on a CZ 455 Varmint Thumbhole Fluted in 22LR since last July and recently the LGS told me that model has been discontinued. Then I decided to get a CZ 455 American Combo with barrels in 22LR and 17 hmr, but they say the wait time is real long but can't say for sure how long. Now I'm looking at some other stuff. LGS has a new Browning T Bolt in the rack but I just couldn't warm up to the action; everything else about it was beautiful including the wood. Can't believe how difficult it is to get a quality bolt gun in 22LR. Lots of lower priced stuff around but they're more of what I call "entry level" , or "economy guns". I'm looking for a bit more "upscale" , but not too much so. Got a couple gun shows coming up in this area; gonna cruise by every table at both shows. You never know what might show up.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Buds has both the 455 Thumbhole and combo in stock.

 

[Olympus]

IThen I decided to get a CZ 455 American Combo with barrels in 22LR and 17 hmr, but they say the wait time is real long but can't say for sure how long.

That dealer isn't really looking to make a sale then. I'm a dealer and I can find the 455 American Combo at almost a half dozen different distributors in stock right now.