Thinking about getting a .22, either 10/22 or a CZ 452

[Legionnaire]

You need both. If you're only buying one, and want the best accuracy with no modifications, buy the CZ. The Ruger is a tinkerer's dream, though, and everybody ought to have one to play with. With some aftermarket parts (including a good barrel), they can be very accurate. But you'll likely end up spending as much or more as you did for the CZ.

 

[9mmepiphany]

you'll notice that folks who own both, generally favor the CZ. you also notice that folks who prefer the 10/22 almost always talk about it being modified.

if you can only get one now, go for the CZ and enjoy the out of the box accuracy

 

[husker]

i no nothing about the cz but i do no the rem597,10-22,mar60, and my vote goes to the new and much improved rem 597. it shoots the tightest groups of the 3. then the 60 and last and least 10-22

 

[Barker45]

CZ ALL THE WAY!!!! The only problem with them is that they are HIGHLY addictive. My other suggestion is the Marlin 60 (used for around $100 or less). Forget the ruger. I used to have 2 of them but then I saw the light!

cz marlin cz marlin cz marlin!!!!

 

[glassman]

I was in the same boat as you a while back. I wanted a good quality .22 rifle and did a lot of reading and asked a lot of questions. My choices came down to the CZ vs Weatherby. It was a tough choice given that the Weatherby was twice the price but I went with it and am glad I did. The Weatherby is beautifuly crafted, has the Anshutz action and is unbelievably accurate. It is not a gun I would take to knock around in the woods, however. I don't know what your budget restraints are but the Weatherby is worth a look.

 

[Daizee]

Get the CZ 452 Lux.
It has the best factory iron sights on a currently shipping .22 that I've ever seen.

The European shaped stock takes about 10 minutes to get used to visually. When you realize it mounts like a fine shotgun with the sight radius of a sniper rifle you'll be in love.

It's a better gun than the 10/22, IMHO.
If it's your first, get a bolt. Then go semi-auto.

-Daizee

 

[f4t9r]

This one is not even close. Get the CZ !!!!!

 

[BlueSmoke]

The 10/22 is fun to plink with, but they aren't normally terribly accurate unless modified, as stated. I've got a "magic" one that I would like to mod just for the fun of it, but I can't bring myself to do it - (a) I've had the thing for 35yrs and (b) out of the box it (still) shoots 1" groups at 100yds. It was years before someone told me it wasn't supposed to be able to do that. They're relatively inexpensive so I may get another just to tear apart and see if I can make it as good as my ole plinker.

I don't personally know the CZ, but given the reputation, I'd probably choose it over the 10/22. Also, I think, a bolt is a better first rifle to learn with. I learned on one as a kid and it probably made me slow down and think a bit more than the auto would have.

 

[Marcus84]

Wow thanks for all the replies. It will be a while until I get one but I'll let you know what I get.

 

[elmerfudd]

I've owned two 10/22's and one CZ and IMO there's no contest. CZ's are very accurate right out of the box. I get 1/2" 5 shot groups at 50 yards with American Eagle ammo and with Wolf I can keep it close to 1 MOA at 100 yards. My 10/22's shot about 3" patterns at 50 yards and I found they were only reliable with the factory mags.

Now a friend of mine has a couple of heavily modified 10/22's and those do seem to be accurate, (I never have shot them off a bench though), but they also seem to jam fairly frequently.

 

[ATW525]

Well, if you still got time before making a purchase I'd suggest taking a look at the Remington Model Five. I was looking for a bolt gun similiar in size to my 10/22 CRR and picked up the Model Five Youth, and couldn't be happier. The only complaint I had with it was the gritty creep in the trigger out of the box, but a couple turns of a screwdriver fixed that right up and it now breaks crisply with no pre-travel at all.

The same day I brought home the Remington, I also brought home a CZ 452 Scout for the wife. The trigger required no adjustment out of the box, but I'd be hard pressed to declare either the CZ or the Remington as the better rifle. They're both extremely well made, and if I could only one .22 rifle I would be equally happy with either choice.

When factoring in the ~$30 cost for a magazine for the CZ 452 Scout (the Scout doesn't come with one) it will end up costing me just shy of $100 more than the Model Five. Locally, there's a similiar price gap between the fullsize Model Five with laminated stock and the CZ 452 American.

 

[david636]

In order to solve this dilemma, buy both. Give each one a good test, keep one and send me the other.

I have one of each and enjoy both of them. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses. One is not necessarily better than the other, they are just different.

 

[PurdueRifleman2008]

I never measured the group size to be sure, but with the factory setup, my CZ-452 does about 1 1/2 inches @ 100yds maybe a hair under. I have no experience with a 10/22 but I have several friends who take lots of squirrels with them if that is your intended use.

 

[Schleprok62]

Buy the CZ... you'll be very happy with it...

As far as a semi-auto goes. I would rethink the choice and go look at some of the other offerings from the other major manufacturers. To me, having to modify a brand new rifle by replacing just about everything but the screw that holds the receiver to the stock doesn't say much for the original offering.

Why is the aftermarket so big for the 10/22?? The answer is simple, there was a NEED to make all those aftermarket pieces because the original isn't good enough...

Marlin, Remington, Browning, TC, and Savage all have very accurate out-of-the-box offerings... some are more than the others, but all will outperform the out-of-the-box ruger at all price points...

 

[CZguy]

To me, having to modify a brand new rifle by replacing just about everything but the screw that holds the receiver to the stock doesn't say much for the original offering.

The take down screw is one of the first things I replace.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=163242

Buy a Marlin 60, or a CZ.

 

[hometheaterman]

I've never shot a CZ but I love my 10/22. It's more accurate than I can shoot it and is stock. Plus you can customize them basically however you want.

 

[ilbob]

A lot depends on how you intend to use it.

A 10/22 out of the box is not especially accurate. But a few hundred bucks and you have a tack driver. There are a bazillion accessory pieces for it. And it is a lot of fun to shoot. I like mine. Left it in factory configuration.

I have a Henry lever 22 as well. Also mucho fun to shoot.

If you prefer a bolt gun, the CZ is a pretty good choice, and the price is not in the stratosphere. I don't have one to compare to other 22s.

I always suggest seeing if you can find someone who has one who will let you put some quality range time in with any gun prior to buying.

 

[ArmedBear]

(a) I've had the thing for 35yrs and (b) out of the box it (still) shoots 1" groups at 100yds.

I wouldn't touch it. I'd keep it in a humidity-controlled safe, with padding all around it in case it slips off the racks. I'd be VERY careful when cleaning it, and I wouldn't take it to the range in anything less than an airline-approved hard case.

You could spend $500 on modifications, and it probably would shoot a tad worse when you were done. Seriously.

A 10/22 out of the box is not especially accurate. But a few hundred bucks and you have a tack driver.

And when you've spent your $500-600, you might just think, "Wow, for this money I could have bought a really nice rifle..."

That's what I did. I bought a 10/22 once. I shot it a few times. I tried to get the !@#$ magazines to work well, put a scope on it to see what accuracy it was really good for. Then I sold the POS and put the money towards a really nice .22 rifle. If you're going to spend $500 on a .22 fun rifle, IMO consider doing yourself a favor and get something like a Marlin 39 lever gun with the cash. More fun than the semiauto, reliable and accurate, too.

Between the two guns in the OP, there's no choice in my mind: get the CZ.

Now Ruger's .22 pistols, on the other hand, are wonderful guns right out of the box. After getting one on sale and shooting it, I bought another, which is my scoped match gun with minimal modifications, and both are utterly reliable. And whenever I see one in the store, I have the urge to buy it, too. All those barrel lengths, two grip styles, collect them all! Fortunately, I can control myself, so I can still afford to eat and pay the mortgage.

 

[9mmepiphany]

[QUOTEI've never shot a CZ but I love my 10/22] [/QUOTE]

i understand your pride of ownership and this isn't directed specifically at you, but...

how can folks recommend one rifle over another when they haven't had experience with both?

this practice is even worst when folks ask "which is the best 1911?"

 

[ilbob]

I am not a big fan of 22 bolt guns. Just don't trip my trigger.

I never had any trouble getting the 10/22 magazines to work, except for some 50 round aftermarket ones that I never got to work very well.

I agree for those who are looking for out of the box accuracy, a 10/22 is not the way to go. There is something about 10/22s that make them a love it or hate it affair. Not really sure why.

I also agree that the tube fed guns are a lot of fun to shoot, and many of them are amazingly accurate for the $50 you can sometimes get them for.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I am not a big fan of 22 bolt guns.

I'm just the opposite. I have several .22s, but my favorites are my M82 Kimber and my M1922 MKII Springfield.

 

[ilbob]

how can folks recommend one rifle over another when they haven't had experience with both?

Thats a fair question, but how can someone recommend a CZ over a 10/22 without knowing just what the shooter intends to do with it? If out of the box accuracy is the only thing that matters, the CZ seems like the ticket.

If other things come into play, it may not be such a one sided decision.

I just don't enjoy shooting bolt 22s very much.

Its like observing that a Jaguar is faster than a Jeep so only a Jaguar is a good choice. A Jeep makes a whole lot more sense if someone wants to play in the mud for the fun of it.

 

[easyrider604]

Similar experience as previous posters.

Had an 90s vintage 10/22, reliable and less than acceptable accuracy, to me at least. Sold that one.

Have 2 CZ452s, Style and Varmint, both possessed with great accuracy (1.5 inch 100 yd groups with Walmart bulk winchester) with me (lower than average skill at this point in my life) shooting, fine fit and finish.

My suggestion is to make friends with 10/22 and CZ452 shooters at the range. Bring your own ammo though. Ask for a test drive. In fact, just start a conversation with them and before you know it, you are shooting their guns.
Shooters are friendly folks just like motorcycle riders, r/c model aircraft flyers, boaters...you get the drift.

 

[aka108]

Between a CZ anything and a Ruger anything the CZ is more accurate and better quality. I had a 10/22 and sold it. The CZ 453 will be sticking around long term.

 

[hometheaterman]

I've never shot a CZ but I love my 10/22]

i understand your pride of ownership and this isn't directed specifically at you, but...

how can folks recommend one rifle over another when they haven't had experience with both?

this practice is even worst when folks ask "which is the best 1911?"

That's why I said I haven't shot a CZ. I can't say the 10/22 is better or worse I just was throwing the fact out there that I do really like my 10/22. Not trying to say in any way that it's better or worse than a CZ as I really don't know just that I like mine.