Which bolt action .22 LR rifle would you recommend for accuracy from a bench or in the field?

Which bolt action .22 LR rifle would you recommend for accuracy from a bench or in the field?

  • CZ 457 Varmint

    Votes: 29 40.3%

  • CZ 457 American

    Votes: 11 15.3%

  • Tikka T1X MTR

    Votes: 12 16.7%

  • Savage B series Timberlite

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Ruger Precision Rimfire

    Votes: 4 5.6%

  • Ruger American Target

    Votes: 2 2.8%

  • Springfield 2020 Target

    Votes: 1 1.4%

  • OTHER (explain in post)

    Votes: 14 19.4%

  • Savage Mk 2

    Votes: 13 18.1%

  • CZ 457 Lux

    Votes: 2 2.8%
  • Total voters
    72
CraigC said:
With the long range game, accuracy and match ammo are everything. CZ's are very good but the diehard fans are aggravating. My 457 American doesn't do anything other rifles don't, except wear a nice walnut stock.

1714138983326.jpeg
Click to expand...
I agree that the CZ 457 American is a darn good looking rifle. I also like the looks of the “Lux” but I haven’t figured out what warrant the extra $100 for the Lux models. Is it because of the hog back stock?

EDIT: I just answered my own question. It’s the stock and the iron sights.
I like the Lux concept.
 
Last edited:
I added the CZ 457 “Lux” to the poll.


This is the last change. I promise.
It’s hard to answer an ever changing poll.
 
Pat Riot said:
it seems that the CZ 457 is definitely a favorite.
This gun will mostly be shot from a bench but I do plan to use it squirrel and rabbit hunting.

What .22 LR rifle would you recommend or which gun do you have that you really appreciate because it’s accurate?
Click to expand...

I'm a CZ fan and have 3 452s. If/when I buy another rimfire rifle, it'll most likely be a 457. If it's heavily weighted towards bench with some squirrel and rabbit, I'd consider the 457 Varmint, otherwise I'd go with @CraigC 's CZ457 American. Either way, get a good front rest and rear bag as well. Beyond that, I'd also be sure I test different ammo to find its preferred. Very generally, in rimfire ammo, you get what you pay for, so don't expect great and consistent results with bulk-packed stuff. Stick with standard velocity, and the stuff I'd recommend looking at would start at roughly $10/box of 50. You can also tweak some other things for good results. Below is something cut and pasted from a thread on RimfireCentral which you might find helpful:

From:
www.rimfirecentral.com

First time out. Acceptable?

www.rimfirecentral.com www.rimfirecentral.com

"One of the endearing (or aggravating) things about rimfire is each rifle seems unique, and could use some tweaks and time learning its character. Even then, while you might shoot the occasional one-holer, keep expectations in check: From what I've seen, and IMO, a good tweaked factory sporter can get you into the 0.4-ish" 5-shot 50 yard group. As far as a scope, as mentioned, one can be plenty accurate with a 4x scope with the right target. You might want to upgrade, but I'd look into some of the lower-hanging fruit before you do...

Some free or inexpensive DIY things to mess with:
make sure the barrel's free floated
find it's preferred ammo (stick with standard velocity)
tune the trigger if needed
make sure all the screws are tight and properly torqued
optimize action screw torque settings
make sure your setup on the bench is stable
use an appropriate target
clean the chamber of a carbon ring
Bed the action (this one isn't likely as inexpensive and/or DIY as the others, but could make quite a difference)

some nitty gritty which may or may not help:
adjust headspace if necessary
re-shape the firing pin nose
install a stronger firing pin spring
 
Pat Riot said:
It’s the stock and the iron sights.
I like the Lux concept.
Click to expand...

Pat Riot said:
I am looking for a .22 rifle that I can shoot in these FUN competitions and for fun...I want to put my new Viridian 6-24x50 scope on it
Click to expand...

JMO, it's a cool rifle, but for your purposes, I'd skip the Lux. Even with the Varmint or American, it might take some tweaking to get that scope low enough (and/or your cheek high enough) to get comfortably and consistently positioned behind it. With the Lux, you'd likely have to remove the rear sight (which kinda defeats the purpose of the Lux, doesn't it?), or mount the scope even higher, compounding the height issue. On top of that, the Lux butt is dropped to effectively raise the iron sights, but it would also raise the scope further yet.
 
I’ve only owned or shot one rifle on the list: Ruger American Rimfire Target. I like it a lot, and am also about to mount that Viridian Serac scope the OP mentioned on it. With that said, the two .22 rifles that just seem to keep catching my eye are the Savage FVSR and CZs suppressor-ready varmint model. (Not sure if the model #). I think I could have a WHOLE LOTTA fun with either of those.
 
Several years ago I bought a ruger 77/22 for a field use gun. It came with a cheap Bushnell 4X straight tube scope on it. To my surprise I found it will shoot 10 shot 50 yard groups that measure 5/8" and do it over and over. And thats with cheap Federal 550ct bulk pack ammo. Its the most accurate 22 rifle I have ever shot.

If I were buying a rifle for what the OP wants to do I would start with the Ruger American and a good scope.
 
I truly appreciate all the information I am getting here. Since I really don’t know a lot about accurate Rimfires this is all good info.
I have shot military grade rifles, shot tactical handgun matches, Bullseye matches, Cowboy Action Shooting, hunting, general target shooting and plinking. This is my first foray into rimfire accuracy, besides some plinking rifles and some revolvers.

I just received my Viridian Serac 6-24x50 scope from FedEx.
HOLY COW what a surprise! That thing is a big scope. 😆
Makes my 3-9x33 Leupold Compact look tiny.
Well, now I have my scope.
IMG_6003.jpeg
I took it outside and had a look around with it. Really clear and crisp, visually at 6x. I dialed it up to max and was looking at nail heads on a fence 120 yards away. And I really like that reticle.
I will buy rings once a buy a gun. I am planning to go with Warne rings.
 
If you see an old Marlin bolt action for a cheap price don't turn your nose up at it. Some of those old model 25 magazine fed rifles would really shoot. I have seen some amazing groups posted over at the rimfirecentral forum shooting Marlin rifles. If have seen 1" groups from the Marlin model 60 semi autos at 100 yards.

I have a 981T tube fed bolt action but I have never really bench rest tested it. Just sighted in the 4X scope and went hunting.
 
I bought one of the early Savage MK II rifles that came with the then new accu-trigger. It has the long receiver with the recoil lug. After trying one Boyd stock that I didn't care for the way it felt and even after 2 modification still didn't I built my own stock from scratch. Epoxy bedding, throwing away the trigger's center blade, and adjusting pull weight along with finding the correct torque for the action screws gave me a rifle that will shoot groups at 50 yards in the low .3 " size using Wolf Match Target ammo. My scope is a Muellar 8.5 X 25 Tactial and I have grown to really appreciate it's Christmas tree reticle that saves a lot of knob twisting when playing around.

Then I decided to try one of the newer and redesigned MK II's. I never got it to shoot a real group. It either shot 2 groups or had a flier. It's gone along with any desire to ever own another MK II. The redesign was not to make a better rifle but one less expensive to produce. If I was interested in another 22 rifle I would look closely at the CZ line. I always intended to buy a 452 but never got it done. I intended to vote for the CZ Varmint but my hands are shakier than usual today and I managed to click on the American instead. My second choice was the Ruger precision but it isn't quite the equal of my old MK II. To give it's due though I have never used quite the quality of ammo in it as I have the MK II. It wears a Bushnell 6 x 24 Tactical Elete and with it's 30 mm tube allows me to start shooting a few minutes earlier than with the Muellar Every minute counts here in summertime.
 
Last edited:
Pat Riot said:
I truly appreciate all the information I am getting here. Since I really don’t know a lot about accurate Rimfires this is all good info.
I have shot military grade rifles, shot tactical handgun matches, Bullseye matches, Cowboy Action Shooting, hunting, general target shooting and plinking. This is my first foray into rimfire accuracy, besides some plinking rifles and some revolvers.

I just received my Viridian Serac 6-24x50 scope from FedEx.
HOLY COW what a surprise! That thing is a big scope. 😆
Makes my 3-9x33 Leupold Compact look tiny.
Well, now I have my scope.
View attachment 1206596
I took it outside and had a look around with it. Really clear and crisp, visually at 6x. I dialed it up to max and was looking at nail heads on a fence 120 yards away. And I really like that reticle.
I will buy rings once a buy a gun. I am planning to go with Warne rings.
Click to expand...
If you get a cz I have a new set of 30mm talley rings we could work a deal on.
 
I do understand where you’re coming from on this, but technically I bought a $400+ scope for a hundred bucks and if it functions the way Viridian claims it will function they say it is comparable to an $800 scope. 😁

We’ll see…
 
Pat Riot said:
I do understand where you’re coming from on this, but technically I bought a $400+ scope for a hundred bucks and if it functions the way Viridian claims it will function they say it is comparable to an $800 scope. 😁

We’ll see…
Click to expand...
And in the other thread, someone just posted that they’re even cheaper now!
 
I have stuck with Savage MkII rifles with their heavy Varmint profile barrels since they all shoot well for me and I don't compete. Yes the CZ and other more expensive rifles are more refined/finished and are generally more suited for completion use.

Go with what fits your budget and your needs. If you go with a Savage, stick with the heavier Varmint barrel models.
 
Last edited:
You left out crickett 🤣
Pat Riot said:
The title pretty much sums things up. You can choose 2.

Explanation:
In January I joined a Gun Club and the first question I was asked by two members was “Do you or have you ever shot .22 rifles in competition?”
My answer was “No.”
They told me a little about their weekend competitions and it sounded like fun, but I really didn’t think any more about it until 2 weeks ago when I met a guy at the range that was shooting targets 200 and 300 yards out with his .22 rifle. :oops:
One thing led to another and he let me try his gun out.
The rifle is a CZ 457 Varmint AT-ONE. He had a big scope on it. It was a variable and I think it was a 6-24 power. I shot a steel plate at 100 yards 3 times and all three rounds made a cute little shamrock on the plate.
I am hooked! 😆

I am looking for a .22 rifle that I can shoot in these FUN competitions and for fun. “Fun” is the key word here. I want a factory gun, not a “build”. I want to put my new Viridian 6-24x50 scope on it (Thanks @LiveLife ) and shoot it the next day. I have had my fill of building / modifying guns for various competitions. I am done with all that.
I am looking to spend a maximum of $700 for the gun itself. (Remember the word “Fun”?
I don’t “have” to spend $700. I would definitely prefer to spend less if there’s a gun that costs less and is an accurate model.
I am not buying the gun right away. Probably in a few weeks.

I really liked that CZ that I shot, but I am not locked into having a CZ, but everything I read about the various accurate .22lr guns it seems that the CZ 457 is definitely a favorite.
This gun will mostly be shot from a bench but I do plan to use it squirrel and rabbit hunting.

What .22 LR rifle would you recommend or which gun do you have that you really appreciate because it’s accurate?
Click to expand...
You forgot a Crickett 🤣
 
Pat Riot said:
I do understand where you’re coming from on this, but technically I bought a $400+ scope for a hundred bucks and if it functions the way Viridian claims it will function they say it is comparable to an $800 scope. 😁

We’ll see…
Click to expand...
One can compare anything to anything. If it performs like a $400+ scope it's a steal. Performing like an $800 scope is wishful thinking.
 
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