CZ 455 or other Rimfire in 17HMR.

[d2wing]

I do have a 17HMR and am looking at one mostly for target shooting at 100 yards. I am looking for accuracy and a quality rifle. I have not been able to find any in 452, I can get a CZ 455 American. Is there another model CZ I should look for? Any opinions between 453 and 455. I am also willing to consider another brand in the 500 dollar range. I do not want to restock a Savage or have to rebuild a gun.

 

[viking499]

I have seen more 452's in HMR than anything else lately. I would get a 452 over a 455 if possible.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

i never shot the 452 but i own a 455 and love it. i have mine set up to shoot at a 100 yards but i have a under power scope on it. a 4x7 Leupold but i just shoot
at a 3" spinner.i dont think you can go wrong with a CZ

 

[Gtscotty]

I haven't shot a 453, but I do love my 455, it's just an all around high quality rifle with superb accuracy. It might not matter to you, but I like being able to switch barrels on mine. Also, if you ever feel the need to upgrade your 455, there are cheap trigger kits and less cheap drop in barrels from Lilja.

 

[CB900F]

d2wing;

CZ has ceased new production of most of the 452's & switched to the 455's. Most of the 452 .17HMR's we see these days are 452 left hand American's. Left hand guns remain in production as 452's at this time. Therefore, if this is to be strictly a bench target gun, you may be interested in getting an LH 452 American in .17. Many bench guys prefer the bolt to be on the opposite side from a hunting gun. It allows them to keep grip and cheek weld while operating the bolt with the off hand, and they feel that improves accuracy. I'm not going to argue with them either.

The single advantage of the 453 is the single-set trigger. For a pure target gun, it's not a big deal because most, if not all, target guns have the trigger worked on to produce what the owner wants anyway. The YoDave kit is inexpensive and allows the owner to produce a trigger that can certainly be of match quality.

I'll also suggest going over to rimfire central dot com's CZ forum and posting there. That is the world standard in CZ information, and a very nice batch of folks.

900F

 

[d2wing]

Thanks for the responses. If I don't find a 452 soon, I will most likely get a 455. I am also considering a RAR and trying to be open minded. Which 455 does anyone recommend? American, Varmit or other? Yes I will check on Rimfire as well.

 

[Gtscotty]

My 455 American is light, handy and shoots like a house afire. I think that thicker barrels are probably more useful on larger cartridges that produce higher barrel heat. Really it just depends on what you want to do with it, if it's never going to see the woods, it probably doesn't matter, if you think you might carry it some, the American is a great combination of light weight and shoot-a-bility. Also, I'd recommend trying the 20 gr xtp/game point offerings from Hornady and Winchester, my rifle seems to have a strong preference for them.

 

[Furncliff]

I shoot mostly from a bench now and even though I have a 452 American in 17 HMR I wouldn't use it for target shooting. I thought I would, but the ammo is expensive and the variety of .22LR ammo is way better. I have a few CZ's and Brno rifles in .22LR . The Brno's are more accurate at any range than my .17HMR.. The CZ I shoot is the Ultra Lux model, the stock is not built very well for the bench but it's so accurate that it goes with me every time I go shooting.


CZ452 Ultra Lux Brno Target Sights.About $415 new.http://tooeleshootingsupply.com/shop/cz-usa-452-ultra-lux-22lr-bolt-action-rifle-28-6-barrel-tangent-sights-beechwood-stock-10-round-magazine-cz-00080/

This is a great rifle to use with peep sights because of the long barrel, if you prefer a scope an American or Varmint might be better.

Target stocks like this are available for CZ and Brno rifles (imported from Europe, very nice).

 

[CB900F]

d2wing;

One question I forgot to ask; is it going to be scoped or not? If you are going to put glass on the gun, then I'm going to suggest an American in either 452 or 455.I'll pick the American over the Varmint because the American has two action mount screws & the Varmint has one. Which is not to say that there aren't some very fine shooting Varmints out there, but my opinion is that you improve your odds with an American.

If you want to shoot with open sights then get a 452 Ultra Lux and don't waste any time doing so.

900F

 

[d2wing]

Thanks Furncliff, I agree and already have that rifle as well as an American. I won a relay at a Turkey shoot with my other CZ yesterday. A 22lr American. With some ammo the Lux is better. Either is a great shooter.
CB900, because my eyesight is not getting better I am using a scope on everything. I plan on scoping it . I appreciate knowing the difference. I am pretty much decided then on the American. Like my other CZ's I will consider it an heirloom gun.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I have seen more 452's in HMR than anything else lately. I would get a 452 over a 455 if possible.

Why do you like the 452 better than the 455?

 

[viking499]

Vern,

The 455's are nice guns, but I think the the 452's are a little better. Out of the box, you very seldom hear of a 452 not shooting good. Seems like a lot of the 455's require "tweaking" out of the box to get them to shoot close to the same level as the 452's. I have had 2 different 455's that would not shoot near to my worst shooting 452. I still have all my 452's, but no 455's.

The 455's can shoot better than the 452's, but it takes a $300+ Lilja barrel to get there.

The 455's are a product of current day simplified manufacturing. That usually results in a decent product, but not normally as good as the original.

One action fits all. I have no use for the caliber swap idea, but will probably own a CZ/Lilja set up some day.

I know some will say I am crazy for what I just said and won't agree with me, but those are my opinions based on the results I have experienced from owning CZ's over the years.

 

[Savage99]

I got a CZ455 because I wanted a 17 HMR for hunting. It has been very very accurate right from the start. It far eclipses the 22 LR.

The 455 action is a strong looking one and it works well. The rifle came with a 22 LR bbl. however I did not try it as I have 22's.

 

[d2wing]

I am a little concerned that a 455 will not shoot as well as my 452's that are fabulously accurate.

 

[Savage99]

Well the 455 is a switch bbl. rifle that has no threads on the bbl. It's just held with a set screw however mine is a hunting rifle that shoots.

 

[Gtscotty]

I don't think I'd be worried about the 455 not shooting, I've never heard of anyone having accuracy problems with them. Also, I have all three barrels for mine, and all 3 shoot very well... that seems like a promising sign regarding the accuracy potential of the platform to me.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have rifles in both 455 and 452. I don't find either to be more accurate or better built than the other. I would guess I have shot 50 or so different 452/453/455 rifles. I have yet to see a bad CZ rimfire.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Vern,

The 455's are nice guns, but I think the the 452's are a little better. Out of the box, you very seldom hear of a 452 not shooting good. Seems like a lot of the 455's require "tweaking" out of the box to get them to shoot close to the same level as the 452's. I have had 2 different 455's that would not shoot near to my worst shooting 452. I still have all my 452's, but no 455's.

I think I'll see if I can find a 452 then.

 

[Teachu2]

I don't think I'd be worried about the 455 not shooting, I've never heard of anyone having accuracy problems with them. Also, I have all three barrels for mine, and all 3 shoot very well... that seems like a promising sign regarding the accuracy potential of the platform to me.

I have exactly the same experience with my 455, again with all three barrels.

 

[viking499]

Not saying all 455's are bad, they just seem to be more hit or miss in the accuracy department.

 

[CH47gunner]

I bought the CZ452 Varmint .17HMR after my Savage 93R17-BV got so popular w/ friends & family I had to share it out. I don't share the CZ.
I would have preferred the 453 w/ the set trigger but, the 452 will do just fine after a bit of trigger work.
I'd like to see a bit more documentation on the 455 to be really sold on the barrel switching. I'd actually like to pick up an American in .22lr and to be able to switch barrels sounds pretty convenient.

Savage 93R17-BV .17HMR


CZ452 Varmint .17HMR

 

[CB900F]

CH47gunnere;

I'm beginning to think the switch-barrel is more of a sales point than anything else. Much of the feedback I'm getting from other CZ owners is that once you get your 455 dialed in, few want to initiate romantic interludes with it & chance temperamental attitude (read accuracy) adjustments. It's my opinion that most CZ owners just go buy another gun in the caliber or stock they want rather than chance fate.

900F

 

[Teachu2]

CH47gunnere;

I'm beginning to think the switch-barrel is more of a sales point than anything else. Much of the feedback I'm getting from other CZ owners is that once you get your 455 dialed in, few want to initiate romantic interludes with it & chance temperamental attitude (read accuracy) adjustments. It's my opinion that most CZ owners just go buy another gun in the caliber or stock they want rather than chance fate.

900F

Except when ammo availability stinks - like the last little over a year. Every once in a while, I run across a supply of .17 or .22Mag and get a few hundred rounds. Makes switching barrels worth the effort.

 

[Gtscotty]

I'm beginning to think the switch-barrel is more of a sales point than anything else. Much of the feedback I'm getting from other CZ owners is that once you get your 455 dialed in, few want to initiate romantic interludes with it & chance temperamental attitude (read accuracy) adjustments. It's my opinion that most CZ owners just go buy another gun in the caliber or stock they want rather than chance fate.

Nah, I shoot a lot of 17 HMR through mine, but I also use the threaded 22 lr barrel quite a bit with my can. If you can use a torque wrench, you can attach barrels in a very repeatable fashion, and barrel changes are no sweat... you have to re-adjust your scope, but that's not exactly a big deal either. You might be right in some cases, the sort of folks that won't take a wrench to their car might be nervous about an easy barrel swap, but I like to think most of us here are a little more ... hands-on than that. BTW, I always use 30 in-lbs for the barrel retaining bolts, and 25 for the action screws, smooth sailing and no problems.

 

[olafhardtB]

I saw a 452 lux 17HMR at a pawn shop and fell in love. It had a huge 3-9x40 scope mounted in see through mounts. That style stock is intended to locate your eye low for low profile sights. I dearly love, make and shoot with peeps so I ordered a Williams for it. In the mean time I dug out an old Bushnell 3-7 custom 22 scope and put it on the new rifle. They match each other to a T. Now I have a decision to make.