Side by side, Ruger 77/22, American, CZ 455 and Savage 22B

[jmorris]

I was going to attempt a more comprehensive test but I didn’t get the hay put up until late and the rain came early. I gathered the 4 out and did a little testing at 50 yards before I had to put up.



Using CCI blazer I shot 3 fowlers the proceeded with 3, 5 shot groups, round robin style vs shooting all 3 groups with one rifle before moving on to the next.

The 77/22 shot a best group of .665, with an average of 1.018.
The CZ 455 went as small as .447, with an average of .677.
The Ruger American had a best of .735, with an average of .779
The Savage B22 had a best of .340, with a .412 average.

I also shot 2 more 5 shot groups (again 3 fowlers first) using Winchester dynapoint and CCI mini mags before I ran out of day, I have another list of stuff to do today but will try and get back to it and finish those averages.

I purposely left out ammunition that I know the CZ likes because it shoots really good with that ammunition and is not as impressive with lots of others. It will be interesting to learn if the Blazer is the winner for the Savage or if it’s as good with others. Didn’t have to worry much about the 77/22 as it as never impressed me but is one of the best feeling out of the group.

The American and B22 are both pretty new but there is quite a bit of disruption lifting and closing the bolt. The 77/22 and CZ don’t disrupt the rifle the same, putting a fresh round in the chamber and 5 round mags stink when you are wanting to shoot a 5 shot group after 3 fowlers but the straight 5 round mags are the easiest to load.

Everything except the 77/22 are pretty good for factory set .22 triggers but will admit to not being a very big fan of the accutrigger but the safety “blade” in the center of the savage was at least smooth. The “Marksman” trigger on the American drags on something being pulled back into the trigger, that the savage doesn’t have but I don’t think it would be a difficult fix and doesn’t really effect how it shoots, just how it feels.

I’ll post other results as I get them.

 

[Milt1]

What scopes are you using?

 

[jmorris]

A mix of stuff all set on the same power. The Savage had the cheapest (Tasco 3-9) but it still tracks right after being on my 45-70 scope testing rifle.

The rest removes a lot of me from the testing, with a great rifle and ammunition it likes, they will stack in the same hole.

Like the last 3 in this video.


A video from that perspective would probably show the bolt lift/close disruption I was referring to above though. A rifle that moves around putting the next round in, really slows things down.

 

[Spats McGee]

Looking forward to the other results. A few years ago, I discovered how much fun making itty-bitty groups can be.

 

[Hookeye]

I heard good things about CZ.
My sample of one, a 455 Sporter............was not anything great.
Blazer indeed shot the best of the cheap stuff.

Would go sub .5" for five shots at 50 yards w SK Rifle Match.

 

[Frulk]

Following this thread.

 

[Walkalong]

Looking forward to the other results. A few years ago, I discovered how much fun making itty-bitty groups can be.

It sure is, as well as shooting tiny objects at distance.

 

[PapaG]

My CZ455 Varmint is tied right now with my Shaw barrelled 10-22 (Jard trigger group, etc.)
Run some Eley Club through them and surprise yourself.
My best 5shot group recently was 3/8 at 50 with a TC 22 Carbine Contender, 4X TC scope and CCI hollow point mimimags. Beat out theCZ, Win 52, 10-22 and Savage/Anschutz 141 Sporter.

 

[sparkyv]

...and it's fairly easy and inexpensive to make the CZ factory trigger simply exquisite yet still bump safe. A spring from a pen, a YoDave shim and a little gumption is all that's needed.

Everything except the 77/22 are pretty good for factory set .22 triggers but will admit to not being a very big fan of the accutrigger but the safety “blade” in the center of the savage was at least smooth.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Or use a shim that you make yourself out of brass tubing.

 

[12Bravo20]

As much as I like Savage rimfire rifles I am actually surprised that the B22 did better than the CZ 455 Sporter.

I have to ask, does the B22 have the thin sporter barrel or the heavier varmint barrel?

 

[I6turbo]

...I am actually surprised that the B22 did better than the CZ 455 Sporter.

Note that he deliberately didn't use ammo that the CZ liked. I have/have had a bunch of CZ 452, 527, and 550 rifles, and both the 452s and 527s can be quite picky about ammo.

With the CZ rimfires, individual guns tend to like certain ammo that might not necessarily do well in other guns (including other guns of the same model in a couple of cases). They don't necessarily require expensive ammo to shoot well, but they shoot clearly better with some ammo in a given price range than others. It's not uncommon for groups to be less than half the size with "favorite" ammo vs other ammo of the same retail price, and sometimes as much as a third or a quarter of the size.

The 527s in .223 are also pretty picky, but the three 550s all shoot extremely well with everything I've fed them -- about 8 different rounds from frangible, to hunting loads, to target loads (target loads are the best, but even the hunting rounds I've tried are sub-MOA at 100 yards).

 

[12Bravo20]

Note that he deliberately didn't use ammo that the CZ liked. I have/have had a bunch of CZ 452, 527, and 550 rifles, and both the 452s and 527s can be quite picky about ammo.

With the rimfires, individual guns tend to like certain ammo that might not necessarily do well in other guns (including other guns of the same model in a couple of cases). They don't necessarily require expensive ammo to shoot well, but they shoot clearly better with some ammo in a given price range than others. It's not uncommon for groups to be less than half the size with "favorite" ammo vs other ammo of the same retail price, and sometimes as much as a third or a quarter of the size.

The 527s in .223 are also pretty picky, but the three 550s all shoot extremely well with everything I've fed them -- about 8 different rounds from frangible, to hunting loads, to target loads (target loads are the best, but even the hunting rounds I've tried are sub-MOA at 100 yards).

I agree that ammo makes a difference especially with rimfire rifles. My Savage MkII BTVLSS does not like CCI Standard but shoots CCI Mini Mags quite well out to 100 yards.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Who knows what may happen testing 100 different types of ammo but the Savage MK II BV I had was the most accurate 22 I have ever seen with CCI standard velocity. It made average groups similar to the B22 in the OP.

I have always thought CZs were a bit hyped after shooting that lowly Savage.

 

[12Bravo20]

Who knows what may happen testing 100 different types of ammo but the Savage MK II BV I had was the most accurate 22 I have ever seen with CCI standard velocity. It made average groups similar to the B22 in the OP.

I have always thought CZs were a bit hyped after shooting that lowly Savage.

A prime example of how two of the same rifles will like a different ammo.

 

[jmorris]

As much as I like Savage rimfire rifles I am actually surprised that the B22 did better than the CZ 455 Sporter.

I have to ask, does the B22 have the thin sporter barrel or the heavier varmint barrel?

Me too but it’s a little early for me to draw a conclusion. The 22B is the bottom rifle the American on top.



I was making an attempt to not skew the results with cherry picked ammunition for one gun or another but could have found what the savage likes completely by chance with the first type of ammunition I tested them with.

 

[12Bravo20]

I don't have any photos of targets with CCI Standard but here is a photo of a 5 shot group at 50 yards shooting CCI Mini Mags out of my Savage MkII BTV.

I always recommend getting the Varmint barrel when buying a Savage for target/competition type shooting.

 

[I6turbo]

I have always thought CZs were a bit hyped after shooting that lowly Savage.

The appeal of the BRNO and CZ guns for me (and I think a lot of people) goes beyond the accuracy that most people get from most CZ guns. If a CZ or any other gun isn't accurate, I lose interest pretty quickly. But even if it is accurate, it takes more than just that to become one of my favorites to operate and shoot -- other characteristics come into the equation. I like the way BRNOs and CZs feel in hand, I like the way they feel when cycling the bolt, I like the quality of the magazines, I like the triggers (some only after I've lightened the pull), I like the ergonomics, and I like the walnut and blued steel on the models that I have. I feel the same about the Winchester 52 and a few other guns that were built more to a quality point than a price point. I think it's kind of the same as with vehicles; I could have two different vehicles that would both haul me to the same destination, but one of them might make the trip a lot more enjoyable.

 

[I6turbo]

I always recommend getting the Varmint barrel when buying a Savage for target/competition type shooting.

This has been my experience with other brands as well. The heavy barrel version won't always out-shoot individual lighter versions, but odds are they will, and perhaps most importantly the extra weight and the overall design of the Varmint style guns give them an advantage in most target style shooting setups (from a bench or rest).

 

[12Bravo20]

The heavier varmint type barrels do help with overall balance of the rifle.

 

[kmw1954]

Me too but it’s a little early for me to draw a conclusion. The 22B is the bottom rifle the American on top.

View attachment 1154329.

Sorry for being the enabler for these new rifles maybe because of my "other" 22LR thread.
As I posted there, that activity is now on hold. Still looking at obtaining a Savage B22 FV.

 

[jmorris]

No problem, I’d certainly recommend one over the American I have but again, 1 of each is a minuscule sample size. Slightly more information to go on than a guess.