New Toy, CZ-453

[rcairflr]

I've been looking for about six months for a bolt action .22lr rimfire rifle. I looked at Weatherby, Browning, Ruger and CZ and changed my mind about 50 times.

Well, I finally decided on the CZ-453 and at first glance am very happy with the decision.

Of course the first thing I had to do was tear it apart and adjust the regular trigger and the Set Trigger. The regular trigger is breaking at 2 lb 4ounce and the Set trigger is breaking at 1 lb 8 ounce.

The scope going on it will be the Weaver Classic V 4-16 42mm w/AO. Should be an excellent combination.

Now I have to get a set of rings for it and get out this weekend and shoot it.

[Zane71464]

That's just flat out a purty rifle!
Awesome scope and with the trigger adjustment, it should be
a tac-driver!
Congrat's on your new rifle!!!

[Zane71464]

May I ask about what they run new?
The CZ has been bounceing around in my mind as of late.

[rcairflr]

I paid $480 for the CZ-453, I could have got the CZ-452 for $400 and the CZ-455 would have been $395. This was at the local gun shop, not a big box store.

BTW, thanks for the compliment. I agree, it is a very purty rifle.

[Zane71464]

Thanks rcairflr, will have to have a look at them.

[todd51]

Yes sir, what Zane said, that is a nice one sure enough.

[bamajoey]

Very nice. I have 3 Americans and a Lux in the 452 version, but i've not tried the 453 with the advanced trigger. From what I hear they are sweet. I recently got a 455 Varmint but had to send it back to have it recrowned.
You won't be disappointed with the accuracy.
.

[rcairflr]

I'll be going up to one of the local gun shops and possibly Gander mountain to get a set of rings and try and get the scope mounted tonite, I am very excited to put some lead down range with it.

I did a bunch of cleaning on it last night, there is stil preservatives coming out of the barrel, I'll have to do more cleaning before shootingit.

My next step will probably be to get it glass bedded and the barrel free floating.

[Zane71464]

NICE!
What capacity mags comes with the CZ's?

[Bindernut]

That is one purty bolt action! Bet it shoots as sweet as it looks too.
A range report is mandatory for all new acquisitions ya know.

[bamajoey]

Originally Posted by rcairflr

I'll be going up to one of the local gun shops and possibly Gander mountain to get a set of rings and try and get the scope mounted tonite, I am very excited to put some lead down range with it.

I did a bunch of cleaning on it last night, there is stil preservatives coming out of the barrel, I'll have to do more cleaning before shootingit.

My next step will probably be to get it glass bedded and the barrel free floating.

Some are filled with preservatives, and some are not. I only had a hard time cleaning one of mine(probably 40 patches).

They are supposed to be floated from the factory but many are not, just a simple matter of sanding the barrel channel out. I have pillered and bedded two of mine, and it really helped.
Good luck with it, and start picking out your next one. They are like potato chips, can't have just one.

[3/2 STA SS]

You can not go wrong with a CZ. Great rifle

[rcairflr]

Originally Posted by Zane71464

NICE!
What capacity mags comes with the CZ's?

They only come with a 5 round mag.

[rcairflr]

First thing this morning I ran up to Gander Mountain and found a set of Millet rings for my CZ. Installed them and the Weaver scope and did a quick sight in. I just put a target on the wall in the basement and look through the barrel and align the scope to it. Not the best way, but it works pretty well.

First picture is a 5 shot group from 50 yards with Winchester Wildcat.

The second picture is a 5 shot group at 50 yards with CCI Mini Mags.

The third picture is 100 yards with CCI Mini Mags, 10 shots (not the best shooting, but my eyes were getting very fatigued and I never said I was the best shot in the world).

This is the most accurate .22 rifle I've ever owned.

[rcairflr]

Here's another group. This is an 8 shot group with Winchester Super Speed RN. The first 6 shots are basically one raged hole and then I through the last 2 out. This is also at 50 yards.

[bamajoey]

Try some subsonic ammo and see if your groups tighten up. Wolf MT, Wolf ME, SK Std +, or maybe Win Sub sonic HP.

[Zane71464]

That's some good shooting and good groups!
Looks like the mini mags done good. With the way the CZ handles the mini
mags, you might want to get you a 50rd box of CCI Blazers and see if they
get you tighter groups.

[rcairflr]

Thanks for the comments guys. The Set Trigger on this rifle is just amazing. The one thing I'm not thrilled about is the little, metal 5 round clip. It would be nice to have at least a 10 round like the Browning polymer rotary clip that comes with the T-Bolt.

After shooting the CZ today, I am definitley happy with my decision to buy it. I'll continue playing with different ammo to see what it likes best.

[American Leader]

Thanks for info and pics rc,I'm sure you will eventually tighten them up at 50 & 100. Very nice rifle, I like it!

[Zane71464]

Originally Posted by rcairflr

Thanks for the comments guys. The Set Trigger on this rifle is just amazing. The one thing I'm not thrilled about is the little, metal 5 round clip. It would be nice to have at least a 10 round like the Browning polymer rotary clip that comes with the T-Bolt.

After shooting the CZ today, I am definitley happy with my decision to buy it. I'll continue playing with different ammo to see what it likes best.

One would think with a rifle as fine as that, that they would shell
out a few extra bucks to make it "complete"!

[doubs43]

Originally Posted by rcairflr

They only come with a 5 round mag.

Most of them do but there is an exception; the Ultra Lux currently being sold comes with a 10 round mag. Personally, I prefer the 5 round mag.

[CJ_56]

Hey that looks ALMOST as good as my CZ 453. The difference? I call one mine so that makes it look better to me!

They really are fine rifles and super shooters. My best 5 shot, 50 yard group has been .108". It shoots very consistently too. Shooting under a quarter of an inch is almost a given if I do my part. And it doesn't need the best ammo to shoot well either. It does very well with CCI SV. It does better with Wolf MT but as long as it shoots .108" at 50 yards with CCI I'll be happy to use CCI SV.

They're very beautiful rifles too. Congrats. I think you'll love it even more after you've owned it a while. I sure love mine.

[rcairflr]

Originally Posted by CJ_56

Hey that looks ALMOST as good as my CZ 453. The difference? I call one mine so that makes it look better to me!

They really are fine rifles and super shooters. My best 5 shot, 50 yard group has been .108". It shoots very consistently too. Shooting under a quarter of an inch is almost a given if I do my part. And it doesn't need the best ammo to shoot well either. It does very well with CCI SV. It does better with Wolf MT but as long as it shoots .108" at 50 yards with CCI I'll be happy to use CCI SV.

They're very beautiful rifles too. Congrats. I think you'll love it even more after you've owned it a while. I sure love mine.

Yes it is a very fine rifle. I am just thrilled to have a great shooting .22. Up until now my .223s were my favorite shooting rifles, that may change now that the CZ-453 is in my arsenal.

I will be spending a lot of time this spring and summer finding what ammo it likes best. Next time, I'll probably try some Wolf MT. Personally for me, if I can shoot groups smaller than a penny (as in some of my pictures above), I am very satisfied, but all of us paper shooters always want smaller and smaller groups, its just part of the hobby.

[CJ_56]

You shouldn't have any trouble getting smaller than a penny. I'd say you could go under a half penny but they were actually about the size of a quarter. Yes they did make a half penny at one time. My brother had one for a long time. Heck he might still have it.

Here's a group I shot with my 453. Not bad for an old hillbilly. It's easy when you have the right equipment. I shot this with CCI SV ammo. BTW I can scan this target and post it without the measurements if you're interested. I still have the target. This target is the best I've shot with the CZ but I've shot a lot of others that were close to this. They really do shoot very well.

[time2shoot]

You cant go wrong with a CZ. i have the new 455 american combo. in 22lr and 17 hmr. (interchangable barrels) weather hasnt ben compliying yet. so want to shoot it.