Intro and rifle review. - The Firearms Forum

Zednut · 09-17-2011, 12:07 PM

First post, so hi everybody.

Got a CZ 455 Thumbhole Varmint about 7 months ago. This is the new model stemming from the older 452's with some changes. It will probably not be available in the US until years end or later. Interchangeable barrels available in .22LR, .22WMR, and .17HMR. Bolt uses 1 lug instead of 2 and receiver was beefed up slightly in several areas such as the back tang ect.

Fit and finish is superb and the barrel interchange is not a pin system but rather a very secure 2 set screw attachment of the barrel stub in the receiver.
Triggers are still a brutish as often seen on new sporters but it is adjustable for weight to some degree and there are some cheap mods to reduce creep and weight some more. Barrel is fully floated with two action screws mounting it to the stock.

Thumb hole stock is most likely a Boyds stock from the looks and to me I find the grip is the right distance to the trigger...but I have big hands with long fingers. Someone with smaller hands may want to handle one first before buying. LOP on the stock is a bit short at 13" but usable off the bench. Off hand, one might want to extend the butt with some pads or something if they are large framed and find a longer LOP is needed.

From the box mine shot very well. A touch over 5/8" with Fed 711b and just under 1/2" with Wolf MT (@ 50 yrds). After a few accurizing upgrades this is a tack driver. Trigger got a YoDave kit and now weighs about 22 oz with maybe .01" creep, it passes the bump test. Action was pillared with 316 SS custom pillars and full bedding with ProBed 2000. Underside of trigger guard was also epoxy bedded to more securely fix the action screws that terminate in the trigger guard chamfers. The rile needs to be tuned to the ammo with a good torque screwdriver on the action screws. Crown was redone on tool room lathe with single point cutter .0002" TIR and trued up square to a indicated mandrel.

After all the work the rifle is shooting .3-.35" with Fed 711b now, .25-.27" with Wolf MT and around .2-.23" with Lapua Center X. All from bench, using front rest and rear bag. Very nice for a modified "sporter". I might squeeze some more out of it but highly suspect I will need a tuner and parrallel bottomed bR stock to do so.

A Mueller 8X32X44 A/O scope sits on top with fine dot reticle using weaver adapter and Burris sig Zee 30 mm highs as rings. Total weight is 9 lbs 2 oz.
Since all the accurizing was done by me total cost to get here including scope is roughly around $800.

Some pics...

carver · 09-17-2011, 12:17 PM

Welcome to the forum! Great 1st post, and pics, along with a beautiful rifle!

gdmoody · 09-17-2011, 12:20 PM

Welcome to the Forum, Zednut. Mr. Carver is correct on all three counts. I will add another that is a beautiful rifle.

bamajoey · 09-17-2011, 01:16 PM

QUOTE=Zednut;794601]First post, so hi everybody.

Got a CZ 455 Thumbhole Varmint about 7 months ago. This is the new model stemming from the older 452's with some changes. It will probably not be available in the US until years end or later. Interchangeable barrels available in .22LR, .22WMR, and .17HMR. Bolt uses 1 lug instead of 2 and receiver was beefed up slightly in several areas such as the back tang ect.

Fit and finish is superb and the barrel interchange is not a pin system but rather a very secure 2 set screw attachment of the barrel stub in the receiver.
Triggers are still a brutish as often seen on new sporters but it is adjustable for weight to some degree and there are some cheap mods to reduce creep and weight some more. Barrel is fully floated with two action screws mounting it to the stock.

Thumb hole stock is most likely a Boyds stock from the looks and to me I find the grip is the right distance to the trigger...but I have big hands with long fingers. Someone with smaller hands may want to handle one first before buying. LOP on the stock is a bit short at 13" but usable off the bench. Off hand, one might want to extend the butt with some pads or something if they are large framed and find a longer LOP is needed.

From the box mine shot very well. A touch over 5/8" with Fed 711b and just under 1/2" with Wolf MT (@ 50 yrds). After a few accurizing upgrades this is a tack driver. Trigger got a YoDave kit and now weighs about 22 oz with maybe .01" creep, it passes the bump test. Action was pillared with 316 SS custom pillars and full bedding with ProBed 2000. Underside of trigger guard was also epoxy bedded to more securely fix the action screws that terminate in the trigger guard chamfers. The rile needs to be tuned to the ammo with a good torque screwdriver on the action screws. Crown was redone on tool room lathe with single point cutter .0002" TIR and trued up square to a indicated mandrel.

After all the work the rifle is shooting .3-.35" with Fed 711b now, .25-.27" with Wolf MT and around .2-.23" with Lapua Center X. All from bench, using front rest and rear bag. Very nice for a modified "sporter". I might squeeze some more out of it but highly suspect I will need a tuner and parrallel bottomed bR stock to do so.
A Mueller 8X32X44 A/O scope sits on top with fine dot reticle using weaver adapter and Burris sig Zee 30 mm highs as rings. Total weight is 9 lbs 2 oz.
Since all the accurizing was done by me total cost to get here including scope is roughly around $800.

Some pics...

[/QUOTE]

Welcome Zednut, I replaced the stock on my 452 American with a BR stock and it improved my groups.

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...IMG_7048ae.jpg

jstgsn · 09-17-2011, 07:35 PM

Ohhh, I looked at that rifle and started to get a warm feeling in my chest.
NICE... Welcome to the forum. You will see my posts from time to time. I'm an old fart with far to many opinions. When my wife stops listening to me I come here, as you guys have to at least start to listen to me, before you click another site. Got to tell you, sometimes I'm pretty good though. Look forward to reading more posts from you.
fred

evan03 · 09-17-2011, 11:45 PM

Glad to have you here. Awesome rifle

Zednut · 09-18-2011, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamajoey

Welcome Zednut, I replaced the stock on my 452 American with a BR stock and it improved my groups.

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...IMG_7048ae.jpg

Awesome, I haven't seen any one take the leap in this direction on the CZ's other then a fellow who was using barrel blocks on a monster stock. did you inlet the stock yourself or have someone do it for you?

bamajoey · 09-18-2011, 04:44 AM

Thanks, I built the stock and did the inletting myself.

doubs43 · 09-18-2011, 01:18 PM

Zednut, that's a beautiful rifle and I know how accurate CZs can be as I own my share of them.

The 455 American has been available in the US for awhile now but the Varmint and thumb-hole versions apparently are not. Thanks for your review of something we have to look forward to. I often use a stock CZ-453 Varmint model in NRA silhouette competitions.

bamajoey · 09-18-2011, 01:30 PM

From what I have been able to learn, the 455 American and Lux are available but the Varmint will not be available until late 2011 or early 2012 in the U.S.
Does anyone know if the Varmint will be offered in anything other than the thumb hole variety?

pickenup · 09-18-2011, 09:24 PM

Welcome to The Firearms Forum.

Zednut · 09-20-2011, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamajoey

From what I have been able to learn, the 455 American and Lux are available but the Varmint will not be available until late 2011 or early 2012 in the U.S.
Does anyone know if the Varmint will be offered in anything other than the thumb hole variety?

I cannot say for sure what CZ USA will get in regards to the Varmint 455 since each importer/dealer from every country has their own arrangement with the mothership. What I do know is that a 455 American Varmint (non TH) is available in Europe, Aus, Canada so I can assume that when the varmints make it to your shores these will most likely be available also. The TH has always had a smaller demand anyways even with the 452's of past so it would not be in the interest of good sales to exclude the regular stocked varmints.

Some people in the US have already procured 455 TH's but I am not sure how they did so as CZ USA does not indicate them yet for sale. Perhaps private sale and import from Canada/UK. Most likely a cost and paper heavy endeavor.

doubs43 · 09-20-2011, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zednut

Some people in the US have already procured 455 TH's but I am not sure how they did so as CZ USA does not indicate them yet for sale. Perhaps private sale and import from Canada/UK. Most likely a cost and paper heavy endeavor.

Some of those people may be military. I brought three handguns and a number of shotguns back from England in the 1980's. Among the handguns was a commercial high polished blued CZ-75 at a time when they couldn't be imported by distributors. A few years later things changed when the USSR fell apart. I still have the CZ-75.

bamajoey · 09-20-2011, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zednut

I cannot say for sure what CZ USA will get in regards to the Varmint 455 since each importer/dealer from every country has their own arrangement with the mothership. What I do know is that a 455 American Varmint (non TH) is available in Europe, Aus, Canada so I can assume that when the varmints make it to your shores these will most likely be available also. The TH has always had a smaller demand anyways even with the 452's of past so it would not be in the interest of good sales to exclude the regular stocked varmints.

Some people in the US have already procured 455 TH's but I am not sure how they did so as CZ USA does not indicate them yet for sale. Perhaps private sale and import from Canada/UK. Most likely a cost and paper heavy endeavor.

Thanks for the info Zednut, I really want a Varmint but not in the TH stock because I will probably put it in a BR stock.

CZbeliever · 10-22-2012, 09:16 PM

Hey Zednut,

Nice first post! This is my second, and it won't be anywhere near as good!

I have a NIB 452 varmint that I haven't cleaned or fired yet. I'm having so much fun with my Style that I decided to hide it for some future Christmas or Birthday present to myself. I vacuum sealed it in a plastic bag with anti-oxygen packets. That should hold it dry and rust free for a while.

Did you range test the mods for relative improvements or just dive in and go the whole 9 yards? The Style's front lug was binding and causing problems until I figured that out and honed it smooth so it floats well before tightening. Since then it's been as good or better than I can shoot. It's nothing special so no pictures of it, it's wearing a Mueller APV in silver with silver rings so it's kind of boring in fact. I bought the YoDave parts but haven't put them in yet.

I don't know if bedding is an option with the plastic stock, or if it would benefit me at this point. I'm just having a gas and can get dime size groups at 50yds with Fed Automatch! That's a blast for me! I hope yours brings you as much pleasure.

09-17-2011, 12:07 PM	#1
Zednut Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 11	Intro and rifle review. First post, so hi everybody. Got a CZ 455 Thumbhole Varmint about 7 months ago. This is the new model stemming from the older 452's with some changes. It will probably not be available in the US until years end or later. Interchangeable barrels available in .22LR, .22WMR, and .17HMR. Bolt uses 1 lug instead of 2 and receiver was beefed up slightly in several areas such as the back tang ect. Fit and finish is superb and the barrel interchange is not a pin system but rather a very secure 2 set screw attachment of the barrel stub in the receiver. Triggers are still a brutish as often seen on new sporters but it is adjustable for weight to some degree and there are some cheap mods to reduce creep and weight some more. Barrel is fully floated with two action screws mounting it to the stock. Thumb hole stock is most likely a Boyds stock from the looks and to me I find the grip is the right distance to the trigger...but I have big hands with long fingers. Someone with smaller hands may want to handle one first before buying. LOP on the stock is a bit short at 13" but usable off the bench. Off hand, one might want to extend the butt with some pads or something if they are large framed and find a longer LOP is needed. From the box mine shot very well. A touch over 5/8" with Fed 711b and just under 1/2" with Wolf MT (@ 50 yrds). After a few accurizing upgrades this is a tack driver. Trigger got a YoDave kit and now weighs about 22 oz with maybe .01" creep, it passes the bump test. Action was pillared with 316 SS custom pillars and full bedding with ProBed 2000. Underside of trigger guard was also epoxy bedded to more securely fix the action screws that terminate in the trigger guard chamfers. The rile needs to be tuned to the ammo with a good torque screwdriver on the action screws. Crown was redone on tool room lathe with single point cutter .0002" TIR and trued up square to a indicated mandrel. After all the work the rifle is shooting .3-.35" with Fed 711b now, .25-.27" with Wolf MT and around .2-.23" with Lapua Center X. All from bench, using front rest and rear bag. Very nice for a modified "sporter". I might squeeze some more out of it but highly suspect I will need a tuner and parrallel bottomed bR stock to do so. A Mueller 8X32X44 A/O scope sits on top with fine dot reticle using weaver adapter and Burris sig Zee 30 mm highs as rings. Total weight is 9 lbs 2 oz. Since all the accurizing was done by me total cost to get here including scope is roughly around $800. Some pics... --> Last edited by Zednut; 09-17-2011 at 12:09 PM..

09-17-2011, 12:17 PM	#2
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,254	Re: Intro and rifle review. Welcome to the forum! Great 1st post, and pics, along with a beautiful rifle! __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

09-17-2011, 12:20 PM	#3
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,325	Re: Intro and rifle review. Welcome to the Forum, Zednut. Mr. Carver is correct on all three counts. I will add another that is a beautiful rifle. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

09-17-2011, 01:16 PM	#4
bamajoey Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pensacola Contributor Posts: 1,257	Re: Intro and rifle review. QUOTE=Zednut;794601]First post, so hi everybody. Got a CZ 455 Thumbhole Varmint about 7 months ago. This is the new model stemming from the older 452's with some changes. It will probably not be available in the US until years end or later. Interchangeable barrels available in .22LR, .22WMR, and .17HMR. Bolt uses 1 lug instead of 2 and receiver was beefed up slightly in several areas such as the back tang ect. Fit and finish is superb and the barrel interchange is not a pin system but rather a very secure 2 set screw attachment of the barrel stub in the receiver. Triggers are still a brutish as often seen on new sporters but it is adjustable for weight to some degree and there are some cheap mods to reduce creep and weight some more. Barrel is fully floated with two action screws mounting it to the stock. Thumb hole stock is most likely a Boyds stock from the looks and to me I find the grip is the right distance to the trigger...but I have big hands with long fingers. Someone with smaller hands may want to handle one first before buying. LOP on the stock is a bit short at 13" but usable off the bench. Off hand, one might want to extend the butt with some pads or something if they are large framed and find a longer LOP is needed. From the box mine shot very well. A touch over 5/8" with Fed 711b and just under 1/2" with Wolf MT (@ 50 yrds). After a few accurizing upgrades this is a tack driver. Trigger got a YoDave kit and now weighs about 22 oz with maybe .01" creep, it passes the bump test. Action was pillared with 316 SS custom pillars and full bedding with ProBed 2000. Underside of trigger guard was also epoxy bedded to more securely fix the action screws that terminate in the trigger guard chamfers. The rile needs to be tuned to the ammo with a good torque screwdriver on the action screws. Crown was redone on tool room lathe with single point cutter .0002" TIR and trued up square to a indicated mandrel. After all the work the rifle is shooting .3-.35" with Fed 711b now, .25-.27" with Wolf MT and around .2-.23" with Lapua Center X. All from bench, using front rest and rear bag. Very nice for a modified "sporter". I might squeeze some more out of it but highly suspect I will need a tuner and parrallel bottomed bR stock to do so. A Mueller 8X32X44 A/O scope sits on top with fine dot reticle using weaver adapter and Burris sig Zee 30 mm highs as rings. Total weight is 9 lbs 2 oz. Since all the accurizing was done by me total cost to get here including scope is roughly around $800. Some pics... [/QUOTE] Welcome Zednut, I replaced the stock on my 452 American with a BR stock and it improved my groups. http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...IMG_7048ae.jpg Last edited by bamajoey; 09-17-2011 at 03:36 PM..

09-17-2011, 07:35 PM	#5
jstgsn Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Milford, Delaware Contributor Posts: 1,272	Re: Intro and rifle review. Ohhh, I looked at that rifle and started to get a warm feeling in my chest. NICE... Welcome to the forum. You will see my posts from time to time. I'm an old fart with far to many opinions. When my wife stops listening to me I come here, as you guys have to at least start to listen to me, before you click another site. Got to tell you, sometimes I'm pretty good though. Look forward to reading more posts from you. fred __________________ Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he will just kill you.

09-17-2011, 11:45 PM	#6
evan03 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Idaho, its better here Posts: 211	Re: Intro and rifle review. Glad to have you here. Awesome rifle

09-18-2011, 04:44 AM	#8
bamajoey Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pensacola Contributor Posts: 1,257	Re: Intro and rifle review. Thanks, I built the stock and did the inletting myself.

09-18-2011, 01:18 PM	#9
doubs43 Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 31	Re: Intro and rifle review. Zednut, that's a beautiful rifle and I know how accurate CZs can be as I own my share of them. The 455 American has been available in the US for awhile now but the Varmint and thumb-hole versions apparently are not. Thanks for your review of something we have to look forward to. I often use a stock CZ-453 Varmint model in NRA silhouette competitions. Last edited by doubs43; 09-18-2011 at 01:25 PM..

09-18-2011, 01:30 PM	#10
bamajoey Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pensacola Contributor Posts: 1,257	Re: Intro and rifle review. From what I have been able to learn, the 455 American and Lux are available but the Varmint will not be available until late 2011 or early 2012 in the U.S. Does anyone know if the Varmint will be offered in anything other than the thumb hole variety?

09-18-2011, 09:24 PM	#11
pickenup Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains Posts: 6,837	Re: Intro and rifle review. Welcome to The Firearms Forum. __________________ The gene pool needs chlorine

10-22-2012, 09:16 PM	#15
CZbeliever Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 2	Re: Intro and rifle review. Hey Zednut, Nice first post! This is my second, and it won't be anywhere near as good! I have a NIB 452 varmint that I haven't cleaned or fired yet. I'm having so much fun with my Style that I decided to hide it for some future Christmas or Birthday present to myself. I vacuum sealed it in a plastic bag with anti-oxygen packets. That should hold it dry and rust free for a while. Did you range test the mods for relative improvements or just dive in and go the whole 9 yards? The Style's front lug was binding and causing problems until I figured that out and honed it smooth so it floats well before tightening. Since then it's been as good or better than I can shoot. It's nothing special so no pictures of it, it's wearing a Mueller APV in silver with silver rings so it's kind of boring in fact. I bought the YoDave parts but haven't put them in yet. I don't know if bedding is an option with the plastic stock, or if it would benefit me at this point. I'm just having a gas and can get dime size groups at 50yds with Fed Automatch! That's a blast for me! I hope yours brings you as much pleasure.