CZ 452 or 455?

[ditto1958]

I was at the range today, and a guy had a CZ 452, and it was just flat out beautiful.

Now, I realize this issue has been beat to death on other forums, but what the heck. The current CZ bolt action .22 is the 455. I think they're fine rifles, but to me they're just plain jane. Some say they shoot as well or better than the 452's. They may be right. But they're just not the same. The stocks are not nearly as nice. The barrels are shorter, and the bluing is not the same as on the 452.

I think I want a 452. Only problem is, so do lots of other people. I do happen to be a southpaw, and left hand 452's are still made, and fairly easy to find. For some reason, though, I prefer the bolt on the right side. Guess I've just gotten used to it.

I'm interested I advice from those who have 452's and 455's.

[bandit1250]

My opinion for what is worth on 452 vs. 455 is based on owning 12 of the 452's and a 453 right at the moment and two 455's that are no longer here. I just couldn't get the 455 to shoot as well as the 452's. I have one 452 Trainer that was a little slow to come around but now it is as good as the others. I like the barrel screwed in the action like the 452's and not held on with screws that seem to be sensitive on torque. Also like the two locking lugs of the 452. My 455's were the varmint model and a FS and they shot O.K. but even our two Scouts and the low end 513 Basic would shoot quite a bit better. The 513 Basic shoots better than the 54 Anschutz Sporter I sold last summer. All this having to bed and pillar them and then maybe buy a Lilja barrel makes me think of them as CZ's 10/22. You may get them to shoot very well after buying one for $400 and then putting another $5-6 hundred more into it. My 452's shoot the way they came with just a trigger job I done my self with out buying a kit from anyone to get them down under a lb. for target shooting and 1 1/2lb. for hunting. If the first CZ I bought would have been a 455 I would be shooting something else from another company. Every one has their own opinion and some love the 455 but not me. I think CZ made a big mistake changing an already proven rifle. I would buy the 452 and never look back. They will probably be a better value down the road when they finally do decide to quit building them totally. Still very much demand for the 452's.

[Sir Henry]

I like the accuracy of the 452 and the 455 for its modular design.

[ditto1958]

So... supposin' I was to succumb to the bug and get a 452. It's gonna need a scope. At the range where I shoot, I can shoot steel, paper and clay pigeons at distances out to 100 yards. I'm not much for shooting little groups on paper. I do have a 3 or 4 year old never-used Nikon 3-9x40 that's not mounted on anything. It's a Buckmasters, a "real" one, not one of the budget ones they sell now. Would that be a good scope for my kind of shooting?

[Danwin22]

I was lucky to find a 452 "American" at my local Gander Mountain in January.

Looking at the CZ catalogue I tried to match the mounting height of a scope and used these rings. I posted a picture and was immediately attacked (on another forum) for my scope being too high. Nikon Prostaff-II Rimfire 3-9x40.



Then I found some Leupold mounts which got the scope down close to the barrel. I posted a picture (on another forum) and was attacked because a couple of guys determined I could not operate the bolt. I can assure you assure you that although it is fairly close, I can easily operate the bolt.

[bandit1250]

Fine looking 452. One of my favorite 22 rifles. I like the low mounted scope and the fact it has a lock ring on the eye piece and not that fast focus that makes the eye piece bigger than the objective. Very nice set up that I wouldn't mind adding to my CZ 452's.

[ditto1958]

Danwin22, you must hang out at some pretty rough forums. Lot of attacking going on there.

[Danwin22]

Not really, just that some people have to be critical without knowing the facts.

[Danwin22]

Fine looking 452. One of my favorite 22 rifles. I like the low mounted scope and the fact it has a lock ring on the eye piece and not that fast focus that makes the eye piece bigger than the objective. Very nice set up that I wouldn't mind adding to my CZ 452's.

Bandit, I had a detached retina in my right eye and need the scope way back to focus. If it was mounted more to the front the bolt might hit the ocular.

Having scopes to the rear just works out with my vision.

[bandit1250]

Fine looking 452. One of my favorite 22 rifles. I like the low mounted scope and the fact it has a lock ring on the eye piece and not that fast focus that makes the eye piece bigger than the objective. Very nice set up that I wouldn't mind adding to my CZ 452's.

Bandit, I had a detached retina in my right eye and need the scope way back to focus. If it was mounted more to the front the bolt might hit the ocular.

Having scopes to the rear just works out with my vision.

I have all my scopes back a little more than most folks set theirs. Not because of eye problems but because these rifles are also shared with my wife. I kind of set them up so she can shoot them with out crawling up on the scope and they actually feel right for me. I can through them up with eyes closed and open my eyes and see the whole view in the scope. Some thing must be right with where they are mounted.