Cowgirl Corner: Going Euro with another CZ

[North Country Gal]

Not sure how many cowgirls there are over in the Czech Republic, but this cowgirl happens to love CZ rifles. After trimming down our collection of CZs, sometime back, came across this one. It's an unusual edition of the very basic CZ 452 Trainer (a must for every CZ collection) called the 452 Super Match. Why Super Match? Basically, the barrel. Instead standard 6 groove rifling that CZ uses for their 22 LRs, this one has 12 grooves. The barrel is also about half inch or so longer than the standard 452 Trainer. Also note that there is no checkering on this stock, whereas the standard Trainer has some.




Of all the factory open sights I've ever shot, my favorite is the open sight set that CZ supplies on some of its rimfires. These are referred to as tangent sights in the CZ world, because, well, that's what the rear sight is. It's a tangent sight. You can change elevation, instantly, simply by sliding the sight up a ramp with yardage index markings.


The front sight is even adjustable for elevation by sliding it up or down a ramp. Best of all, it is a blade front sight, my favorite for serious bullseye work.


Did the very simple CZ 452/455 spring trick (switching to a lighter trigger return spring)and was rewarded with a superb (and safe) trigger of about a pound and a half with no creep. This greatly enhances accuracy and, make no mistake, there are very few rifles for the money that shoot as accurately than these CZ rimfires.

Case in point.


Yes, that's with open sights and, believe it or not, I've even shot smaller groups with other tangent open sight equipped CZ rimfire rifles. To be sure, my eyes tire, quickly, using these 3" bullseyes at 50 yards, but it does prove that a good set of open sights are capable of astonishing accuracy, given a shooter who knows how to use them.

And, of course, no session is complete without a little offhand work. Not my best group by any means and, yes, I'm going to wimp out with the excuse that my eyes were getting a bit blurry, but still within my expectations for this very accurate CZ rifle with it's great trigger (huge plus for offhand work).


We love our beautiful and fancy single shot Winchester Low Wall rimfires for the magnificent rifles they are, but here we have a CZ rimfire rifle at less than a third the price with a better trigger and, if scoped, would probably outshoot the Winchesters. Money very, very well spent.

[CT_Shooter]

What a great photo review of this particular rifle and the accompanying instructional descriptions, NCG!

While I may not comment most of the time, I do read every word you write on this forum and it is always helpful.

Thanks.

[Cofisher]

Ditto

[North Country Gal]

Wow! Thanks, guys. Do appreciate it.

[Sir Henry]

I'm not sure I would like such a light trigger. Two and a half pounds is about my limit. But it sure seems to work in your hands.

[RanchRoper]

Very nicely done. Informative report too. Always a good read.

[North Country Gal]

Thank you, both.

Gene, if I were to head out in the field, I'd add back another pound or so to the trigger (easily adjusted in on the CZ), but I always bump test on any trigger I adjust before using. As good as the CZ is, though, I have guns with true match grade triggers that measure in ounces and they actually come that way from the factory. These, of course, require strict discipline in their use, but given that timing is so critical when shooting offhand, especially with a scope, such triggers are a great tool.

[Sir Henry]

Joanie, I always bump test mine and have found my H001's start failing around 2 pounds. But more important I like all my rimfires to be the same. Sometimes if I shoot a 3 pounder first and switch over to 2 1/2 I shoot premature. And if I shoot the 3 pounder last I complain that it should be lighter.

[Les]

Thank you for another great write-up, NCG!

I love my CZ's - a 453 Premium and a 455 Varmint. They are about as simple as a rifle can be, but the quality and accuracy take a lot of beating, even from rifles costing several times as much.

[Henry88]

Great shootin NCG, especially the standing.

[North Country Gal]

Thanks, agin, folks.

Gene, given the enormous assortment of guns we shoot, there is a zero possibility of me getting them all to have even close to the same poundage on the triggers. When at the range and switching gears, so to speak, with guns of different triggers, I usually do some dry fire work before shooting to get in sync with the gun. However, I do make an effort not to take guns with radically different triggers on the same range trip. For instance, when shooting Contenders (my most used guns, despite the fact that I only post a little about them, here), I much prefer to shoot only Contenders.