Asked to see it and, to my surprise, it was the new for this year 457 version of the Trainer in 22 LR with the shorter 60 degree bolt throw and shorter length rimfire action. Not that I really need another Trainer, given I have one CZ 452 Trainer setup with a peep and another variant on a 452 Trainer (the SuperMatch, a 452 Trainer with a barrel with 12 groove rifling), which I shoot exclusively with the the tangent open sights.
Still, that short 60 degree bolt throw would allow me to mount a scope low enough on this Trainer to comfortably use with the hog back comb stock, something that wasn't too practical to do and get a comfy cheek weld with my older 452 versions with their high 90 degree bolt throw. Then, too, it just happened to be my birthday ... and these are very affordable as CZ rimfires go, so ... here it is with a Weaver 2.5-7x scope.
Now, some of you may be wondering about the "training rifle" label. Bolt action training rifles in 22 LR date way back to just prior to WW I, when military units around the world were converting to the bolt action rifle as their standard issue rifles. The role of the 22 Training rifle, then, was to train the troops in basic marksmanship before moving them on to the standard issue centerfire bolt guns. Also, a lot of those military guns of that era used tangent open sights, so theses CZ Trainer rifles with their tangent sights have along and well-established pedigree as military training rifles. Mine just happens to wear a scope, too, so thank of it as a sniper training rifle.
No one ever accused these CZ Training rifle as being drool-worthy. After all, they were military style, no frills rifles, but rugged and dependable and expected to see a lot of rough use. Don't let that rustic, vintage look fool you, though. All our CZ Trainers are extremely accurate. After a quick trigger tune using the factory adjustments on the 457 trigger, took the 457 Trainer to the range. Would it live up to the standard excellent level of accuracy of previous CZ versions of the Trainer?
Duh! What good would a rifle be for training if it wasn't accurate, right?
As for the use of beech, it may not have the glamor of walnut, but I do love beech as a wood in a gun stock. It is one tough wood, much less prone to cracking than walnut. Yup, pretty is, as pretty does. Any of the doughboys from WW I would have loved to train on this rifle.
