-
Having trouble using the site?
Contact support
Best barrell CZ 455 action ?
- Thread starter garandman
- Start date
I waited to see if one of the pro's would answer this.
Apparently not, so an amateur who reads too much will give it a shot.
I'd start with a new 455 action and a Rifle Basix trigger.
Then I'd order a heavy match barrel blank from Kreiger, Benchmark, Lilja, Shilen....
As I'm not a machinist, I'd then hand it over to a smith I trusted.
Slug the barrel to determine the direction of taper and location to cut the crown.
Then I'd want a cone breach cut in order to index the barrel.
Cut chamber to fit your preferred ammunition.
After indexing to determine the best orientation of the barrel to the receiver
I'd want the bolt/receiver/firing pin/bolt face tuned/trued for best possible function.
I like a 26 inch barrel length so recut tenon for length and for optimum head space.
Recut the chamber and and have the barrel glued in place at the indexed orientation that produced the best results.
Finding a benchrest stock that meets your requirements is up to you.
Apparently not, so an amateur who reads too much will give it a shot.
I'd start with a new 455 action and a Rifle Basix trigger.
Then I'd order a heavy match barrel blank from Kreiger, Benchmark, Lilja, Shilen....
As I'm not a machinist, I'd then hand it over to a smith I trusted.
Slug the barrel to determine the direction of taper and location to cut the crown.
Then I'd want a cone breach cut in order to index the barrel.
Cut chamber to fit your preferred ammunition.
After indexing to determine the best orientation of the barrel to the receiver
I'd want the bolt/receiver/firing pin/bolt face tuned/trued for best possible function.
I like a 26 inch barrel length so recut tenon for length and for optimum head space.
Recut the chamber and and have the barrel glued in place at the indexed orientation that produced the best results.
Finding a benchrest stock that meets your requirements is up to you.
Last edited:
Theres been a couple of tests on indexing the barrel with very little proof it benefits if you are firing at one distance. For prs where you shoot 25-300yrds it matters if your bore is curved straight up or has any tilt...just shooting at 50yrds its just a zero adjust. No real accuracy difference. (Youll find many people are still split on this but search some tests and determine for yourself).
id thread the receiver for a barrel install to avoid making sure you have a tight taper on the tendon. This will also clean up the ID and face where your barrel mates to...again more a preference as glue ins have been very successful in some cases. Id stick with a cone breach as mentioned above, no real reason to cut extractor grooves.
as far as barrel length just go with what the barrel gives you when its slugged. Unless you are running iron sights there is not really any added benefit besides weight for longer barrels.
if you are having this all done by a smith im sure he will have his own recommendations but if you are doing drop in a lot of this advice goes out the window. Buy a lilja drop in, slug it to check the crown is at the tightest spot and then glue/pin the barrel in. Polish the trigger and get a yodave or go timney, throw it in a benchrest stock and start tuning action torques, barrel pads and ammo.
id thread the receiver for a barrel install to avoid making sure you have a tight taper on the tendon. This will also clean up the ID and face where your barrel mates to...again more a preference as glue ins have been very successful in some cases. Id stick with a cone breach as mentioned above, no real reason to cut extractor grooves.
as far as barrel length just go with what the barrel gives you when its slugged. Unless you are running iron sights there is not really any added benefit besides weight for longer barrels.
if you are having this all done by a smith im sure he will have his own recommendations but if you are doing drop in a lot of this advice goes out the window. Buy a lilja drop in, slug it to check the crown is at the tightest spot and then glue/pin the barrel in. Polish the trigger and get a yodave or go timney, throw it in a benchrest stock and start tuning action torques, barrel pads and ammo.
I purchased a Shilen cone breach from Killoughs to see what indexing was about.
Spent a morning, 3 boxes of Midas + at the local 50 yard range.
I didn't know what would happen so I gave it a try.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/vqBXUCTWnmnSFXI0y7W0VmZ_oYloE9yEXS0MJmGXtfmcSdKTMI2p_Q8YeE9jyPDklKpFbuqMvu7SOB1cIg=w430-h241"}[/IMG2]
Taped a reference indicator to the barrel
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/lf9uy_uO0ECJXj-onpSRtnjINE7vRGIDNf-dRw4Nc6S8wkoKDOnEMdxG7PS5I1Pz0QBSE0wQIGj8YCMGQw=w238-h241"}[/IMG2]
Set up on a bench on calm morning and sent 5 shots, rotated the barrel, sent another 5 shots
repeated 25 times, 15 degree intervals, rotating the barrel each time, long morning.
Got very good at taking down and reassembling the 455. Recorded muzzle velocities
and took pictures of each target. Kept the scope at the same zero setting from start to finish.
Plotted each group size and location using cadd
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i.imgur.com\/lUzVsHm.jpg"}[/IMG2]
Best results came from positions 22, 23, 24.
Repeated the test at 100 yards
for positions 20-24 and 1
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-FtNc1PSTxRwm0Ho-qt2R7_pLAENzcDJ9Cdah2TggIJBEpEDPrUx7RDD_IIIFgRCvc0DzlDiMTe9aMFUiN8FyY3gyorD9Z3BZ3H7Z1Dr3JvbBTqMpEtzw0bwtwkd9fKBiLoT-WtKrwMaBq2PGc5JHv93Z63BnWwDxMJElVmTi4_nWT7pz1UTdbWY2gq7jjhibeBM2OPAYb3QidB0jE8LjT9gEw7luILpzrtDvhtdE9h1_r29hgZeDX-FzPmgs7D7d9sN6wiSYW71KUy4Rb6-zoQ-7wkLEQQFqW0wohe871rpyFZDXNt6jPNxu3QeQQKsfwQ1uTY-Kc1GwKzS4WL3jkEnjFr_75f_3qwppaecqQlEZVuDzk5n2xG6WIUmwCK8KsQ6loIRufYw95ACgvGT9JXllGMgWrQP95DiBSvroN-XB4Z64KRBiHFIOw7zM1pvOrIYKmksBzw-9a9RpKsfYSrp3tqQriFvfiMrKvHu3n8zk0CBw_vx2rpBeJ4kg1UWW222cra6HkZs8Jhel5B8V6qpDVfx12isxZY0CizqGC8veV8saQHBoSQ4mGArlGcBb6cJJqWvtpkWYYOcXRajvCESdYuUV7j_s2UUiOfn9YAYTFM6Z5Nbj5YCgdQfDL-fYJkZIJd6ax_XbwLHU-m2g9_g7qRmkIf0srPwXFxtug=w708-h565-no"}[/IMG2]
Depending on the barrel, indexing may or may not show an optimal orientation.
My Shilen and 455 apparently do like a certain barrel position.
What was a surprise was the diameter of the poi pattern that resulted.
4 inch plus radius of the circle swept by the barrel rotation at 50 yards.
Same radius pattern shows up at 100 yards also.
Spent a morning, 3 boxes of Midas + at the local 50 yard range.
I didn't know what would happen so I gave it a try.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/vqBXUCTWnmnSFXI0y7W0VmZ_oYloE9yEXS0MJmGXtfmcSdKTMI2p_Q8YeE9jyPDklKpFbuqMvu7SOB1cIg=w430-h241"}[/IMG2]
Taped a reference indicator to the barrel
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/lf9uy_uO0ECJXj-onpSRtnjINE7vRGIDNf-dRw4Nc6S8wkoKDOnEMdxG7PS5I1Pz0QBSE0wQIGj8YCMGQw=w238-h241"}[/IMG2]
Set up on a bench on calm morning and sent 5 shots, rotated the barrel, sent another 5 shots
repeated 25 times, 15 degree intervals, rotating the barrel each time, long morning.
Got very good at taking down and reassembling the 455. Recorded muzzle velocities
and took pictures of each target. Kept the scope at the same zero setting from start to finish.
Plotted each group size and location using cadd
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i.imgur.com\/lUzVsHm.jpg"}[/IMG2]
Best results came from positions 22, 23, 24.
Repeated the test at 100 yards
for positions 20-24 and 1
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-FtNc1PSTxRwm0Ho-qt2R7_pLAENzcDJ9Cdah2TggIJBEpEDPrUx7RDD_IIIFgRCvc0DzlDiMTe9aMFUiN8FyY3gyorD9Z3BZ3H7Z1Dr3JvbBTqMpEtzw0bwtwkd9fKBiLoT-WtKrwMaBq2PGc5JHv93Z63BnWwDxMJElVmTi4_nWT7pz1UTdbWY2gq7jjhibeBM2OPAYb3QidB0jE8LjT9gEw7luILpzrtDvhtdE9h1_r29hgZeDX-FzPmgs7D7d9sN6wiSYW71KUy4Rb6-zoQ-7wkLEQQFqW0wohe871rpyFZDXNt6jPNxu3QeQQKsfwQ1uTY-Kc1GwKzS4WL3jkEnjFr_75f_3qwppaecqQlEZVuDzk5n2xG6WIUmwCK8KsQ6loIRufYw95ACgvGT9JXllGMgWrQP95DiBSvroN-XB4Z64KRBiHFIOw7zM1pvOrIYKmksBzw-9a9RpKsfYSrp3tqQriFvfiMrKvHu3n8zk0CBw_vx2rpBeJ4kg1UWW222cra6HkZs8Jhel5B8V6qpDVfx12isxZY0CizqGC8veV8saQHBoSQ4mGArlGcBb6cJJqWvtpkWYYOcXRajvCESdYuUV7j_s2UUiOfn9YAYTFM6Z5Nbj5YCgdQfDL-fYJkZIJd6ax_XbwLHU-m2g9_g7qRmkIf0srPwXFxtug=w708-h565-no"}[/IMG2]
Depending on the barrel, indexing may or may not show an optimal orientation.
My Shilen and 455 apparently do like a certain barrel position.
What was a surprise was the diameter of the poi pattern that resulted.
4 inch plus radius of the circle swept by the barrel rotation at 50 yards.
Same radius pattern shows up at 100 yards also.
Last edited:
Wow, nice job (no sarcasm). Interesting to see some points have almost no groups in the circle...particularly from 3-5 hardly anything impacted there. Also around 8 10 and two you had groups abnormally close to eachother.
not trying to discredit anything youve done but were the groups shot off bipod and bag or something more restrictive? Would just be curious if the group variations were typical of your shooting ability. Again not trying to knock you down, tracking and testing points are very good to see any patterns.
not trying to discredit anything youve done but were the groups shot off bipod and bag or something more restrictive? Would just be curious if the group variations were typical of your shooting ability. Again not trying to knock you down, tracking and testing points are very good to see any patterns.
thats interesting Justin,,I have thought about having the tennon cut off my Lilja bbl and having it setup like that bbl,,if it could be done without cutting the tennon off and rechambering I would go for it for sure,,
only thing about my 455 that bothers me is the trigger,it is fine for most things but you just cant get it to a true benchrest grade trigger,,
only thing about my 455 that bothers me is the trigger,it is fine for most things but you just cant get it to a true benchrest grade trigger,,
Big, if you aren't happy with the 455 factory trigger, try a Rifle Basix.
Fully adjustable sear bite and pull weight. I've had it as low as 4 ounces,
final setting was 12 ounces, which was where I was most comfortable.
Functional, double clusters were caused by reshooting that position.
If I felt I'd had a problem during a 5 shot group, I'd do it over.
Included both groups in the final plot.
If interested in all the procedure and setup here's a link to RFC
and the thread that includes all the pictures and target analysis
including comments from more knowledgeable shooters/gunsmiths.
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=853057
Fully adjustable sear bite and pull weight. I've had it as low as 4 ounces,
final setting was 12 ounces, which was where I was most comfortable.
Functional, double clusters were caused by reshooting that position.
If I felt I'd had a problem during a 5 shot group, I'd do it over.
Included both groups in the final plot.
If interested in all the procedure and setup here's a link to RFC
and the thread that includes all the pictures and target analysis
including comments from more knowledgeable shooters/gunsmiths.
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=853057
Impressive and I stand partially(probably even fully) corrected. For your setup it absolutely made a difference indexing the barrel. I don't think I've read a test that had so many data points around. Now you have me curious about indexing my 40x......so much machine work.....
I been on RFC for years,,I got the Dip adjustable sear and JNP springs,,I can get down around 6-7 ounces and the bolt not come out and be safe,,,,shooting free recoil thats just too much for me,,,the rifle shoots very well if you can control the trigger the same shot to shot,,if Jewell would make a 455 trigger they couldnt keep them stocked,,
For a blank I like to use shilen, benchmark 2 and 3 groove, and a stash of custom lilja 3 groove barrels I have made. For the chamber I use one of my own design that I have fully tested against the EPS match, lilja match, Anschutz etc. I'll be taking that design to my grave 
(well actually both designs lol). The shilens are great but my favs are the benchmark 3 groove and lilja grooves. These barrels do better in the wind than traditional 4+ groove barrel (I thought I was crazy too but no doubt in my mind it's true!). A cone breech or v breech are my preferred choices. You can dry fire on a v breech but not a cone but give up the indexing ability on a cone barrel. No doing a barrel can show a preference but not all of them do. I like to headspace them on the tighter side as IME they indeed shoot better. I glue the barrels in but it's done where the fit between receiver and barrel is flawless. These receivers ain't perfect round so you can measure all you want, the only way to know what the largest OD to make the shank to while still fitting is custom tooling here. I have stuff made up for cz 455's, Anschutz 54 and 64 actions. All can be changed over to threads but I promise you will not see any gain in accuracy but will spend more money for nothing. For a benchrest stock zorrow on rfc makes the best stocks for cz period! Inletting is flawless and wood selections are from mild to wild. I love when I get to bed one of his creations cause it makes life way easier. Other stock makers the inletting is basically roughed in and the actions don't sit at the proper height making for a ton of work. If ultimate accuracy from a 455 is the game, avoid a drop in like the plague! Custom fit is the only way to go!
(well actually both designs lol). The shilens are great but my favs are the benchmark 3 groove and lilja grooves. These barrels do better in the wind than traditional 4+ groove barrel (I thought I was crazy too but no doubt in my mind it's true!). A cone breech or v breech are my preferred choices. You can dry fire on a v breech but not a cone but give up the indexing ability on a cone barrel. No doing a barrel can show a preference but not all of them do. I like to headspace them on the tighter side as IME they indeed shoot better. I glue the barrels in but it's done where the fit between receiver and barrel is flawless. These receivers ain't perfect round so you can measure all you want, the only way to know what the largest OD to make the shank to while still fitting is custom tooling here. I have stuff made up for cz 455's, Anschutz 54 and 64 actions. All can be changed over to threads but I promise you will not see any gain in accuracy but will spend more money for nothing. For a benchrest stock zorrow on rfc makes the best stocks for cz period! Inletting is flawless and wood selections are from mild to wild. I love when I get to bed one of his creations cause it makes life way easier. Other stock makers the inletting is basically roughed in and the actions don't sit at the proper height making for a ton of work. If ultimate accuracy from a 455 is the game, avoid a drop in like the plague! Custom fit is the only way to go!
