I'm a newbie which you will quickly surmise. I've recently started shooting 22 LR bolt action rifle with targets ranging from 25 yards out to 300 yards. Targets vary in size depending on distance (1" dia. to maybe 6"). I've been using someone else's rifle (very high end Vudoo 22 LR and NightForce scope). I don't want to spend that kind of $$$ starting out in the sport; that said, I think I would be willing to spend up to $700 for the right rifle. I've been told the CZ 455 rifle is a solid choice for precision shooting out to 300 yds. These seem to come in a variety of models and another recommendation was to look at the CZ 455 Tacticool with a Boyd's stock (?) I hope to mount an appropriate scope on the rifle along with a bipod (if that matters). A lot of the high end shooters are shooting suppressed; however, I don't anticipate that being a critical option at this point in a mid-range rifle. I've been directed to this forum to ask the experts for recommendations. Any and all help/recommendations would be appreciated.
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Newbie - Precision 22 LR Bolt Action Rifle Recommendations Requested
- Thread starter Greg5611
- Start date
CZ's are very reliable but I bought the varmint heavy barrel and it was not a great shooter. It's a lottery, some guys get great shooting factory stick CZ's.
Though if you can find a used one with a aftermarket lilJa barrel you'd be in for a treat. They shoot right up there with Anschutz.
Though if you can find a used one with a aftermarket lilJa barrel you'd be in for a treat. They shoot right up there with Anschutz.
I have a CZ 455 Boyd pillared and bedded stock with a Lilja heavy barrel and its a tack driver at 50 yds and can hold its own out to 150 yds.
After shooting a Vudoo, everything else will be a dissapointment.
If you can hit the barrel lottery with a CZ Varmint or other heavy barrel model they're hard to argue for the price. If.
I have a Ruger Precision Rimfire and after it went back to the factory and got a new barrel and bolt it shoots respectable.
But I have zero regrets after buying a Vudoo, it's been worth every penny.
I have a Ruger Precision Rimfire and after it went back to the factory and got a new barrel and bolt it shoots respectable.
But I have zero regrets after buying a Vudoo, it's been worth every penny.
Under $800 for rifle alone, either a new CZ455 Tacticool ($550) or Varmint ($450) or used Anschutz MPR or 64 trainer with extended mag release. These will give good quality and results. I use a 16.5" CZ455 tacticool and it's been a workhorse.
$400 and under, Ruger American Rimfire, Ruger Precision Rimfire (add $100-150) and Savage will typically perform well but have some known issues
Your best bet in the $1k-2K region would be to find a used Don Smith CZ gun, he did phenomenal work. They show up occasionally in the trading post and I think there are at least 2 in there right now.
Used 54 action anschutz repeaters fall into this area as well (note on anschutz though, mags are expensive as hell, think $60 for 5 rnd and $80 for 10 round and their tiny mag release levers suck!) Used barrels can be tricky though, lottery it seems with anschutz barrels being accurate. Anschutz is more for the "walking around shooting squirrels" or benchrest crowds.
New Kidd and volquartsen 10/22 based rifles also live in this price realm, opening up the semi-auto possibility. Kidd guarantees 1/2"@50yd groups
IF you can wait it out, Tikka is releasing a 22lr bolt gun "Soon" (all ready delayed since march2018) that should be very promising. Tikka T3 inletting, trigger, and Sako/Tikka barrel is very inviting, especially at the promised sub $500 entry point.
You all ready have experience with the current high point of 22lr bolt actions, the Vudoo 22. I really like my V22, but reality is that my CZ455 probably does 90-95% of what the V22 does at a significant price and weight reduction. I have no intention of getting rid of either one.
Thinking about this has been a bit of a revelation, the two guns I like (therefore use) the most have the most reliable and easy to insert/remove magazines, the V22 and CZ. Both are polymer mags that withstand damage and abuse well and just work without hassle. The Vudoo required a quick modification to the mags at the beginning but have been 100% since. All the other rifles I listed I've either had personal mag issues or seen other people struggle with mag issues. Both savage and anschutz use sheetmetal mags and can be a real pain to insert/seat properly into the rifle and the ruger mags have had reliability problems through the years I've used them.
$400 and under, Ruger American Rimfire, Ruger Precision Rimfire (add $100-150) and Savage will typically perform well but have some known issues
Your best bet in the $1k-2K region would be to find a used Don Smith CZ gun, he did phenomenal work. They show up occasionally in the trading post and I think there are at least 2 in there right now.
Used 54 action anschutz repeaters fall into this area as well (note on anschutz though, mags are expensive as hell, think $60 for 5 rnd and $80 for 10 round and their tiny mag release levers suck!) Used barrels can be tricky though, lottery it seems with anschutz barrels being accurate. Anschutz is more for the "walking around shooting squirrels" or benchrest crowds.
New Kidd and volquartsen 10/22 based rifles also live in this price realm, opening up the semi-auto possibility. Kidd guarantees 1/2"@50yd groups
IF you can wait it out, Tikka is releasing a 22lr bolt gun "Soon" (all ready delayed since march2018) that should be very promising. Tikka T3 inletting, trigger, and Sako/Tikka barrel is very inviting, especially at the promised sub $500 entry point.
You all ready have experience with the current high point of 22lr bolt actions, the Vudoo 22. I really like my V22, but reality is that my CZ455 probably does 90-95% of what the V22 does at a significant price and weight reduction. I have no intention of getting rid of either one.
Thinking about this has been a bit of a revelation, the two guns I like (therefore use) the most have the most reliable and easy to insert/remove magazines, the V22 and CZ. Both are polymer mags that withstand damage and abuse well and just work without hassle. The Vudoo required a quick modification to the mags at the beginning but have been 100% since. All the other rifles I listed I've either had personal mag issues or seen other people struggle with mag issues. Both savage and anschutz use sheetmetal mags and can be a real pain to insert/seat properly into the rifle and the ruger mags have had reliability problems through the years I've used them.
There are quite a few options out there, but right now my personal belief is that the CZ 455 is the best choice for starting out on a budget.
Another cheaper quality suggestion is to look at some “vintage” options. I found a tack driving old Remington 512 (bolt w/tube feed mag and 26” barrel”) that was made in 1948 with classic wood and smooth trigger for $60 bucks. No one paid it any attention to it with all the tacticool guns around. Their loss. Sure it would be nice to have a ultralight carbon wrapped barreled takedown that could also shoot 17hmr 17hm2 22mag with different barrels and bolts, but at the end of the day your still limited by factory ammo offerings being rimfire. When I used to be stuck in a more urban environment I had lots of 22 options but I usually grabbed one of my ar7’s or norinco atd (clone of browning sa-22) because they were just so convinient and packed easy. (Both are takedowns) They also put the fun back into shooting and allowed me to shoot many places I otherwise wouldn’t be able to (crowded urban areas) The best option is the one you will use the most.
CZ rimfire steel magazines work flawlessly in all respects, at least in my 452
I bought a CZ 455 16.5" Tacticool a few months ago. It's very accurate at 50 and 100yd and I've banged steel to 400yd.
Heres my recent review dropped in a MDT LSS 22 chasis.
https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/mdt-lss-22-chassis-review-cz-455-22lr.6904025/
Heres my recent review dropped in a MDT LSS 22 chasis.
https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/mdt-lss-22-chassis-review-cz-455-22lr.6904025/
I’ll just leave this right here...
OP - you can find more information and reviews in the rimfire section on Snipers Hide. This section focuses more on centefire rifles. There are some good threads on the above rifles in that section.
I hate to say this but the most accurate 22lr I own is a Savage MKii FVSR that I dropped into a Boyd’s tacticool stock. That thing is an absolute tack driver. It consistent shoots sub MOA at 100 yards with cheap CCI SV ammo. After 100 yards I have to break out better ammo because the velocity just isnt consistent enough with the CCI but the rifle is a really shooter out to 200 yards. I’m sure a Voodoo is going to outshoot me at 200 yards but I have less than $500 in the rifle and it is fun and cheap to shoot. I’ve since took of the cheap scope and added one of the new Vortex Diamondback tactical FFP scopes which is a good fit for a budget rifle.
Another FVSR fan. I put mine in a Boyd's At-One stock with an Athlon scope and it delivers more than I am capable of. I have shot moa out to 200 yards with CCI sv and Aguila sv.
I've owned 2 CZs and 2 Savages (one 17HMR and one 22LR of each), and none of them shot worth a darn.
If I was on a budget, I'd consider a Tikka T1x or Anschutz 64. Either could be had in your $700 budget and would likely shoot better than a CZ or Savage.
For the record, some CZ rifles shoot great, but it's no guarantee. Savage seems to be more consistent, but is not usually known as a tack driver.
If I was on a budget, I'd consider a Tikka T1x or Anschutz 64. Either could be had in your $700 budget and would likely shoot better than a CZ or Savage.
For the record, some CZ rifles shoot great, but it's no guarantee. Savage seems to be more consistent, but is not usually known as a tack driver.
What was the average grouping at 50yd for you? I was looking at getting a 22lr CZ 455 Tacticool tomorrow and this is not what I wanted to read the night before haha. But I know some shoot well and some just don’t.
I believe it’s a Vudoo V-22. Pricey but everyone who has one seems to like it.
I shoot a Savage .22 LR FV-SR, Boyd's Tacticool stock. Probably not good enough to keep up with the high end BR rifles, but I have 8" x 10" steel plates set up at 308 yds and can hit them consistently. I run a Silencerco Sparrow can, CCI Standard Velocity ammo. It's a fun way to practice fundamentals for my larger rifles!
Here's a photo of my 9 year old enjoying it.
Here's a photo of my 9 year old enjoying it.
Attachments
1.5”, give or take
I had an anschutz 164 that would consistently shoot half inch groups that cost the same amount. I just don’t see the upside in a CZ. Savage at least there is a discount.
1.5"?!?! @ 50yd?!
You get a one off dud my friend.
Myself and a buddy both bought new CZ 455 Tacticool 16.5" rifles 2 months ago. They both shoot sub 0.5" groups at 50yds with many groups in the .2's and .3's and some in the .1's. Also shoots sub 1" consistently at 100yds and bangs steel with boring consistency at 300yds.... check my CZ 455 MDT thread for pics and targets.
22lr accuracy is more ammo/lot dependent than anything else. I tested many types and lots of match ammo to find what my rifle likes than bought a ton of what it liked. That's how it goes with 22lr.. mine loves Federal Gold Medal Match with SK rifle match a close second. It shoots CCI SV very well also
But a CZ 455 Tacticool. It will be very accurate
https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/mdt-lss-22-chassis-review-cz-455-22lr.6904025/
You get a one off dud my friend.
Myself and a buddy both bought new CZ 455 Tacticool 16.5" rifles 2 months ago. They both shoot sub 0.5" groups at 50yds with many groups in the .2's and .3's and some in the .1's. Also shoots sub 1" consistently at 100yds and bangs steel with boring consistency at 300yds.... check my CZ 455 MDT thread for pics and targets.
22lr accuracy is more ammo/lot dependent than anything else. I tested many types and lots of match ammo to find what my rifle likes than bought a ton of what it liked. That's how it goes with 22lr.. mine loves Federal Gold Medal Match with SK rifle match a close second. It shoots CCI SV very well also
But a CZ 455 Tacticool. It will be very accurate
https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/mdt-lss-22-chassis-review-cz-455-22lr.6904025/
I tested a bunch of ammo too. SK, Eley, Wolf, Federal, etc. It shot some worse than the 1.5", and I think there was a brand or two between 1"-1.5", but my un-modified Ruger 10-22 would shoot that. Nobody buys a high dollar bolt gun to shoot 1" at 50 yards.
I don't doubt that some CZs shoot great (maybe most of them), but there is a definite significant percentage that don't. I had 2 of them and neither of them shot worth a darn. My Savages actually shot a hair better.
Funny thing is that when I brought up the issue on rimfirecentral forum, I didn't get the "omg something is really wrong here" response. I got a "well hey try this mod and this mod and this mod and then get back to us, I'm sure it'll improve." I didn't spend $450 on a rimfire bolt gun to have to go mod it out in order for it to shoot decent. So when I later on got a 17HMR CZ (thinking I got a one-off dud) that didn't shoot any good either, I just moved on to the Anschutz.
Funny thing is that the Anschutz 164 I had definitely had ammo it liked better than others (Wolf MT was just magical), but it didn't shoot anything except bulk junk ammo over .5". Wish I hadn't of sold that one...
