I'd like a 22lr rifle for cheap plinking, informal target shooting, Appleseed shoots, and possibly a 22lr PRS type match....
I have 4 rifles that I'm considering. ....
1. Ruger 10/22 -
2. Tikka T1x -
3. & 4. CZ 457 American / Varmint .
The most I could spend would be about $550.
Been thinking this over a couple days now as I contemplate another 22 rifle myself. Based on YOUR $550 budget and requirements, I'd get the Tikka. Appleseed clinics are geared towards semi-autos, but you can successfully use a bolt action and do very well. I shot a 240 appleseed score with my CZ455 bolt last year, so you will definitely learn rifleman's cadence with a bolt action. Also, barricades will scratch and mark stocks up for PRS NRL type matches, kind of amusing to see an anschutz owner show up for one of these matches and protest how the barricade would ruin the finish on his finely figured stock. You'll also want to get a few extra magazines.
Pros and cons as follows:
Ruger 10/22. Low cost entry into fun, upgrade path that is seemingly endless, eventually you'll end up with either a complete KIDD or Volquartsen rifle that would have been cheaper to buy at the start. There really is no comparison of any 10/22 platform to a KIDD for build quality, features (supergrade removeable barrel system) and accuracy at a competitive price. PPl will be along shortly to argue how much better their frankenruger shoots and argue it cost so much less and such forth. My experience over nine 10/22 platforms has wound up with 2 KIDD's that I use competitively in matches, the others are for plinking or guests. Not to say that they aren't accurate, but the KIDDs give me the least headaches of all my 10/22's.
A stock rifle is the cheapest route, and the best bang for the buck would be to send a complete rifle off to Connecticut Precision Chambering and have a full barrel/bolt/trigger tune done for $215 shipped. That addresses all the problems with the bolt and most issues with the trigger pack and might make your factory barrel a winner. I've done this and Randy's work is a great value add to the 10/22, and he is quick, mine was a 5 week turn around. This will get you into the $400-450 total ballpark with your $180 initial rifle purchase.
Be advised that 10/22's do not do well in sandy conditions and like dry lubricants like Hornady one shot or EZOX. Bullet feeding issues are usually either magazine problems or a stronger mag lever release spring is needed to properly align the mag. Magazine changes are easy or difficult depending on what mag release lever you have. Best solution I've found is a KIDD medium release lever with extra stiff spring and 2 mags coupled together with High Tower armory coupler, this is the closest set up I've found to mimic a centerfire rifle with a rear release lever and 10 round AICS mag for a one handed mag change. Cleaning 10/22 receivers is a drag. So much has to be taken apart and cleaned and the blowback action sprays carbon and powder debris all over the trigger pack and bolt area.
Tikka TX1. Don't own one, but have shot about 100 rounds through other ppl's rifles at a couple of NRA smallbore silhouette matches. This is a nice action, both owner's had installed different trigger springs for a lighter trigger and the triggers were pretty good. both were still in factory stocks, but fit was surprisingly good. Mags were also easy to change, the big fin on the bottom helps give you something to grab. Barrel is all ready threaded for suppressor and balance was decent. Accuracy off a bag on bench was about 1.25"-1.5" at 100 meters. Both owners reported no reliability problems for feeding/ejection. Tikka/Sako quality all around, at a low $400's price point. Wish this rifle was available 6 years ago.
CZ457 Variants. Not sure if either the american or varmint have a threaded barrel, don't think so.
(edit add: looked this up at CZ's website, neither american or varmint have threaded barrels, but both varmint-pro and varmint-AT do) Of the two choices I'd go the varmint route as the american's skinnier barrel profile seem to have more accuracy issues. More on that in a bit. The CZ 457 has addressed 2 of the 3 complaints I have against the 455 series:
1) They finally put a bolt stop/release lever on the left side, this cures the "pulled the bolt out of the action during ejection cycle" issue. I've seen that happen on four different rifles the last few years, including mine. Two were stock triggers, 2 were aftermarket triggers. Problem gets worse with lower trigger poundage settings but isn't cured at higher settings either. 455 Bolt is retained by the trigger mechanism only. 457 trigger is user ajustable with more user control than the 455 and supposedly got rid of the dreaded "sear ball"
2) shorter bolt throw clears scopes in low rings, it is also a much shorter pull now as well, both pluses in my book.
3) barrels and mounting system are the same as the 455 series. CZ barrel quality is hit or miss, but the lighter profile barrels seem to have more issues with accuracy and all CZ barrels seem to throw a number of unexplained fliers. You could make the argument that problem is the shooter, but I have way less fliers with the Vudoo, KIDDS or anschutzes. I've borescoped 3 factory 455 barrels and they are not even close to the quality of the chambers in the other previously mentioned rifles, lots of tool marks and in one barrel the groove lands at the leade were swiped over by a dull reamer. This could be solved with an aftermarket barrel like a Lija, and it's an easy swap, but that will break your budget. CZ barrels are a lottery pick.
Magazines for the 455/457 are a bright spot. I can only remember two failures to feed over the years and ejection is also very good, again just a few FTE's probably caused by hitting the scope. Reliability has been very, very good and the polymer 10 round mags are pretty easy to change during a time restricted match. CZ mags just work! Need to come up with a conversion to CZ mags for the Anschutzes, I consider the annie mag system to be garbage. I would never consider an anschutz for a time restricted match with magazine changes
That being said, I shot my CZ455 Tacticool in matches for four years and did very well with it, and I'm very comfortable with that rifle. But I'd still pick the Tikka over it if given the choice back then.
(edit add: I also forgot to add that you will need a scope rail for all 3 rifles mentioned above, $35 for the ruger and $75-100 for the CZ/ Tikka)
