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When I first started writing for TTAG I owned (and reviewed) a Zastava MP22R rifle. It was an excellent little gun for the price I paid and served me well, not only for teaching basic marksmanship to new shooters but also for keeping my own skills sharp. Then something tragic happened: I sold it. I knew it was a mistake the second the cash hit my hand. Ever since that moment I have been looking for a worthy replacement, and in the process I think I may have found the perfect .22lr bolt-action rifle: the CZ-USA CZ 455 Varmint . . .

No matter your skill level, the best bang for your buck in terms of training is a .22lr-chambered firearm. From new shooters right on up to the masters of long range, there’s always something that can learned or a skill to be honed by using the noble king of the rimfire cartridge. That benefit comes not because the cartridge is cheap, but instead because it is difficult — the light projectile and low velocity make it much harder to master than with any other caliber.

To really get the best training experience, you need to start with a solid rifle. A standard 10/22 semi-auto is okay, but I’ve always been a believer that a bolt-action rifle is the best — it not only gives you the most accurate and consistent shot placement, but it forces you to slow down and take your time with every pull of the trigger. My ideal rifle would be the one I used all throughout college, an Anschutz Model 64 with all the bells and whistles, but those cost some serious coin. I wanted something with that level of quality in both accuracy and appearance, but at a much better price. That’s when I found the CZ 455 Varmint.

 

P1090644

 

The first thing you notice about the rifle is how pretty it is. It’s not “tactical pretty” like a Savage Mark 2 TRR-SR, but more “old school” pretty. The wood is a beautifully stained walnut stock, finished with a flat bottom (for easy benchrest shooting) and a free-floating barrel. The metal bits are equally as beautiful, polished to a shine and perfectly rounded where it counts. In fact, the bolt is so glossy that you can see my reflection crouching with my camera in it. There’s a 11mm dovetail mount milled into the top of the receiver, and on this model there are thankfully no iron sights added — the barrel and receiver are perfectly smooth and cylindrical with no stray marks or gouges.

One of the best features of the stock is that it is actually designed for using scopes, such as Leupolds. Most of the rifles in CZ’s lineup are profiled to be primarily iron-sight guns, but the Varmint version of the 455 was built from the ground up to be an accurate glass-assisted lead-acceleration mechanism. That means the comb of the stock is higher than the other rifles, and lacks the annoying dip at the rear that other rifles have. Some people like that sort of thing, but I’m not some people.

 

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The action is very much different compared to the old MP22R. Instead of a small and chintzy extractor, the part has been beefed up and seems much more reliable. The two-position safety has been moved from a side-mounted design like the Remington 700 to an on-bolt design reminiscent of the old Mauser safety that locks the bolt in place when engaged.

The adjustable trigger on this rifle is okay from the factory. There’s a tiny bit of stacking in the pull, but overall the pull is smooth and crisp. It is set a tad bit heavy compared to my other rifles, but it is adjustable so you can fix that to be whatever pull weight your heart desires.

The best improvement over the MP22R, however, is the magazine design. The CZ 455 also uses a 5-round magazine, but it is positioned in such a way that the bullets are presented directly in front of the chamber and feed smoothly and directly in without any issues. No gunsmith needed here: I have never had any malfunctions or failures to feed with this rifle, and the age-old problem of bullets deforming as they slide into the chamber doesn’t happen with this gun.

 

P1090681

 

The action is great, the stock is great, and the features are great, but what really makes this rifle shine is the barrel. Where most .22lr rifles use a rather slim profile, the CZ 455 Varmint uses a bull barrel that is roughly the same size as I would expect on a varmint profile AR-15. The diameter is damn near a full inch, and comes with a target crown on the end for a perfectly symmetrical exit of the projectile from the bore.

Another plus is the interchangeable barrel system. Any of the accessory barrels available for CZ rifle’s 455 platform, including the American and Lux (open sights), as well as other varmint-weight barrels in .22lr, .22wmr or .17hmr can be easily swapped out due to the larger universal barrel channel of the Varmint model.

Another feature that some people will appreciate is that the barrel is cold hammer forged, and not just button broached. Some still prefer button broaching, but the CHF process is known for giving excellent barrel life and great accuracy. Speaking of accuracy, five minutes on the range and you realize that the barrel isn’t just for show. It’s fixed to the solid-wood (not laminate) stock with easy-to-access action screws.

 

IMG_20140609_141922

 

This gun is an absolute tackdriver. This five-round group was fired using Eley match ammo at 50 yards, and I called the flier high and right. That’s four rounds in a 1/2-inch shot group, which is a level of near-MOA accuracy that I’m more than pleased with. Using standard velocity bulk-pack ammunition (like CCI), this accurate rifle stays right around 3/4- to 1-inch groups, which is still good enough for marksmanship training and practice.

 

P1090661

 

There are some really terrible entry-level heavy-barrel rimfire rifles. One of my friends was about to buy a particularly nasty looking Marlin a few weeks back, but two minutes fondling this rifle in the parking lot and he was immediately on his computer buying this exact same model from a popular online retailer. The pictures don’t really do it justice — the craftsmanship on this rifle is beautiful, and with fantastic feeling mechanics, it shoots like an absolute dream.

If you’re in the market for a .22lr rifle to improve your marksmanship skills with your centerfire rifle (or your small-game hunting skills or your plinking-in-the-backyard skills), this is the one to buy.

CZ 455 Varmint

Specifications

Caliber: .22 Long Rifle

Barrel Length: 20.5″

Overall Length: 38.75″

Weight: 7.1 lbs.

Operation: Bolt action

Finish: Glossy blue

(Rifle DOES NOT come with bipod or scope)

Magazine: Detachable

Magazine Capacity: 5+1

MSRP: $469 (Website)

Special thanks to Alamo Tactical in San Antonio, Texas for being an awesome FFL.

Ratings (Out of Five Stars)

Accuracy: * * * * *

This gun meets and exceeds the “one hole at 50 feet” requirement for precision rimfire guns. Even at 50 yards we still see just one ragged hole. So long as the shooter is up to spec, that is.

Ergonomics: * * * * *

I have no complaints whatsoever. The stock puts your eye at the perfect position to look down a scope, and everything about this rifle feels solid and smooth.

Ergonomics Firing: * * * * *

The trigger is adjustable, allowing you to eliminate all the issues that come with the factory settings.

Reliability: * * * * *

There aren’t many things to go wrong with a bolt action. It even feeds perfectly every time.

Customization: * * *

Other than putting a new scope on top, there’s really nothing to do.

Overall Rating: * * * * *

Honestly, I still would prefer my old Anschutz. But at about half the price and with nearly the same level of accuracy, you can’t argue with the results. An excellent varmint rifle for new shooters looking to improve their marksmanship skills, and experienced shooters looking for a little practice. Assuming you can find ammo, that is.

Editor’s Note: This rifle was discontinued and replaced with the CZ 457 line in 2018 but it still available at many retail and online outlets.

More from TTAG:

Hunting with CZ-USA Suppressors and Firearms

Gun Review: CZ 455 Varmint Tacticool Suppressor-Ready Rifle

SHOT Show – Boyds New At-One Thumbhole Gunstock

New From Winchester: M-22 Subsonic .22LR Ammunition

Gun Review: Ruger 10/22 Target Rifle

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

90 COMMENTS

  1. I felt the same way when I sold my Kimber Model 82 classic over 20yrs ago. Last year I bought the CZ455 also, but not the varmint model.

    • I have really, really liked my CZ 512 semi-auto .22LR rifle, and I understand exactly what you mean about the overall craftsmanship and quality; with my boy getting into the age range to start learning to shoot, I may need to add the 455 to the collection as a bolt-action is, I agree, THE way to learn the fundamentals! Thanks for the review!

      • I agree. The bolt action is the way to start. It may not be as fun or flashy or eyecatching as a bump fire AR, but it is THE platform to diagnose, correct, and train fundamentals.

  2. @Nick Leghorn, Really? You felt the need to use “goddamn”? 1) That is extremely insulting to some, me included. 2) It’s poor taste. 3) It is cheap and not worthy of a well written review.

    Consider dropping the gutter lingo.

    • Profanity is part of everyday speech for some, and, when used properly, can lend a conversational tone to writing. It communicates honesty and intimacy from the writer to the reader. Doesn’t bother me one damn bit.

        • Well, either way, it seems to have made its way out of the main article, so we may now return to sowing seeds of happiness and joy to feed the unicorns as usual 🙂

          • @CGinTX, Thank you sir for pointing that out. And many thanks to Nick or whoever removed it. Much appreciated!!

      • I guess I’ve never mastered the “proper” use of profanity. I have never found anyone particularly impressed by it, but many people are offended by it. Therefore I don’t see the point. People who are shocked to learn that some find such phrases offensive are the ones living an insulated life. You should get out more.

      • I always consider it in light of the adage, “Profanity is a sign of the lack of imagination and a poor vocabulary.”

        ymmv

      • @MattG, I’ve been around the block more than once bro. I just expect better from a pro-gun site. But I shouldn’t be surprised…it is afterall, the Age of the Lowest Common Denominator now.

        • This is also the age of “I have the right to never be offended.” Soon we’ll progress to the era of “I have the right to never see, hear, touch, taste, or smell anything that someone might find offensive sometimes.”

          • @danthemann5,Point #1, its the Age of the Lowest Common Denominator…so, my feelings aren’t hurt. It’s just disappointing to find the low brow stuff going on here. Believe me, I’ll sleep fine. I just imagined that Nick had more sense than to stoop. So, I’ll just refer back to Point #1 and let it go.

    • Your kidding, right? This is a rib, right? You can’t be serious. What kind of a “Clean room” did you crawl out of?
      Get a “Life” man, we are not in Sunday school here!

      • @Don, no need for you to cry bro. It’s just the way of the world in the Age of the Lowest Common Denominator.

      • @Don
        Lets not give the anti crowd more ammunition to state that pro gun people are vulgar, insensitive, uneducated rednecks.

    • I agree. The profanity, and the frequent allusion to Israeli models (and the links) is what keeps me from letting my kids read this webpage.

      Spontaneous profanity (stub a toe, hammer a finger, etc.) is understandable, but it really has no place in normal/technical discussion.

  3. Nick:

    I agree that this is fine example of a 22 rifle, however it is not a true varmint rifle. It is more accurately described as a small game rifle. I don’t think you are going to use it to hunt coyotes-sized animals.

    • CZ supplied the term Varmint in their company description of this rifle…….Don’t fault the author…

      P.S. A very good BANG for the buck!!!

    • I have killed a few hundred groundhogs and prairie dogs with my 22LR rifles. They more than qualify as varmint species. Varmint target shoots have silhouettes of rabbits, ground hogs, skunks, weasels, prairie dogs, and coyotes to shoot at. Officially a 22LR rifle is a varmint gun.

      • Where I come from we call most that small game. I don’t think you can get close enought to praire dogs and coyotes to use a 22 effectively.

        • You can easily use .22 LR on coyote. People too, as long as you can hit them distance aint a problem. Though it is best to stick to about 100-150 meters (and use subsonics for obvious reasons) due to noise (a suppressed .22 is pretty much noiseless at that distance).

          DOMHIK all this. I just know people.

    • Factory interchangable barrels and mags are available. If you switched the barrel for a .22 WMR or .17 HMR, I think you’d have no problem with ‘yotes.

    • Be aware that their barrels, from the factory, don’t like the cold. At least that used to be the case, it’s possible they’ve fixed the problem. I know it makes no sense on a rifle that is specifically intended to be used in winter, but it is what it is. Just don’t be surprised if you take it out in winter and your groups start opening up.

    • Those are nice, pricy but inexpensive compared to other biathlon rifles. Want one but can’t justify it, I am really bad on skis.

      Haven’t heard about problems with the cold, though the version I have available is modified by the importer/seller.

      I will get a straight pull .22 one these days, though. The SV-99 looks nice, especially the scope and stock.

  5. I bought the Winchester Wildcat .22 Varmint a few years ago, people have told me that it’s essentially a clone of this gun. I’ve had a similar experience with mine, except that I think the wood on this one is nicer and the stock looks more full sized. Unfortunately I didn’t realize how small the Winchester was, and it has since been discontinued. I need to add some stock spacers to it or something, it’s almost a kid-sized gun.

  7. I love my CZ452. It has an aftermarket trigger which is the only upgrade it needed. One thing about the CZs and you will discover this when you try to clean it is it has a tight bore in the last 6 inches. That works well for standard size 22LR. Eley can be known for fat 22LR bullets. You might try some Wolf Target Match or some Federal Gold in that gun and see if you can shoot inside of the Eley group. You may or may not be able to tell the difference. That CZ452 is great for tactical 22 matches. The only other gun I have lusted after for off the shelf affordability is a Savage Mark II.

    • My first firearm was a Mark II, and it as been a tack driver with a 4x scope (which I add because I can’t see clearly at 25 yards much less 100). The only thing that I regret is that the new ones have the accutrigger, which cannot be retrofit onto the older models because of differences in the receiver. The trigger is stiff, but breaks cleanly. And it has a distinct preference for 36 gr. jacketed ammo, shooting poorly with lead bullets or match ammo.

      I completely agree with Nick that a bolt action .22 is a perfect tool to teach new shooters. I learned, and I used it to teach my children as well before we moved on to pistols.

      • The MKII’s are a nice rifle for the price, and even nicer when they go on sale. I got one with a threaded barrel a couple years ago, and it’s a great shooter.

        The only thing I don’t like is the plastic stock, feels cheap. But I can’t argue with 1″ groups at 50 yards from bulk pack ammo, on a very windy day, which is basically every time I’m at the range. Wish I could get a calm day to see what it will really do.

  8. CZ makes fine rifles but I would opt for the lightest version I could obtain, it’s not like you have to deal with the barrel overheating on a 22LR BA, 5-shot repeater.
    If one of your main points is the difference in stock design please include an image of the other stock under discussion

    • The heavy bull barrel improves accuracy by more than just dissipating heat. The mass also helps damp out harmonic vibrations that can affect the shot.

  9. If you were to mate this with a hunting rifle and use the CZ455 as a training platform, which rifle would you select? I’ve been looking for the perfect rimfire and centerfire combo where the one serves as a close replica of or complement to the other…Good review, thanks!

    • Mausers and Winchester/FN M70 have pretty much the same manual of arms. I have the CZ 452 paired with an FN PBR.

  10. The CZ 455 and it’s predecessor the 452 are head and shoulders above the “typical” rimfire rifle in fit & finish, more on par with a centerfire rifle. Their accuracy is not on par with an Anschutz, but tends to be better than Savage or Marlin. They are an outstanding value for ~$400.

    One additional point that I did not see mentioned in the review is that the 455 has the ability to switch barrels/calibers from 22LR to 22WMR or .17HMR for less than $150.

    http://shop.cz-usa.com/SearchByKeyword?word=455%20spare%20barrel

    • I’ve maintained for the last 7 to 8 years that the CZ rimfire rifle product is the best bang:buck product out there. They’re accurate well above their price class, the fit and finish is very good for a mass production rifle and their material quality is good.

      Annies and the other German/Austrian rimfire rifles are the pack leaders, but my NOS Annie cost me over $2K, and $400 of that was sights.

      • Just wish CZ would make a .22 semi auto that has 25 round mags and a pistol grip (messed up wrists). Not looking for a tactical monstrosity, something like a FAL or G3 (with wooden furniture) when it comes to aesthetics.

  11. I really do have to start using my 10/22,which I bought while waiting for my 308. Feeding the beast is getting painful. I may have to look into trading the ruger for something like this.

  12. This has a lot of similarities to my Remington 513T Matchmaster. Something about a .22 with a nice heavy barrel and bolt action is just a pleasure to shoot.

  16. 3/4″ to 1″ with bulk ammo at 50 yards is really not all that great for a heavy .22, in my opinion. I’ll bet most 10/22s can do that or better.

      • I’ll try mine and see what happens. I’ve never shot it for a group. I’ve never even shot it supported. Based on plinking and how it compares to my heavy .22, it seems like it will do better than 2 moa.

        • While you are at it could you also test a Marlin 60/795? Probably one at the range you can borrow/rent.

        • Well, then, you can’t make the above claim.

          I have, you see, and I know that a 10/22 won’t typically hold a 2″ group at 50 yards with bulk ammo. If you get diligent and test ammo to find one that “just works” in your 10/22, hey, more power to you – look at the lot number and go out and back up the truck to buy as much of that lot as possible. You’ll probably get groups down to 1″ out of a 10/22 if you can find the one golden sub-sonic target round that your (not all, just YOUR 10/22) likes.

          .22’s, most all .22’s, show their preference in ammo in the group size – even high dollar .22’s like an Annie. If you get an Annie fed with ammo it likes, you’re going to see groups down around 3/8th’s of an inch at 50, or even less. The secret to accurate .22LR ammo is a) buy sub-sonic ammo, never the super-speed stuff, b) 40gr solid point, no HP ammo, c) the consistency of the primer (ie, buy ammo with an Ely primer) and d) consistency of the rim thickness.

          You can buy a rim thickness gage and sort bulk ammo and achieve a noticeable decrease in your group size, if you have the patience. If you don’t like paying $10/50 rounds to $23/50 rounds for the super-consistent match .22LR ammo, getting a rim thickness gage might work for you. It’s faster and cleaner than reloading, after all.

          Lastly, there is no comparison between the CZ trigger and a stock 10/22 trigger. That’s going to be as much of a limiting factor as anything else. The 10/22 trigger can be improved, and I think people should do so as one of the first upgrades they make to a 10/22. Still, the CZ trigger is much better, and there are better triggers available for the CZ than what they ship as the canonical trigger on their rifles.

          The 10/22 is a great little plinking rifle. It is inexpensive, easy to clean, easy to modify without needing to get a gunsmith involved, etc. I own two of them. But they’re just not all that accurate, and I’ve seen what the CZ rimfire products can do and they are head and shoulders over a LOT of the products in the .22LR rifle market. I’ve not purchased one yet, but that’s because I need more room in the safe and I’m really one of those guys who hates to sell a gun, any gun, that I own.

        • There is a guy who makes tools for measuring rim thickness and for modifying bullets.

          Go to “pacotools.com” to see what I mean.

        • I measured a group with my 10/22 today. It shot four moa (right at 1″ at 25 yards) with iron sights. Looks like you’re right, DG. I also got a refresher in how hard it is to shoot small things with iron sights.

      • I feel compelled to point out that a user just posted a P320 review of a Marlin 60 that’s shooting just as well as this CZ did with bulk ammo.

      • It’s not a 10/22, but I did measure groups for the first time in my life with a .22 today. My Ruger Model 77 averaged .671″ over five groups of five shots each off a bipod and rear bag with bulk ammo. I’m sticking to my claim that 3/4″ to 1″ with bulk ammo is not an “absolute tackdriver.”

        Even though this is stale as hell, I’ll see what I can do with my 10/22 one of these days.

        • Although this thread is sooooo stale, I have shot .25″ groups at 50 yards with Eley Match and CCI Standard with a CZ 455 Varmint with a bipod and no rear rest. I will concede that those are the best of my groups but .5″ to .75″ is common with non-match ammo.

  17. Spelling error in the review: It is spelled “Anschutz” and if I’m going to be really nit-picky, it is really spelled Anschuetz or Anschütz.

    As I related above, the CZ’s are, IMO, the best rimfire product for the price paid out there today. They’re very accurate for their price class.

    To do better than the CZ’s for .22LR accuracy, you have to step up to a used US target rifle (Rem 40X, Winchester 52B or later, etc) or one of the really high-dollar target rifles. Or, you could get a good older bolt gun like a Rem 513T, Win 75, etc, and put a modern match barrel on it, add a bit of bedding and rework the trigger, and get a pretty good result.

    • Yeah, Annies are nice though I stick to Izhmash and Sauer. I mean, if I can do groups at 100 meters with the bullets touching/going through one another (and I am not a super good shot) then the rifle is good to go. At that point I am still a limiting factors and I know those who shoot better than me who do really good stuff with it. Even though it is not an Anschütz.

      • Both rifles suffer from a lack of sales presence here in the US for their target .22 products.

        Pretty much all Sauer sells in the US are the “tacti-kewl” semi-autos and the “wanna-be tacti-kewl sniper” bolt rifles. As we’ve discussed before, if I could get a STR in 6.5×55 here in the US, I’d be all over it like stink on a cowpie. Sauer sells a rifle derived from the STR here in the US, the SSG-3000, but it’s all tacti-kewled for the market here that has a fetish for black plastic.

        Last I looked at a Izhmash, there was little dealer support for their products here. I think you could order a CM-2 from Mac Tilton over in California for a reasonable price, but I don’t know how much parts support you could get.

        • The SSG 3000 isn’t that much different. Rebarrel it to .260 remington, add diopter sights and add a wooden stock to it. You are a gunsmith so you can either make it yourself or know a stockmaker or two. You can also order a stock from Scandinavia and just fit it to the rifle.

          Only difference between the 3000 and 200 STR is the lack of conversion parts (barrels, magazines and bolts) and the fact that it comes with a rail built in.

          I hope this isn’t the first suggestion of detactikewling a rifle to get something you want.

        • Oh, certainly not.

          But see, if I’m going to pull all that crap off a rifle to turn it into something I want, I’m not paying for it.

          So if Sauer would sell me a SSG-3000 action/bolt/trigger/magazine (or a complete rifle) for, oh, $500, then I’m in.

          But pay $1500 for a bunch of parts that will end up on a shelf in my shop? Nah.

        • Cray cray idea number two, which is actually pretty reasonable: What about importing one from Norway, Denmark or Sweden? Sure, it will be more expensive but you can get just what you want and you can also get extra barrels for it while you are at it. I know you can easily get barrels in 308, 6.5×55 and .22 lr though I am unsure about 5.56 barrels (supposed to exist since the rifle uses millitary ammo but I haven’t seen one).

          Also I was wrong, after some research I found out that the SSG 3000 uses the same barrels and stocks as the 200 STR. So you can just import a barrel from “vapensmia.no” they make barrels for Sauers by using Anschütz and Walther Lothar blanks IIRC.

          Found also a source in Denmark:

          http://skyttebutik.dk/group.asp?group=130

          Be warned, it costs 2.5k USD without import. Import will probably cost extra. Conversion to .22 LR is 1.4k. You can get them in 6.5, 308 and 6mm norma if buying from Denmark. WOuldn’t recommend the .308 since you can just buy a Sauer SSG 3000 barrel by itself and use that if you want to shoot 308. Also there are two versions, one has a beech stock while the other one has a walnut stock. Personally I use beech but I don’t know what if any difference it makes except for aestethics. The beech version is slightly cheaper. Also magazines are 60 USD each from Denmark.

          Sorry if it seems as if I am trying to sell something to you, but I know the feeling of hunting after “the one”. The one firearm, car, boat, tool, etc that you always wanted. So if I can help I will try.

        • Doing the import myself is a whole lot of paperwork I don’t want to deal with.

          This is why more manufactures of high-tech actions should learn to sell an action alone. There’s over nine (last I counted) guys making 700 clone actions (or “700 compatible”), and CZ, Dakota and FN sell raw actions. There’s room in the market for the STR action, and then the extra bolts for .22LR, 6.5 Swede and .473″ bolt faces.

    • Nope.

      An old high-power shootist once told me that he judged how serious newcomers to high power competition were by the quality of their .22 rifle and how seriously they shot it. To me, it is sad that most American shooters no longer take .22’s seriously any more. The fact that 10/22’s, Marlin 60’s and other semi-autos are now the predominate products in the .22LR market tells me that most .22 shooters aren’t serious about rifle marksmanship.

    • Marlins ain’t bad for accuracy. One of the few semi-auto .22s I like in regards to accuracy and quality. The other one is the CZ semi auto and the Savage 64. I really dislike the Ruger, something is wrong IMO if you HAVE to upgrade a rifle to make it function decently.

      Sure, the semi autos ain’t super accurate but are accurate enough for plinking and semi-serious marksmanship.

  19. I have a mild case of irrational heartburn with calling the gun an “absolute tackdriver.” 4 rounds in 1/2 inch at 50 yards is 1 moa. The rifle is pushing 2 moa with standard ammo. Those results are good for a $500 rifle, but I don’t think it qualifies as an “absolute tackdriver” for a 22lr.

    And what does “I called the flyer high and right” mean? With a scoped .22 at 50 yards, you see the hole in the target the instant you pull the trigger. What is there to call? If you’re saying the flyer was shooter error, just say that. If it’s not shooter error, you’ve got about a 1.2 moa group with target ammo, which is what I would expect if bulk ammo is pushing 2 moa.

    To me, a heavy .22 like this is about accuracy, first and foremost, with more emphasis on point of aim than point of impact. I’d like to see more details about how it was shooting.

  20. I love the .22 reviews. I need a CZ 452/455 to pair with my CZ 527. For now, I am making do with an old Marlin 25N that I have done some bubba trigger work on. Haven’t measured a 50-yard group, but I can consistently score over 90 on a 50-foot NRA rimfire target with standard velocity ammo. Since the 10-ring is the size of a dehydrated pea and I am new to rifles, I have been happy with that.

    • I recently purchased a CZ 455 Varmint and was initially disappointed with the accuracy that I was getting. I checked some forums and found that improperly torqued barrel screws and action screws can be a problem with these rifles. I adjusted mine and started getting sub-half-inch groups at 50 yards with CCI standard ammunition.

  21. NICE rifle!!!!!! It’s been a while since anyone has reviewed a walnut stocked bolt action here. I’m a 58 year old “old school” kind of guy that enjoys reading about this kind of firearm, Hey, I like the black modern sporting rifles too, I like pretty much anything that shoots bullets, but a walnut stocked beauty like this is something I just enjoy a little more than the others. They look pretty, even “feel” pretty in my hands, and against my cheek as I hold it in firing position. Seems like a decent deal considering today’s prices. And speaking of today’s prices, I have to get over my belief that $40 is a lot of money.

  22. What do you guys think about the iron sight versions of the 455? None of them have the heavy barrel, but somehow I like the idea of not having to get optics right away.

  23. Once you buy your first you probably won’t stop. There are more accurate rifles out there but I doubt you’ll find off the shelf consistency in this price range anywhere.

    CZ 452 lux in .22lr
    CZ 452 mannlichter in .22wmr
    CZ 452 American in .17hmr

  24. If you want a super accurate 22lr, then buy a cz 455 in 17hmr. Order a drop in barrel from Lilja in 22lr ($375). Install the new barrel in 10 minutes and go out and shoot with any 22lr rifle in the market. And, you have a terrific shooting 17hmr anytime you want to swap barrels. A cz 455 with a Lilja match barrel will still cost you less than a new Annie.and WILL shoot with any Annie. Just my $0.02.

  25. Love this website and this CZ. I have 13 CZ rimfire rifles, all excellent. However, I have to comment on the reviewers mention of the MP22R, a supposedly earlier CZ rifle reviewed elsewhere on this site. The MP22R, sold by Charles Daly, and then through Remington as the model 5, I believe, were NOT made by CZ, but by Zastava in Serbia. It has nothing to do with any CZ products, which are made in the Czech republic. The Zastava is a fine rifle, and a bargain, but it is not up to the level of a c 452 or 455. Thanks,
    Scott

  26. Great review! I am going to buy this gun.

    Do you mind sharing the specifics in terms of the mount, rings, and scope setting you went with? I want to be sure I buy rings that are neither too low or too high. Thanks!

  27. I agree with TT. Yep, your five shot group is about 1.2 MOA with very good ammo. Your “tacks” must be the size of a silver dollar. You apparently know nothing about how to measure accuracy. Five shots? Really? Did you only take five rounds to the range with you? If you presume to write a review, make an effort to have something worthwhile to say. Go back and shoot 20 5-shot rounds and don’t make excuses for your lack of technique.

  28. Just got mine and hope to sight in the scope tomorrow. Hope I do better than the factory paper that came with it. Looking at the factory groups would have made me by a different gun.

  29. Reading these comments four years later is interesting as I just bought the 455 American. Love it. It’s the best .22 I’ve ever owned and I’ve had a few. Not going to get into a pissing match though over whether it’s more accurate than other rifles costing two to three times as much. Also not too worried about the use of goddamn or damn since I don’t believe ina sky god taking notes on this. Scott: thank you for telling us that Zastava is not CZ since the author said it was a Zastava in the very first paragraph. Reading comprehension is a great thing to have. Bottom line: the CZ 455 is a great rimfire rifle in any configuration, very versatile with the barrel, stock, magazine swap capability and very accurate. I don’t need Olympic grade accuracy since I don’t plan on entering anytime soon nor would I pay for that level of accuracy. Sub minute of small game is all I will ever need and this rifle delivers with a ton of old world craftsmanship thrown in. Too bad that so many people judge rifles like this in comparison with the latest “tacticool” version of whatever. Trust me if we lose an appreciation for quality we will be stuck with cheap. The sale of cheap rifles and shotguns today saddens me and others who would rather have a quality rifle holding five rounds than a piece of crap tactical looking piece of plastice that holds 25 or more. Some of us still value marksmanship and don’t plan on holding off a platoon of anything.

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