Bolt action .22 LR

Which .22 LR bolt action?

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    68
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Eazyeach

New member
I'm really wanting a nice bolt gun chambered in .22 LR. I've narrowed it down to a CZ 455 American or a Ruger 77/22.

I'd like to know what you would pick. I will of course check them both out. (Already had the Ruger). Should've never traded it away.

Anyhow tell me what you think about these two choices or throw some other options at me.
 
My pick would be the 77/22, possibly a Ruger American Rimfire.

Bottom line: CZs have backward safeties. I don't like that.

Nit-picky, yes. But that's a major part of my preference for the Ruger. I like all of my safeties to operate in the same manner. And if I can't get a 3-position safety, then I want, at the very least, a safety that pushes forward to fire.


(I'm the same way with shotguns. I grew up with Winchesters, which means my shotguns need a cross-bolt safety behind the trigger guard. ;))
 
I really like the CZ over the Ruger, and keep in mind that I own 4 Ruger 77/22s. I am seriously impressed with the accuracy and handling of the CZs.
 
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I would pick the cz because of their reputation for quality and the aesthetic attention to detail and beautiful guns they tend towards but do keep in mind that they have tighter bores than most .22 rifles. You should only use standard to high velocity long rifle ammo, and it will tend to be pickier on ammo it likes to shoot well than the ruger, but when you find that ammo that the cz punches half inch or better groups at 100 yards you buy lots of it on the internet.

Just checked, their bore diameter for their .22 lr is .211". It'll also make it so that a standard .22 cleaning rod won't usually work, you'll need one suitable for a .17 or a .20 caliber.
 
That's a hard choice. They are both good rifles and you wouldn't go wrong with either. (CZ and/or 77/22)
 
I looked for a 22 rimfire that was as close as possible in form, fit, function and weight to my model 70 Winchester Classic Sporter. The Ruger 7722 Varmint Laminated Stock version was the closest I could find at that time.
 
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Ive not used the Ruger but I have two CZ 452s.
Both are beautiful looking and finished well and they both shoot really well.
The backward safety is a bit of a pain, but I dont use the safety to often so aren't too worried about it. I would add another CZ to my collection in a heart beat.
 
Ruger

I picked up a 77/22 a few years back. The trigger was stiff, but an aftermarket sear fixed that.

I consider that rifle one of my "money well spent" deals, and have likely gotten more use and enjoyment from it, dollar for dollar, as any rifle I own.

The cost and availability of rimfire ammo has changed things a bit, but I still am shooting the Ruger.

No experience with a CZ, less a few rds from a friends rifle.
 
CZ 452 Varmint, Lux or Ultralux. Unfortunately, the Varmint and Lux models are out of production, but they are out there to be had, if you look.

The 452 Ultralux can be purchased brand new.....and would be my choice.

Nothing wrong with the 455 American - and that would be my choice, if confined to the OP's original list. I just prefer the older 452 models, myself.
 
Are the older models (452) that much different? I don't know much about CZ rifles other than they are really nice looking and the safety is backwards.
 
I dunno....it depends on what you want to do with it.

If you want a good for the money target rifle, I'd look for an older Winchester 52. If you want to move up to competition bullseye, go for the Anschutz. If you're just plinking then any of the ones already mentioned will do.
 
I have a beautiful old 77/22 with the black plastic butt plate. Can't believe how expensive they are these days.
 
This is one of those happy situations where either choice is a good one. However, I would look at a third option:

Anschutz. Many Anschutz models have a MSRP between 1100 and 1200 dollars. Street prices may be less.
 
Of the two I would take the CZ, but I have two others to consider.

I have a savage mark II and LOVE it. Well built, crisp trigger, smooth bolt, and an appropriate size for me. I also bought my girlfriend her first rifle this past Xmas and I bought her a Mossberg 802 plinkster. Now of course she wanted it in pink and while that makes me want to puke, the rifle is actually pretty nice and easy on the wallet. It has decent iron sights and a picitinny rail molded into the stock under the barrel. I'm very impressed with the Mossberg.
 
The thing I will say for CZ is that, for relatively reasonable money, many specimens are accurate beyond what anyone would expect at that price range. Of course, fit and finish are first rate, as is reliability.

Anshutz rifles, though excelllent, are very picky about ammo. Much more so than CZ's, in my experience. Also far more expensive.

Winchester 52's are great, but so long out of production, they are much harder to find. As well, since they are highly sought after, prices are very high.

IMO.....and it is only my opinion, CZ's are the best overall "bang for the buck" in rimfire bolt rifles. Heck, I shoot a bone stock 452 Lux in the local bench rest matches. The only mods being a bench rest plate, a trigger massage to about 15 ozs, and a target scope. With the right ammo, it is VERY competitive in the rimfire sporter class. It will actually rival modified sporter rifles (with barrel tuner weights and custom stocks, etc., etc.) and even an Anshutz or two. And it was used, when it came to me.
 
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