Gun buying approach for a new, beginner shooter?

Hi Fourbore,

Thanks for your reply... Does anyone have any experience with the difference between the the 455 Varmint vs the 455 Precision Trainer w/ Manners Stock?

-- How much accuracy difference are you really getting, for close to 2x the price?

I think, as my first rifle, I'm a little below the level of "needing" an Anschutz at this point, but they look like nice guns and I've heard good things about them.

-- What are the differences between the CZ-453 and the 455?? I can't find ANY 453's on the CZ website. Is there a build difference between the two models?

-- I was thinking about a nice 3-9x40mm to start with and investing in quality glass, but would you recommend a higher zoom range? You mentioned a 6-18x - for reaching out to between 100-200 yards, is that 18x extremely helpful?

Thanks for the comments all!
Dave
 
CZ's are a great rifle of excellent standard. That being said so too are Anschutz.
@Clark, hear you loud n clear there mate! We all did the same, single shot .22's, mostly either Slazenger or Lithgow rifles, dead accurate and fun.

Myself, well I have a Winchester .22 Pump Action, Model 06. Its a take down, often referred to as a "gallery gun" but a true Gallery gun is chambered in .22 Short only. Mines Chambered for .22 Short, Long or Long Rifle. Its a great little bit of fun for plinking and rabbit chasing. (I live in Rural Australia, so I am lucky in that regard.)

It sounds like you really have done your research carefully and with quite a bit of thought. Bravo, It seems also that you have a very sensible head on your shoulders, I am sure you will do well.

Good Luck with your shooting.

Cheers
Bones.
 
OP - Your stated objective of getting out to go hunting may be getting lost in discussions here. I just looked at the hunting rules for your area and found you have a tag system for all game. For 2014 about 15% of tag/hunter applicants actually received a tag to hunt (lottery type draw system employed). There also appear to be date restrictions on some game in that you need to pick your hunting dates by wildlife management area (WMA). Not to discourage you, but for your selection process you may need to nail down your exact hunting goals and requirements and use those following the tips offered already. With very limited hunting opportunities some of the accuracy comments may be out of place for your stated goals. Many hunters use off the shelf hunting ammo with great success so it's doubtful reloading would be required (I do handload). Also, depending on the hunting area you select, shot distance may be very limited or short range. This could alter your hunting rifle selection. Local gunshop should be able to help with info on hunting near you. I am somewhat surprised that you are a avid shotgunner and don't appear to take advantage of the great duck and goose hunting in your area (you only mentioned clay shooting)
I only shoot rimfire benchrest (22LR) and F-Class rifle so I have no background in hunting.

Just some thoughts to ponder. Larry S.
 
missleman,

I used to hunt northern nh near the canadian boarder and at that time I would meet a lot of canadian hunters. That may have changed or remains an option.

op,

The 453 maybe listed under the discontinued products in the cz-usa website. It might also be found in the european cz website. In any case, for USA the 453 is discontinued. I got one a few months ago. It was a special run couple/few hundred came in usa. They all sold in a matter of days. The difference is the 455 is a swap barrel action with some machining simplification like removing the guide lug on the bolt and the 22ltr an 22mag use same bottom metal with a plastic spacer. For practical considerations no big deal. For die hard gun nuts a step down. The 453 with fixed barrel has a set trigger. The 452 and 455 have single stage triggers that can be fixed up with light springs and shims. Or again, good enough for most- as is.The 453 trigger is excellent right out of the box. On average the 453 seem to have a better finish and no reports of bad crowns. There been a recent rash of 455 with off center machined crowns. I had to pay extra $150 for a 453 over a 455 and was worth every penny, IMHO. For hunting a 2-7x is plenty of magnification. For target shooting some are using 36x! These guys are killing the flies as they land on the target at 100 yards. I am not there, but 18x is really helpful for me even at 50 yards on paper. And Leupold is a great scope. Buying a started gun is different than saying you want a gun to last a life time for your first purchase and target shoot. Shooting paper is not so much fun after a few months the other guys all shoot better than you and you look at their equipment. The CZ are really nice dual, range and field guns. I think a cz would be a keeper even if you upgrade later for specialized target shooting. You never experienced a set trigger cz or a two stage ounce anschutz trigger. Nobody needs that stuff, but it sure is nice.

Edit: I just remember some shooters dislike the setting of the set trigger. It is fully adjustable, and can be used set or unset. The two stage on the Anschutz is great, but I suppose even that will not suit everyone. And that is to light to hunt as adjusted on my gun. You can max out the adjustment, then that maybe heavy for target shooting. Or split the diff. Not all anschutz have the two stage. I know single stage triggers have a strong following too and the good ones can be adjusted light as needed.
 
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