please help me decide, .22lr "training" rifle.

The CZ 455 is a really good rifle that has switch-barrel ability. I bought a slightly used one .22WMR and did some tricky pillar-bedding work and Lock-tited the barrel to the receiver, since I don't have any need for another .22LR.

Mine shoots 1 MOA at 100 yards with the ammo it likes and I'm totally satisfied with it.

The only thing I don't like about the rifle is that the safety works backwards from all other rifles I've used. Forward is SAFE and back is FIRE.
 
Ruger's American Rimfire has a very good track record among the owners who post at RFC.

The stock is quickly and easily changed from short to long length of pull and low or high comb. The trigger is easily tuned by the owner for a safe pull as light as you'd like. It uses the same magazines as the 10/22 so feed reliability is terrific.

The open sights are pretty basic, but functional, and the receiver is drilled and tapped. The receiver rests on two v-blocks in the stock, so bedding isn't an issue.

I'd suggest their compact model (kid friendly) with a set of long stock modules from Ruger to quickly make it adult friendly.

I think it's the best thing Ruger has done in a good while, and it's made in the USA. :D

RugerAR22Mbt_zpsf1cdf809.jpg
 
22 training rifle for a boy

I am a firm believer in 22 single shot for a boys first rifle. Back in 1959 the late Lure Jensen gave my brothers and I a Winchester 22 boys rifle. We enjoyed that little rifle growing up on the Oregon coast.
 
Kimio

I would say the 452 with which I had problems is the exception rather than the rule.

Any NIB CZ should shoot .5" or less @50 yards. I say should, even though CZ minimum specs are 1"@50 yards (which stinks on ice).


I would go with whatever you wish as a start. If you want to upgrade later on to a competition level 22, there is a world available to you, including custom assemblages that will cost just a tad more than production rifles.
 
My take is you can use a sand bag to hold the front of the rifle up, ergo not an issue with the 452 and long term its a really great long term investment.
 
Your criteria would be satisfied with either of the two 22 rifles under discussion.

I have found however that my needs are for a cheap to use, walking around, plinker that approximates the heft and proportions of the rifles I actually hunt with. The Ruger VBZ, a longer ,heavier barreled 22 most nearly fills that bill for me as I much prefer standard weight rifles in the field. I more often use a #1B in 22 Hornet in the same plinking role as I mainly hunt with single shots and the muscle memory practice is identical.

wu be
 
I just recently bought a CZ 455 Trainer...love it. Great looking, excellent quality and very accurate. I wouldn't worry about the LOP for a child shooter, it's not something they can't learn to adapt to and still shoot well. I was 13 when I got my first rifle, an '03...the LOP wasn't what I had to over come. :eek: I would have loved getting a rifle like this as my first or second firearm. It's something you keep, not outgrow.
Last week I took a friend out to the range and brought the CZ along. He hadn't shot anything since being in the army 30+ years ago and it was the perfect platform to get him re-familiar with rifle shooting.
 
The CZs are beautiful on top of being really good shooters the others will do too. I have a Savage Mk2 fvsr and it's a great shooter and kinda tacticool lol. If you're wanting to teach open sights Sagvage also makes one with a target diopter setup thats nice.
 
I'm a firm believer that one must master the use of open sights before graduating to the use of optics.

So open sights are a must for each rifle.
 
Consider the CZ Scout for young shooters. It is a fantastic rifle. I believe it comes with a single shot adapter, but personally I don't think you need it unless the kids are very young.

The ones you mentioned are all good. I am not familiar with the newish Ruger, but I own a Mark II and a couple CZ's including the 452 Trainer in 22LR.

The CZ 's are well known for being very accurate and well made 22 rifles. I have the Mark II with the walnut stock and it is pretty much as accurate as the CZ. Savage has a great trigger.

The CZ trainer has probably the best factory iron sights available on a 22 rifle. By design, it sort of encourages you to shoot it with open sights.

Added: Kids have a way of adapting to such things as heavy triggers and so forth. My first 22 rifle was a Mossberg semi-auto which had a terrible trigger, but I learned to control it and consistantly shot very good groups at 25 and 50 yds if I felt like it. Basically, what I am saying is that don't get all hung up on out of the box accuracy for kids, but if you are buying it more for yourself, I would lean toward the CZ personally. Buy two rifles.... that way you can shoot at the same time and together especially plinking.
 
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I own both the Ruger American Rimfire rifle and the CZ455 and CZ452. All three of these are terrific rifles and superb trainers for anyone.

The Ruger is built like a tank and is very accurate. You could probably drag the Ruger down the road on a chain and have it function aftewords. The bluing on the Ruger is quite nice, the bolt action is nice, and it is very reliable. Fit and finish is excellent.

The CZs are also great rifles. Very nice actions, very accurate and reliable. If you like wood stocks the CZs have got 'em.

Bottom line is that in my opinion you cannot go wrong with either the Ruger or the CZ. The Ruger is made in USA which means something to some of us.
 
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