Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires CZ 452 American ??

I am considering a 452 American. I haven't fondled it yet, but does the bolt throw require higher rings to clear a Leu fixed 6X ocular? Thanks.

I have a Leupold 6X compact on mine and medium rings - works fine.

PennDog

Mine have a 40mm Burris and a 40mm Bushnell with medium rings.

Medium rings.

I wouldn't waste a lot of time pondering a 452.

You won't be sorry.

And don’t dismiss the 453, 455, and my favorite the current 457. All are good rifles, with the 457 readily available and with all the old quirks fixed, plus a nitride finish. Handle them and pick the one you like.

If you decide on one with interchangeable barrels, buy it chambered for what you want the most as accessory barrels from CZ seem to be unobtanium for the time being. Aftermarket ones are spendier and may have to be special ordered.

I sold 2) 455's and now have a 457(and 2 barrels). The backward safety was a real pain in the ass for me. The triggers were much harder to work on. Accuracy was the same - excellent on every CZ I have ever owned. I have no want what-so-ever for one of the earlier models.

Loves my 452. Blue and wood with a touch of old time charm. Anyone with about half a brain can adapt to the "backwards" safety. LOL.

I’m in love with the 452s. I sold the 22 mag and it was a fine shooter with a great trigger. I’ve kept the 452 Varmint. It’s set up with a Nikon in medium rings and bolt clearance is good. It shoots bug hole groups with CCI standard velocity.

Low Talley’s will work with that scope.

All my rifles and pistols with hammers work "backwards," too.



Bruce

Thanks for all the prompt responses. I am limited since I am looking for a lefty 452 or 457. Be well. DJB

Yup. I’ve had stuff with all kinds of safeties, and none. Never had an issue switching, nor any whoopsies. Still like the 457 best overall, but that’s just me.

My left hand 452 currently has a 3x9 Nikon, no problems with scope or rifle. My sample of one outperforms it’s pay grade. I regret waiting too long to buy the rifle.

If anyone has or sees a lefty 452 or 457 for sale, please let me know. I passed up a new 457 while in MT two months ago. I should have bought it but the stock was really ugly and poorly finished. Thanks.

My two cents, the 457s are nice but, if it matters, the 452 build quality is far superior to a modular 457.

The 452 is built the same way as a Cooper or Winchester 52. Which is why they stopped making the 452, and Coopers start at $3K...Tom

Dave…check out…. Classic Firearms…web site…I bought a LH 457 from them..in 22 mag.. in late August…but they had 22LR also in LH…at the time…

I had a 453, and have to disagree. Certainly one can prefer the features of one over the other: slip-fit barrels, safeties, strap-iron trigger guards, metal finish et alia, but my 457 is very nicely made, easily the equal of my 453. 452 triggers remind me of my old SMLE.

What do you have to disagree with? I didn't say they weren't different. Modular rifles have their place just like 10-22s.

I'll say it again, 457s are nice but, if it matters, the 452 build quality is far superior to a modular 457.

The 452 is built the same way as a Cooper or Winchester 52.

That's all I claim. Build quality. How it's made. Barrel threaded in, polished blue finish. I realize others may not see the value in that.

Let me give you an example. I have a friend that has a 452 that shoots particularly well. He thought so much of it that he commissioned a $2K or $3K Canyon Creek stock for it. You won't see anyone doing that with a 457, which I agree is a good rifle...Tom

Won't see many doing it with a 452 either.

More money than sense your friend has.

That’s just an example of one guy’s enthusiasm for his rifle, not evidence of any advantage they have.

I disagree that the build quality is better, based on one I owned and two my so owned. Definitely not far superior. The barrel attachment is at most IMO, a draw.

A lot of bad stuff was said about the barrel attachment when 455s came out, then folks began to futz around with torque and shims etc to tweak them. Now there’s a significant market for custom barrels for those and the 457s, and somebody’s buying them based on availability. I always liked the locking lug on the old ones, but on my 453 at least, that resulted in a single screw holding it in the stock, not a great idea, though mine shot very well, and I wish I’d kept it instead of sacrificing it going down a rabbit hole after something else. My 457 has some upgrades over the old ones that I consider significant. The direction of the safety matters not to me but the ease of pushing it forward is a plus. The nitride finish is a plus. The trigger is better than even my 453, and the trigger-reach ergos better for me. The low bolt throw is a definite plus and one of the big complaints about the previous ones. The separate bolt release is a plus. The trigger guard is a huge cosmetic improvement, at no extra cost. I have no immediate plans to swap out the barrel for a custom or change cartridges, but if I get bored or decide to upgrade I just might. So far all I’ve done is swap the plastic mag guide out for an aluminum one.

Looks are subjective, and so is attachment to one’s rifle. The improvements I mentioned may not matter to all, but they got me to buy one and eventually sell a 455 once I was certain about the new one.