Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires CZ 452 Varmint or CZ453 Varmint

Looking at these 2 rifles. I can get either one for just 20.00 diff. Any one out there that can compair them and is the trigger in the 453 much better and safe??? RB

I have the 452.. if I was in a purchasing position looking at the 2... I'd go with the 453...

the accuracy of the 452 will never let you down, but I think the 453 has the better trigger.... although you can more than live with the 452s...

I have the 453, and have tried the 452 and I think for even more money, I'd get the 453. Mine is a one hole shooter even with Federal bulk pack The trigger is amazing, and I haven't used the set trigger yet.

Should add that mine is the American.

If you prefer a set trigger, go with the 453.

If not, doesn't matter, $20 aint going to make a difference in the long run, so I'd probably just get the one with the best wood.

.22LR? If so, I've shot and handled 4 of them. They all shoot great with cheaper ammo. None of them liked Wolf MT, which blew my mind from what I've read on the net. So before you take seemingly everyone's advice and stock up on the Wolf, make sure your rifle shoots it well.

Only other thing about the 452 Varmint line that strikes me odd is the preference that they've all had for higher velocity ammo. I've always shot and preferred subs for hunting and target shooting. At 100 yards +, subs and SV ammo have been the only thing I could get to shoot decent before I started shooting CZs. We shoot ours up to 250, and with all the transonic instability I've read about and thought I'd seen with other rifles, all 4 CZs I've shot and shot with have done much better with high velocity.

Only time I've been outdone at greater than 200 yards was by a Rem. 40X, and I have shot against many Marlins and Savages, and a few Kimbers and Coopers. Been burned by 2 Annies and one Kimber on paper at 100, but when we switched to shooting steel at various distances, they fell behind.

Great rifles, if you get one, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do mine.

We are shooting a tatical.22 match at 50,100,150 and 200m. It is a steel match with hostages and all. The best ammo we have found across the board is the Federal match 922A which is made in Germany. At RWS I would bet. The two rifles I found were a 452 lam thumbhole varmint and a 453 varmint walnut. Just wondering and thinking out loud. RB

I bought the laminate thumbhole varmint.....the trigger was horrible and I replaced it with a Timney.....now it slam fires. I would dry fire both and see what has the best trigger or look at the Rifle Basix trigger or one of the kits that they guys on www.RimfireCentral.com sell. The kits are less than $20.

Have a couple 452's and really like them, They shoot!

The set trigger on the 453 can be adjusted to function as a normal trigger with a very light pull if you'll follow the directions posted on rimfirecentral.com
I've had both and I prefer the 452 but the 453 is a great rifle too.

452's...get the 452 trigger kit from formeryodave @ Ebay for $20. With some screwdrivers and a small punch you have a sweet trigger anywhere from 1-4 pounds depending on preference. Kit comes with 4 springs and 4 rollers so you can get exactly what you want. You can get a trigger LIGHT with these. 20 minute job.

I have used my one kit on 2 CZ's and will be using it on my 3rd as well...I match lighter springs with smaller tubes to keep getting near the pull I like on each gun.

I have a CZ453 "varmint" (20" heavy barrel, no sights) on which I had my gunsmith pillar-bed the action screws, glas-bed the action and re-float the barrel... and I can't see ANY advantage whatsoever to the 452 because you can adjust the standard trigger on the 453 to whatever "pull-weight" you like which would make the 453 like a 452, but with the 453, you have the additional advantage of having a REALLY light, precision trigger if you want it... just push the regular trigger forward and it becomes a set-trigger. That's a "win/win" situation!

Trust me...eventually, for maximum precision in your shooting, you WILL prefer shooting the set-trigger if you have it.


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

RTB: I have shot MANY different CZ 452 Rifles and like Seafire mentioned the accuracy is impressive!
I was going to suggest that you look into a trigger job on the 452 if that is what is plexing you.
My friends at Kesslerings Gunshop in Burlington, Washington built a jig for stoning the 452's triggers and the improvement in the trigger once it has been stoned is very worthwhile.
Unfortunately the cost was $45.00 last time I heard, which is twice as much as the "difference" in the 453 and the 452 you have in mind.
Best of luck with whichever model you choose.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I tried substituting springs,I did a yodave or two - I bought a Timney-but I like the Auto Solutions adjustable sear best .