Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Thinken> Thinken > But its only a 22!

I left the 22 rim rifle when I was 16 years young and never to need it again. Now I am, thinken maybe a 22 rim may grace my hands just for the hell of it. I see there is a culture now into the 22 rim rifle that blows my mind, and I see way over priced!The culture hummm about this 22 and that 22 and they are not making this 22 so you should buy it!. in short supply > will they ever make it again> and it goes on and on! Its only a 22 rifle but these people go on aND ON! sO THINKEN ABOUT A Zastava Z5> CZ99 I take it is the same gun in a 22Mag. Your thoughts.

Ya I can buy a savage , a cz 455 , I hear marlin is dead {I can still buy one till the stock runs out} and others But The Zastava is old world gun making at a good price , and its only a 22 Rifle!

Lets Talk!

DFTT

Get your hands on a Zastava first. I was thinking about picking one up until I stumbled across some new ones in a local GS. The fit and finish was horrible including a very clunky poor fitted magazine. I hear the ones packaged by Rem. were much better though.

I would much rather spend another $100 and pick up a CZ (452 if possible).

recently procured a youth model Zastava by Remington for my grandson. it is really nice for the price ($155 plus tax). it's a beech stock i believe.

really tight action, and good precise sights. there's some still around, just have to look about.

CZ452 is a good man's sized rifle in the full size model. the rem 572 fieldmaster is a wonderful squirrel and small game rifle. shoots all the shells interchangeably too.

OK> I can get a Zastava 22 mag for 320.00 , and cz 455 22 mag for 500.00 buck > all in all whats the better deal. two EU> products.

Yes I can get a savage but I just Luv that old EU look and they shoot!

Are you looking at two barrel combination model CZ's?

Whittakers has the 455 Lux in 22 WMR for $382.99.................and a 455 American 22 WMR for $356.99

The Lux is a European hog back style stock and is well suited for iron sights and the American would be slightly better for a scope due to no iron sights and a higher cheeked stock.

For the small price difference I would be much happier with the CZ.

buy a mauser

If the price difference is that close, hands down get the CZ...Even at a $100 difference, I think you will be happier with the CZ. It's a much more robust design that dates back to the mid 1940's as the BRNO Model 1. There have been some changes since, but the essentials are still in place and many parts interchange.

I've had a couple CZ452's, several BRNO rimfires and 1 Zastava rimfire in the Charles Daly flavor. For the price I paid for the Daly ($150 new), I thought it was excellent. However, I wouldn't spend a dime more than $250 on one and I would have to think long and hard first.

I will say that the Zastava has a pretty decent trigger, nice bluing (outstanding actually)...better than the price would indicate, but the stocks are typically crudely finished, poorly checkered and will require a refinish. They tend to clean up nice, but it's a lot of extra work. I found the magazines to be finicky and while the safety is ok, would prefer it to be more positive. The bolt handle is dinky and uses the root of the handle as the locking lug. The bolt does operate very smoothly.

Some Zastava vs. CZ452 pics..keep in mind, on my Zastava rifle I did refinish the stock and added a rubber buttpad. Nothing was done to the CZ:

actions/bolts



left side receiver:



for similarity reference to the CZ, here is a BRNO Model 1 from 1950:


And a M5 from 1970:


Both are predecessors to the current CZ's

DW

The Zastava has a much smaller(dinky)bolt and handle compared to a CZ. I looked at some again yesterday. There were (many) machine marks left on the receiver and the stock fit and finish is just horrible. It could have been made by 10 year olds.

A CZ trigger can be good or have some creep. At it's worst $20 will turn it into a trigger that will rival an Anschutz. I own both.

I'm surprised that anyone could exist without a good rf handgun and rifle. They are just too important for skill development and maintenance not to mention downright fun.

As everyone else has said look for a CZ 452, especially a Lux or Special as they have excellent open sights, unlike those things passed off as sighting devices by other rifle makers.
Amazing what they can do out to the 200yds that the sights are calibrated for.

If you really want fun and some good eating put something like a Leupold 4x rf special on it and go looking for some squirrels.

Just done it from North Pro Sports> 22mag in a 455 lux ! can it get any better if I want a Lilja Barrel??? > but its only a 22 rifle!

Weaver scope mounts????

And why not? My .22 wears a Lilja

Congrats, work the action a bit to smooth it out some and or just shoot it a lot. They are ok from the factory, but get way better with use. Once broken in, they are a true sweetheat of a rifle.



Cant say I've ever used Weaver mounts on a CZ...your new 455 will have the 11mm rail, and I don't think the Weavers will fit that well being 3/8". If you have them, it wouldn't hurt to try and see. Otherwise, BKL is a decent inexpensive alternative. Considering your rifle has open sights, depending on if you want to use them on occasion or not, Warne makes a QR ring (7.3 series). Not exactly inexpensive at $50+/-, but they are steel and of very good quality. For about $30 you can get the same basic Warne rings, but without the release lever.

Enjoy your new rifle!

DW

It's only a .22 but will probably be shot more than your other rifles by far. Makes a lot of sense to have a nice .22 if you think about it that way. I have a 77/22 that is pretty decent but am always thinking about a really nice one, just not sure what it is.......yet.

Another fan of the Cz rimfires. Since I got my 452 Military Trainer none of my other .22 lr rifles have made it out of the house. The iron sights are excellent and the long barrel gives a long sight radius. By far my favorite rifle for head shooting cottontails.

Anschutz 54 action. You will never be sorry.