I am considering my first, quality LH .22 bolt action. At age 63, it's about time! Thoughts on the CZs - are they worth the money? Thanks. DJB

Not sure how much money you are talking about, but I have 2. A 22 and a 17 HMR. they are fine rifles.

I have 22 mag lux and a 22 lr Varmint. Both are excellent rifles.

I don't believe CZ still makes left hand .22s. I just sold my 452 American LH for over $1000. They are worth what someone is willing to pay. Mine was very reliable and accurate.

yup! Of course I bought mine when they just came out.... $200.00..

Mine is one of those military type training rifles... has the old Mauser slide sites on it...25 inch barrel.

Mine will head shoot gophers or sage rats at 125 yrds all day long, and with almost any ammo you feed it...

Mine also has about 32 to 33,000 rounds down the barrel.. accuracy has shown no signs of diminishing any time soon.

Have a Picatinny rail on it, and it wears both a 3 x 9 and also, a 4 x 16, depending on what it is going to be used for...

I wouldn't sell it or trade it off.. its ALL a 22 should be..... that and my 94/22 Winchester....

I sure like mine, but only paid 400.

The current model is the 457, which addresses a number of shortcomings of previous models, and is IMO, a better rifle. Still many prefer the 452 and 453, and they may bring a premium. I’ve had a 453, still have my second 455 SS, and have a 457 Varmint MTR. All are great rifles and excellent values.

The 457 corrected the bass-ackwards safety, has a nice trigger guard, has a lower bolt lift, and is nitrided. Not all regard those as important issues, but some did. Pretty much moot now if you’re buying new.

Pappy, those are all improvements that I won’t hesitate to acknowledge.

Ruger American special editions may also have what you are looking for ; however, the fine touches may not be as nice (like butt pad mismatch to the stock).

CZ 452 is worth every penny you pay, period. Happy shopping.
Remember: Quality remains when price is forgotten.

Thanks for the input

Yes, I've had the 452 trainer, and currently have a 452fs.

I do believe the tikka t1x come in left hand, but are hard to find.

Unless you can find a 452 in the $350 range I would say no, the prices they are selling for now makes them overpriced IMO. I have owned five of them through the years (4 Americans and 1 trainer) I still own one American. At a minimum they need some trigger work, the trigger guard while functional is nothing more than a metal strap and scope mounting can be problematic because of the bolt handle configuration. Although I am one of the few though that like the bolt locking safety even if it is backwards to most other manufacturers.

As a value for the money the 457 would be a better choice, it has a nice trigger guard, a conventional safety, and an adjustable trigger. I have read quite a few reports of good accuracy from them, and for me at least the stock seems to fit better than the 452. If I were purchasing one today the 457 would be my choice since the 452 seem to be as much or higher priced.

drover

Do they make the 457 in a LH version? That is the OP's goal.

Oops! I missed that, I am not sure if they have a LH version or not.

drover

Wow, Paul! A $1,000 for your LH CZ 452 American! I put an aftermarket polished blue steel trigger on mine. Looks pretty good.

Absolutely worth it

I replaced the stamp metal trigger guard on my 452 with this one:

https://www.diproductsinc.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=126539

I have a 457 standard and the varmint model, nice rifles both but wish they would have left the damn safety's alone. The old style locked your bolt down when in battery, the new style is no better than a Savage or Marlin. JMO

Wife and I both have $350ish 452 Americans. Hers is a lefty. Really like them. $1000 might tempt me to make hers disappear.

My gripe with the new 457s is they took a classic stocked rifle and ruined it with their new checkering and stick shape. Keep the improvements, adapt the old stock to it. That would have been a winner in my opinion.

I've got an early 452. It was around $200 or less when I bought it no one knew what a CZ was. Fast forward several years friend of mine has a 455 versions and 457 versions pretty nice rifles but I still think the 452 is a truly Better Built gun and mine is more accurate than examples it has been shot side-by-side with. But as we all know searching for the correct ammo can change things

That floorplate price is almost as much as I paid for my first CZ - a 452 Trainer with the birch stock and it was only $169.00, of course that was 20 years ago.

drover

I get it, but still, on balance, the new one has the edge overall. Since I don't carry my MTR, the safety is almost a virgin. The old one didn’t bother me, but I remember others here pissing and moaning over it.

My 453 was, aside from the trigger guard, very nicely machined and finished, but the trigger was oddly placed for me, resulting in the bolt knob bearing on my finger. It was a solid shooter though with ammo it liked.

Hope they decide to make 457 leftys for the “afflicted”.

Yes. They bring the big bucks for a reason. Demand now as supply has diminished.

g

They are a Classic blued steel and walnut rifle (The American and Lux that is, the others are beech), if that is important to you I would say they're worth it for up to around $500 or ? The LH option is going to be harder to find, therefore may bring more. I don't know what else is available in this class for lefties. Like me on a lot of other guns, you waited a bit long... don't let that deter you.

I agree with some of what Drover wrote; They do 'require' either trigger work which can be as low as $20 for a Yo-Dave kit, up to around $100 for a replacement trigger. The bottom metal is a joke, about another $100 to get something to put some class to it (Dip products). The safety is backasswords, but I'm another person that doesn't have a problem with it, though it would be better if it worked like almost every other American made rifle (Forward for fire that is). Scope mounting is not an issue unless you like to mount Hubble sized scopes. With the Trainer model the rear sight can get in the way with a longer scope, but it is easily removed. I use in-expensive B-Square Sport Utility Rimfire Rings (low's) and have a Weaver 2-7X and 4X rimfire scopes on them. There are some 'nicer' rings available if that is important to you (Warne &/or Talley w/o looking).

Accuracy, some claim that they will outshoot their 54 actioned Annies, while others say BS? I can attest that they will shoot better than a Remington 581 (had three of those). They are a controlled round feed, I've loaded shorts in the magazines and had no issues chambering them... But like most LR's they are not accurate with them.

I presently have two, gave two to my son and tripped several.

Jerry

Not the best picture; but the Bottom rifle is a CZ 452 American that I put in a CZ Scout Stock, Middle Rifle is a CZ Trainer that I put in an American Stock, and the Top Rifle is a CZ Trainer that I practically stole at a local gunshop ($200 two years ago) Which I later put in a laminated Boyds stock and gave to my son.

The 452 was the pinnacle, the later models not so much

I'm not sure about that, I've got two 452s, an American and a Scout, the Scout regularly outshoots the 452 American with the same ammo, and with that same ammo, the six 455s I have will shoot equally well to the 452 Scout, and handily outshoot the 452 American. Scopes are all 3-9s, to keep things simple and fair. Same scopes, same ammo, and the American is outshot by the others.

I love the workmanship of the 452s, but as far as shooting goes, my 455s are every bit the equals of the 452s. I haven't tried the 457s, as I'm not a fan of their looks/styling, but I did plug a 457 .22WMR barrel into a 455 action (they are interchangeable), and it shoots like a sonuvagun (and even in WMR beats the 452 American in 22LR).

I had two and sold one to a friend. I think I paid about $360 back then for each and they were worth every penny to me. I use the one I kept for the later squirrel season. I built a 10/22 purpose built for late squirrel season but went back to the CZ because it is easier to shoot well .

Trigger work is an easy fix with spring and aluminum tubing.

I have a CZ 453 Varmint with fluted barrel in 17 HMR. It is the most accurate rimfire I've ever owned. Nice walnut, nice blue steel, excellent quality. Definitely worth the money.

CZ rimfires are all fantastic

Have 3 452's varmint 22lr,452 american 22lr and a 452 american , all are accurate and depable

Barry

Currently have a CZ 452 Ultra Lux, 452 Silhouette and a 452 Style. The latter 2 have synthetic stock with straight comb and the Style is satin nickel finish on the action/barrel.

I did have a 453 Varmint but it was ruined for me when I bought an Anschutz Model Match 54. Glass rod trigger and it shoots 0.2 groups at 50 yds with SK Flatnose Target.

Ive had 3 452s, still have one and wish I’d of kept them all. My Varmint in .22LR was the most accurate rimfire I’ve owned, after it had a shot or 2 fired first. First shot would be 5-6 inches off, second closer then from there on it’d would shoot tiny groups with cheap ammo.

Could not get that issue fixed to my satisfaction so sold it to a silhouette shooter who is still shooting and happy with it today. It was $300ish when I bought it new.

My current American shoots almost as well, and I’ll never get rid of it.

I go against the grain and prefer the 36 grain HP mini mags for all my .22LR hunting, they just seem to work better on game for me. My preference for CZs is that all of mine have shot this ammo as well as the expensive match stuff.

I think I gave $400 for this one new, and I’ll easily get 10x that value out of it in my lifetime.

I would not pay over 500.00 for one, I have owned a dozen or more of them over the years, some were great, some were not, factory rifles are a luck of the draw thing, even CZ's.....dont get me wrong I like them and they are decent quality, check the user name.

Sure, You can put $500 in your head as the top price you'd pay for a 452 American. Not one is ever going to appear in front of you at that price. Ever.

And for those wondering. No, the 457 American does not come in a Left Hand configuration.


My LH 452 American isn't going anywhere. As I've mentioned before, I had the barrel cut down to 18.5" and threaded and a trigger job, done by the CZ factory authorized gunsmith. It wears a DIP Products mount (Thanks, Big Stick) and a SS 12x42. One ragged hole accurate.

I’ve got a 455 American that I bought last year after realizing that I didn’t have a nice .22 - like you’re sorta alluding to as well.

Let me tell you - they are fantastic. Mine is wicked accurate with lots of different rounds and feeds smooth as butter on glass.

The mags are expensive so get ready for that.

I have had 6 or 8 452 Americans, and still have the best of the bunch. I have also had I think 3 452 Varmints and 2 455 Americans. Also two 452 American HMRs. I have seen a BUNCH of them on the silhouette line over the years, they are essentially the default starter rifle for most shooters.

In the last few years I see more 455s than 452/453s in the hands of new shooters as they are so much easier to source. The 455s shoot about as well as the 452s but I much prefer the older technology 452 with the sleeker contours, and the barrel threaded and screwed into the action like a real rifle.

They are routinely very unfussy regarding ammo and extremely accurate. Not Anschutz 54 accurate but close. If you shoot groups at only 50 yards you should expect ragged hole accuracy. As mentioned above though some are better than others.

My current American will shoot into a minute for 5 shots at 100 m / 110 yards routinely with Lapua Midas and not much worse with Standard Plus.

It’s interesting that my two most accurate 452s were 2006 production.

The heart breaker of the bunch was one with a stock out of a custom gunmakers catalog. It was however a DOG. It wouldn’t shoot into an inch and a half at 50 yards with good ammo.

The standard tweaks for me are of course the trigger, having a pad installed to lengthen the pull and make it non-slippery, and on my keeper I had Greydog massage the bolt so it will clear a low mounted scope.

Got a like new cz 452 lefty. I need to take it out and start enjoying this thing. It's definitely a full size 22lr made for adults and I'm glad I got one

I too am a fan of the 452's but I do feel the need to point out that the Anschutz 54 which you raise in accuracy comparison has a barrel that is pressed and pinned, not threaded and screwed.

drover

I have a 2012 452 American. I picked it up gently used in 2013 for $525 with 14 boxes of S+K Plus. Trigger has a Yo Dave spring in it. Stock was kind of [bleep] from the factory. Checkering did not press well.

I was able to get a new stock from CZ, DIP trigger guard, 1" red Pachmayr pad for the LOP increase topped with Talley fixed rings and a gloss Leupold 6x33 ultralight with the LRD. It is such a nice rifle. Shoots very well. 10 shot groups right at one inch at 100 yards with CCI SV and just under an inch with the S+K Plus.

It's one of the few rifles that I would never consider selling. I picked up a 2014 452 Scout for my boys a couple years ago for $300 and am keeping my eye out for another so the each have their own.

In lieu of a decent priced 452 one can always look for a BRNO 1 or 2 which are the predecessors to the 452 and every bit as good or better IMO.

You bet, but it’s not the same process as the 455. The Anschutz is a tight pressure fit.

Like I said the 455s shoot, I just prefer the older method.

$500 is unrealistic if you are talking the "American" or the predecessor to the American which I believe was called the "Classic". I paid about $400 for my first "American" locally about 15 years ago, before the internet was that useful for finding gun deals. Now that they have been discontinued (a few years ago), and the existing stock has dried up, you'll be quite unlikely to find one for $500. Adding a left-hand on top of that makes it even more unlikely.

But to be fair, you did say that You... "would not pay over 500.00 for one"

Jerry

Yep, there are a lot of ways to skin a cat and most any one of them works.

drover

Just listed this LH 452 American 2E model in the Classifieds for a friend.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/16658104#Post16658104

I probably sold you that gun and ammo lol. I’ve bought a few since as well. I just picked up a threaded American with a Simmons Aetec scope for $350-400. I don’t recall the exact amount but high side was $400 with transfer fee. I did buy the Seller lunch so there’s that.

For LH, DF is correct in pricing. I know some find a rare gun at a lower than market price. I’ve been watching for a 452 LH for under $500 for my young son and those deals aren’t found online at least. I don’t hit LGS, etc. much but the ones I have are low on used gun inventory.

I remember the CZ had poor checkering and CZ didn’t respond after their initial reply to investigate. The checkering was ugly/semi unfinished and I put the trigger kit in. I recall throwing a bunch of S+K ammo in when it was unobtanium so I bet it’s the same gun. One of the CZs I sold I added a single shot mag with. If it was you glad to hear you got a new stock though I suspect CZ charged you though I hope not.

I think sub-$700 CZs make a lot of sense. I’ve not tried Bergara or Tikkas latest offerings. I had an Annie 54 and beyond the weight difference it cost a lot more. It was more indifferent to ammo but when you find the right ammo CZs are pretty impressive for the cost and weight. If you add in DIPs mag well, bottom metal, al mag plate, and rail it adds a bit but not in the Anschutz 54 sphere. Someday, I’d love to buy a Fortner Sporter but I need to start shooting some guns I own before buying more.

Absolutely worth it! I love my 452 American and it shoot better than the heavily modified 10/22 Ruger with match bull barrel, Volquartsen trigger assembly that i have.

I have never been sorry I bought one as soon as they became available.

It's doubtful you would ever regret buying one.

I am looking at paying one. Seems that people really like them. Thanks for all the information.

You paid 400$ in 2006? I thought they were much less than that then. IIRC; I think I paid 330$ or 350$ for my 452 American brand new in 2015.

Yes, it is the rifle you sold me. It truly is one of my favorites! Especially after those couple upgrades… I don’t exactly recall if CZ charged me for the replacement stock. I think they covered that one. I still have a small stash of that S+K. I picked up a couple cases of CCI SV and has been my go too for a while now.

Don't forget build quality...Accuracy is probably "good enough" with all unless one's a competitor.

Regarding 452 vs 455 vs 457, only one is built like Winchester 52s and Cooper 57Ms.

I have a friend with a laser-like shooting 452 and he thought enough of the build and polished finish that he commissioned a
$2000+ Canyon Creek stock for it.

I doubt anyone will do that with a cheap modular 455 or 457 no matter how well they shoot...Tom

Heck yes! buy one and enjoy. Mine is super accurate and a joy to shoot