I am looking to buy either a CZ 452 or a 455 Ultra Lux. Is there a big difference? I shot a friend's 452 and it was great. Any help is appreciated.

https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=32042.0

I've had quite a few CZ452s. A couple of Americans in .22LR, an American in 17m2, a varmint in 22WMR, and a Lux in .22LR.

I had one 455 when they first came out. On its best day it couldn't keep up with my lousiest shooting 452. Which was the Lux.

I'd spring for a 452 if it were me.

Before you pay a premium for a discontinued model, check out the 457s. There are three models with that style comb. The 457 addresses all the major complaints about the old ones: safety, trigger, bolt-lift, and cheezy bottom metal, without you having to fork over any more money or time. If you happen to get a so-so barrel, it’s easy and cheap to get another or just easy (but not cheap) to replace it with a custom.

A bonus is that they’re nitrided, so very corrosion resistant, inside and out.

I had a very accurate 453, still have a SS 455 in walnut, but the 457s are just nicer rifles, and right now, cheaper.

https://cz-usa.com/product-category/rifles/rimfire/

Of the examples I have directly compared on a bench with a variety of ammo a 452 was always more accurate

I am with Pappy348 on this -I have owned a half-dozen 452 Americans and one was very accurate, 4 were middle of the road and one was very poor grouping - like most other things they are a mass produced product and some are going to be good and some are going to be so-so.

The 457 is ready to use out of the box unlike most 452's which at a minimum require a trigger fix, and higher than normal rings to get scope clearance for the bolt handle.

drover

Glad to see some love for the 457.

Bought a 457 Varmint model a few months ago and am very impressed with it, fit and finish is first rate although I can see where some might not like the checkering pattern but it's fine with me. As noted, the safety works like Americans think one should and you can mount a low scope without buying a new bolt handle. It's not the one with the match chamber but is still extremely accurate.

The fully adjustable trigger - weight, take up and overtravel - is excellent out of the box. CZ even puts out a video telling you exactly how to adjust those. I bought a different trigger spring from a fellow in the classifieds here for about 10 bucks, it's an easy swap out, and it took the trigger down to 16 ounces.

Agreed. I have 3 452 Americans and all are extremely accurate. My one and only 455, meh.

I have a 455. Generally I like it, it will shot +/- 1/2" at 50 yards with several different brands of SV ammo. The only complaint that I can really point to is that it will as a rule throw the first shot of the day even though it isn't a clean barrel. Can;t figure out why but I'm working on it.
Phil

Even if that trend holds with a larger sampling, I always consider the use to which the rifle will be put. A solid 1/2” rifle has little advantage over a 3/4” one for small game, plinking, or target (not bench) shooting.

My 453 was probably the most accurate of the four CZs I’ve owned, except possibly the newest, a 457 Varmint MTR that’s still being evaluated, but the ergos were bad for me, so down the road it went. Since the 457 is the current model, factory accessories and parts are easily obtained too.

Nothing wrong with having one or more of each, either!

I think 3/4 at 50 yards acceptable.
But yeah, like 1/2 better.

To get .5 for 5 at 50 yds, in my target 1022 and CZ455 had to run match ammo ( both preferred SK from the few I tried ).

My old Sav/.Anschutz 141 loved reg old WW SuperX.
And my 184 was great w the Australian 42gr Max ( nothing else Ive had likes it LOL ).

Ill mess w the 455 a little bit more this summer.
It does OK w CCI Blazer.
But I'd like to see what it could do w match ammo again after having more rounds through it

Dunno how many to break in or determine if its worth a darn.

My 541T HB shot decent but the mag and tiny bolt handle irked the chit outta me.

The CZ plastic mag seems to be better.

Add.

I really like the CZ American plastic stock.

Tough, dimensions feel good and material/ texture is perfect ( not too slick, not too rough ).

Add some texture to buttplate and its a winner

While I could get a better .22 rifle, am not sure I need one.

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 modular 455 or 457 no matter how well they shoot...Tom

If you even need another plastic 455 stock, let me know. I sent them $125 and got a nice walnut one, while the getting was good. Cheap buggers didn’t include swivel studs, so I took the ones off the plastic one. The buttplate on the wood one is better than the other, but only a bit. The walnut dresses it up nicely, and still fits me well. It’s a decent shooter and has the best non-457 trigger I’ve felt. Someday, when the dust settles from all the crap I bought this year, I’ll spring for the DIP trigger guard.


As for the build quality, my 457 is nicer than my 453, unless someone is biased against the barrel system, which I’m not after getting this one. It’s wearing a Tract Toric 3-15 now instead of the Burris.

Mine is just for piney slaying.
Not competition.

Will test w 12x but ultimately will wear a 3-9x or 2-7x

That's the one I coulda/shoulda got since it has the match chamber but being left handed that stock didn't work for me at all.

It became kind of moot when I put my Varmint model in a Boyd's Pro Varmint stock anyway, but at least I still have the original stock if/when I decide to go back to that.

I have a 452 American, 22LR with a really nice piece of wood for a stock, as well as a 455 Tacticool. Bought both on a whim several years ago. Haven't shot 50rnds thru either, I don't believe. After the new year I'm gonna move on from them and let someone else enjoy them. I much prefer shooting my Vudoo and vintage 22 bolt guns.

Either one should work for you. I have two CZ 22's and picking the right ammo is what really determines accuracy. My rifles like to shoot CCI Standard Velocity..

Thanks for the information. Having a few is always a good idea.

I wrote that information down. I can't wait to purchase one and shoot it. Thanks greatly appreciate

A lot of good information. I appreciate everyone's thoughts. I will probably end up with more then one. LoL...

Shoot straight

Excellent idea!

Took my MTR to the range today to dial it in with the Tract 3-15. Had to work at 100 since the range was pretty crowded, so it took a few shots to get there from my bore-sighting job. Finally fired three 5-shot groups with some Eley Tenex Pistol I bought on sale. Two were about 7/8s and one was right at an inch. The air was very still today, so no wind to deal with. Had some concerns about the T-Plex being fine enough for fine holding, but it easily quartered the 1” white dots I was using. Going to try benchrest squares next time. Also need to find out which affordable ammo it likes. Tenex, even on sale, is too dear. Once I get better, I want to try some 10-shot groups, but I’m not ready yet.

Those MTR barrels can be ordered from CZ for use in 455s and 457s, but are about $300, so it may be better to just pop for a true custom.

I've got two 452s and five .22LR 455s. I can't really tell any difference in accuracy between the model numbers. My 455s with 20.9" barrels DO shoot worse than the three with 16.5" barrels, though, dunno if it's because they're stainless or due to barrel length, but my two stainless 455s don't shoot as well as the blued ones.

I really like CZ's synthetic stocks on the 455s, they fit me "just right" and are very well made. Both 452s have wood stocks and are great shooters, but I can't really tell any difference between them and my snubby 455s.

There was an excellent thread over at rimfirecentral.com on this very topic a few.years ago. A search in the CZ / Brno forum would find it.

The thread contained many good photos of the various design elements of the 452 vs 455, side-by-side.

Very informative, and well done. Hope you can find it.

My 455 in 22lr wasnt that accurate, plus had issues with feeding when I put the 17hmr barrel on. I sent it down the road. I still have a 452 full stock. Great gun.