[Markbo]

I finally decided I needed a proper wood and blue steel bolt action .22. Found a used CZ 452 Trainer model and I finally made it to the range. Surrounded by ARs with HUGE comps and huge concussions. Made me concentrate hard.

Since this will be a hunting rifle I took only my box of hunting ammo. It was a bit breezy, but overall accuracy with 10-12 loads was in the 3/4" to 1" range. I found 2 loads that were under 1/2". Wolf Match Extra and SGB so I have 2 hunting rounds. I may take my benchrest box out next time to see what it can really do.

Use details: I had mounted a scope I thought had parallax set at 50yds. It was not. So target was blurry and parallax was a bit of an issue. I have already swapped out the scope to an AO type.

The 5.5oz trigger took some getting used to. I had several discharges before I wanted to just due to the light weight, but they were on paper. I did not adjust it prior to going, but will before I go back. This is a hunting gun, not a benchrest gun. The firing pin not setting was much reduced from early testing. Maybe once every 10-15 shots? I had one discharge on closing the bolt. Surprised me but it was safely pointed so hopefully adjusting the trigger solves that. Gentle bolt work seemed to work best.

I know one thing for sure - I am getting some 10 round mags! Besides the constant reloading of my single mag I noted the last round very often (every 3rd mag full on average) would not chamber, but was too high - the nose hit above the chamber. Easy to fix each time but a pain to mess with.

Overall I am very pleased. Sub 1/2" groups with hunting ammo and a poor scope choice means I will do better in the future. One thing is certain...this CZ outshoots my Ruger Precision Rimfire!

 

[Doug Roberts]

Nice

That is a nice example!

We have three 452s and they all shoot very well. One is a Trainer in .17 HMR. The cheek weld takes a minute to get used to when I switch to it from another gun but it is a lot of fun in a dog town.

If the front sight is still on that gun and you decide to remove it, the blade has a very sharp edge. Personal experience!

 

[Markbo]

Doug how hard is it to remove the rear sight? Id like to use shorter rings I think.

 

[Doug Roberts]

Rear sight

Removing the rear sight itself is easy. Cross pin, screw, and a spring if I remember correctly. I didn't try to remove the sight base. The Mueller APV I have on there (4.5-14x40) clears the base by about 1/16". Shorter rings would require removal of the sight base and might cause interference with the bolt handle. Looks like you're pretty close now.

 

[Paul Workman]

I finally decided I needed a proper wood and blue steel bolt action .22. Found a used CZ 452 Trainer model and I finally made it to the range. Surrounded by ARs with HUGE comps and huge concussions. Made me concentrate hard.

Since this will be a hunting rifle I took only my box of hunting ammo. It was a bit breezy, but overall accuracy with 10-12 loads was in the 3/4" to 1" range. I found 2 loads that were under 1/2". Wolf Match Extra and SGB so I have 2 hunting rounds. I may take my benchrest box out next time to see what it can really do.

Based on recommendations from the likes of you and other rimfire fans here on GOGO, I suggested to a friend to have a look at CZs in his search for a quality 22LR. He looked a several. He settled on a CZ 452.

As it turned out, I really like the little CZ (452) rifles. They're (to use Winchester's old slogan) "A Rifleman's Rifle"; like domestic 22s used to be in the "Golden Era" i.e., mostly between WW-I and WW-II or circa "pre-64" (i.e., wood and blue steel with machined (not stamped) parts, and in-letting done before synthetics and CNC became the norm [aka "WalMartized"]. ) If not for the fact I didn't already have a Win mo 52, I would likely have been very pleased with a 452 like his.

We (I) are assuming your range was something under 100 yards, no? If it wuz 100 yards, color me impressed!

I have a Win mo 52 with a Lyman "48" peep, and can shoot under 1/2" with these old eyes if limited to 30 yards - perfect for bunnies n squirrels n barnyard pests IF the light is good enough - which it seldom IS, it seems. I'm kinda wanting a old type external adjustment scope; a Unertel or Remington scope would perhaps complete the (circa 1933) ensemble. (It is already drilled and tapped for such scope, which [I'm told] it had on it when it was traded into the shop where I later worked.)

In any case, if I could get my "52" to shoot as good as your CZ at 100 yards, I'd be happy as a clam!

 

[TinMan]

Congratulations on getting the CZ, Markbo. Yes, CZ452s are great 22lrs for modern times. Definitely quality items. I never got one in 22lr, since I had several nice 'wood and steel' 22lrs. I do have a CZ452 in 22WMR, and with its favorite ammo, it will group about 3/4 for 5 at 100 yds.


Paul, your '33 vintage M52 should have had barrel blocks on the barrel for use with an old external adjusting scope like the Unertl, Lyman, Fecker, and others. If the receiver is drilled, someone else did it, not the factory. I hear you about old eyes. I last shot my '26 vintage M52 (slow lock) about four years ago, just for grins. After running a couple of mags of old Win T-22 through it, I shot a 13/16 5 shot group at 100 yds with the factory peeps. I was totally amazed. Decided that that is as good I could ever hope for, and put it back in the case. It was an exceptionally calm day.

 

[Paul Workman]

Congratulations on getting the CZ, Markbo. Yes, CZ452s are great 22lrs for modern times. Definitely quality items. I never got one in 22lr, since I had several nice 'wood and steel' 22lrs. I do have a CZ452 in 22WMR, and with its favorite ammo, it will group about 3/4 for 5 at 100 yds.


Paul, your '33 vintage M52 should have had barrel blocks on the barrel for use with an old external adjusting scope like the Unertl, Lyman, Fecker, and others. If the receiver is drilled, someone else did it, not the factory. I hear you about old eyes. I last shot my '26 vintage M52 (slow lock) about four years ago, just for grins. After running a couple of mags of old Win T-22 through it, I shot a 13/16 5 shot group at 100 yds with the factory peeps. I was totally amazed. Decided that that is as good I could ever hope for, and put it back in the case. It was an exceptionally calm day.

I just took a look at her just now. Only the bbl is drilled and tapped. The receiver has a dovetail to accept the (Lyman) peep.

NOT having the barrel blocks introduces another factor when retrofitting it for a scope, yes?

Well, I just upgraded the front sight to a hooded fixture with interchangeable front sights (have an initial set of 8 different sites - the one pictured is my choice [for now] for general pest control) .

I'm not sure I would fancy having to take the peep/front sights off to accommodate a scope... But, if the rings are high enough, that might not be an issue (the rear bezel of those scopes is quite small diameter, compared to modern internally adjusted scopes theze dayz. I'm intrigued with this old girl tho. Like the CZ 452, it's mostly all machined parts (except the magazine is stamped parts), 26" barrel with (I guess) removable muzzle guide, crisp and light trigger, fast lock... What's not to like? (Did I mention ext ordinary wood?)

.

 

[Markbo]

Sorry guys I thought I had stated - groups were all at 50 yards. Sub 1/2" @ 50yds is fine for me. The rear sight insert came off easily but lower rings still allowed the scopes to touch the base which is actually part of the stock mounting system on the other side so the base has to stay.

No big deal. I will get used to the odd weld quickly enough in the field. Also I was shooting off of a hard front surface - one of those shooting blocks you can turn 6 or 8 different ways for different heights. Not the best set up for extreme accuracy. I contacted the seller and he had indeed replaced the tigger spring. So I will replace the trigger spring to a slightly heavier unit (about 2 lbs) before going back to the range. And I will take my own front rest and bags.

 

[Paul Workman]

Sorry guys I thought I had stated - groups were all at 50 yards. Sub 1/2" @ 50yds is fine for me. The rear sight insert came off easily but lower rings still allowed the scopes to touch the base which is actually part of the stock mounting system on the other side so the base has to stay.

No big deal. I will get used to the odd weld quickly enough in the field. Also I was shooting off of a hard front surface - one of those shooting blocks you can turn 6 or 8 different ways for different heights. Not the best set up for extreme accuracy. I contacted the seller and he had indeed replaced the tigger spring. So I will replace the trigger spring to a slightly heavier unit (about 2 lbs) before going back to the range. And I will take my own front rest and bags.

Thanks 4 the info!

Markbo: To each his own on trigger spring tension, I guess. in the mid 90s I got into PDs in a big way and bought my first Rifle Basix 6oz trigger. Since then it's light triggers for me, especially for PDs and small game. When I shoot my friend's CZ 452 (rarely), I find the "heavy" pull is a distraction. (Makes me think I forgot to take the safety OFF! )

 

[TinMan]

Paul,

Barrel blocks are not a problem. Check the link here:

http://www.steveearleproducts.com/scopeblocks.html

I can't quite see enough detail in your front sight picture, but I think you will be fine. The mounts for old Unertl and Lyman scopes are pretty high. The scopes and mounts I have (Unertl) do fit without interference, as I recall. If not, it is merely a thumbscrew to take the front and rear sights off. Hope this helps.

 

[Markbo]

Paul if this were going to be a bench gun or a prairie dog gun I'd leave it alone, but for a traipsing through the woods gun, 2 lbs will be just fine.

 

[Doug Roberts]

Yo Dave

Yo Dave has sets of trigger springs that allow you to adjust the pull weight. Brooks trigger kits were the cat's @$$ for years but Brooks disappeared a while back and Yo Dave picked up the slack.

https://www.yodaveproducts.com

 

[Markbo]

I have a replacement spring on the way.


p.s. found a brick of Eley HM2