Which 22lr ...?

[KennyA]

Hi,

I'm about to buy a new 22lr, but which one for me.
I mainly shoot at the range these days so it will be used 90% for target shooting. 50 and 100 meters.
The style that I'm after is anything in a varmint or tactical profile.
The rifles that I have considered so far are......

CZ 455 varmint (thumbhole stock)
CZ 455 varmint Tacticool
Savage MK11 BTVS. (Thumbhole stock)
Ruger American 20" heavy barrel
Lithgow crossover

My existing centre fire rifles sport Boyd thumbhole and tactical stocks so I'm leaning towards models with A similar profile stock. Accuracy is very important. I have searched the net for reviews and videos on each model, but I keep getting mixed results. Some reviewers say that the savage is the most accurate factory 22lr made.

If you own one of the above rifles then I'd be very interested to hear what you personally think.

Thanks in advance.

[AusTac]

I've had a lithgow for about a year now, and the only reason its not putting them on top kf each other is me, if its for target a laminate lithgow would be a good choice if nothing else takes your fancy

[Bosbefok]

I have the 455 with .22lr, .22mag, .17hmr interchangeable barrels. Great rifle, possibly the most accurate rifle I have. I have used it for rimfire silhouette with great success.

[SteamedHam]

I too have the CZ455. It's ace.

[bladeracer]

Hi,

I'm about to buy a new 22lr, but which one for me.
I mainly shoot at the range these days so it will be used 90% for target shooting. 50 and 100 meters.
The style that I'm after is anything in a varmint or tactical profile.
The rifles that I have considered so far are......

CZ 455 varmint (thumbhole stock)
CZ 455 varmint Tacticool
Savage MK11 BTVS. (Thumbhole stock)
Ruger American 20" heavy barrel
Lithgow crossover

My existing centre fire rifles sport Boyd thumbhole and tactical stocks so I'm leaning towards models with A similar profile stock. Accuracy is very important. I have searched the net for reviews and videos on each model, but I keep getting mixed results. Some reviewers say that the savage is the most accurate factory 22lr made.

If you own one of the above rifles then I'd be very interested to hear what you personally think.

Thanks in advance.

I can't comment on the others, but I would take the Ruger out of the mix for serious target shooting.
My Compact is improving but I doubt it'll ever shoot 1MoA. I've tried 24 types of ammo in it so far.
For fifty-cents a shot I can keep it under 2MoA out to 100 meters now, but if I'm going to pay that just to get accuracy I might as well shoot .17HMR or Trailboss loads in the .204. Cheaper hunting ammo runs closer to 3-4MoA at 50m.

[happyhunter]

I've owned the CZ452 in varmint and sport profile and they are great shooters, but if I was doing 90% target shooting it would be an
Anschutz. I'm pretty sure there is a variant of the 1416 that comes with heavy barrel and thumb hole stock.

[No1Mk3]

G'day KennyA,
Any of your listed rifles would be suitable for your purpose, and accuracy would be less a function of rifle choice as a result of which ammo you use for the rifle you purchase. If great accuracy at reasonable cost is your desire, then a Martini International will out perform your list, but in a "hunting" style rifle you could also look at a Sako 94s HB or the Cooper 57M. Best value for money still seems to stay with Anschutz though, and there is a reason many champions shots choose them, Cheers.

[Broom]

I've owned the CZ452 in varmint and sport profile and they are great shooters, but if I was doing 90% target shooting it would be an
Anschutz.

Annies are the king, er, or Queen?

[Wm.Traynor]

FWIW,
My PTA is in for a CZ455 ZKM with a 16.5" barrel, the reasons for purchase being that I liked the "snub nose" look. But theoretically, the short barrel might have a consistent muzzle position at bullet exit. You can tell which is the real reason can't you
Time will tell how accurate it is

[MR. WINCHESTER]

I've owned 17 .22s

The best being ...

My Lithgow model 12, closely followed by ....

Kimber model 82


( a Lithgow Model 12 can be had for about $250 )

[GLS_1956]

I have a CZ 455 American Sporter. I've had it around 5-6 years it is really a nice gun, quite accurate though I'm going to say not MOA, but more accurate than I am. I've read on other forums that the Sporter seems to be more accurate than the Varmint model, I can't comment on that since I've only got the Sporter. I will say the trigger could be better, some day I'll get a replacement one.

[juststarting]

I hate you all! Now I am thinking I need a scoped bolt action 22 for target practice at Springvale, to go with my lever action for plinking at s**t at random. Bunch of aholes. Deep breath, self control, maybe I should do a H license instead (for 22 handgun for Springvale)...

[in2anity]

I really love my crossover- it's meaty with a nice high comb and front heavy; great for offhand plinking. Very smooth action with triple rear locking lugs for insane rigidity. The forend is wide and smooth (which took a little getting used to), but it absolutely DRIVES TACKS (if you can;) Had a few feeding problems at the start, but lithgow promptly replaced my mag and the problem has since gone away.

It can shoot moa @ 50m with the right ammo on a calm day, but under field conditions it'll average 1.5moa with most ammo.

My only complaint is the magazine is plastic and flimsy - you can replace with a cz thankfully. It's heavy too - not great combined with a bivouac pack when trekking.

Considering its intrinsic accuracy (not bearly as finicky as most 22s when it comes to ammo), IMO it's reasonable value at ~$1000.

[happyhunter]

I hate you all! Now I am thinking I need a scoped bolt action 22 for target practice at Springvale, to go with my lever action for plinking at s**t at random. Bunch of aholes. Deep breath, self control, maybe I should do a H license instead (for 22 handgun for Springvale)...

What! No bolt 22LR? You need to fix that

[Gwion]

I hate you all! Now I am thinking I need a scoped bolt action 22 for target practice at Springvale, to go with my lever action for plinking at s**t at random. Bunch of aholes. Deep breath, self control, maybe I should do a H license instead (for 22 handgun for Springvale)...

Takes a while to sink in for some......

[Wylie27]

But if you get a handgun then you will still NEED about action rifle.....

It's a hole you found in your safe, it will only be filled with a bolt action

[juststarting]

True true. There are couple of empty slots...

[GLS_1956]

I hate you all! Now I am thinking I need a scoped bolt action 22 for target practice at Springvale, to go with my lever action for plinking at s**t at random. Bunch of aholes. Deep breath, self control, maybe I should do a H license instead (for 22 handgun for Springvale)...

When you have nearly two dozen 22s, both rifles and handguns, the question is which goes to the range today.

[KennyA]

Ok.....
After a huge amount of reviewing, and testing a few models (Lithgow, Savage, CZ) I thought that I was going to buy the Lithgow Crossover.
But as always a real good special came along and I have purchased a new CZ452 Varmint with a bushnell AR 4.5-18x40 scope for under $950.
Now the $950 question is how well it shoot..?

[GLS_1956]

Ok.....
After a huge amount of reviewing, and testing a few models (Lithgow, Savage, CZ) I thought that I was going to buy the Lithgow Crossover.
But as always a real good special came along and I have purchased a new CZ452 Varmint with a bushnell AR 4.5-18x40 scope for under $950.
Now the $950 question is how well it shoot..?

I've the 455 American, after all I am an American. Really a nice rifle, definitely the most accurate 22 that I've got that I've gotten out to shoot. I've inherited a few I've not gotten out to shoot yet.

By-the-by I've a 3x9 Bushnell scope on my CZ 455.

[happyhunter]

Ok.....
After a huge amount of reviewing, and testing a few models (Lithgow, Savage, CZ) I thought that I was going to buy the Lithgow Crossover.
But as always a real good special came along and I have purchased a new CZ452 Varmint with a bushnell AR 4.5-18x40 scope for under $950.
Now the $950 question is how well it shoot..?

Great choice. Enjoy!

[KennyA]

Update on the new C452 Varmint.

1st trip to the range was extremely disappointing.
Average groups were well over 1" at 50 meters.

So I did a DIY trigger job, refloated the barrel, removed the front action screw which actually attaches to the barrel.

Bought some so called premium ammo.

Best results at 50 meters (5 shot groups)
SK Match. 0.40
Eley Club. 0.57
Geco Rifle. 0.29
Fed. Champ. 0.54. (Not so premium)

Happy 22lr shooter now.
I'm told that it will get better with age as its only had about 100 rounds through it.

Evidence......[attachment=0]IMG_0049.JPG[/attachment

[Wm.Traynor]

Holy #$%^ Kenny, that's Witchcraft. Who woulda thorta takin' that damn screw out altogether? Not me that's for sure I spent hours bedding that lump dovetailed under the barrel. Then spent more time and money range testing and experimenting with varying degrees of tension on the pesky screw, that you had the sense to chuck

[Supaduke]

That's a lot of leverage on one screw. Be putting a lot of torque on your tang. Also any bump on your barrel is going to slowly chew out the rear action hole. The whole action can swing in the stock like a pendulum. I really don't think it's going to be a good idea in the long run.

[deye243]

I really love my crossover- it's meaty with a nice high comb and front heavy; great for offhand plinking. Very smooth action with triple rear locking lugs for insane rigidity. The forend is wide and smooth (which took a little getting used to), but it absolutely DRIVES TACKS (if you can;) Had a few feeding problems at the start, but lithgow promptly replaced my mag and the problem has since gone away.

It can shoot moa @ 50m with the right ammo on a calm day, but under field conditions it'll average 1.5moa with most ammo.

My only complaint is the magazine is plastic and flimsy - you can replace with a cz thankfully. It's heavy too - not great combined with a bivouac pack when trekking.

Considering its intrinsic accuracy (not bearly as finicky as most 22s when it comes to ammo), IMO it's reasonable value at ~$1000.

nothing wrong with 1/2" at 50.................. well 0.5726"

[bigfellascott]

Looking Good Kenny, I've heard of them removing the screw before so there's something in it going by your results.