Accurate bolt action 22lr?

wquiles

Well-Known Member
I got my fun 10/22's, but I want to buy an accurate bolt action 22lr:
- Bolt action - never owned one myself, but shot a nice Rem Model 52 at the Boy Scout range (a little too long/heavy for what I want).
- Would love something that allows the barrel to be free-floated if possible.
- Would love something that didn't need much stock work, accuracing, etc..
- Stock adjustability would be great, but not a deal-breaker by itself.
- Will be shot almost always with a suppressor in place, so slight preference for a shorter barrel over a longer barrel. Assuming I can swap barrels on my own, I can thread for suppressor if not already done, so that is not a deal breaker if not factory-suppressor-ready.
- Adjustable trigger "highly" desirable.
- Lighter weight would be ideal to be able to shoot while small-game hunting.
- It can be a single shot or magazine fed, but would prefer magazine fed.
- It does not have to be new - highly accurate used in great shape over new any day. Been looking here a little as well.
- Must support the ability to mount a scope, but bonus if it can also sport nice aperture rear and hooded front open sights.
- Not in a hurry and flexible budget. Would like to spend under $700-800 at the moment.

Based on reviews and my budget range, and the fact that competition rifles are based on this base rifle (link 1 and link 2), right now I am biased towards the CZ 457 Varmint AT-ONE with the 16.5" barrel:
CZ 457 Link .....

or the more plain/simple version:
CZ 457 ProVarmint

Anything else I can/should consider?

Will
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
My brother has a CZ and loves it. It shoots right along my Kimber. A lot of rifle for the money.
 

Ian

Notorious member
I have an older Kimber model 82, made in Oregon and would recommend similar to anyone looking for a conventional configuration. Other than that, if the Model 52C isn't to your liking, there's always Anschutz. I have no experience with CZ.
 

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
I was going to purchase the LH Kimber Super America 22 LR Bolt. They were advertised in Shotgun News and were going for @$550 new in the box. Just so happens, the place selling them was in Traverse City, Michigan. Wasn't but a 45 minute drive from the resort we rented every June. So we headed that way with the money burning a hole in my pocket. Figured, I could pick the one with the nicest stock. Ended up walking out of the place, empty handed............they wouldn't sell it for the advertised price for walk in's, citing the up charge for operating a brick and mortar store.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
browning T-bolt if you want something simple and classic.

several of the newer style bolt guns I looked at the other day come with the barrels already threaded.
accuracy with any of them is probably pretty good, with the luck of the draw giving you one that was better, and probably ammo choice would further influence that outcome.
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
If it doesn't have to be new, a Savage Anschutz sporter from the 1990's would be a good bet. You will have to thread for a suppressor. Query, why would you want it free floated?
 

RBHarter

West Central AR
Dad had a Win 60 and later a 67 I think . He killed a couple tons of cottontail out to 100 yd mostly knocking their ears off .
 
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wquiles

Well-Known Member
Wow, thanks much for the suggestions. I had not consider the Kimber 82 Gvmt model, but I see a couple in my price range - that would certainly be a great rifle to use with the open sights.

If it doesn't have to be new, a Savage Anschutz sporter from the 1990's would be a good bet. You will have to thread for a suppressor. Query, why would you want it free floated?
Meant I want something solid, not finicky with weather/humidity changes, that I would not necessarily had to glass-bed, etc..
 

RBHarter

West Central AR
I just went and shot a Stevens 53B I haven't shot since I left Nv . Had to move the windage about 4" and was dinging a 4" inch gong at 50 yd after walking up from the 8&6" gongs .
 

david s

Well-Known Member
I have some CZ 452 rifles and a single 455 but no experience with the 457 series. Based on my time with the 452-5 rifles I'd bet you would be pleased with the 457 series. The earlier rifles tended to need some trigger (sear and spring) work and the possibly some bedding work. You might also want to make sure the barrels silencer threading is what you need. CZ brought some rifles in that had a different muzzle threading (1/2" X 20 instead of 1/2" X 28- I'm not actually sure on the numbers) and have an acquaintance who wasn't happy about this. Just make sure it's what you need.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
Mine is a Marlin Squirrel. But its been modified and its a early model with a Marlin 2000 barrel with extra bedding screws.

Marlin figured Walnut stock bedded.

Hawke 22 subsonic reticule

I have a CZ 452 Trainer thats real good and of coarse 10/22’s that are better than they should be. But I like that Marlin.

CW
 

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I shot a friends Marlin 2000. Outstanding rifle! I own an early Win 52, another outstanding rifle and several Remongton 510 series rifles, all are good shooters. It sounds to me like the OP is looking for something a bit more modern than the older classics.
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
In 22 LR, ammo is the difference! Back when BR-50 was popular we spent more time, and money, testing ammo than anything; it is a long story. Some rifles would shoot groups 300% larger with some brands of match ammo than others. When you find the one the rifle likes, buy at least 5000 rounds of the same lot.
 

John

Active Member
When I judged Summer Biathlon, Federal donated some Match 22 and Savage some Biathlon rifles. IIRC, we also had a Mossberg donation. The good shooters used their own Anschutz, but some had a Baikal Biathlon rifle imported in the early 90's that shot well.
I have a CZ 452 American which was made with an Elm stock, I believe. If you see a used one buy it. My son calls it "Dad's little sniper rifle".
 

Intheshop

Banned
I have an older Remington 541S (adj trigger model) that is pretty nice. There's a straight 4X old Burris on it that is as clear a scope as I've ever looked through.
 

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
I have a CZ 455 american, with wooden furniture. It’s a switch-barrel. The .22lr shoots its preferred ammo 5 shots/1-1,5in at 50 meters. The 17hmr shot 1-1,3in 5-shot groups at 100m. The .22wmr- barrel is less accurate, about 2-2,5in 5- shot groups at 100m.

I got the yodave trigger kit, and changed the spring. Now, the trigger is really nice. There are some shims for the sear in the yodave kit, I used none of them as they rendered the sear unstable/dangerous.

I like this little rifle a lot. I think I will bed it soon. There is quite a good selection of after-market stocks for this rifle.
 

35 Whelen

Active Member
Will....I have two that will rival any centerfire I own....both will hit spent shotgun hulls end on all day long at 100 yards with standard 22 fodder. The first one is a Ruger 77/22 and the other is a C.I.L Model 310 bolt repeater ( Canadian Industries Ltd) that was made by Anschutz, based IIRC on the Anschutz 64 action.....It's wicked accurate and has a trigger that breaks at about 1.5 lbs like a rod of glass. The little CIL , I picked up for around $100 as it needed a magazine that ran as much as the rifle. Keep your eye out for the CIL branded guns...the 180 and 190 are also super accurate
 

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
Win 75 (w/in budget); Re 40x (w/in budget if you get real lucky!). Rem 513 hvy bbl. Anschutz. I have the 75, shot the 40/513 in HS. Anschutz later on. All are vintage (my pref) and all will shoot better than you will.