CZ 452 American

Everyone needs a good 22, and mine is the CZ 452 American in 22 Long Rifle. I kept hearing how nice it is, and I have to agree. The stock on this is excellent: crisp, flawless checkering and a smooth, perfect finish. The fit and function is great. And I was shocked to discover that the barrel is fully free-floated.

I have a Bushnell 4x32mm Rimfire scope mounted on it. It is good for hunting, but for target shooting, I am wishing I had something with more magnification or finer subtension.

The trigger has quite a bit of creep, but it is only adjustable for pull weight. Eventually, I will install an after-market trigger for it.

Automation Solutions makes a CZ 452 adjustable sear, which Brownells sells for $66. I can adjust the creep out of my rifle. It is a drop-in replacement. Apparently, I should also be getting an Ace (as in Ace Hardware) #144 spring, as well to lighten the trigger pull weight.

Apparently, a similar thing will be available from Rimfire Technologies soon in the $35 range.

There is also the Yodave kit, which comes with springs and shims. The shims are used to reduce the trigger creep. The kit only costs $18, and everyone likes it. Perhaps if I also polish my sear, I will have a really great trigger.

I think I prefer the idea of an adjustable sear over shims. I think I will wait for the RT sear to be available, which could be just a matter of days — the maker is working through packaging issues.

I purchased this rifle in 2008.

Ammunition

The scope is zeroed at 50 yards using Remington .22 Golden Bullet High Velocity Hollow Point ammunition. I like this ammunition because it has a true hollow point, and also because it has a muzzle velocity of 1280 fps with a 36 grain projectile.

I am also looking for good target ammunition. See below for the complete results. Federal Gold Medal Target is sub-MOA in my rifle, and is reasonably priced. It also prints (at 50 yards) in the same place as the Golden Bullet, which I use to hunt.

Remington Golden Bullet HP

This is my favorite ammunition for use in the field. I have killed successfully killed groundhogs and squirrels with it. It has a real hollow cavity in the bullet, rather than simply a miniscule dent in nose. It also has good ballistics: 36 grain bullet at 1280 fps. Accuracy is sufficient for hunting.

ELEY Match EPS

I love this stuff. I got some really great groups with this stuff. It is easy to see why it is so expensive. Additionally, the bullet is effectively a semi-wadcutter, leaving nice, neat holes in the paper.

Federal Gold Medal Target 711B

Good low-cost target ammunition. In my rifle, groups are typically sub-MOA. Reasonably priced.

Winchester T22

Reasonable target accuracy, reasonably priced.

ELEY Standard

Reasonable accuracy, but nowhere near as good as the Match EPS. Mediocre price ($6 per 50 rds).

RWS Target Rifle

Reasonable accuracy, mediocre price ($7 per 50 rds).

Remington 22 Target

Disappointing accuracy.

Aguila Sniper SubSonic

You've got to be kidding me. Buy this only if you want to see what happens when bullets don't twist fast enough. It was so bad, I wrote a review.