With the success of the Ruger RPR and Savage Precision B-22, CZ has come out with their own factory built precision rifle based on their new 457 action. They paired an all aluminum chassis of their own design, with a LUTH-AR adjustable buttstock to create a competition ready rifle straight out of the box. I test out that claim by taking this new CZ 457 to a 100yrd competition practically right out of the box.
I had been eyeing a CZ 457 MTR but none could be had anywhere, so I ordered the VPC (Varmint Precision Chassis) from Coyote Point Armory and 3 weeks later picked up the rifle (after the idiotic mandatory 10-day CA waiting period but don’t get me started). It was the Wednesday before the Sunday Match, so I had time to film a short unboxing video. You can mount 11mm dovetail scope mounts on the rifle but I chose a Trigger-by-Scar 25MOA Picatinny adapter rail for more commonality with my scope mounts for future reviews.
I attached a spare pair of UTG M-Lok bipods and borrowed a 6-24×50 Athlon Argos from my AR. I took it to the range Friday night to zero out the scope but I didn’t do any prior seasoning, breaking-in or adjusting of the rifle. I kept the trigger set at it’s 3lb factory set pull. I didn’t even lube the shine action (which was very smooth out of the box).
I also didn’t an opportunity to test match-grade ammo. I have a few partial boxes of match-grade ammo from prior testing of Eley Edge, Eley Target, and Federal Gold Medal, but not enough to complete the match, which would require a minimum of 40rnds.
I opted to try out the best quality LRN 22LR I had supply of: Federal Auto Match and CCI Standard Velocity. While zero’ing the scope, I tested out 5rnds of each ammo type. CCI grouped the best (a sub 2″ group at 100yrds) so I chose to run with that for Sunday match. I noted that the CCI standards took a bit more effort to seat into battery. To keep to “out of the box” spirit, I didn’t clean the barrel out but bagged it up waited for Sunday morning.
The Sunday 100yrd match was non-sanctioned casual club event open to all members and guests of the Coyote Point Rifle and Pistol Club. All types of small-bore rimfire rifles were allowed. I had participated only once before with my Glenfield 60, which is a fine plinker but to be competitive I had to bring out the CZ.
The course of fire had 40 scoring shots with a total maximum score of 400:
4 targets
10 shots per target
10 minutes per target
3-minute free-shot period between targets
Shooters were allowed to re-zero and test on a non-scoring target during the free-shot period.
The CZ performed flawlessly. The action was smooth and the only effort was the additional pressure required to seat the CCI standards. The factory set 3lb trigger had a clean, crisp, break with zero over travel. It was pleasantly lighter than any of my other rifles.
My only issue was the need to re-load half-way through each target because the CZ only came with a single 5-round magazine. For the price and for the US market, CZ should have included 2 magazines or better yet both a 5-round and a 10-round magazine.
At the end of the match, I came in 4th among the 22LR shooters and 6th overall. My smallest 10-shot group was 1.6″ at 100yrds with a total score of 347 out of 400 (though it would later turn out after reviewing video that one of my targets had holes mistakenly shot by my buddy in the next lane). While this is not sub-MOA performance, I still give this rifle very positive marks because I can easily improve its performance in two simple ways: find match-grade ammo it likes and lighten the trigger.
AFFILIATE LINK
Order this rifle at Palmetto State Armory:
SPECIFICATIONS
Product Name CZ 457 Varmint Precision Chassis
SKU 02361
Firearm Type Rifle
Purpose Competition
MSRP $1,039.00
Chambering 22 LR (optional 17 HMR)
Twist Rate 1:16 in
Magazine Capacity 5
Magazine Type Detachable Box
Stock Aluminum Chassis
Sights None,. Integral 11mm Dovetail
Barrel Heavy Tapered Cold Hammer Forged
Barrel Length 16.5 in or 24 in
Weight 7.65 lbs
Trigger Mech Fully Adjustable
Safety Two-Position, Push-To-Fire
YOUTUBE REVIEWERS ARE USELESS
YouTube continues to annoy and perplex me. This is the 2nd edit of this video. YouTube reviewers rejected the first longer edit which contained a full unboxing and additional commentary about the features of the rifle. Their reviewer comment was:
Use of guns outside a controlled environment; display of homemade, 3D-printed, or previously modified guns; use of airsoft or ball bullet (BB) guns against others without protective gear.
YouTube Manual Reviewer Team
This, despite the fact that the original video had both text and audio stating that the shooting portion of the video was filmed in at a gun range. In fact, the Sheriff’s training center! So, I edited out much of the unboxing footage and removed any mention of the bipod and scope (which some un-informed reviewer might have deemed as a “modification”?! ) This shortened video was approved.
This is not the first time their human reviewers have misclassified one of my videos and probably won’t be the last. Here below is the original edit (the title was amended by me after the Reviewer rejected it):
