Bought a CZ 452 Varmint

[paperpuncher]

I recently purchased a CZ Model 452 Varmint in .22 RF. Took it to the range the next day and after sighting in with a Tasco 4-12 scope, was very pleased with the 5-shot groups at 50 yds from a bench rest - under 1/2" with Ely Tenex ammo. It shoots as good as my Remington 40X!

Trigger adjusted down to about 2 1/2 lbs and has almost not creep. I sent for a trigger kit from Eric Brooks, so I can get it a tad lighter. My 40X has a Kenyon trigger set to 4 oz. I'll be happy if a lighter spring gets the CZ down to around 1 lb.  

Paperpuncher

[quickdtoo]

I've got a CZ452 American 17hmr, the Brooks kit works to reduce the trigger pull weight but it still had too much creep and it wasn't as smooth as I like. The shims didn't work at all, wouldn't allow the sear to engage. So I ordered the Automated Solutions adjustable sear from Brownell's, that made a world of difference in the trigger, glass smooth and breaks like glass with no creep at all.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=1678

[paperpuncher]

quickdtoo - Thanks for the info. I'll try the lighter spring first and then look into the adjustable sear from Brownell's.  From your experience, it sounds like a worthwhile modification.

[quickdtoo]

It definately is! I'm now waiting for Rifle Basix to send me a couple of their new 917 triggers so my Marlins will shoot as good as the CZ! I'd almost(not quite) spend as much on a good trigger as good optics!

[Fullchoke]

Thanks for the info quickdtoo. Luckily the wife isn't looking over my shoulder, so she won't know how much I just spent with Brownell's :lol:  :lol:

[quickdtoo]

I hear ya!! My wife doesn't know that I bought 3 17hmrs, she only thinks I bought 2, and she doesn't know about the H&R .223 Ultra Varmint or the 2 extra barrels I ordered for it, or any of the scopes I bought for all of the above! Fortunately, she does know about all the black powder rifles and equipment I sold so I could do all this! Out with the old, in with the new!

[Don Buckbee]

I bought a CZ 452 in 17 HMR that is a real nice rifle. I did a trigger job on it and got the pull weight down to 1 pound. I changed the pull spring and polished all engagement surfaces, then lubed them with Brownell's Action Magic. The first stage creep is still there as well as the travel after the trigger breaks. Maybe the sear that was mentioned is the answer to that. I'll check it out.
They are great rifles and very accurate for the money.
Don

[quickdtoo]

Yup, I've seen lot of posts by ruger folks that have put a lot of money after the purchase in their ruger 77/17s and still don't have as good a shooter as the CZ is out of the box. The annie owners are proud of their rifles too, but the cost is about double the CZ @ $600+ entry level! I have just a little more than that in mine WITH a bushy elite 4200 scope and the trigger stuff.

[Don Buckbee]

The only big problem I had in doing the trigger work was that ball and spring thing they have. I had a terrible time getting it back together...
What is the answer to doing the assembly after tear-down?
Don

[quickdtoo]

The fuzzy method (link on Eric Brooks site)is to use gel super glue to hold the ball to the spring and use a pair of needle nose pliers or a small flat blade screwdriver to compress the spring.  I got quite good at it after uninstalling and reinstalling several times to check the trigger. The pliers worked best for me and I used rtv silicone adhesive to stick the ball to the spring. Only lost the ball once! If you order the AS sear, you get an extra ball, I wonder why!!

http://chatrifleclub.org/projects/cz452mods.html

[Don Buckbee]

Thanks.
I apprecaite the info,
Don

[Zachary]

quicktdoo,

I am similarly considering getting a CZ 452 American, probably in .17HMR.  I usually have gunsmiths do trigger jobs on my centerfire rifles.  I don't advocate amatuers doing this since the trigger is a very safety oriented part of a rifle.  However, certain rifles, like Tikka and Sako, have self adjustable triggers that any 5 year-old can adjust with no problems.

My question is, you mentioned a trigger kit.  Can an amateur (such as myself) do this?  Or should I buy the kit and let a gunsmith do it?  Or do I really need a kit at all and just let a gunsmith do a trigger job?  BTW, I'd be happy with a 2.5 or so pound trigger.

Thanks,
Zachary

[quickdtoo]

Yes, easily. On the fuzzy limey page are detailed instructions on what to do and what not to do or what to be careful doing, they are extrmely helpful and don't leave a lot to question. The trigger kit has 4 springs that allow too light as far as I'm concerned to too heavy a trigger pull. The 2 middle springs are probably the most used from what I experienced with them. There are also 2 spacers in the kit to reduce creep. I tried them but because they would not allow the sear to engage, I ended up using the Automated Solutions adjustable sear. Personally, I think the AS sear is a better option than trying to install the sleeves, but it's quite a bit more money, but worth it to me. IMO, if the sleeve is installed and the sear won't engage on my particular gun, then it is possibly unsafe in a gun that the sear does engage because there is just too little engagement. I have not read any problems with the kit, this is just my experience. The kit is well worth the $14 just for the springs alone, the sleeves were an extra that I chose not to use them. Eric Brooks states on his web site that the sleeves may or may not work, most users have said they work fine, but that's up to your personal choice. The AS sear is another matter, works great and stood up to all my usual test to get the firing pin to drop unintentionally. If you're not one to do your own trigger work, just using your choice of the springs and the AS sear would be the best route and will provide a very fine trigger with a bit of over travel as there is no adjustment for this. hth, Tim

http://cz452.com/

EDIT: I used the #2 spring on my 17hmr, I wouldn't recommend this spring if wearing gloves.

[crazyjjk]

Yes, easily. On the fuzzy limey page are detailed instructions on what to do and what not to do or what to be careful doing, they are extrmely helpful and don't leave a lot to question. The trigger kit has 4 springs that allow too light as far as I'm concerned to too heavy a trigger pull. The 2 middle springs are probably the most used from what I experienced with them. There are also 2 spacers in the kit to reduce creep. I tried them but because they would not allow the sear to engage, I ended up using the Automated Solutions adjustable sear. Personally, I think the AS sear is a better option than trying to install the sleeves, but it's quite a bit more money, but worth it to me. IMO, if the sleeve is installed and the sear won't engage on my particular gun, then it is possibly unsafe in a gun that the sear does engage because there is just too little engagement. I have not read any problems with the kit, this is just my experience. The kit is well worth the $14 just for the springs alone, the sleeves were an extra that I chose not to use them. Eric Brooks states on his web site that the sleeves may or may not work, most users have said they work fine, but that's up to your personal choice. The AS sear is another matter, works great and stood up to all my usual test to get the firing pin to drop unintentionally. If you're not one to do your own trigger work, just using your choice of the springs and the AS sear would be the best route and will provide a very fine trigger with a bit of over travel as there is no adjustment for this. hth, Tim

http://cz452.com/

EDIT: I used the #2 spring on my 17hmr, I wouldn't recommend this spring if wearing gloves.

quickdtoo, I too used an AS adjustable sear on my CZ silhouette. Worked great except the highest trigger pull I could get was 1.5lbs. Had to put a nylon spacer in the spring to bring the weight up to a legal 2lbs for the hunter class in silhouette.

[His lordship.]

Quickdtoo...your mentioning of the Ruger upgrades and how they still don't match the CZ got me thinking.  I have a CZ 452 American in .17 HMR with a low-end Simmons 3 X 9 scope, and a Ruger 77/17 with the Nikon Buckmaster 4.5 X 14 scope, I finally took both of them to the range a few weeks ago to test which was better, and what brand of ammo works best in each.  I have 4 CZ rifles so I know they are good guns.

What is odd is the Ruger was not as good as the CZ, even with the better scope, in the accuracy department.  The trigger on the Ruger is slightly heavier, 5lbs, and the CZ is at 4 lbs (the CZ trigger has not been adjusted yet).  The Ruger's barrel is rougher too, harder to clean, and you can feel the courser aspect when pushing the cleaning rod through it.  I bought them to use for hunting, the CZ has been out several times for crows, it is lighter and more compact.  I am reluctant to lighten the trigger too much as the hunting use is there.

Anyways, I have been thinking of installing a better barrel and a timney trigger on the Ruger, as you have mentioned, it might be a waste of money as it will not be as good as the CZ, especially as the Ruger replacement barrels are around $200.00.  Would I be better off just putting in a timney trigger and waiting for the barrel to break in more?

[quickdtoo]

Chris, I'm not a ruger guy, so I can't help much.... what I would recommend is spend some time at RFC on the ruger board and I"m sure you'll find all the answers to your questions in short order. From what I have seen there are rugers that shoot supremely excellent, but most cases require some money and work to get it that way.   Tim

[Don Buckbee]

Cris,
I have a 77-22 that I spent a lot of time on and got it to shoot very well. I did a trigger job and got it down to a one pound pull. I then lapped the factory barrel and glass bedded it in the stock. The bore is now very smooth and I can get 1/2" groups easily. Haven't done a lot of ammo testing as the 1/2" group is good enough for me for hunting.
Don

[paperpuncher]

Received my trigger kit from Brooks last week and replaced the factory spring with the lightest one in the kit. With the adjustment nut all the way down, I measure a pull of about 8 oz. With the bolt cocked, I can pound on the side of the stock, work the safety on and off, and the trigger does not release. I realize this is probably too light for carrying in the woods, but all of my shooting these days is at paper at the club range.

Also, I am lucky in that there is no perceptible creep. I'm anxious to get back to the range and shoot some more groups, but it probably won't be for another few weeks.

I also have a Ruger 77/22 and am disappointed in its accuracy. I replaced the factory trigger with a Dayton/Traister, which I was able to set to about 2 1/2 lbs. Also, I replaced the factory barrel with a Shilen barrel. With Ely Tenex ammo, it still won't shoot into a 1/2" at 50 yds. The CZ will, though - and better. When I cleaned the CZ bore, the one-piece rod seemed a little tight. I recall reading recently that a .17 cal rod is better for the .22RF CZ's. They have a minimum bore. Maybe that's one of the reasons they shoot so good!

I've had good experiences with my Ruger centerfire rifles, though. I have a '76 vintage Model 77 heavy barrel (tang safety) .220 Swift that shoots 1/2" at 100 yds. Have a Model 77 Mark II Target in 6mm PPC that shoots 1/2" or better at 100 yds. Have a No. 1 in 6mm Rem that shoots 1 1/2"  at 100 yds. (Still working on this one).  :wink:

[mag41vance]

After shooting a 22lr 452 varmint last year I made it the rifle on the top of my have to have list. I ordered it yesterday, and Monday it should be in my safe.
Now for the scope? Probably a Swift 6-18 x 44.
Any other suggestions?
The cost before Tax = $339.00 NIB