CZ 457 Aftermarket Chassis

Aston

Private
Minuteman
Oct 31, 2020
5
0
New Zealand
Hi Guys,
I am priceing up a 17hmr rifle build, whats the best chassis for the cz 457? KRG Bravo vs MDT LSS-Rf vs MDT Oryx, ect.
I dont want to spend to much. Also, what's out opinion on the CZ 457 Varmint vs Tikka T1x? at this stage I am leaning toward the CZ.
 
I had a quick look at the at one stock but I don't really want a wood or laminated stock. I am also preferably after one with a more tactical look (pistol grip). that is the only thing holding me back from get the KRG Bravo.
 
I had a quick look at the at one stock but I don't really want a wood or laminated stock. I am also preferably after one with a more tactical look (pistol grip). that is the only thing holding me back from get the KRG Bravo.
I don’t know if MPA, masterpiece arms, has anything for a Cz 457 or not but If they do you’ll probably like them. MDT is another one with the pistol grip.
 
Hello, all. Reviving this thread, I’m looking for CZ 457 chassis for a PRS/NRL build. The idea is buy once… cry never! Would like to stay under $1500 ish. I’m sort of settling on MDT ACC and MPA BA hybrid. Not sure yet what barrel diameter it needs to accommodate but, if 1 inch or so it would rule out the MPA. MDT ACC seems to have more accessories but oddly no butt hook. Would love to hear thoughts of those that have gone down this path. Thanks.
 
CZ 457 chassis for a PRS/NRL build. The idea is buy once… cry never!
In all seriousness, why do you want to put a CZ action in a $1200-1500 chassis? What advantage do you expect it to provide over a chassis more aligned to the CZ price point?
  • Seems to me that would be a huge spend for a chassis that will literally not work with any other rifle, unless you can find one for half or less of its usual street price. If you upgrade, resale is gonna hurt.
  • I'm not denigrating the CZ-457. Every MTR I've seen/shot is plenty accurate. But it will never, ever feel like a Vudoo or Rim-X. If you stay serious about precision rimfire, at some point you'll almost surely want to upgrade to something in the R700 footprint.
  • If budget is a consideration, have you considered basing your build on an R700-footprint Bergara B-14? Then, if you buy the top-tier chassis, it can be used with any other R700-footprint action regardless of caliber.
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With all that said - unless you try different options, you can't know which one you like best.

In my case, after years of competition with the following, I like my centerfire rifles in MDT ACC chassis and my Vudoo in MPA BA Comp. I sold my Rim-X, which was also in an ACC, after two+ years of ownership because I just like my gen-1 Vudoo better and the Rim-X had become a safe queen.
  • MPA BA Comp (gen-1 Vudoo, 6 years, Stiller TAC-30 based 6.5CM two years)
  • MDT ACC gen-1 (Rim-X, 2 years, two centerfires 5+ years)
  • Manners TCS (Vudoo, centerfires - new mount)
All of these feel VERY different. The Manners stock is new and a vast departure from MDT and MPA chassis, which feel different but their vertical grips are relatively similar. I will play with the TCS during the off season... it will have to go some to win me over from my tried&proven chassis.... but it could happen.

I will note that I started precision rimfire with a CZ-455 "Tacticool" that I put in an MDT LSS chassis. Definitely an upgrade from the Boyd laminate "stock stock." I don't think the LSS did anything for accuracy, but it sure felt and looked better... and it was price-appropriate to the rifle and I had no trouble selling the rig.
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Bottom line: I'd hesitate to put a CZ in a top-tier chassis due to the limited application (no other rifle fits the chassis) and subsequent expected resale issues.

My $.02, based on starting precision rifle with Tikkas (6.5CM, .223) and a CZ-455 in MDT LSS chassis and progressing to what you see above. Good luck and enjoy the ride.
 
Downhill, thanks for taking time to reply, it is helpful. I’m not expecting the stock to make the rifle shoot a lot better except for the benefit of a more solid bed, but more for a much better interface with me and overall adjustability. I am planning to add a new barrel though. MDT has their XRS and there’s Manners, but I’m not considering a plastic stock as I perceive it would be a short-lived solution. Haven’t considered the Bergara option, I’m aware of it, but not at all familiar. Will investigate but that may be down the road. I discovered the ACC LSS Gen3 last night, that looks like a good option.
 
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The PDC Custom chassis is exceptionally hard to beat. I have said before that the CZ 457 is very hard to beat. If I had the wisdom then that I have now, I probably would have fore gone purchasing 2 vudoos and 3 Rimxs.

I don’t have the manners stock in this picture, but the chassis will stay for the foreseeable future.

IMG_0896.jpeg
 
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The PDC Custom chassis is exceptionally hard to beat. I have said before that the CZ 457 is very hard to beat. If I had the wisdom then that I have now, I probably would have fore gone purchasing 2 vudoos and 3 Rimxs.

I don’t have the manners stock in this picture, but the chassis will stay for the foreseeable future.

View attachment 8778184
Through a series of unplanned situations, I ended up with a CZ457 Jaguar in an MDT ACC Premier Gen 2 chassis. Dirty little secret; with the same expensive match ammunition it shoots as accurately as my custom rimfire. The difference is $3K.
 
CZ457 Jaguar in an MDT ACC Premier Gen 2 chassis.
This is a great observation that supersedes my ACC "ownership" for two reasons:
  1. The ACC Premier gen-2 is shorter and cheaper than my ACCs. The two I have and the one on the Rim-X rig I sold - are/were all gen-1 chassis with the long (~19") foreend like the current ACC Elite. The long forend looks a little funny with a 20-24" rimfire barrel on it and an 18" barrel is shorter than the forend. That's why I like my Vudoo with 22" MTU-contour barrel in the shorter-forend MPA BA Comp. The Manners TCS forend is of similar length to the BA Comp.
  2. The ACC Premier gen-2 chassis, in addition to having a much shorter (15") foreend, is also cheaper than my gen-1 ACCs in terms of everyday street price. Imo, this makes the Premier gen-2 a much better fit for rimfire applications than my older chassis. Hint for OP: if you can hold out until Black Friday, maybe you'll luck out and grab one of the Premier gen-2s (or any other MDT stock/chassis/etc.) for as much as 40% off everyday price*.
I agree that a 457 can oftentimes run with the customs in terms of raw accuracy. If that's enough, awesome. Beyond that - the difference between a CZ and a custom is well-exemplified by the difference in effort required to load 10-round CZ magazines with SK or Lapua ammo on a summer afternoon compared to loading a Vudoo or Rim-X magazine. The accuracy may be there, but the overall feel isn't. As in anything, the law of diminishing returns applies: one pays a lot more for nice but non-critical functionality.
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* MDT's Black Friday sales are (in)famous. Prices are great, but - no matter how thoroughly MDT's web infrastructure people prepare - the site always crashes under the load when BF pricing goes live (typically 6pm EST the Friday after Thanksgiving). High-dollar stuff like chassis and Ckye-pods are gone in minutes (or seconds)... but at least MDT drops more of them sporadically throughout the weekend. Inevitably, some people bitch like hell when they can't get what they want when they want it for the best possible price. I'm just glad they run the thing at all.
 
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This is a great observation that supersedes my ACC "ownership" for two reasons:
  1. The ACC Premier gen-2 is shorter and cheaper than my ACCs. The two I have and the one on the Rim-X rig I sold - are/were all gen-1 chassis with the long (~19") foreend like the current ACC Elite. The long forend looks a little funny with a 20-24" rimfire barrel on it and an 18" barrel is shorter than the forend. That's why I like my Vudoo with 22" MTU-contour barrel in the shorter-forend MPA BA Comp. The Manners TCS forend is of similar length to the BA Comp.
  2. The ACC Premier gen-2 chassis, in addition to having a much shorter (15") foreend, is also cheaper than my gen-1 ACCs in terms of everyday street price. Imo, this makes the Premier gen-2 a much better fit for rimfire applications than my older chassis. Hint for OP: if you can hold out until Black Friday, maybe you'll luck out and grab one of the Premier gen-2s (or any other MDT stock/chassis/etc.) for as much as 40% off everyday price*.
I agree that a 457 can oftentimes run with the customs in terms of raw accuracy. If that's enough, awesome. Beyond that - the difference between a CZ and a custom is well-exemplified by the difference in effort required to load 10-round CZ magazines with SK or Lapua ammo on a summer afternoon compared to loading a Vudoo or Rim-X magazine. The accuracy may be there, but the overall feel isn't. As in anything, the law of diminishing returns applies: one pays a lot more for nice but non-critical functionality.
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* MDT's Black Friday sales are (in)famous. Prices are great, but - no matter how thoroughly MDT's web infrastructure people prepare - the site always crashes under the load when BF pricing goes live (typically 6pm EST the Friday after Thanksgiving). High-dollar stuff like chassis and Ckye-pods are gone in minutes (or seconds)... but at least MDT drops more of them sporadically throughout the weekend. Inevitably, some people bitch like hell when they can't get what they want when they want it for the best possible price. I'm just glad they run the thing at all.
I’m a fan of Eley, although there is some SK in the house until the wife uses it up. Eley has been much easier to find lately.
 
What chassis do you use for centerfire? I'd try to keep them consistent if you can.

Otherwise, the XLR that I put my son's 457 has been great. The LOP adjustability is huge, so it's grown with him since he was in elementary school to him in college.

I would look for something with a longer forend. Even with a 24" straight barrel, a lot of chassis are so butt heavy they end up taking a lot of weight to balance.

As for CZ vs Vudoo. Sure the Vudoo has advantages in feel. The mags are definitely easier to reload, the after market is much larger.
But in just plain shooting, my son's CZ keeps right up with my Vudoo.