I have been looking to get a new rimfire and these two seem like good choices. I realize that these are two very different looking rifles but which would be the best performer of the two?
Savage TR vs CZ 452 Varmint
- Thread starter Nosler243Shooter
- Start date
Re: Savage TR vs CZ 452 Varmint
By far the CZ 452. I got a chance to shoot one friday, and I have to say, WOW. The rifle shot 10 shot groups at 75 yards the size of a dime if not smaller. I will buy one.
By far the CZ 452. I got a chance to shoot one friday, and I have to say, WOW. The rifle shot 10 shot groups at 75 yards the size of a dime if not smaller. I will buy one.
Re: Savage TR vs CZ 452 Varmint
I would go with the CZ....throw in a Brooks trigger kit and you are good to go!
I would go with the CZ....throw in a Brooks trigger kit and you are good to go!
Re: Savage TR vs CZ 452 Varmint
Look at the 453 Varmint. It has a set trigger already on it. Shoots real good too. Don't think you could go wrong with either choice but I like the CZ Better.
Look at the 453 Varmint. It has a set trigger already on it. Shoots real good too. Don't think you could go wrong with either choice but I like the CZ Better.
Re: Savage TR vs CZ 452 Varmint
My bad. It was the varmint I shot. I have the 527 in a .223, and the gentleman that had the 22, started asking about the set trigger. My 527 has it as well. It is a great trigger set up.
My bad. It was the varmint I shot. I have the 527 in a .223, and the gentleman that had the 22, started asking about the set trigger. My 527 has it as well. It is a great trigger set up.
Re: Savage TR vs CZ 452 Varmint
being a savage fan (this is going to hurt) i'd go for CZ. saving my pennies for one also.
being a savage fan (this is going to hurt) i'd go for CZ. saving my pennies for one also.
Re: Savage TR vs CZ 452 Varmint
Picked up a TR last week, had high hopes, but it just didn't do as I had hoped. Tried several types of match ammo, eley/sk/wolf/rws/cci, would get around .4-.5 5rnd clusters at 50yds, but usually it did .6, it did just as good with 60gr aguilla SS's. Last round didn't feed the best, the round nose bullets fed better than HP's. Stock is very nice, kinda split between keeping this or just using old faithful (ruger 77/22 that does pretty darn good.
Picked up a TR last week, had high hopes, but it just didn't do as I had hoped. Tried several types of match ammo, eley/sk/wolf/rws/cci, would get around .4-.5 5rnd clusters at 50yds, but usually it did .6, it did just as good with 60gr aguilla SS's. Last round didn't feed the best, the round nose bullets fed better than HP's. Stock is very nice, kinda split between keeping this or just using old faithful (ruger 77/22 that does pretty darn good.
Re: Savage TR vs CZ 452 Varmint
(Pasted from my reply in another thread a couple of days ago - seemed relevant here as well)
You're in the same boat I was a few weeks ago. I narrowed the choice down to either the CZ452 series or the Savage TR (which is not yet available in the UK, but should be soon). I looked at the Anschtz rifles which were really nicely made, but perhaps a bit too nice for sitting in the back of a Land Rover.
After some careful thought I went with the configuration below:
- CZ452 Varmint in 17HMR with 21' barrel. I know the heavy barrel doesn't add a great deal of accuracy (if any?), and you could argue that it's weight that shouldn't be there when compared to the Silhouette model or others with the 'Sporter' profile barrel. However, I think that the longer heavier barrel balances the rifle better, and it feels nicer in the hand. Probably a personal thing. If you're shooting from a vehicle you may want the 16' version.
- Sirocco / SM11 moderator. For the money (£40) it offers excellent noise reduction, it's strippable and has a tapered rear, so there is no step up from the barrel. While this isn't that important it does mean that the rifle is less prone to catching on sticks etc when shooting from a hide.
- Replacement bottom metal from Staffordshire Synthetic Stocks. I can't recomment this highly enough. The standard CZ two-piece bottom metal is pretty poorly made. The SSS piece isn't cheap but is beautifully made and a replacement for both pieces of metal.
- Rimfire Magic trigger kit. There have been many threads about the poor CZ triggers and the amount of creep. Mine was bad, so fitted the Rimfire Magic kit for £12. Depending where you are in the world I'm sure you can get this or something similar.
- A 5.5-25x50 Falcon Menace scope. Probably overkill for the .17HMR, but it is superb. The glass is very clear, gives a crisp picture and allows shooting until pretty late without the lamp.
- Bipod to follow at some point.
- Replacement stock to follow at some point, not because the woodwork is poor quality but because I'm not sure I like the shape of it. I was actually suprised that the wood was so nice on a gun of that price.
I decided against the Savage because it's not yet available in the UK (and won't be for a month), I've read mixed reviews of the AccuTrigger, and it might be too 'tactical' looking for a rabbit gun. The Savage magazines are awful, and I don't think there is a replacement part available, but could be wrong.
The CZ is a common rifle, there are all sorts of replacement stocks, trigger kits etc for you to tweak the rifle to what you want. If you're in the USA maybe the moderator / threaded barrel option is no use, but you can get that as standard here in the UK. The only downside is the trigger, which is awful but easily fixed. If you don't like the Rimfire Magic kit (which shims the trigger to give a cleaner pull) you can get the Timney unit which replaces both the tigger blade and the sear, but it's not cheap.
My local gunshop advised me to fire a few rounds through it from new, give it a good clean and see how the group size came down. At first the group was something like the size of a playing card at 75m. After 25-30 rounds and a good clean it was shooting 1 - 1.5' groups, which I was very suprised by.
Hope that's of some use.
(Pasted from my reply in another thread a couple of days ago - seemed relevant here as well)
You're in the same boat I was a few weeks ago. I narrowed the choice down to either the CZ452 series or the Savage TR (which is not yet available in the UK, but should be soon). I looked at the Anschtz rifles which were really nicely made, but perhaps a bit too nice for sitting in the back of a Land Rover.
After some careful thought I went with the configuration below:
- CZ452 Varmint in 17HMR with 21' barrel. I know the heavy barrel doesn't add a great deal of accuracy (if any?), and you could argue that it's weight that shouldn't be there when compared to the Silhouette model or others with the 'Sporter' profile barrel. However, I think that the longer heavier barrel balances the rifle better, and it feels nicer in the hand. Probably a personal thing. If you're shooting from a vehicle you may want the 16' version.
- Sirocco / SM11 moderator. For the money (£40) it offers excellent noise reduction, it's strippable and has a tapered rear, so there is no step up from the barrel. While this isn't that important it does mean that the rifle is less prone to catching on sticks etc when shooting from a hide.
- Replacement bottom metal from Staffordshire Synthetic Stocks. I can't recomment this highly enough. The standard CZ two-piece bottom metal is pretty poorly made. The SSS piece isn't cheap but is beautifully made and a replacement for both pieces of metal.
- Rimfire Magic trigger kit. There have been many threads about the poor CZ triggers and the amount of creep. Mine was bad, so fitted the Rimfire Magic kit for £12. Depending where you are in the world I'm sure you can get this or something similar.
- A 5.5-25x50 Falcon Menace scope. Probably overkill for the .17HMR, but it is superb. The glass is very clear, gives a crisp picture and allows shooting until pretty late without the lamp.
- Bipod to follow at some point.
- Replacement stock to follow at some point, not because the woodwork is poor quality but because I'm not sure I like the shape of it. I was actually suprised that the wood was so nice on a gun of that price.
I decided against the Savage because it's not yet available in the UK (and won't be for a month), I've read mixed reviews of the AccuTrigger, and it might be too 'tactical' looking for a rabbit gun. The Savage magazines are awful, and I don't think there is a replacement part available, but could be wrong.
The CZ is a common rifle, there are all sorts of replacement stocks, trigger kits etc for you to tweak the rifle to what you want. If you're in the USA maybe the moderator / threaded barrel option is no use, but you can get that as standard here in the UK. The only downside is the trigger, which is awful but easily fixed. If you don't like the Rimfire Magic kit (which shims the trigger to give a cleaner pull) you can get the Timney unit which replaces both the tigger blade and the sear, but it's not cheap.
My local gunshop advised me to fire a few rounds through it from new, give it a good clean and see how the group size came down. At first the group was something like the size of a playing card at 75m. After 25-30 rounds and a good clean it was shooting 1 - 1.5' groups, which I was very suprised by.
Hope that's of some use.
Re: Savage TR vs CZ 452 Varmint
Thanks for the replies. I ordered the CZ. Apparently they are pretty hard to find.
Thanks for the replies. I ordered the CZ. Apparently they are pretty hard to find.
Re: Savage TR vs CZ 452 Varmint
Having shot several of the CZ's, I have to tell you it will shoot with any custom 22lr on earth! I had the pleasure of spending last Thursday with Alice, the President of CZ, learning more about their manufacturing processes and new products. I am very impressed with not only their quality but also their customer service as well.
Having shot several of the CZ's, I have to tell you it will shoot with any custom 22lr on earth! I had the pleasure of spending last Thursday with Alice, the President of CZ, learning more about their manufacturing processes and new products. I am very impressed with not only their quality but also their customer service as well.
Re: Savage TR vs CZ 452 Varmint
Last week I picked up a CZ 452 American with a 16" threaded barrel. Out of the box it is very impressive. Nice fit and finish and the wood is very nice also. The trigger has alot of creep and is heavier than I like, but would be fine for a hunting rifle.
That being said, it is grouping a little over an inch @ 100 yards with Wolf and RWS. With a trigger and a little tuning this thing should be scary! I don't think you can go wrong with a CZ 452.
Last week I picked up a CZ 452 American with a 16" threaded barrel. Out of the box it is very impressive. Nice fit and finish and the wood is very nice also. The trigger has alot of creep and is heavier than I like, but would be fine for a hunting rifle.
That being said, it is grouping a little over an inch @ 100 yards with Wolf and RWS. With a trigger and a little tuning this thing should be scary! I don't think you can go wrong with a CZ 452.
