Adding a CZ 457 to My Rifle Lineup (First Impressions)
I ordered my CZ 457 last week and it just arrived. It’s the American model in .22 WMR, and it’s a rifle I’ve been looking forward to adding for a while.
First Impressions
Right out of the box, this is a great looking rifle. The stock has a nice dark brown finish, and the forearm is shaped well—it feels good in hand and looks right at the same time.
Even though there’s virtually no recoil, CZ didn’t cheap out on the butt pad. It’s high quality and the rifle shoulders nicely.
The rifle is lightweight and easy to handle. It feels well balanced, which makes it comfortable to carry and quick to bring up.
I was a bit concerned about the 24.8" barrel for hunting and carrying, but after handling it, that’s not an issue at all. It feels right on this rifle, and I won’t be looking to change it.
The bolt cycles well. Maybe not quite as smooth as my Tikka rifles, but it’s still very nice and easy to operate.
Plans for the Rifle
The rifle doesn’t come with iron sights, which is fine. A gun with this kind of range is going to need a scope anyway.
To start, I’ll be installing an old Bushnell rimfire scope that I had on my Henry .22 LR. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s sitting on the shelf for a few years and worth trying. If it ends up limiting what the rifle can do, I’ll replace it later.
For a sling, I’m keeping it simple. I had some mounts on hand, and I pulled a sling off one of my SKS rifles.
It’s old, basic, and doesn’t match the quality of the rifle—but that’s alright. The SKS doesn’t need it, and this rifle is light enough that I don’t need anything padded. It's all I need for a walk through the woods.
What's Next
I’m looking forward to getting this rifle out to the property and seeing what it can do. Next step will be sighting in and trying a few different .22 WMR options through it to see what it likes.
