Upgrading the Scope on My CZ 457 .22 WMR
When I bought my CZ 457 American in .22 WMR, I mounted a Bushnell Rimfire scope that I already had on hand. I had a feeling it would eventually be replaced, but I wanted to spend some time shooting the rifle before upgrading.
As expected, after a few range sessions, I realized the CZ 457 is more capable than the scope sitting on top of it.
The Bushnell has been perfectly adequate out to 50 yards and served its purpose while I got familiar with the rifle. However, my recent ammo testing showed the CZ was capable of producing groups around 1/2" at that distance.
Once I saw those results, the next question became obvious: what can this rifle do at 100 yards?
To answer that question, I wanted a little more optical quality and some additional magnification.
Choosing a Scope
After hearing about how far budget optics have come, I decided to try a CV Life 4-16x44 scope.
I'm always skeptical when it comes to low-priced options. Over the last few years, though, I've noticed more and more shooters reporting positive experiences with some of the newer budget optics.
Since this is a rimfire rifle and the risk isn't missing out on the buck of a lifetime, I figured it was a good time to experiment.
At around $60, the CV Life seemed like a reasonable way to gain some magnification and see how modern budget optics perform.
My first impression after opening the box was surprisingly positive. The glass appears very clear, the scope feels solid, and the overall fit and finish is better than I expected for the price. It includes rings (though they don't fit a 3/8" dovetail mount), adjustable parallax, as well as an illuminated reticle, although I'm not sure if I'll actually use that feature.
What stood out most was the clarity. I paid roughly the same amount for the Bushnell many years ago, yet the difference between the two scopes was immediately noticeable. It really highlights how much entry-level optics have improved over the years.
Of course, looking through a scope in the house is one thing. The real test will come once it's mounted on the CZ 457 and put to work at the property.
Moving the Bushnell Back to the Henry
The Bushnell originally sat on my Henry .22 LR, then spent years on the shelf before I moved it over to the CZ.
Now it's going back onto the Henry.
I've always enjoyed shooting the Henry with open sights. A lever-action .22 just feels right that way. Most of my shooting with that rifle is plinking and small game hunting, where a scope isn't really necessary.
However, the recent .22 WMR ammo testing got me thinking.
I'd like to run the same kind of tests with my .22 LR rifles to see which brands of ammunition perform best. Comparing rounds, measuring groups, and evaluating performance at different distances is much easier with a scope than with iron sights.
For now, the Henry is getting the Bushnell back.
Whether it stays there permanently remains to be seen. Part of me still thinks a lever-action .22 belongs with open sights.
What's Next?
Once it's sighted in, I'll start stretching the .22 WMR out to longer distances.
The rifle has already shown that it can shoot extremely well at 50 yards. Now I want to see what it can do at 100 yards and maybe beyond. If the groups hold together, it could become a very interesting rifle for longer-range hunting and shooting.
As for the Henry, I'm still undecided.
The scope will help with ammunition testing and accuracy work, but once that testing is finished, we'll see how long it stays on.
Part of me still thinks a lever-action .22 belongs with open sights.
For now, I'm looking forward to getting both rifles dialed in and seeing what they can do.