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My interest in the CZ 455 FS was in the full stock configuration. I own and shoot several variations of factory and custom CZ 550 FS centerfire models. Having a practice rifle with essentially the same stock geometry, but chambered for inexpensive rimfire ammunition held an appeal, as did the possibility of finding another quality 22 rimfire bolt action rifle.
We’ve covered the CZ 455, in detail, a number of time, in configurations other than the full stock. The “CZ 455 American Combo Package and CZ455 Varmint are two examples that might be worth referencing for background.
The CZ-455 is a replacement for CZ’s earlier Model 452 with the greatest difference being the 455’s modular design. The 455 action can be fitted with .17 HMR, 22 WMR and 22 Long Rifle barrels, purchased as part of multi barrel kits or independently. Additionally, stocks may be interchanged, matched with barrel profiles.
The CZ455 Action
The heart of the CZ 455 is a receiver formed and machined from a steel billet. With a wall thickness of 0.250″, it is heavier than most centerfire rifle and its close tolerance bore makes bolt travel slick, precise and free of wobble. The bolt body is beefy at 0.705″ in diameter. Lock up, as is typical with rim fire rifles, is at the bolt handle. The trigger is adjustable within a range of 3 – 5 lbs.
The small steel piece in the foreground, resting against the bolt, is the gun’s bolt guide. The guide resides in the lower radius of the receiver bore where it is retained by the magazine guide’s fasteners. The guide serves several functions. A horizontal flat machined into the leading edge of the piece properly locates the gun barrel on its longitudinal axis to assure the barrel’s extractor notches properly align with the twin extractor hooks in the bolt face. The top surface of the guide prevents the bolt head from rotating as the bolt handle is rotated down which cocks the gun. The rectangular slot in the guide forms a precision transition from the gun’s magazine to its feed ramp.
The CZ455 bolt assembly
The bolt body is 0.700″ in diameter which is larger than many small centerfire rifle bolts. The front bottom is cut away which allows the magazine to place the fed round closer to the bolt centerline for more positive feed. Twin extractors make for reliable extraction. The lock up is solid and the bolt – receiver – barrel assembly is very rigid which, no doubt, contributes to the rifle’s accuracy.
I did not have a headspace gauge handy, however, the lockup was tight and the difference of 0.0001″ rim thickness could be felt on bolt closing. The bolt movement was smooth, with only the push of a round from the magazine offering any increased resistance. There were no problems with feed or ejection during the live fire exercises.
Barrel fit and headspace
CZ sets headspace with a shoulder machined into the CZ 455’s barrel and locates longitudinally with the help of the gun’s bolt guide. The barrel is retained by two screws threaded through the lower side of the heavy walled receiver. The locating/locking fastener contact surfaces are two adjacent “V” cuts in the lower barrel shank.
I got as close as I could to measuring the angle on the “V” cuts… seems about 40 and they are splayed and toed inward to follow the barrel screw locations. The V notch approach seems intended to locate the barrel fore and aft and to prevent barrel rotation. If I extend an imaginary line at these angles, they would seem to intersect at the rear center of the gun’s chamber.
The CZ455 trigger assembly
CZ centerfire rifle triggers are clean, adjustable and usually have a single set trigger function. While the higher priced and discontinued CZ 453 Varmint had this trigger and feature, the CZ 455 does not. The CZ 455 does have an adjustable trigger. The nut on the back of the trigger adjusts the amount of sear engagement, which controls pull and creep. The yield on adjustment is a clean, crisp release.
What not to love about the CZ455?
Pictured immediately below is the CZ455 FS above a CZ550 FS centerfire. The former is capped with a poorly molded piece of plastic, the latter with a well finished blued steel part that is consistent with the rest of the rifle’s quality.
Immediately above, the CZ455’s stamped steel trigger guard, which is something one would expect to find on a $100 Savage rimfire, not a $500+ rimfire. Personally, I’d rather pay the manufacturing burdened cost of $25 more for cast or forged blued steel pieces. CZ tends to do this from time to time, swap in a cheap pieces to save a couple of bucks on an otherwise nicely executed firearm. It never has an impact on function, just on pride of ownership.
Yes, function and shooting count also
Please excuse some of the early style ammo labels. I stock piled for a rainy day and it is near a rainy day on supply. All of it is typical quality ammunition and all are recommended for prairie dogs and squirrels. The under 40 grain ammunition is good for close in, not far out as retained velocity is very low for these 28 grain and 30 grain bullets. At 200 yards the lightweights are moving up to a third slower than high velocity 40 grain loads, bringing kinetic energy and flat shooting down along with it.
| Ammunition | Bullet Grains |
Rated fps |
Actual fps |
50 Yard Group” |
| Winchester Super X LF | 28 | 2200 | 2313 | 1.1 |
| Hornady V-Max | 30 | 2200 | 2191 | 0.8 |
| CCI TNT | 30 | 2050 | 2178 | 1.2 |
| CCI Game Point | 40 | 1875 | 2049 | 0.6 |
| Winchester Super X | 40 | 1910 | 1994 | 0.9 |
Fifty yard accuracy is good. Yes, Internet reported group sizes usually run 0.20″ at fifty yards with any rifle and ammunition or smaller, but the groups above were shot with an actual rifle and ammunition at 50 yards and not on a TV set with a game controller. Yes, that WAS sarcasm. Thank you for noticing. The factory target received with the rifle measured 0.90″ and was shot at 50 meters… approximately 54.6 yards. Can the CZ455 do better? I’m sure with a little tuning and researching optimal ammo there is more left in the rifle. The CZ455 switch barrel we reviewed shot a best of 0.7″ as a 17 HMR and 0.4″ as a 22 LR.
Conclusions
For anyone wanting something much more than a budget 22 WMR rifle, the CZ455 FS offers a good opportunity; nicely finished and checkered classic walnut stock, a strong and stabile modular action and the option of purchasing and changing barrels from 22 WMR, to 17 HMR, to 22 LR rimfire. Accuracy is well inline with a quality small game rifle, especially in a six pound, compact package.
My wish list for this particular configuration is a more substantial trigger guard and a steel nose cap to set off that really pretty stock and perhaps an update to a center fed rotary magazine that would tuck the magazine in flush with the bottom of the rifle and perhaps add some capacity. Functionally and for folks who are less…. picky, grumpy and set in their ways, the CZ 455 is a heck of a rifle.
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