My new rifle for ARA bencrest shooting range report.

[tazman]

Last week, I picked up a CZ 457 Varmint MTR. The MTR stands for match target rifle.
I spent a little time mounting a Vortex Crossfire II 6X18 on it and got it ready for the range.
Then my wife and the weather got in the way for a few days.

I made it to the range today. Not a great day weather wise. 39 degrees with a 15 mph swirling wind.
This was the time I had available so I went.
Here are a couple of pics of the rifle.



The trigger was light and crisp right out of the box. I haven't checked the weight but would guess it at about 2lbs.
Barrel length is 20.5 inches.

I had it sighted at 25 yards within 5 shots.
I took it to 50 yards and it took a bit longer to get dialed in but still under 10 more shots.
These are the first five 5 shot groups I fired with it at 50 yards after getting it dialed in.


The white target center measures 13/16 of an inch. There is a dime next to one of the targets for comparison.
The two smallest groups measure 3/8 of an inch.
These were fired with Norma Match. This was the only really good ammunition I had available.
You can easily tell when the wind stopped for a bit.
I need to learn to read the wind.
This one is a keeper.

[Half Dog]

Outstanding. Congratulations on your new addition.

[725]

Woodchucks beware.

[dverna]

Nice gun tazman

[Maven]

Damned good shooting, tazman! Which brand of ammo did you use?

[tazman]

Norma Match.
I need to get hold of some Eley Tenex to see if that is better. It can't be a lot better but may be a little bit.

[Jniedbalski]

My burno will shoot like that but with 10 shot groups with ely gold match only and a windless day only. Cci blazers work good for me for cheep practice ammo but not quite as good.nice rifle

[dtknowles]

Nice rifle and nice shooting. Were you shooting with the bipod or did you have sandbags or a rest?

Tim

[tazman]

Nice rifle and nice shooting. Were you shooting with the bipod or did you have sandbags or a rest?

Tim

I was using the bipod and a small bag under the back end.

[sigep1764]

My 455 really likes Wolf Match. Luckygunner has it in stock right now along with Eley Tenex. Get a box of each, the Wolf is half the price. Gun will tell you what it likes.

[dtknowles]

Wolf Match is good ammo.

Tim

[Maven]

A belated "thank you," tazman re Norma target ammo. I had a box of it several years ago and it was excellent.

dtknowles, I agree Wolf Match and Match Extra is VG+ ammo. I won several of my club's .22 BR matches with it (hunter class, reworked heavy bbl. Marlin).

[rfd]

a fine rifle and great shootin'!

[tazman]

I took it to the range again today as this looks to be the last warm day for some time. It shot just as well today as it did last time.
I found a couple of brands/types of ammo that shoot nearly as well as the Norma and are much less expensive. They will make good practice ammo.

[45workhorse]

Mighty fine shooting. And mighty fine rifle. Add another to the list of, "I want one!"

[303Guy]

That top left group looks tighter. Great shooting!

[jsizemore]

With 10x and match eps the various lots are chronoed and published. When you go looking for new ammo you can go to current published list and order some test samples of your favorite and one a little slower and one a little faster. When you find the lot that works, BUY ALL YOU CAN GET/AFFORD. There are stores out there that cater to BR crowd.

[303Guy]

You know, in my ignorance I thought it was just the rifle build and quality that made a 22 shoot well. Sure, some ammo might not suite the chamber or bore and the quality might not be there. I had no idea there was so much to accurate shooting. It makes me think the cheap bulk ammo I had available to me wasn't too bad a quality. Has anyone out there used SP ammo?

What I did find with in my 512 (which while not a target grade rifle wasn't too bad) was that I could shoot the pistol rams in the head at 100 yds but when they went Olympic, i.e. 100 m, my groups opened up so as I could reliably hit the rifle rams at all. I figured those SP HV's were going transition at approaching 100 yds and accuracy was being lost by 100 m (110 yds).

[tazman]

You know, in my ignorance I thought it was just the rifle build and quality that made a 22 shoot well. Sure, some ammo might not suite the chamber or bore and the quality might not be there. I had no idea there was so much to accurate shooting. It makes me think the cheap bulk ammo I had available to me wasn't too bad a quality. .

I didn't know any different until a couple of years ago myself. This part of the super tight group chase is all new to me. I am learning a great deal. Too bad winter is getting here. I won't be able to do much shooting outdoors until the weather warms up. My old joints and arthritis don't like the cold anymore.

[303Guy]

Pity about the winter. I guess I'll just have to wait to hear more of your shooting expeditions with your rifle.

I on the other hand, am in summer and I am keen to get shooting and to get pointers from you folks.