Which rifle? Can't be both...

[Pubb]

Right now, my only firearm is a 12ga shotgun w home defense and field barrels.

I'm looking at getting one of two different CZ rifles.

Option 1: 527 American in 7.62x39 in a tupperware stock.
Option 2: 457 American in 22LR in a tupperware stock.

Both rounds are versatile and very inexpensive to shoot. SKSs are very common here so spam cans of surplus corrosive steel ammo go for about $.30 a round.

I like the versatility of being able to change barrels but I suspect I will grow bored of a rimfire more quickly than a centerfire. The 457 is WAY cheaper....I could add absolutely beautiful glass to it for less than the 527.

Thoughts, opinions, suggestions?

[bang bang]

some thoughts....

 > on the 527... you may want to verify that the CZ can eat the milsurp ammo.   also make sure the bullet weight is good for the type of barrel mounted on the rifle.

 > on the 457.  Everyone should have at least 1 22 in their stable.  When ammo prices get crazy and if they have been stocking up on it, they will have something inexpensive to shoot and have fun.   

 > the more? money you save on your toy, the more ammo you can buy.  A gun is only an expensive paperweight or wall hanger w/o ammo.  You can use a rifle (w/o ammo) as a club if you want, but i would hope the other person had more insight to buy some ammo.

 > you dont say what your endgame is for the toy?  Maybe just to toss out some lead at some paper?  maybe if you considered what your endgame is, then that would dictate what you get?

 > chances are your "...cant be both" title is sort of premature.  It should be "....cant be both - for now".  Since chances are since you have eyes on both, both will end up being purchased sooner or later.

[david s]

If your just beginning to shoot rifles with little or no experience the 22 L.R. is the best learning round. It's cheap, plentiful, accurate, low noise/recoil levels and fun. If small game is your quest the 22 will handle it. If you have a specific goal or use that's better handled by the 7.62X39 then it's sort of an easy choice. The surplus/steel cased ammo is also accurate enough and fairly cheap compared to other centerfire ammo. The recoil of the round is fairly negligible for most people. I don't have a 457 but do have the earlier versions 455 and 452 and I'm a real fan of the 527 rifles in any version so you've made good choices there. Just consider the rifles main purpose and ask your self which would better serve your needs. And get some good hearing protection more people flinch from muzzle blast than recoil in my opinion.

[Pubb]

Thanks for the responses. I am an experienced shooter, I just traded away all my guns after I had kids, and no time to get out to the range. Memberships are tightly capped here and it made little sense to me to take up a spot that would be used more productively by someone else.

I probably won't be hunting with it, at least not regularly. 99% of its use will be at the range. The x39 appeals to me as a utility/truck gun and dispatching the occasional coyote.

I could get the 22LR and a 22WMR barrel set for the cost of the x39...

Decisions, decisions.

[Phlyers13]

My 455 is my favorite bolt gun. I still can’t believe the groups I have shot with it. For the price, it’s a must have.

[Earl Keese]

If the intended purpose is 99% range toy, I'd probably go with the 457. You can whack that occasional yote with the wmr barrel installed as long as you take the head shot, especially if you add that really nice glass you mentioned.

[Ron M.]

Based on your stated use the 457 would be a better way to go. Add a 17HMR barrel if you want to shoot pest animals, it will handle a coyote out to 150+ yards, with proper shot placement.

[Pomyluy]

I don't own a 457, but own a 452 in .22LR (and have owned a few others in the past, and 455s as well) as well as a 527 in 7.62x39. For me, the switch-barrel feature on the 455/457 is useless. If as an experienced shooter you think you might grow bored of a .22 quickly, then definitely go for the 527 - I love mine, and you honestly can't go wrong with either choice. I predominately shoot rimfires, so if I had to choose only one it'd be my 452, but I'd really hate to have to make that choice. The 527 is a great gun and 7.62x39 is a much more capable round than people tend to give it credit for.

[Pubb]

The gun shop sent me this test target (among other pictures, as I can't get into the tore to select a gun) from the 457. I think I might just go with the CZ457.

[david s]

The 457 looks like it will work for you. I have a number of CZ long guns and every one will out shoot it's test target. Your target doesn't look to bad so it should have some real potential.

[bang bang]

The gun shop sent me this test target (among other pictures, as I can't get into the tore to select a gun) from the 457. I think I might just go with the CZ457.

you may want to readup on the test targets CZ provide.

[maiko]

I’ll vote for the 527. Have one in 223 and it’s a blast to shoot and accurate. The set trigger rocks.

[Luvdog]

Get the 457 and use it to teach your kids to shoot

[Gagepapa]

I agree. 457 and take kids to shoot.

[homeskillet]

A suppressed 7.62x39 would be tons of fun with cheap abundant ammo.