What is the Prettiest (Wood / Steel) CZ .22 Rifle?

[JGW006]

I like pretty firearms.  I have a Cooper M57 in .22lr that is gorgeous.  I would like a CZ in .22lr that is equally, if not more so.

What are your thoughts?

JGW

[JGW006]

and it doesn’t matter if it’s current production or discontinued.

JGW

[AZ_CZ]

Best I’ve ever seen was a full stock 452 that was a wood stock winner!

[alp3367]

 For classic lines it would probably be the American (02310) or Lux (02301). However, it's a wood lottery. None of them will be terrible, but getting a true standout is luck of the draw. Your best bet is to see them in person so you can judge. There are some with incredible wood, but some are not. That randomness is why they don't cost a whole lot more.

[AMM]

CZ walnut stocks run the gamut from gorgeous figure, to very plain. My 455 FS happens to have pretty nice figure, though my 6.5mm CZ 550 FS has much prettier wood. In contrast, my 527 FS is certainly a nice rifle, but the walnut is pretty plain.

I expect that keeping your eyes open for 452 or 455 in FS or Lux models will be your best bet,  depending on which design you prefer.

Cheers

[JGW006]

Thank you all.

JGW

[david s]

Some of the stock wood on CZ rifles is simply amazing. For a while you could pay a premium and get an up graded stock on your rifle. CZ discontinued this after not everyone was happy about what they received. Now grain and figure wise it's the stock lottery. Stocks run the gamut from plain to "Oh Wow!" depending on how your luck is holding out. Shape or profile wise gets pretty personal. For me it's Full Stocks followed by the American/Varmint/Carbine shape and then Lux. At one time CZ offered the Premium. An upgraded Lux style stock with a spiral barrel and high polish. Very nice looking. And CZ has offered quite a few different versions in the past. The last 527 I purchased was a used American style with a nicely figured stock with a lighter oil finished stock that has a mahogany forend. CZ made somewhere around a hundred of these for a large distributor somewhere in the past. It was on a pawn brokers shelf.

[JimLob65]

I own three 457 Americans, one in .22lr and two in .22WMR , all of which were on my short list of 'if you find it, buy it'!   All have a very nice amount of figure and striping on the stocks, a requirement in my selection process.  I find them to be beautiful rifles that shoot better than my capabilities.

Over on the rimfire forum it has become a 'thing' to strip the finish off of CZ rifles due to CZs tendency of putting a 'mud' finish on that hides much of the qualities of the stock.  Guys are getting excellent results in applying a lighter, more transparent finish.

[Fasteddie01]

I bought a new2me 455-SS-Lux this Spring.  It had a waxed finish but was very dark.  I washed off the wax and found that the Dawn detergent was also removing 'stain/dye' when I wiped it down with a white rag.  I did several applications of the Dawn and brought it about 3-4 shades lighter than it started.  Must have been an alcohol s/d ?  Then I applied MinWax Paste 'Natural' in 4-5 light coats.  It turned out pretty nice with the contrast of the wood and SS and Black Bolt.

[JGW006]

Very nice!

JGW