Difference between CZ 452 FS and 455 FS

[Easy CZ]

I recently purchased a Ruger 10/22 Mannlicher and love the look. Now I want a CZ. I know the 452s are discontinued and are harder to come by. Other than that, what are the main differences between the two?

This will be my first experience with CZ rifles. I'd like to get a .22 LR first, then a .22 WMR.

[Easy CZ]

C'mon guys. A little help?

[noorked]

The 452 model has better iron sights, adjustable.
The 455 platform can swap barrels.

[gropo]

There is a good summary of the differences between 452 and 455 on Rimfire Central, Sophia's FAQ's.  It talks about American's, but I think it mostly applies as well to FS.

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=344852

As far as the sight differences:  I would have preferred the tangent sight of the 452, but, replaced the 455 sight with a Tech-Sight aperture sight that I'm getting as good performance as the tangent on my 452 UL.  Just not as easy to adjust for distance.

[Nupes]

I'll just generalize here with the main differences and add a couple other noticable differences not covered on the RFC site.  The rear receiver tang is cut wider on the 455 to add a bit more recoil support against the stock.  The magwell on the 455 is longer, as is the bolt throw to accomodate the longer magnum round that can be used with the apppropriate switch out barrel.  A spacer block is used when shooting 22LR.   The  sight grooves are all 11mm now on the 455's and no need to deal with the funky 3/8 grooves.  Adapters are available if you want to use weaver mounts.  The action screws and the trigger guard are different for the 455.  The screws have a slightly larger head profile on the 455 with a 90 deg angle to fit the 90 degree chamfer in the very thin sheet steel trigger guard.  The 452's used a 120 degree  chamfer and head so you do not want to get these mixed up.  A well known company is selling replacement screws for the 455  which are duplicates of the 452 and will damage the trigger guard over time if used.  The 455 can easily be headspaced with shims on the barrel lip or even turning down the barrel lip (to lessen headspace).  No issues with lining up extractor slots because the barrel indexs the same way using two clamp screws every time.  Fit and finish is nicer on the 455's.  The producion for them uses CNC machines with constant surface speed (CSS) so gone are the ugly burrs and skip marks on the crown and breech face. 
Photo difference between the 455 and 452 action screws...

[viking499]

To me, the sights on the 452 are far worth it.

[goat herder]

Given all the "improvements" they have made on the 455, you would still choose the 452 based on the sight along? 

How about for 452/455 American/Varmint where sight difference is not in play, which would you prefer?

[viking499]

Given all the "improvements" they have made on the 455, you would still choose the 452 based on the sight along? 

The sights on the 452 are superior.  I wish they put the same style of sights on the 455 that they used on the 452.  The 452 style sights are the best facotry sights out there.

Right now, I am not a "caliber swapper".  I don't know if I would call them "improvements", I would just call it "simplified manufacturing".  If given the choice, and the prices were similar, I would go with the 452.  The 455 will be around for years to come and easy to get.  The 452's, not so.

If bench or strictly varmint shooting,  I might go with a varmint over the American if buying today.  Had a varmint at one time, my American shot better.  Don't have the varmint anymore.  Also have 2 trainers.  They both shoot better than my American.

[KLR650]

The CZ 452 has a longer barrel with contoured profile. The CZ 455 has a shorter barrel with straight taper profile. The CZ 455 has interchangeable barrels.

Since I can reload .223 Rem or .204 Ruger ammo for the cost of .22WMR or .17HMR, there is no need for the interchangeable barrel feature of the CZ 455, and the contoured barrel of the CZ 452 looks nicer and more classic.

CZ could have dumped that funky stamped trigger guard when they came out with the CZ 455.

There are several smaller differences, like slight trigger mechanism changes. Looks like CZ mainly addressed the Sako Quad feature of interchangeable barrels. I'd rather just pack another separate rifle than change barrels, so the CZ 455 has no special appeal for me.