Zetter Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 Hi All After my FEO visit she said everything is go for me getting what I put in for so I am pondering what to get first once the certificate drops on the mat. I have put in for .17HMR and .22LR and to save cabinet space I was pondering getting .22lr initially in a CZ455 and then buying a .17HMR barrel kit for it at a later point. Has anyone done this and how have you found it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 It's not sako quad easy to change the barrels on these personally I'd buy 2 rifles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet boy Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 First of all your choice for a CZ 455 is a good one as I love mine in .17HMR but not sure on changing barrels for both calibres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fendrover90 Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 It's not sako quad easy to change the barrels on these personally I'd buy 2 rifles.same as it would give you the right hump to have to keep rezeroing your scope get a 455 in 17 flavour aswell mines red hot at the moment off the bipod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zetter Posted June 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 I am sold on one of the CZ range if possible for my first purchase as to be honest although the Sako is nice its not really financially viable in swapping calibres as it would be cheaper for me to buy two rifles and a second cabinet . So I guess I just need to decide what calibre to get first and I know better than to open that can of worms on here . Bullet boy how do you rate the 455 vs the 452 range? Atb Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 I've read somewhere that the 452's were better built. You might find that for the cost of a barrel kit, the cost of buying a whole new (second hand!) rifle might not be that extreme. At least you wouldn't have to take the time changing the barrels every time you fancied swapping calibres. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 They are not a switch barrel, they offer the chance of a barrel swap if you wanted to upgrade to a match type etc. Though it needs some skill and tools in fitting. The 452 and 455 are equal in accuracy potential, both being limited by what they are fed and who is steering them. The 452 had an alloy action, meaning barrel changing was out (it wont take the stresses of removal and re-fitting) and came in two action sizes LR and Mag, in an LR I believe the 452 to be a better feeder, in the mag it makes no matter which you choose as the 455 is a magnum action but adds spacers allowing feeding of smaller rounds- hence it made financial sense to use just one action size and make it in steel rather than alloy. If you were in the States you could just buy another barrel and have it fitted by a selection of Smiths, here you will pay through the nose for a higher grade barrel and wait ages for the smith to get round to fitting it (ending up spending about what you could buy another gun for). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delburt0 Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 (edited) there's no problem with swapping the barrels over on the 455 it takes around 4 minutes you can do this YouTube it, I have never ran into any problems and zero doesn't prove a problem as after doing it once your on the money straight away below is the advert off a cz distributor .. The mini-set contains a heavy barrel without sights, a 5-round magazine for the relevant calibre and spanners required for barrel replacement. For .22 LR and .17 HMR calibres, all barrels come screw cut Modular design of CZ 455 rimfire rifle enables simple replacement of barrel by users themselves. This modularity allows changing of both the calibre as well as configuration of the CZ 455 to let certain interesting versions prove their qualities in practice. CZ 455 Miniset Varmint 16″ .22 LR SC £149 inc vat CZ 455 Miniset Varmint 20″ .22LR SC £135 inc vat CZ 455 Miniset Varmint 20″ .17hmr SC £159 inc vat CZ 455 Miniset Varmint 16″ .17hmr SC £179 inc vat Edited June 16, 2014 by delburt0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 I should like to know more from people who have actually done this. I personally just don't see them as a proper switch barrel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 I am sold on one of the CZ range if possible for my first purchase as to be honest although the Sako is nice its not really financially viable in swapping calibres as it would be cheaper for me to buy two rifles and a second cabinet . So I guess I just need to decide what calibre to get first and I know better than to open that can of worms on here . Bullet boy how do you rate the 455 vs the 452 range? Atb Neil I've had the 455 in 22lr and .17hmr. I sold them both and bought 452's. My 452's are way more accurate than the 455's were. Dekers has some pretty impressive pics of his 452's on targets and mine do very similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 I've had the 455 in 22lr and .17hmr. I sold them both and bought 452's. My 452's are way more accurate than the 455's were. Dekers has some pretty impressive pics of his 452's on targets and mine do very similar. I have tested two 455 varmints against my 452 varmint from 50 to much further I found no discernible difference on paper, though personally prefer the earlier trigger and feed on the lr variant. All shot to the limits of the ammo, inletting was quite poor on the 455 stocks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delburt0 Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 Pop the stock off with two Torx bolts, two Allen keys on the action face/tenon region, slacken them off and draw out the barrel, retrace your steps and pop in/remove the mag spacer and off you go after replacing the stock. I wouldn't expect perfect return to accuracy but a few changes should see you with a bit of data regarding this for barrel swaps. Its not something you want to do in the field but its an easy 5 minute job at home. Unlike the Sako you don't have to fit specifically high scope mounts which kinda disrupts its claim of a switch barrel rifle either as they seem too high usually. I think switch barrel rimfires are a bit of a `novelty as realistically a 22 rimifre to couple with a 17hmr main gun is cheap as chips along with a cheapy scope to get you by. On the other hand it is a nice gun in its own right and offeres future flexibility and as Delbuto says, at very modest cost! I have a Sauer 202 switch barrel that is really a modular gun rather than a fast change system in centrefires as it takes a good 5 /6 minutes to swap over. Mauser M03 is a bit quicker with better return to zero and the fastest system I have yet encountered in a sporting rifle is the Merkel Helix which I can do in less than a minute, honestly! Return to zero on the Merkel is pretty close too but I always use the trick on a switch barrel gun of keeping a tight fireformed case handy to chuck in the chamber when headpspacing as it just seems to keep things a little closer on tolerance, this is especially true on the Sauer. Thanks for Chris good write up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadioles Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 Can anyone make a good case for wanting to switch barrels (.22lr & .17hmr) rather than have two rifles. All I can see is expense and hassle. Sharing a scope or even a bipod between two guns is bad enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 I can't see the need for a switch barrel rimfire. Call it £150 for a barrel kit. I would want 2 scopes for faster return to zero so no saving there share a SAK etc between the 2. That's £150 you could buy a second hand .22lr for that. Personally this what I did Brno mod 2 22lr (bought it back from the guy I sold it too) 452 American 17 HMR. Total spend £300, then add 2 scopes I use S&B on all my rifles now but could have used cheap hawke etc. HMR came with a mod. No return to zero issues fast to change in field especial when in the jeep, just like undoing a zip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zetter Posted June 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 Cheers for all the imput all. I think I will go with my first plan and get one in each calibre. I am just torn between .22LR and .17HMR now as a first rifle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delburt0 Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 (edited) I think all the synics that moan about changing the barrel because it's not user friendly should keep there thoughts to themselves unless they are changing the barrel ,, in which case they wouldn't moan, if you can't see the point don't post on it, I don't like berettas but would slag a 686 off because I don't own one... Edited June 16, 2014 by delburt0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delburt0 Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 (edited) Can anyone make a good case for wanting to switch barrels (.22lr & .17hmr) rather than have two rifles. All I can see is expense and hassle. Sharing a scope or even a bipod between two guns is bad enough. It's faster to change calibres than a bipod. Edited June 16, 2014 by delburt0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 Cheers for all the imput all. I think I will go with my first plan and get one in each calibre. I am just torn between .22LR and .17HMR now as a first rifle. Get the .22 first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brett1985 Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 dad has the 455 in .17HMR and loves it. we went out with it yesterday for the first time since last september and it seems pretty accurate, although i do feel that its not quite as accurate as it could/should be at 100 yards. any ideas on what kind of accuracy it should be providing at that range guys? baring in mind its only got a 3-9 x 40 scope on it, we were getting inch and a half groups with it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadioles Posted June 17, 2014 Report Share Posted June 17, 2014 I think all the synics that moan about changing the barrel because it's not user friendly should keep there thoughts to themselves unless they are changing the barrel ,, in which case they wouldn't moan, if you can't see the point don't post on it, I don't like berettas but would slag a 686 off because I don't own one... Perhaps a bit harsh.... I do agree that someone with first hand knowledge of barrel swapping has greater credibility than someone like myself that does not. My comment: "Can anyone make a good case for wanting to switch barrels (.22lr & .17hmr) rather than have two rifles." Seems entirely reasonable. I cannot think of a reason but am open to be persuaded. My preference is to have multiple guns, each with bipod, scope, moderator and slip. Ready to be picked up and used, already zeroed and available for work. Of course that would not suit everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted June 17, 2014 Report Share Posted June 17, 2014 dad has the 455 in .17HMR and loves it. we went out with it yesterday for the first time since last september and it seems pretty accurate, although i do feel that its not quite as accurate as it could/should be at 100 yards. any ideas on what kind of accuracy it should be providing at that range guys? baring in mind its only got a 3-9 x 40 scope on it, we were getting inch and a half groups with it.... 1/2 that but it might not be the gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted June 17, 2014 Report Share Posted June 17, 2014 I think all the synics that moan about changing the barrel because it's not user friendly should keep there thoughts to themselves unless they are changing the barrel ,, in which case they wouldn't moan, if you can't see the point don't post on it, I don't like berettas but would slag a 686 off because I don't own one... yes, nobody should ever think differently to you I have never personally owned a Robin 3 wheeler but it don't mean I cant think and state they are useless, if people think that view not valid that's their option Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted June 17, 2014 Report Share Posted June 17, 2014 Cheers for all the imput all. I think I will go with my first plan and get one in each calibre. I am just torn between .22LR and .17HMR now as a first rifle. .22 lr all the way. The HMR is outclassed by a small centrefire anyhow which is so much more useful again. Every shooter should have a .22 though. So what if a ,22 sub drops 6-8" at 100 yards from a 50 yards zero? The windage is about equal in practical terms and it still needs the right person to steer it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zetter Posted June 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2014 (edited) I know this has been done to death a bit but a concern I have from a lot of research on line is ricochet potential from the .22LR. The ground I shoot over is fairly hard in the summer and its only a 50acre plot. I know to shoot into good backstops with the field I am mainly shooting in having a large rise to shoot into as a backstop. But I am a bit concerned that a ricochet can go in unexpected directions. Am I being a bit too paraniod? Edited June 17, 2014 by Zetter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted June 17, 2014 Report Share Posted June 17, 2014 I know this has been done to death a bit but a concern I have from a lot of research on line is ricochet potential from the .22LR. The ground I shoot over is fairly hard in the summer and its only a 50acre plot. I know to shoot into good backstops with the field I am mainly shooting in having a large rise to shoot into as a backstop. But I am a bit concerned that a ricochet can go in unexpected directions. Am I being a bit too paraniod? Yes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.