I bought both but then again, I've never claimed to be a responsible role model


Kidding aside. They are different rifles with different attributes. Still, I'd rate my 20" VMTR the highest with my 24" At-One a VERY close 2nd. A 16" version of either would rate 6th or 10th as I don't like short barrels. .
Your preferences may vary. Lots written here on both of these models if you search.

 

Do you plan on running a suppressor or tuner? The At-One has a threaded barrel. MTR has the match chamber, so in theory it should be a tad more accurate. I'm still searching for the magic lot for my MTR though. I have a Pro Varmint for suppressor and tuner duty.

 

Being new to the CZ 457MTR I would like to see and shoot the "At-One" for a comparison. One thing I don't like with the MTR, and it's probably just me, is the fat comb on the stock that makes it difficult to get squarely behind the scope. IMO a thinner stock would make it easier to line up the scope and target. Just my opinion. If you have to strain or press your cheek to the stock I don't think you'll ever be consistent. This is all just my opinion. Does the "At-One" have a thinner stock for the cheek area? The AMU taught everyone to shoot with your head and eye's level for best marksmanship. To me, the 457MTR stock makes this very difficult. I think the Anchutz's and Remington 40X's have much thinner stocks in the cheek area. On the plus side, the 457MTR shoots extremely well for a factory rifle that's unmodified.

Houligan

 

Personally I hate the At-One stock. It feels like it should be on a kid's rifle. All the adjustment points move.

I moved my action from the At-One stock to a chassis and am much happier.

I don't have a 457 MTR but I do have a 557 MTR and I love that stock. They're almost identical with the 557 stock being a bit bigger.

 

I prefer the match chamber and stock of the MTR.

I thought I would really like the At One and had planned to buy one, until I handled it in person.

I think that the At One stock is a brilliant idea, but poorly executed. I was not a fan after getting my hands on it.

I would suggest buying it in person if you haven't handled/shot an At One.

I'm sure it would make a fine rifle, but I prefer the MTR.

 

I must have won the AT-One lottery since my 24" version has a rock solid stock in all the adjustments. The AT-One is just more comfortabe to shoot versus my friends MTR.

 

Lots of opinions, and no doubt why CZ makes a bunch of different models (just wish they were all in stock at a store nearby). Some thoughts:

I think the general consensus is a .22 lr achieves max velocity in a 16" to 18"barrel. Tests results I've read of, have the velocity then staying reasonably close to the same until about 24", then velocity drops off due to the additional barrel friction. Will a longer barrel be more accurate? Well, logic suggests there is an advantage with a longer sight radius using iron sights. Since most are using optics, a shorter barrel, all else equal, should be stiffer and have less "whip" or vibration and harmonics amplitude than would a longer barrel of the same dimensions and material. If one is adding barrel devices, such as a suppressor, the shorter barrel gets the nod as the longer barrel tends to get unwieldy with the additional length of the can. Most all my .22 shooting is suppressed.

The At-One good: It's adjustable, and I do not notice the adjustment points moving once they are set - mine is as solid as can be. Getting good cheek weld, even with a lower scope mount is no problem. I like the look of a traditional walnut stock, but the laminated stock of the At-One is no doubt stronger and less subject to dimensional changes due to temperature and humidity. Most all the broken wood stocks I've seen, seem to break just aft of the tang, along the wood grain, where the wood is thinner and stress on impact would be greater. The At-One is hell for stout.

The At-One not so good: Unlike the other 457 models (not sure about all, but most anyway, have plastic pillar bedding), the At-One doesn't come with any pillar bedding. You can add them of course, and I did that on mine, getting them from Pete's Pillars on eBay. If I'd of had my lathe at home then (my tools were at the airport and I was down for maintenance, I'd have made my own from stainless steel. (FYI, aluminum has twice the thermal coefficient of expansion as does steel, plastic is much higher than metal, so CZ's choice to use plastic is a head scratcher).

 

Picked up a short barrel At One last week, already have a long barrel MTR which I like a lot. Expectations were pretty high having shot a friend's previously. Was astounded to print this 5 @ 50 as soon as the scope was zeroed plus 20 rounds or so off a rickety table behind the shop. Eley CMP ammo. I believe it will be a shooter.

I like the At One stock personally. Have the thumb hole version AT One on a 10/22 home build that I like even better.

 

If you think you might compete with it in something along the lines of NRL/PRS, get the MTR. It'll be easier to rig the rifle up for it and will provide a more stable shooting platform assuming that the AT1 is a 16" and the MTR is a 20". There's a reason most guys shoot longer barrels and it isn't because one barrel length is more inherently accurate than the other.

I'd seriously advise you to try to handle both before making a decision. All 457s are essentially the same, although the MTR barrel will arguably be more accurate. Still, my Non MTR Varmint barrel shot great, except for the wild cold bore flyer I was getting.

Personally, I hated the AT1 stock. The example I handled was loose and clunky and there were flats where there should have been curves. I didn't like it at all.

If the stock and barrel are what you're worried about, just get a scout and put whatever barrel and stock you want on it.

If the two choices provided are the only options, I'd go with the MTR.

 

I am also one of those irresponsible CZ buyers that have both. The Varmint MTR was the first 457 purchased and it is strictly used for shooting off the bench ( front rest and rear bag ) and for me it works great for that. I have plenty of other CZ 45x Varmint configurations for shooting off-hand. While not my first choice, I have no problem with laminated stocks . . . so when the At-One came available I chose to buy one as I liked the option of the 24” barrel tapered to .730 which is larger than the typical American/Lux barrel. The only issue I had with the At-One was a slight movement of the barrel in the stock, but some bedding just in front of the action solved that issue. Today most of the At-Ones are sold with the 16.5” barrel to satisfy the silencer crowd. Just not my cup of tea, thus am happy with my early purchase. I also have a 457 Varmint Performance Trainer ( VPT ) with a 24” barrel so I match them up against each other at the range. Overall the Varmint 20.5” bull barrel tends to dominate my CZ collection but seem to have several of the other stock configurations.

 

I put a Lilja tapered barrel in my AT One and it looked great in there. Not sure what the diff is but I have 2 and both are tight and solid. I like them.
I really wish the factory stock came in different colors though.

 

You could always sell one and buy a replacement from Boyd's in your choice of color

 

I had the same dilemma three years ago. I like the looks of the AT-ONE but looks aren't everything, I bought the MTR for accuracy. Not disappointed.

 

I would never overrate accuracy. I started out shooting with ARs and got really into precision shooting because of how much fun my brother's Remington 700 is to shoot. It's not lights out, but it will shoot a little over 1 MOA at 100 yards with cheaper ammo. Accuracy ads to the enjoyment of shooting for me which is why we went with the MTR. We started off with basic Savage Mark II to see how much we liked Rimfire. Considered upgrading to a Savage B22 Precision, Ruger RPR, and CZ 457 AT-ONE. In the end, we decided to just get the best factory barrel available in a reasonable price range. Competition was a factor as we are looking to get into NRL22 and wanted to start in base class.

We're supper happy with the MTR purchase and as funny as the stock looks in pictures it's actually pretty good looking in person. I think you'd be very happy with the pickup if you go that route.

 

I know some of these post's are over a couple of months old,but I have a question or two. I'm assuming that the AT1 is allowed in the factory class in ARA match's, right! Even though it's adjustable, it's from the factory that way. I've also heard that the AT1 is less picky on ammo than the MTR. Any comments on that? Then there's the Tikka T1x. So for a second rifle to the MTR or the AT1 for benchrest only, one must consider the Tikka and the 457 Varmint rifle. If I'm correct, only the MTR has a match chamber while the rest do not. Seems like that is all the MTR has as an advantage to the other three. It would be nice to hear how all four of these rifles compare with each other. So many choices! So few dollars! I'd love to hear what everyone thinks.

Houligan

 

I know some of these post's are over a couple of months old,but I have a question or two. I'm assuming that the AT1 is allowed in the factory class in ARA match's, right! Even though it's adjustable, it's from the factory that way. I've also heard that the AT1 is less picky on ammo than the MTR. Any comments on that? Then there's the Tikka T1x. So for a second rifle to the MTR or the AT1 for benchrest only, one must consider the Tikka and the 457 Varmint rifle. If I'm correct, only the MTR has a match chamber while the rest do not. Seems like that is all the MTR has as an advantage to the other three. It would be nice to hear how all four of these rifles compare with each other. So many choices! So few dollars! I'd love to hear what everyone thinks.

Houligan

I can’t speak to the actual rifles being offered, but we shoot a lot of varmints with 22LR rifles. Match chambered rifles tended to be the most accurate overall, but they never were any better, and usually were not as accurate with Mini Mag HP. I’m an engineer and given the small sample size (~25 rifles about a third being match rifles) that was something I took notice of, but certainly would not care to put forth as a universal, or even likely, outcome. Then I picked up a book wherein the author had sampled a variety of ammo in a number of rifles with a variety of chambers. His data suggests that our experience was consistent with the author. Depending on what your intended purpose is, my inclination is to go with a match chambering if you want the best groups overall, and live with less than maximum accuracy you can get out of HV HP ammo in the field. If you are primarily interested in maximizing hunting accuracy and can live with not having the best chance at having it perform as well as a quality target rifle, one of the better sporting chamberings may give you the best opportunity to achieve your goal.

The above statement regarding Mini Mag isn’t limited to Mini Mag, it is that it is what we always have cases of. It shoots consistently well from all of our rifles though. We use other HV HP ammo and the experience has been pretty much the same. I bought some RWS that was amazingly accurate in our sporting rifles, but I don’t remember it doing much better than anything else in match rifles. It was really expensive too.

 

Houligan,
I am not a precision shooter and have never entered a match. I usually shoot the "green monster" contest in this forum.

https://www.rimfirecentral.com/threads/november-2023-cz-brno-25-yard-scoped-on-line-benchrest-match.1287772/page-2#post-13226141

All four of my 457's will score in the upper-240's on that target. I just posted targets shot on the 24th. All have lighter trigger springs which I installed. I am the greatest variable when I shoot. I don't use wind flags since I am blind in one eye and cannot figure out how to watch the flags and sight at the same time. Luckily I have been able to avoid days with challenging winds. The Varmint, MTR, and At-one will all score well when I have a good day. I will shoot the ARA targets on the next range trip since they appear to be more of a challenge. I like the MTR and At-One equally but then I am not a discerning as some shooters. For me shooting time and experience have the greatest impact on my success. Hope you can find one you are happy with.
Charlie

 

Charlie - Thanks for your thoughts. Like you, I can only use one eye (glacoma) when shooting so I can't watch a wind flag and focus on the target at the same time. But WE can keep trying and having fun, can't we!

Houligan

 

I have been shooting a MTR for over a year. I put in a lighter trigger spring. I have been doing ARA Factory class type shooting the last couple months. It shoots well.

https://www.rimfirecentral.com/threads/estimating-ara-factory-class-competitive-scores.1289271/unread

The second I have only shot 4 cards. So far it is the same as my #1. I really like them.

 

I didn't think putting your cheek on the stock was something you were to do anyway as far as benchrest / target shooting goes anyway. Just saying the MTR is NOT designed for versatility IMO,... just Benchrest precision. I like the At One otherwise and agree with you. I am considering them and wish I could shoot each one but shoot, its hard enough just to find ONE of them for sale - lol.

 

I will always pick my AT-One over my MTR for 50 yards,

 

I just got an MTR stock and I think I'm going to love it from a tripod