You can take my opinion for what it's worth, as it is worth what you pay for it . I own 2 457 American rifles in 22WMR and find them very accurate. In fact the limiting factor is the dope behind the trigger.

I usually shoot at a nearby indoor range which has only a shelf, about 4 feet wide and 2 feet deep, so there is no way to support my right elbow, and I shoot whatever ammo is handy, so I am a casual shooter, but find that if I do my part under these circumstances I can get all 5 shots touching. I personally like shooting 22WMR over 22lr, so that is what I normally shoot, even though I have a 457 American in 22lr also.

 

You can take my opinion for what it's worth, as it is worth what you pay for it . I own 2 457 American rifles in 22WMR and find them very accurate. In fact the limiting factor is the dope behind the trigger.

I usually shoot at a nearby indoor range which has only a shelf, about 4 feet wide and 2 feet deep, so there is no way to support my right elbow, and I shoot whatever ammo is handy, so I am a casual shooter, but find that if I do my part under these circumstances I can get all 5 shots touching. I personally like shooting 22WMR over 22lr, so that is what I normally shoot, even though I have a 457 American in 22lr also.

Glad to hear this. I just ordered a 22WMR Barrel only for my 457 Varmint and am looking forward to giving it a go. The mini set in 22WMR I have on order might arrive someday.

 

My 457 American is fantastic. It shoots Hornady vmax 30 grain under 1-1/2" at 100 yards on average. Its comparable to 22lr match ammo at 50 yards out of any decent rifle. I would buy another 457 22 wmr tomorrow if I lost this one in a boating accident.

 

My 457 American is fantastic. It shoots Hornady vmax 30 grain under 1-1/2" at 100 yards on average. Its comparable to 22lr match ammo at 50 yards out of any decent rifle. I would buy another 457 22 wmr tomorrow is I lost this one in a boating accident.
View attachment 360996

Great looking rifle.

 

I have a 4ss FS, same barrel as 457, in 22 mag. it shoots 1" at 100 yards outdoors, using Hornady 30 gr v-max.

 

We all know that .22 magnum has a reputation for mediocre accuracy

I think we all know .22 magnum ammo does not come in match grade flavors to begin with.
I believe the general consensus is generally also sub sonic ammo stays more accurate than supersonic ammo as it avoids that transition back to below the speed of sound.

I have had a love affair with the 22 magnum for decades and think honestly if you do an apple to apple comparison with "equal ammo" you will find the .22 mag just as accurate as the standard .22lr hv loads.
I have shot a lot of CCI HV mini mag .22lr and CCI maxi mag in .22 magnum over the years that I do not see where accuracy wise the .22lr from 50 up to 100 yards is any better than the magnum rounds.
To me this is a much more apples to apples comparison with equivalent grades of ammo between the two calibers.
I do not think making the comparison to a much higher match grade .22lr subsonic ammo is really a fair test.
This is my opinion anyway.

 

I have limited range time with my 455 American 22WMR and a bit more time but not extensive time behind my 512 22WMR. I've shot both rifles out to only 50 yards. Both have produced half-inchish groups with me behind the rifle. My 22WMR rifles, including a Charles Daly Zastava, all seem to prefer the Hornady 30gr V-Max load.

 

Regarding the comments on no Target grade ammo:
Federal Champion Target Ammunition 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (WMR) 40 Grain Full Metal Jacket

I've shot this in both my Marlin and 455, that have shot under 1 MOA at 100 yards with the v-max ammo.

The target ammo didn't hold to 2" at 100 yards.

 

I've had good to excellent accuracy from several CZ's including 452 American and FS as well as a 457 Lux.

 

Don't you know everybody's rifle on the net is a tackdriver

 

A reputation for mediocre accuracy?

What could possibly lead anyone to that conclusion?

Is it the mv spread approaching 300 fps?

Is it due to it being hunting ammunition, never intended for benchrest competition?

Is it due to the unpredictable strays that show up for no apparent reason?

How would you test for true accuracy with rimfire ammunition?
With groups? How about shooting for score?

What would happen if proof of accuracy was based on score?

Say with a USBR or ARA 50 yard target, would that provide plausible proof?

I'm thinking that'd be a really effective method of illustrating accuracy, don't you?

Two 25 shot targets with the goal being to punch center with every shot.

Any takers?

Just thinking out loud again....as I'm officially an old coot, I'm allowed.

 

A reputation for mediocre accuracy?



How would you test for true accuracy with rimfire ammunition?
With groups? How about shooting for score?

What would happen if proof of accuracy was based on score?

Say with a USBR or ARA 50 yard target, would that provide plausible proof?

I'm thinking that'd be a really effective method of illustrating accuracy, don't you?

Two 25 shot targets with the goal being to punch center with every shot.

Any takers?

Just thinking out loud again....as I'm officially an old coot, I'm allowed.

I always wonder about anecdotal testamonials of accuracy, I much prefer full target sheets.

I wish they were offered, unprompted, along with the claims. I feel when I push for paper proof, I get culled responses.

"Just thinking out loud again....as I'm officially an old coot, I'm allowed. " Me too.

 

I was going buy one since my CZ ultra lux in 22 rimfire that shoots great. I started reading that 22 mag versions did not group as well so I bought a Ruger American 22 WMR on a Cabelas Close out for $199 a couple of December’s ago. Best thing I ever did! First sick six shot group at 100 yards shot .3”! It shot a Six shot group with Winchester 2250 fps 30 grain varminter ammo at .694”! Best part is it’s got a black plastic stock so I’m not afraid to take to take it out in the woods and put it to good use. Those pretty Woodstock‘s on the CZ are too nice to get scratched up. I didn’t do anything to my American except for lighten the trigger down to about a pound. Removed a coil or two on the springs and polished up the trigger group. I took it out and called a fox in with it the other day and also shot a rabbit. That thing is a tac driver That i am not afraid to walk through the brush with. I have tried the 50 grain stuff. It averages between 1 & 1/4” to 1.5” groups at 100 yards. Apparently my gun likes the lighter and faster projectiles. I’d still like a 512 but haven’t owned a 22WMR semi auto yet that will cycle reliably. That wood on live2fish’s rifle gives me goosebumps! I’d have to buy it for the wood alone,

 

Mine shot well, about 3//4 inch at 50 yards but I started to get weak strikes with the fireing pin. A extra strenght spring solved that.

 

Did the extra strength spring increase your trigger pull weight?

 

A big Thank You to everyone!

To the point of ammo, both in the sense of the quality being "field grade", and telocity window being a factor, I can only agree.

I hope that .22 WMR ammo has become mainstream enough to warrant general manufacturing upgrades. Seems like that may already be happening.
I don't know that much can be done about the velocity window. I will say that a higher BC 45 or even a 50 grain bullet at 1700 fps or so might help with that. I know that at such light weight and low velocity, some drag is needed for stability so I may be barking up the wrong tree.

10-15 years ago when I found myself shooting a lot more 22 magnum, my rifle preferred Winchester 40 grain (HP or solid) and really loved the 34 grain Winchester Supreme load.
Good stuff, and I wish I had socked some away.

That was an older Mossberg 640 KA in 22 WMR that is quite accurate despite having a heavy trigger. Shot it quite a bit at 200 feet, and no golf ball or empty shotgun shell was safe. All misses squarely the responsibility of the shooter.

Fast forward to the CZ 457 era, and I'm intrigued by the possibilities...!

I have a spare 457 Lux in 22lr that I may either buy a WMR barrel for, or simply sell to help fund a new Lux in WMR.

Your input will help me decide, so I appreciate it very much.

 

If you're thinking .22 magnum, you might also consider the 17 HMR. For both accuracy and flat shooting, the 17 gets the edge IMO.

 

I have a V-22 "sporter" - sort of. It's got an 18" Ranch contour bbl, which is only .625" at the muzzle. I put it in a Manners EH2, and mounted an Athlon Midas TAC 6-24x50 on its 30 MOA scope rail. It weighs 8.75lbs, which is about as light as you can get with one of these substantial actions. CZ lists the 457 American's weight at 6.17lbs w/o a scope, and it'll balance quite a bit more nicely than the action-heavy V-22 Ranch.

 

I have a few WMRs. 452 Varmint, 452 FF, 455 FS, And they shoot just dandy! If i did Jaijas test, 25 shots for score, they would do 1/2 as good as my similar 22 lrs. Thats not what I bought them for, nor why I shoot them. I like the louder retort, the slightly stringer recoil, and the bigger impact on the target. The V max is an excellent round, as are the CCI solid points. Just a lot of funto shoot🥰

 

My Lux in .22wmr is easy on the eyes and plenty accurate for what a hunting rifle is made for, 25-50 shot groups mean butcus...no relevance for a field rifle...period.

With it's 2.5-7 scope it does just fine...shooting 1/2 to 5/8 inch groups time after time, how many shots are you going to shoot in a hunting situation?

 

My Lux in .22wmr is easy on the eyes and plenty accurate for what a hunting rifle is made for, 25-50 shot groups mean butcus...no relevance for a field rifle...period.

With it's 2.5-7 scope it does just fine...shooting 1/2 to 5/8 inch groups time after time, how many shots are you going to shoot in a hunting situation?

We shoot Gophers. Found a couple sections infested last spring. We were shooting 300 plus rds per day.

I know you're thinking that's a lot of ammo for 8 gophers but we were actually getting 150-200 each per day.

I think that was hunting or shooting fish in a barrel.

 

G'morning Gerald, how many shots will I take in a hunting situation? One.

Did I hit what I aimed at or not? That's the only question that needs answering.

What purpose does shooting groups serve?

Determining ammunition consistency and adjusting the scope/sights to the current brick.

If a random act of accuracy occurs, a bragging pic is posted.

What purpose does 25, 50 or even 100 shot groups across a chronograph serve?

It provides hard data regarding ammunition quality
and what to expect from y'er last purchase of cartridges.

Which information is more useful, a single 5 shot group,
followed by a claim of "all day long", or the results from the entire box
along with the chronograph numbers, conditions, pics of setup and rifle?

Which provides better/more complete data,
indicating what to expect, from a particular brick of cartridges?

Will it be the results a single shot, or the results from a substantial sized sample?

The purpose of serious range time is to determine the accuracy of a rifle/cartridge/shooter
and to establish the limits of accuracy at which the combination can be trusted.
In the woods, that time spent tells me just how far I can make that shot
and guarantee there won't be a miss or wounded critter.

 

If it were me, I’d start with Hornaday 30 grain vmax. Good starting point anyways for accuracy testing. It shoots the tightest groups in all the 22 WMR rifles and pistols I’ve shot it in over the years. Any of the ballistic tip type ammo shoots tighter groups in my guns than a round nose or hollow point type bullet.

 

I don't own any 457s yet, but I do have Marlin, Ruger, Savage and a handful of CZ rifles all in 22mag. I love the 22mag and have not looked at a 22lr to buy for over 10 years, not interested in that caliber, I am a hunter and use my rifles as such. I am not looking for 1/2inch groups either most of my targets are bigger than a tennis ball and all of my 22mag rifles will do better than that any day of the week. No disrespect meant to anyone but the 22mag is a hunting round and that is what I use it for. Just wondering how anybody can think that a 22mag is supposed to compete with target grade ammunition. Even the good stuff (target grade) ammunition can have a flyer in the box.

Kragman sir once you get spoiled with the extra power and distance you get with a magnum either 17hmr or 22mag it is hard to go back to a 22lr if you're out in the field. I own plenty of both calibers. In my eyes a rifle is a tool and needs to be selected for the task at hand. If I am shooting for a one-hole groups, like I did a very long time ago then I would be shooting one of my 222s and dial in my loads to get there. But these days I challenge myself to how well I can do with offhand shooting. When I was shooting from the bench, I had all day to pull the trigger. When you out hunting you have seconds to find, aim and shoot. My distance is not set at 50 or 100 yards it could be 38 yards or 127 yards out and for me a 22lr might get the job done at the closer distance but get me a magnum to make sure I have a clean kill at the longer ranges.

Sorry for the rant but a lot of us here think all of us rimfire guys do is shoot off a bench, there is another side to rimfire rifles. If you want or need small groups to make you happy to get an expensive match grade rifle/scope and shoot the great stuff, get the flags and the heavy shooting rest and go have fun and don't even think of a 22mag. But if you want to have a blast to try a 22mag it just might surprise you what it can do. I am totally happy with my mag rifles they give me what I need and then some. I do own some 22mag rifles that are easy on the eyes and others that are ugly as a fence post but shoot lights out for me and that make me super happy as if I found Lv2fish's rifle. nice snag sir

Signalman 🚦

 

Yep, I’m with you, just find the ammunition that shoots tightest in your gun and go hunting with it! The vmax shoot best for me and is devastating on small game. I zero at 100 yards and just point and shoot. At really close squirrel head shots (under 20 yards) I do have to remember to adjust my POA Or I’ll miss. Past 25 yards to 125 yards with the vmax I just put the crosshairs right on. I might re sight to 75 yards for POA since most my shots are closer.

 

wrong thread - sorry

 

I much prefer woods time over range time , a person can take all the pleasure out of a relaxing hobby if they are anal enough about it. Most (99%) of hunters wouldn’t be able to shoot much tighter than minute of angle in a hunting situation regardless of how accurate their rifle was.

 

I think the .22 mag’s are accuracy reputation is due to the poor quality older ammo choices and the older rifles offered in that caliber.

I have one .22 mag, a CZ 452 American. That rifle changed my opinion on .22 mags. I have a 4-16 scope on it and with ammo it likes (Rem 33 gr), it will consistently produce sub MOA groups at 100 yds. Seems to prefer all of the polytip rounds, but everything stays under 1.5” from the bench.

Also have a 452 varmint in .17 HMR. The HMR is less ammo picky, but the .22 mag (w/polytip) is about as accurate at 100.

 

I had one of the cheap Savages (pre accutrigger) in 22 Mag and it would shoot 1/2" at 100 yds WITH sorted and weighed ammo. I found a couple very heavy and a couple very light cartridges in each box of ammo. I would take those out and use them in my pistol and the rest would shoot good in the rifle. The point is that if the ammo is consistent most guns will shoot well.

 

I am wondering if there is consensus that the 30 grain VMAX type cartridges either CCI or Hornady are consistently more accurate than the 40 and 45 grain loadings?

 

Yep the 30g Hornady vmax and Remington 33g accutip are what my 457 varmint like the best