Long Range Bolt Gun

hlpressley

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Looking at building a long range bolt gun. I'm undecided between the CZ 455 American threaded or the Savage MK II FV-SR. Gun will primarily be used to introduce myself to semi long range shooting as my shooting experience thus far has been 90% pistol. I definitely want a threaded barrel as I have a can coming at some point when the ATF decides I'm allowed... Anyway, I really like the looks of the 455 Tacticool but they seem near impossible to find. The FV-SR seems like a good platform although some have suggested it's not what the CZ is. Admittedly I'm a bit of a CZ fanboy so that may alter my decision unnecessarily. What is your experience with both or either platform? Why is one superior to the other? Which would you buy if you were buying?

Thanks in advance.
 
As someone who had and loved shooting a savage fvsr for many years, all it took was shooting my buddy's 455 one range day before the savage went up for sale and I contacted @JBoyette to get a CZ on order. The CZ is hands down more accurate and feels more like a miniature version of a big boy rifle vs the savage. Get the CZ, you won't be sorry, and I can personally recommend Mr Boyette for outstanding customer service!
 
3 CZs here ... can you guess my answer? I bought the Varmint variant to customize because I didn't want to screw with my 452 or 455 American which both shoot better than my eyes can. The Tacticool stock is a Boyds and you can order it from them with a adjustable riser ... or do like I am and save pennies (and try and sell plasma) to order a KRG chassis. The $400 for the rifle was actually the least expensive part ... but my kid can take out Necco candy wafers at 100 yards if there is little to no breeze pretty easy.
 
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Most Savages shoot well but I hate that damn trigger. I've been on a CZ trip for a while. Have a few 452s and a 455. I like them much better than the Savage I had.


CHRIS
 
CZ they are accurate enough, and have a better big boy feel.

If you want the heft of a full size rifle I recommend the Anschutz 64 MPR. Most accurate you will find.

Despite loads of very questionable claims, the Savage will never be as accurate as the first two I listed. Not to say a man shooting a Savage can't outshoot a man shooting an Anny. It'll come down to the man behind the trigger.
For raw accuracy, the Savage is low on the totem pole.
 
I am partial to the CZ455 Tacticool myself. If you go that route, and want to find a "budget" round that still performs, try the Aguila Standard Velocity and Geco Bolt Action Optimized ammo. My rifle groups both of those rounds extremely well.

cz455.jpg
 
I am partial to the CZ455 Tacticool myself. If you go that route, and want to find a "budget" round that still performs, try the Aguila Standard Velocity and Geco Bolt Action Optimized ammo. My rifle groups both of those rounds extremely well.

View attachment 9840
Just let me come buy that one and you can move on to something else ;)

I can't find a Tacticool in stock anywhere!
 
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CZ 455 in Boyd Coyote stock with Nikon Rimfire scope

20170504_145350_zpsiwwdsytr.jpg
 
Just let me come buy that one and you can move on to something else ;)

I can't find a Tacticool in stock anywhere!

Evidently CZ does production runs once or twice a year and ships them over via container ship. When they show up, they are available for a while, then you have to wait or get lucky to find one sitting at a dealer.

I told FG&G I was looking for one a couple years ago and some random time (a few months I think) later they called and said to come pick it up and I was happy to get it.

But the Boyd's pro varmint stock is the same thing, and available with adjustable cheek riser now I believe.
 
While it was said to be a prototype the one at the NRA was not that impressive. Its target grip just didn't feel good ... to chunky. The cheek riser had a little play in it which was a little distracting when trying to take a cheek weld repeatedly. Overall I liked the adj pro varmint more and if you like the idea of the At One I'd say wait a little while and see what little changes they make to it. Myself I just pillar bedded my old CZ Varmint stock and am saving for a KRG XRay.
 
Please report back with how you like it. Really wish they made one in all black.

I prefer more subdued colors on my give usually. I ordered blaze this time though. If i don't like it I'll paint it.

I'll let you know what i think of it once it's in and setup.
 
This one is tempting, but I really like the look of the heavy barrel on the Tacticool.

https://www.tombstonetactical.com/c...ican-sr-rifle-22lr-16.5in-threaded-5rd-black/

I have both that and the Tacticool model - I think my luck was that the lighter barrel is slightly more accurate as they came out of the box. I use the heavy barrel one 10x as much though. I doubt there is an inherent accuracy difference unless you rapid fire boxes of ammo which sort of defeats the purpose.

The heavy barrel in the heavy stock certainly feels more substantial which has pros and cons. Much more like the weight of a centerfire for training purposes.
 
Just let me come buy that one and you can move on to something else ;)

I can't find a Tacticool in stock anywhere!

Not a chance! This thing may just be my favorite rifle of all time. It is ridiculously fun and accurate. I've made 500 yard hits on the full size steel plate at Frontline Defense with this rifle with HV ammo - though admittedly, there was almost no wind blowing at the times I've been able to do it.
 
After looking high, low, and even underneath a 455 Tacticool was not to be found. Since I knew I wouldn't be happy with any other 455 I have decided to wait until they surface again or I come across a used one.

In the meantime, I have no patience when I'm bored, I ordered a Mark II FV-SR. Planning to get a Boyd's stock and the DIP metal bottom right away. Have also been looking at glass and I'm thinking of trying the PA 4-14x44 or the Vortex Crossfire II 6-18. I've actually read much better reviews on the PA than the Vortex. Thoughts?
 
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After looking high, low, and even underneath a 455 Tacticool was not to be found. Since I knew I wouldn't be happy with any other 455 I have decided to wait until they surface again or I come across a used one.

In the meantime, I have no patience when I'm bored, I ordered a Mark II FV-SR. Planning to get a Boyd's stock and the DIP metal bottom right away. Have also been looking at glass and I'm thinking of trying the PA 4-14x44 or the Vortex Crossfire II 6-18. I've actually read much better reviews on the PA than the Vortex. Thoughts?
I've got the PA on my FV-SR and have to say that I'm quite impressed with it. I shouldn't say mine, the minion has confiscated it, it's now his... shots at 200 yards are almost boring with it.
 
I've got the PA on my FV-SR and have to say that I'm quite impressed with it. I shouldn't say mine, the minion has confiscated it, it's now his... shots at 200 yards are almost boring with it.
Which height rings did you go with? The will be my first adventure with a scoped rifle so I have no idea what I'm doing.
 
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I have a PA 4-14X44 RGrid on my 6.5 Grendel rig and have consistently shot it to 1000 yards with no problems. You can also get some plastic washers and set up a makeshift zero stop if you are going to be doing much dialing up and down in the same session. I love it for what it is at that price point. I have a Vortex Crossfire also, which is a very good basic hunting scope, but it does not have exposed target turrets which makes it unsuitable for applications requiring frequent dialing up and down.
 
Can anyone tell me why I don't need a Leupold VX-3i 4.5-14x40 Duplex Reticle with side focus?

Looked through a few different brand scopes today at Academy and Saturday at Cabela's. The clarity of the Leupold offerings is simply amazing compared to the others! I know the above mentioned unit is likely overkill for a rimfire gun but I'm not sure I could be satisfied with anything less now that I've looked through the good stuff. Is there something else of similar quality but a little better suited for rimfire?
 
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By "a little better suited" you mean cheaper? Compare to the midrange Vortex if you didn't. Parallax adjustment to at least as close as 50 yards, and many prefer 25 for rimfires, is the main difference for a rimfire scope. They _can_ theoretically be of less robust build quality with less recoil but great optics in a lesser mechanical build is not common.
 
There are plenty of people with $1k-2k scopes on rimfires, particularly for benchrest or to duplicate a centerfire rifle for training.
 
Can anyone tell me why I don't need a Leupold VX-3i 4.5-14x40 Duplex Reticle with side focus?

Looked through a few different brand scopes today at Academy and Saturday at Cabela's. The clarity of the Leupold offerings is simply amazing compared to the others! I know the above mentioned unit is likely overkill for a rimfire gun but I'm not sure I could be satisfied with anything less now that I've looked through the good stuff. Is there something else of similar quality but a little better suited for rimfire?

I ain't gonna talk you out of anything ... I went with a VX2 4-12x40 AO fine duplex on my 455 and already thinking of a 6-18x40 AO fine duplex because I want to be able to reach 200 yards. Glass is personal preference especially when you get into doing more than plinking or squirrel hunting.
 
By "a little better suited" you mean cheaper? Compare to the midrange Vortex if you didn't. Parallax adjustment to at least as close as 50 yards, and many prefer 25 for rimfires, is the main difference for a rimfire scope. They _can_ theoretically be of less robust build quality with less recoil but great optics in a lesser mechanical build is not common.
I guess I did mean cheaper, but not really. I know there are things within the VX-3i that you pay for that isn't needed for a Rimfire application. Therefore, I'd rather not pay for them if I can avoid it. But, I don't want to give up the things that I like about it such as the clarity of the glass, side focus, variable magnification etc. I guess what I'm looking for is smiliar quality, features, and clarity of the Leupold without having to pay for the things that I don't need.

That likely made no sense! I'm such a rookie! Haha
 
I guess I did mean cheaper, but not really. I know there are things within the VX-3i that you pay for that isn't needed for a Rimfire application. Therefore, I'd rather not pay for them if I can avoid it. But, I don't want to give up the things that I like about it such as the clarity of the glass, side focus, variable magnification etc. I guess what I'm looking for is smiliar quality, features, and clarity of the Leupold without having to pay for the things that I don't need.

That likely made no sense! I'm such a rookie! Haha

Then start at a MK4.
 
I guess I did mean cheaper, but not really. I know there are things within the VX-3i that you pay for that isn't needed for a Rimfire application. Therefore, I'd rather not pay for them if I can avoid it. But, I don't want to give up the things that I like about it such as the clarity of the glass, side focus, variable magnification etc. I guess what I'm looking for is smiliar quality, features, and clarity of the Leupold without having to pay for the things that I don't need.

That likely made no sense! I'm such a rookie! Haha

If by "quality" you mean "mechanical quality" there is nothing left to give up to go cheaper. And probably no scope that good built "poorly" just for rimfire.

If that's the one you like, you'll always want it unless you get it or find something as good or better.
 
The EFR Leupold is one of the finest rimfire scopes ever made.
 
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Last week I had no rimfire bolt guns. Today, I have 3. So typical of me!

Bought the FV-SR because I couldn't find a 455 Tacticool and didn't want the threaded American. Ended up buying the threaded American because I just wanted a CZ. And today Tacticools come back in stock, so I had to have it...
 
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Last week I had no rimfire bolt guns. Today, I have 3. So typical of me!

Bought the FV-SR because I couldn't find a 455 Tacticool and didn't want the threaded American. Ended up buying the threaded American because I just wanted a CZ. And today Tacticools come back in stock, so I had to have it...

I went from nothing but an inherited single shot bolt 22 to 3 452s 2 455s and an Anschutz in about 6 months I think. At least they are cheaper than 2011s :)
 
Was able to get some glass on the Savage today. Went with a PA 4-14x44 FFP scope. Keep in mind this is my very first endeavour shooting any kind of long gun with any sort of magnified optic. I mounted the scope to the best of my ability based on some reading and videos on YouTube. Took it out and bore sighted it the old fashioned way, looking down the bore and matching the scope up. Surprisingly it worked pretty well being only 2 MOA high and about 3 left.

This was my very first 5 shot group at 50 yards after getting it zeroed.



I was pretty happy with that as it far exceeded my expectations of my personal ability.

Next group was 12 shots, also from 50 yards.



After dinner I decided to get it back out and see what I could do on Steel at 175'ish yards. 12"x18" plates were hit effortlessly! I honestly couldn't believe how easy it was. My wife had never looked through a scope in her life and went 5 for 5 on the plate. I had the whole family ringing Steel within a few minutes. Everyone was smiling after they shot the first few shots.

Needless to say, I'm extremely pleased with the rifle and optic. Can't wait to shoot some golf balls off the plate tomorrow!


 
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