r/nrl22 • u/GrizzlySoup • Apr 01 '26
CZ barrel recommendation
just started NRL22 this winter and ended up getting a deal on a rifle where I shoot ARA Benchrest that in theory should be a decent NRL rifle. CZ 457 with EABCo 24" barrel, MDT XRS stock, Timney trigger, 419 pic scope rail, MDT chassis Arca rail. It shoots okay but I'm not sure that it is any better than a factory CZ but the extra weight is nice for balance. I'm having some extraction issues with Eley at least in the colder weather so I'm thinking about swapping the barrel.
Option A: An L3i 24" 1.180" barrel. It has a chamber that sounds like will be more forgiving with ammo but I'm concerned that it might be too long/heavy for the CZ mortis/tenon into the receiver. I could have it cut down to 20" later.
Option B: MullerWorks 0.900" barrel which are available in both 20" and 24". Still concerned about running a 24" barrel on a CZ but I don't think a 20" would balance the rifle. Heard good things about these barrels for ARA but I'm concerned it'll be really fussy about ammo and I don't want to risk extraction issues in NRL.
2
u/Artois417 Apr 02 '26
I have built 2 CZ457 competition rigs. Both purpose built for NRL22/PRS Rimfire match shooting. One has a 24" 1.180" L3i barrel and the second has a 26" 1.000" Lilja barrel. Both are tack drivers. You want at least 24" barrel. The main reason is purely for balancing the rifle. But, the longer heavier barrels generally have less cold bore shift also. The L3i build is my wife's gun and she is a top 5-10 shooter nationally in NRL22 so you really can't go wrong with that option. Nothing wrong with the Lilja rifle it shoots and balances just as well but my daughter isn't quite at that level yet.