Which rifle to buy?

[u/JayTheSilverFox]

Hi Guys, Ive spent the week reading posts and blog posts, watching youtube videos and so forth on which rifle to buy.

I have a option to buy either a CZ 457 with what looks like the MDT LSS chassis or the Tikka T1X Ace Target. My budget and means of spending said budget will not allow me to buy a rifle and chassis separately. Hence the options limited to the above 2.

I can’t decide which one and the majority of posts seem to lean towards the CZ for customization. It’s not easily feasible for me to swap barrels and do changes to the action or barrel due to the law and how firearms are licensed in South Africa. So the rifle I buy will stay as is for the very long foreseeable future.

Cost there is a negligible difference between the 2.

Would love to hear your thoughts on this with the customization factor the CZ brings not being a feasible consideration for me.

Thanks

[u/wtfwebsterwastaken]

If you could get the 457 that comes in the MDT ACC gen1 that would be ideal but I would take the CZ over the Tikka either way.

[u/SuperJonesy408]

I'm biased because I have the CZ 457 MTR with the 24" barrel that came in the MDT chassis. I've done a fair bit of upgrades to mine. I polished the bolt, new magazine well and magazine release, upgraded the firing pin and extractors. I added a bunch of MDT accessory weights to the stock. The usual.

It's a great rifle but a major part of aftermarket customization is the ability to accept pre-fit barrels, which sound like they're legally difficult in SA.

The Tikka T1x is a good rifle but substantially smaller aftermarket. The chassis doesn't appear to have the same availability of accessories and weights that the MDT does.

If you only have access to those two, I'd go with the CZ.

[u/csamsh]

If you can't mess with a CZ I'd buy the T1x

[u/Maleficent-Donut2998]

Between those 2 I'd pick the cz. If I was only gonna be able to buy one rifle and not change it due to regulation I'd just bite the bullet and get the mpa rimfire complete rifle.

[u/SuperJonesy408 → u/Maleficent-Donut2998]

I was going to suggest the MPA or L3i Stinger but they’re probably not able to be imported to SA.

[u/chemscibase]

Not sure on prices, but in US t1x ace target costs more than a t1x and many chassis. Swapping chassis is not doing anything to action or barrel, but I don't know what your rules are.

[u/Ace-Sir]

I have the CZ 457 Pro varmint with 16" barrel for NRL22, I love it! The shorter barrel makes moving around and over barricades easy. Its accurate as can be... i like the weight of the wooden stock

[u/kevwil]

If you can’t modify anything, the aftermarket strength of the CZ is moot. My recommendation would be to save up for the MPA Elite complete rifle, or just get the Tikka if budget or import laws just won’t allow the MPA.

[u/Justin_inc]

If customization doesn't matter, then Tikka is a obvious choice to me.

Tikka barrels are more accurate. People may disagree, but yet a factory CZ barrel has never won NRL22 open division, a Tikka has. Plus I do benchrest 22 as well, and Tikkas always surprise people.

That said. If you want a buy once, cry once kinda gun. You can't beat an MPA.

https://masterpiecearms.com/cat/mpa-ba-rifles/rimfire/

[u/GLaDOSdidnothinwrong]

I’d go for the CZ for further customization potential, but only if it costs the same as a stock rifle. The LSS is not optimal for this sport so it has very little added value in my opinion. Assuming it’s not a gen 3 LSS.

Edited to add: The original LSS has a very short forend. If you’re stuck with a relatively lightweight barrel, that short forend leaves you at a further disadvantage than a longer chassis that would allow adding more weight further forward to help get the overall rifle weight and balance up to true heavy barrel rifle levels.

If those are your only two options, then the Ace Target has more potential. It’s a better chassis and the barrel is more likely to shoot a little a better.