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Some people dream of assembling a long-range rifle capable of ringing one-MOA targets at 1,000 yards. Others dream of an ultralight mountain rifle that’s easy to carry for miles and can make a single precision shot. I dream of an ultra-quiet, accurate, and handy rifle for dropping squirrels out of trees. Here’s how I turned a CZ 457 into my dream gun and how it performed in my testing this fall.
The Build
Base Rifle: CZ 457 American
- Barrel Length: 24 inches (American) and 20 inches (Synthetic SR)
- Synthetic SR is threaded 1/2 x 28
- Adjustable Trigger: 1.8 to 3.4 pounds
- Comes with a 5-round magazine
- User-swappable barrels and calibers
- 11mm dovetail scope base
- 60-degree bolt throw
- Overall 50-Yard Average (150 shots): 0.39 inches
- Stock Trigger Pull: 3.2 pounds (American) and 2.9 pounds (Synthetic SR)
- Weight: 6.61 pounds (American) and 5.51 pounds (Synthetic SR)
- Price: $680 (American) and $630 (Synthetic SR)
The base rifle for this build is a CZ 457 American. I kept the American’s stock because I love a wood stock on a hunting rifle, and its ergonomics work great for squirrel hunting. There are a ton of ultralight chassis you can go with, but wood and squirrel hunting just go together. I did have to sand down the inside of the stock to create room for the new barrel, but that’s easy to do with a palm sander, a dowel wrapped in sandpaper, or every garage gunsmith’s favorite tool: a Dremel.
Read Next: CZ 457 American Review
Barrel: Proof Research CZ 457 Pre-Fit Barrel
Lilja makes CZ 457 pre-fit barrels that are fantastic for competition shooting, but I wanted something lighter. That’s why I went with a 16-inch Proof Research pre-fit barrel. One of the great things about the CZ 457 is that the barrel changes are a piece of cake. You simply loosen two set screws to remove the barrel and the new one slides right into the action.
Scope: Nightforce NX6 2-12
The entire Nightforce NX6 line is fantastic, and the 2-12x F1 variant is perfect for a versatile rimfire. It can take a 50-yard head shot on a squirrel or snap shoot one up close. It also makes this rifle excellent for shooting long range. Dialing in to 300 yards and ringing steel is quite easy with this setup. The scope is fairly light and short, so I don’t think I’m giving up much in terms of weight compared to a traditional 3-9x, but I’m gaining a lot of capability and versatility.
Silencer: Otter Creek Labs Titanium 22
This suppressor is quiet, light, relatively affordable, and easy to clean — everything I look for in a .22 can. There are plenty of other great options like the Dead Air RXD22Ti and the CAT BEN 22 Ti. A .22 silencer is a must-have accessory because it makes shooting a rimfire significantly more fun.
CZ 457 Upgrades
I added an Area 419 CZ 457 Scope Base and bolt handle to my 457 action. The rail makes it much easier to mount scopes and adds some elevation, so I can plink with this rifle out to 300 yards. The bolt handle makes running the bolt easier than the stock round one. One final upgrade I’d like to make is the Timney CZ 457 Trigger.
Testing the Ultimate Squirrel Rifle in the Field and on the Range
| Ammo | 50-yard Group Average | Velocity |
| SK Rifle Match | 0.39 | 1042 fps |
| Lapua Center X | 0.54 | 1057 fps |
| CCI Select | 0.59 | 1234 fps |
For accuracy testing, I shot SK Rifle Match, Lapua Center X, and CCI Select. I shot five, five-shot groups with each. All three averaged around a 1/2-inch group at 50 yards. I was most impressed by how well this barrel shot CCI Select, which is relatively inexpensive compared to other ammo I shot.
The new barrel is definitely accurate, and it also made this rifle significantly easier to maneuver in the woods. With the rifle slung over my shoulder it was unobtrusive as I weaved my way through thick cover. When I saw a squirrel, the rifle came to my shoulder quickly and was easy to get stable.
Final Thoughts
The result of this build is a rifle that’s fun to shoot on the range and a joy to carry in the woods. To me, it perfectly blends a nostalgic wood-stock rifle with modern features. Is it a bit extreme for a squirrel gun? You betcha. But I love this rifle all the same.
