Quality bolt action

[facn650]

As mentioned before, Appleseed has a timed portion. Even with a semi-auto the timed session can go by fast.

That being said, I'm a huge CZ fan. If you want a bolt action a 452/455 would be my top pick for a bolt action in your price range.

The CZ 512 also falls in that price range, is a semi-auto and is also very accurate. I have one in .22LR and one in .22WMR. The trigger is the only thing I would improve on it but it gets better with use.

Good luck with your choice.

[NordicDave]

What is the timed portion of Appleseed & how is it organized? It's for novices, so it cannot be 3-gun match or IPSC gun contests.

[BigFatGuy]

I don't remember the specific exercise, but some of the shooting drills have very tight time constraints, plus challenges like starting standing and having to sit and aim before starting to shoot... even with a semi I saw many people (me included) barely get half the needed shots off... As a kid, that would have bugged the hell out of me...

Other portions have very generous time limits, though, and would be week suited to a bolt

[as_rocketman]

To the OP, shooting a bolt-action at Appleseed is a slight disadvantage -- but not because of speed. Instead it makes it harder for the shooter to maintain a good group size because you have to break position after every shot. This will reveal problems with NPOA much more quickly than a semi-auto. However, if a boltie is your thing, do it and don't worry. It can be done.

Quoting myself.

Just to put teeth in this comment, today I shot an AQT with my CZ 452 Varmint and qualified with a Rifleman score. With witnesses. 215 and no alibis.

I could not complete a "Rapid Fire AQT" in time, though. 10 targets, 40 rounds, two position changes and three mag changes in 4 minutes flat was just too much. I'd have been fine with another 45 seconds. Bummer, too, because I had 138 / 150 through the first three stages...

No disrespect to rocket man, but a child trying to use a bolt gun at Appleseed will have a bad time early in his shooting career.

This is incorrect. Not all kids are there to game the AQT. Some kids just like bolt actions. In fact, I had one young man, all of nine years old, who decided on his own to forego a Marlin 795 in favor of a Henry lever-action, which is even tougher on our COF than a bolt. His scores didn't improve much after that, but who cares? He had a great time.

Many, many children attend Appleseed with Crickett single-shot bolt actions or similar rifles. I can't think of any who were inconvenienced or expressed any frustration about it.

However, I've never shot Appleseed myself and I'm trying to understand why a bolt 22lr is a poor choice for kids at this event.

It's not. Some kids prefer a typical semi-auto, and some don't. Some want to compete and some don't. You'll know if a bolt is right for your child. We are not a hard-core competitive event. Appleseed is all about self-improvement, and that can be done at many different speeds.

This is a very good question. I haven't been to an Appleseed either, but if a bolt action is a poor choice for kids. I think Appleseed might have something wrong with it.

I'm always open to suggestions. But we've done a lot of shoots, and I can't recall this line of argument ever coming up before.

What is the timed portion of Appleseed & how is it organized? It's for novices, so it cannot be 3-gun match or IPSC gun contests.

The AQT is sort of our "final exam." It's a target shot in four stages that incorporates all of the skills taught over the weekend. Each stage is ten rounds and timed, with timing from 55 seconds (transition to prone seated) to five minutes (slow-fire prone).

But there's no "grade." Shooting a score of 210 / 250 or higher earns you a Rifleman Patch, and that's all.

With younger children, those not strong or coordinated enough to handle a standing stage, we typically have them shoot all stages prone or off a front bag rest, including on the AQT. Or we'll make other accommodations to make sure they have a good time.

Don't discount kids, though. Some of them are amazingly squared away. I had a six-year-old once who embarassed the class, and I myself at my first Appleseed was soundly beat by a 12-year-old girl with a Crickett.

Any other questions, I'll be glad to answer in the Appleseed Forum or in PM's, if that's more productive. Bottom line, bolt action is great for some people, and Appleseed is not like any competitive class where you try to game the system. There are recommended equipment choices, sure, but we will help you get better with the rifle you like.

[trigger945]

I cannot comment on Appleseed as I don't know much about it.

However, I have a Marlin XT and it is one fine bolt action rifle. Maybe give it a try if you can. Well under $500.

Good luck!

[RFB]

For your purpose you will not do better than a CZ 452 Trainer. They come with really good iron sights and if you want better you can upgrade to BRNO Target Aperture sights for a tad more than $100. They are great sights, much better than Tech Sights or Williams aperture sights for target work however not too good for hunting if you decide to get into that.

I am leaning towards a CZ as well, I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the 455 Mannlicher style stock? If for no other reason than it looks exactly Opposite Tactical. Are those iron sights similar enough (I know they're not identical in the rear) to a trainer model or would they need to be upgraded anyway?

And From CZ Website

Thanks in advance,

-RFB

[Furncliff]

CZ 452 Ultra Lux...Brno Standard Target Sights.

This would be right in your price range, all up and ready to shoot.

Note.. the new model is CZ455, the most significant change is the rear sight, which will be no issue if you plan to go with the Brno sight.

The longer barrel on this rifle will help with accuracy using iron sights.

The trigger on these is easily modified for the individual shooter.

For a shorter barrel and a similar stock look at the Lux and the Trainer.

If your son is small enough to need a Jr. size rifle, look at the Scout.

[23's Dad]

Look for a vintage bolt action training or target rifle

In your price range:

magazine fed
Remington 513T
Winchester 75

single shot
H&R M12 or 5200
Kimber M82G

Or a vintage target rifle, but above your price range:

magazine fed
Remington 37
Winchester 52A, B, C

single shot
Anshutz 54
Remington 40X
Winchester 52D, E

The craftsmanship and quality of any of these rifles is amazing. And they will hold their value.

Good Luck!

[Furncliff]

RFB, to the best of my knowledge the Full Stock CZ 452 came with the Tangent sights and the new 455 comes with a less sophisticated style. Recently Skinner Sights came up with a peep sight to fit the CZ's... here...

http://www.skinnersights.com/cz_rifles_24.html

I have Skinner peeps on two lever guns... good stuff.

[usmcchet9296]

one of the best affordable bolt guns out there is the CZ
yes its not an Anchultz but they go for 1000+ new and if your really really lucky 6 to 800 used so I would focus on that
as for Appleseed I would suggest a semi auto
unless your really trained a bolt gun isn't the best thing to use for Appleseed.

[Mac Attack]

I own many target and trainer rifles such as Remington 40X's and 513T, H&R M12, Kimber M82, Mossberg 44US, Winchester 75T, Ruger 10/22's and a few others that I can't think of right now. All are great vintage rifles that shoot great and are more accurate than I am capable of. Most are heavy single shot target rifles that sport aperture sights. But they are long, heavy and parts can be expensive to replace. But I liked my vintage rifles for their history and the fact they came from the CMP. At a recent CMP RF Sporter match I noticed a lot of people were shooting CZ's. After a poor showing with my overweight 513T I broke down and I bought a CZ452 Trainer. Talk about an amazingly accurrite rifle for little money!

Do yourself a favor and check out a CZ as I am certain you will fall in love just like I did. I still like my vintage rifles but for competition that requires a repeating rifle I grab my 452. For the ultimate in accuracy I break out one of my 40's.

[cwilliams]

For under $500 and a bolt action, I do not think you can beat a CZ 452 Ultra Lux. My brother has one and it shoots like a laser beam. If you do your part, the gun will take care of the rest. If you happen to be in SoCal, I know of where two are as of this post.

If you want to go old school and can find one, look for an MAS 45. It's my most recent gun and it will be one I never sell. For being 69 years old, it's as accurate as my brother's CZ. It has a military style peep sight and a very nice two stage trigger. The only thing that might be a downside for Appleseed is that it is fairly heavy, and only has 5 round magazines vs the available 10 for a CZ or something newer.

[Merc1138]

Bolt Action at Apple seeds?

You might want to talk to the Appleseeds People on here first.

Seen people try it....never succeed

It is a timed shooting event

That's odd, since I've personally seen it happen. Now granted, it was an adult who happened to be an experienced shooter and it wasn't his first appleseed, and he was shooting a 700 in .308, but I'd definitely call what he did a success. Claiming that such a thing would never happen is silly.

[as_rocketman]

June 2012, I had a first-time Appleseeder score 219 on an AQT and beat the entire class with a stock bolt-action rimfire. The rifle was a CZ Trainer. 'Nuff said.

To the OP, if your son did get frustrated, you could always go back to the 10/22. This isn't an irreversible decision. But I would encourage you to do things your way.

[thenodnarb]

CZ 452 Ultra Lux...Brno Standard Target Sights.

This would be right in your price range, all up and ready to shoot.

Note.. the new model is CZ455, the most significant change is the rear sight, which will be no issue if you plan to go with the Brno sight.

The longer barrel on this rifle will help with accuracy using iron sights.

The trigger on these is easily modified for the individual shooter.

For a shorter barrel and a similar stock look at the Lux and the Trainer.

If your son is small enough to need a Jr. size rifle, look at the Scout.

where can one find those sights for sale?