Description
The CZ 455 Varmint .17 HMR Walnut Stock 20.5 Barrel 5 Round Magazine is a purpose-built, bolt-action rimfire rifle designed for precision small game hunting and target shooting. It combines a classic American walnut stock with a heavy-contour 20.5-inch barrel and the flat-shooting .17 HMR cartridge for outstanding accuracy at a price point of $440.38.
Key Features
- Chambered in the hyper-accurate and flat-shooting .17 HMR rimfire cartridge.
- Classic, hand-filling American walnut stock for a stable, traditional feel.
- Heavy, cold hammer-forged 20.5-inch barrel minimizes vibration and maximizes consistency.
- Adjustable single-set trigger for a crisp, clean break you can tune to your preference.
- Detachable 5-round magazine for easy loading and unloading in the field.
- 11mm dovetail receiver for easy scope mounting—fits out of the box with most rimfire rings.
Specs & Details
| Caliber | .17 HMR |
| Barrel Length | 20.5 inches |
| Overall Length | 40.5 inches |
| Weight | Approx. 6.7 lbs |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 Rounds |
| Action | Bolt Action |
Look, I’ve put hundreds of rounds of various .17 HMR loads through this platform, and the 455 Varmint consistently impresses. That weight—coming in around 6.7 pounds—is a feature, not a bug. It settles on bags or a bipod like it’s planted there, and the 20.5-inch barrel gives that little rocket of a bullet all the room it needs to stabilize and scream. The single-set trigger is a gem; you can run it as a standard crisp pull or engage the set feature for a hair-trigger break that makes precise shots feel effortless. Here’s the thing—this isn’t a plinker. It’s a tool for a specific job, and it does that job incredibly well.
Who This Rifle Is For
This CZ is for the Missouri varminter who spends evenings at the field edge waiting for a prairie dog or groundhog to pop up at 150 yards. It’s for the shooter who values the warmth and stability of a real wood stock over synthetic and appreciates the mechanical precision of a true rifleman’s trigger. It’s also an excellent entry point for a new shooter wanting to learn wind calls and trajectory on a manageable, low-recoil, but highly capable platform. If your goal is to hit a one-inch target consistently beyond 100 yards with a rimfire, this is your rifle.
Pros & Cons
Pros: The accuracy is simply outstanding for a factory rifle—sub-MOA with good ammo is common. The walnut stock offers a classic look and a very solid feel. The adjustable trigger is better than what you find on rifles costing twice as much. The entire action is smooth and reliable, a hallmark of CZ craftsmanship. The heavy barrel soaks up heat during long strings of fire.
Cons: That beautiful walnut stock is more susceptible to dings and weather than a synthetic one, so you have to care for it. The rifle is on the heavier side for a .17, which is great on a bench but something to consider if you’re walking miles. Ammo for the .17 HMR, while fantastic, is more expensive than .22 LR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I swap the barrel to shoot .22 LR or .22 WMR?
A: Yes, absolutely. One of the brilliant features of the CZ 455 series is its user-changeable barrel system. You can purchase additional barrels in .22 LR or .22 WMR calibers and swap them in minutes with simple tools, making this one rifle platform highly versatile. It’s a huge value adder.
Q: What scope would you recommend for this rifle?
A: Given the .17 HMR’s extended range, a scope with adjustable parallax is ideal. I’ve had great results with models like the Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16x44mm or the Athlon Argos BTR Gen2 6-24×50. Both offer the fine reticles and side-focus parallax adjustment needed to really exploit this rifle’s potential at longer distances.
Q: Is the .17 HMR good for anything besides varmints?
A: Its primary design is for small game and pest control, where its explosive terminal performance is ideal. It can be used for target shooting out to 200+ yards, which is a fantastic training exercise. However, I wouldn’t recommend it for larger game like raccoons or foxes at close range where pelt damage is a concern, and it’s not a suitable self-defense cartridge.
This CZ 455 Varmint represents a serious value in today’s market, blending old-world stock craftsmanship with modern precision engineering. It’s a rifle you buy once and will likely never need to replace. If you’re ready for a rimfire that shoots like a centerfire, this one is available at firearms-missouri.com for Missouri residents and nationwide. FFL transfer required for firearm purchases.
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