The CZ 457 Target is the answer for everyone asking the question: “Which rifle should I take to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan?”
/ Photo: Jakub Buczma, MILMAG
It has to be said – when you pick up the Target model, you can immediately feel that this is a premium design: extremely well thought out and engineered with a single purpose in mind – achieving the highest possible precision that .22 LR ammunition can deliver.
We are looking at a long, 26-inch, cold hammer–forged barrel with a heavy profile and a precision crown. Beyond ballistic refinements, there is also a whole range of ergonomic enhancements in the form of a completely new, fully adjustable stock, developed in cooperation with Matthew Emmons. The shooter can tailor virtually every component they come into contact with. This includes a fully adjustable, interchangeable pistol grip. The cheekpiece is also individually adjustable in terms of angle and height, and it offers two interchangeable profiles. At the shooter’s disposal is also a buttplate with a spur and, of course, an adjustable front hand rest.
That said, this was not what impressed me the most. The top spot on the podium clearly belongs to the new Flyweight trigger system, designed specifically for this model. It is an outstanding design, fully adjustable, allowing the shooter to set the first- and second-stage travel, adjust the pull weight down to as little as 85 g, and fine-tune the length of overtravel. Trigger reset is assisted by a spring, ensuring that the take-up is exactly the same every single time. All these elements combine to create an exceptional shooting experience, with a very distinct wall that seems to break almost at the mere thought of pulling the trigger.
Another feature that sets the Target model apart from the standard CZ 457 is the new single-loading system and the extended bolt handle. Unfortunately, there were no snap caps on hand for me to test it properly, so we’ll have to take the manufacturer’s word for it.
According to the engineers responsible for this beast, the CZ 457 Target can boast accuracy on the order of ¾ MOA, or a 20 mm, 10-shot group at 50 meters. That is an excellent result, making this new offering from Česká zbrojovka a serious disruptor on the market – Anschütz may no longer be the obvious default choice it once was.
If, however, you already own a CZ 457 in another configuration and are now feeling some regret because you don’t have such a refined trigger, don’t worry. The manufacturer assures that after the official launch, planned for spring 2026, the standalone Flyweight trigger kit will become available in stores and will be compatible with other CZ 457 models. This does require replacing the firing pin, but it is not a major issue.
Unfortunately, as Česká zbrojovka has stated, there are no plans to ever offer the CZ 457 Target action on its own, without the stock. So if someone wants the improved trigger and the single-loading system, purchasing the complete rifle is the only option. The price? Not insignificant for this caliber – around 3,300 USD on the American market. Is that a lot? A comparable Anschütz 54.30 rifle in a similar aluminum stock costs around 20,000 PLN (ca. 5,600 USD), so while the price is high, it is still far more accessible.
More details are available on CZ’s official website.
The distributor of CZ in Poland is Hubertus Chodzież
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