One of the manufacturer's most self-confident statements up front: the new CZ 457 Target rimfire competition rifle is claimed to achieve guaranteed 15-mm groups at 50 meters, the classic competition distance for Olympic rifle events, with ten shots. However, top rimfire shooters generally specify the outer diameter of their shot groups. So, if you subtract the bullet caliber of 5.6 mm, the guaranteed groups would even be 12 mm "center to center of the outermost shot holes" – and we assume this group size is achieved with the rifle clamped to eliminate human error. Furthermore, it also depends on whether a particular type of ammunition "harmonizes" with the barrel; this is certainly a challenge for CZ, as well as for other manufacturers on the global market.
However, this has so far been limited to German or Swiss companies: other gun manufacturers and their users have rarely managed to fight their way into the top ranks in recent decades. The fact that an Eastern European manufacturer, who also has no experience with Olympic-caliber pistols or rifles, presented such a match rifle at the IWA 2026 surprised many. Independent test reports are still lacking, so we can only compare the "paper specs" of the CZ 457 Target with the features of other top-tier firearms.
Incidentally, the CZ 457 Target was presented at the IWA press conference in Nuremberg by Matt Emmons, the American Olympic champion in rimfire prone position from Athens 2004. He lives with his family (his wife is the former Czech top shooter Katerina Kurkova-Simmons) in the Czech Republic, he has close contacts to the local gun industry and he has been a "CZ Ambassador" for some time, so he was also involved in the development of this new match rifle for CZ and was able to contribute his competition experience.
CZ 457 Target: How will the new Czech match rifle fare against the established competitors?
Perhaps, even if it sounds a little unfair, the CZ 457 Target could score points with its price. At just over €3,000 RRP (without sights), the Target costs a whopping €5,000 to €7,000 (RRP list prices) less than the competition rifles from Grünig & Elmiger, and at least €2,000 less than comparable Feinwerkbau models or a KK 500 from Walther, both with aluminum stocks. What is easy on the wallet must presumably have been saved somewhere, even if the manufacturing costs in the Czech Republic (as we know from other utility or hunting rifles) are known to be significantly lower. So let's go into more detail.
This single-shot rifle is based on the well-known CZ 457 bolt action, numerous versions of which have already been presented and tested at all4shooters.com. This is why the loading port is in the traditional position slightly above the trigger, as the normal-length bolt and thus the operating hand require a certain amount of travel to the rear to clear the loading port. This is no longer the latest technology for match rifles such as the Walther KK 500 with a shorter bolt and loading travel, so that the shooter does not have to leave the rest even with the right elbow. This ensures a more consistent shooting position, and as ISSF competitions are based on tenths of a ring, nothing can slip. The use of the tried and tested 457 bolt is a compromise here so that nothing completely new has to be developed. Not as convenient, but also up to 50 per cent cheaper overall.
However, CZ claims to have redeveloped the trigger mechanism. The new "Flyweight" trigger comes from the factory set to 110 grams of pull weight and is infinitely adjustable:
- First stage travel distance
- Second stage travel distance (sear engagement)
- Second stage trigger pull weight
- Overtravel (unusual for match rifles)
- Trigger blade angle and distance
CZ 457 Target: A stock with all the necessary adjustment options for three-position shooting
Today's match rifles must be designed for the requirements of three-position competitions and for the body measurements of both male and female athletes. This means that the stock must be adaptable to the different kneeling, prone and standing positions. For example, the height and position of the forehand riser can be adjusted for the standing position, while the cheek piece can be continuously adjusted and also rotated (it is two-sided) to ideally suit the desired head position.
The buttstock length can be adjusted to any body size and shoulder position using the butt pad extension with the equally adjustable shoulder hook. The buttstock can be horizontally adjusted by means of two parallelogram-shaped connecting pieces behind the pistol grip; this brings it closer to the body without moving the longitudinal axis of the rifle out of the firing direction – although this feature, also offered by other rifle manufacturers, is not often seen in competitions. The laterally adjustable butt plate is most often used here because with a "displaced" butt stock it is easy to have problems "reading" the shot, i.e. analyzing the recoil behavior and shoulder pressure, which should be consistent from shot to shot.
CZ 457 Target technical specs and price
| Model: | CZ 457 Target |
| Caliber: | .22 LR |
| Magazine Capacity: | Single shot only |
| Barrel: | Length: 26"/660 mm; twist 1:16", with sight extension tube ("diffuser") |
| Stock: | Aluminum chassis with fully adjustable buttstock, cheek piece and butt plate, adjustable forehand riser, choice of three pistol grip sizes |
| Sigh Rails: | 11 mm rail for rear sight, short front rail for front sight tunnel (sights not included) |
| Trigger: | Mechanical two-stage match trigger: trigger pull: 0.9-1.8 N (90 to 185 g, factory set to 110 g) |
| Overall Length: | 1,151-1,182 mm |
| Weight: | 5.2 kg approx. |
| Price (RRP): | 3,099 euro |
Video: Olympic champion Matt Emmons presents the new CZ 457 Target match rimfire rifle
Our first impression: the CZ 457 Target is a promising competition rifle for ISSF disciplines and is also relatively inexpensive. Future tests will have to show how the elements that are important for success, such as shooting performance, trigger behavior and mechanical quality of the parts, perform in practice. We are already waiting, deliveries are due to start in June. An initial check revealed that the street prices (as with other makes) are already below the RRP of 3,099 euros.
Further technical information on the CZ 457 Target can be found on the CZ website. More articles and tests of other variants of the CZ 457 can be found here at all4shooters.com and all4hunters.com.
