CZ-USA 512 Tactical rifle in .22 WMR, handy and effective.
There is no doubt that semi automatic rimfire rifles are a lot of fun to shoot. I equate such rifle to eating peanuts, as it is easy to start and tough to stop. The .22 WMR or .22 Magnum really adds a bit of drama to casual plinking. It is flatter shooting, more powerful, and way louder than the .22 LR, the latter being most important.
This new rifle is a revisit, if you will, by CZ to the 512 but updated with a higher capacity magazine, Picatinny rail along the top, ATI furniture, and areas to add other Picatinny rails for what accessories you favor.
The bolt locked back with the manual bolt lock. The bolt handle offered plenty of area for charging the action.
The manual bolt lock is at the front of the trigger guard and the standard rifle safety is at the rear. Red ring indicates off safe and the white ring indicates on safe. The trigger broke clean at 4 1/2 pounds, it reminded me of a 2 stage trigger with an easy take up, break the shot, and very little overtravel.
The magazine well, you can see the magazine release at the front of the well.
Factory threaded barrel, ships with a thread protector.
Comfortable overmolded pistol grip with soft rubber texture.
Here you see the aluminum handguards. There are provisions in five places, drilled and tapped to add more Ppicatinny rails. The rifle can be set up in any number of variations depending on what you are using it for and what works best for you.
The ATI six position collapsible stock.
With the stock completely collapsed.
I had the opportunity to try out the brand new rifle from CZ, the 512 Tactical. The rifle is offered in .22 Long Rifle as well as .22 WMR. I opted for the .22 Magnum version, truthfully I really like that rimfire cartridge and to me it has more flexibility. Don’t get me wrong, the .22 LR is an excellent cartridge but I really like the .22 mag.
.22 LR and .22 WMR has become much easier to procure the past few months so after a quick trip to the local gun store and with ammunition samples sent to me by Hornady we were all set to see how this rifle wrings out.
Range Trip
The accuracy chart. Initially I sighted the rifle in at 25 yards with 5 shots. Then we went to the 100 yard line and fired 5 shot groups. All accuracy tests were from a rest with the rifle sighted in and using Magpul flip up iron sights. I expect with optics the group sizes would be much better but for iron sights that is good to go.
Conclusions
After the smoke cleared we had run about 250 rounds of various rounds through the rifle, we shot it from a rest at twenty-five and 100 yards for accuracy as well as up close and personal rapid fire off hand. Throughout the testing we experienced no malfunctions and accuracy is what I have come to expect from CZ firearms.
I can see this rifle filling several roles, for me it is perfect for a day at the range of informal plinking. It is also an excellent training tool when teaching rifle marksmanship, it is easy to shoot and can be set up with iron sights or optics, or both. For folks who are looking for a reliable rifle for pest control, I can see this 512 Tactical at home as a truck gun on the ranch. It would be good medicine for two and four legged pests. The 512 Tactical can accept magazines from the 512 as well as the CZ 455 bolt action 22 WMR rifles.
Truthfully, the two things I did not love was the fact the magazine did not lock back on an empty magazine, and I would of like to see it shipped with BUIS, or Back Up Iron Sights. I realize the latter would add costs to the rifle and many will go straight to optics so I kind of get that. As the rifle ships now, it has no sights or optics. I also imagine folks are asking ‘Why only a ten round magazine?” and my guess would be compliance. So many states are infringing on our rights by limiting magazine capacity I expect CZ did not want to alienate those who live in such states but also are looking for a carbine in .22 Magnum. It is a fun rifle to shoot and plenty accurate for what you may need it for.
Update
Several hundred rounds later and the 512 Tactical is still running strong without issue and accuracy remains constant. Here you can see my friend Jamie sighting in a new red dot he has mounted.
Specifications
| MSRP |
$524
|
|---|---|
| Chambering |
.22 WMR, Winchester Magnum Rimfire
|
| Twist Rate |
1:16″
|
| Magazine Capacity |
10
|
| Magazine Type |
Polymer Single Stack
|
| Stock |
6-Position Adjustable, Adjustable Comb Height
|
| Length of Pull |
12-15.25 in
|
| Sights |
Picatinny Rail
|
| Barrel |
Cold Hammer Forged
|
| Barrel Length |
16.5 in, threaded 1/2×28
|
| Overall Length |
33-36.25 in
|
| Weight |
6.1 lbs
|
| Trigger Mech |
Non-Adjustable
|
| Safety |
Crossbolt
|
Acknowledgments
Greetings.
I enjoyed your review of the CZ-USA 512 Tactical rifle in .22 WMR, also the video.
This is my first time @ ‘rangehot.com’, you have a very clean and informative site with no unnecessary BS.
I have a question: have you disassembled the firearm, and if so, was it difficult?
Thank you.
R. Cline
r.cline7@yahoo.com
I have not field stripped it yet.
Though as per the directions it looks very simple. I am going to update the .22 Magnum ballistic test and I was going to field strip and the clean the rifle at the end of that review.
Thank you very much for the kind words.
Excellent review .Im sure ypur 100yard result would be much tighter with a scope but the honest,let the chips fall,group is just fine.
Ive got a 512 regular wmr but havent fired,just pulled a bore snake through to remove production grit.
Getting ammo. is a chore here.
Thank you for the kind words Ray, and I totally agree that my groups would be much tighter with optics. .22 WMR is starting to show up in my area but it is still overpriced.
You could certainly see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The arena hopes for more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to mention how they believe. All the time follow your heart.
Dollars for donuts you will get better results from the Remington green polymer tips . Me thinks 33grain. I shoot it in my Rem 597 WMR. It is the best ammo for the little beast..
Noted, thank you very much for the info. I have not seen that ammo in my area but I will keep an eye out for them.
Do you know if the dimension of the “buffer tube” for the stock is mil-spec or commercial?
I believe that is a commercial fit. It looks quite a bit different at the attachment and design than, say and AR-15 stock.
Is there a aftermarket large capacity magazine for this CZ ???
Not yet Don.
Great review, Hunter. First time at your site. I’ll be back!
Question: I like to carry long gun/rifle combos with pistols that share same mags. Is there a pistol version with same mags for the CZ-512?
Thank you Forrest. I appreciate the kind words.
There is not CZ pistol equivalent to the 512, sorry man.
Hi – any chance that you have a CZ-512 Tac in 22wmr available that might be willing to sell?
Had to ask …
Thank you
Lance
No sir. That was a test sample and it was sent back to CZ. I am sorry.
Hello everyone. Like Lance, I would love to purchase a CZ 512 Tactical WMR. There are none out there to be had! Anyone have any suggestions where one might be had? Thanks!
I lucked out and found one on Guns America. And there are several gun mfg’s that make 22mag pistols. kel-tec is one I believe
I owned a Ruger 22 mag for the longest time, would knock off coyotes, skunks and racoons that would run back and forth my irrigation ditch in Albuquerque at 60 yards, open sights. They’d drop like a rock. Like a fool I let someone at a gun show talk me out of it, thinking awe, I’ll pick up another one somewhere along the line, little did I know that they had discontinued the model. This was some years back. I found it to be very reliable! How many of us have done that? I waited years for someone to resurrect one like it. My question is can you get a LONGER BARREL. It deserves one. It would tighten up the groupe measurably, a mini long gun as it were. The thought makes me tenaciously want one, like a drug addict!