CZ 457 and CZ 600 rifles for Texas varmints and deer

CZ builds two bolt-action rifle lines that between them cover almost everything a Texas rifle shooter does: the 457 rimfire for squirrels, rabbits, prairie dogs and the 100-yard steel that Texans shoot on hot afternoons, and the 600 centerfire for whitetail, mule deer, hogs and coyotes. Both are made in the Czech Republic and imported by CZ-USA. This guide explains the versions and which calibers fit Texas hunting. It is drawn from CZ-USA's published specifications and owner reports; we are an independent store, not affiliated with CZ-USA, and every rifle ships to your Texas dealer for buyers 18 and older.

The CZ 457: a rimfire with a real trigger

The 457 replaced the 455 in 2019 with a shorter 60-degree bolt lift, a push-to-fire safety, an adjustable trigger (about 2.5 to 4.5 pounds), a cold hammer-forged barrel and an interchangeable-barrel system that lets one action swap between .22 LR, .22 WMR and .17 HMR. Magazines are 5-round detachable, with 10-round versions available. The receiver takes 11mm dovetail rings.

457 versions

457 American: a classic walnut sporter with a 20.5-inch barrel, drilled and tapped for scope mounts, no iron sights. The all-round Texas rimfire.
457 Varmint: a heavy 20.5-inch barrel in a beavertail walnut stock, for prairie dogs and benchrest-style shooting.
457 MTR: the match target rifle with a heavy barrel and a target stock, popular in NRL22 competition, which has a strong Texas following.
457 Scout: a youth rifle with a short stock and a single-shot adapter, for teaching a child to shoot.
457 Lux and Training Rifle: iron-sighted European-style rifles for open-sight shooting.
457 Synthetic and Varmint Precision Chassis: weather-proof and chassis versions.

Rimfire calibers for Texas

.22 LR is the choice for squirrels, rabbits, pests and practice; ammunition is cheap and the 457 is accurate enough for 100-yard steel with match ammunition. .22 WMR reaches out to 150 yards on jackrabbits and coyotes at close range. .17 HMR is the flat-shooting choice for prairie dogs and ground squirrels in West Texas. Because the 457 barrels swap, one rifle can do all three.

The CZ 600: the new centerfire

The 600 series replaced the 557 and 550 in 2021 with a redesigned action: a 60-degree bolt with a short throw, a vertical two-position safety with a bolt release, a user-adjustable trigger, a hammer-forged barrel and a receiver with either a Picatinny rail or a Remington 700 mount pattern. Barrels are user-changeable within the action size on several models. Magazines are detachable polymer.

600 versions

600 Alpha: the synthetic-stocked working rifle with a threaded barrel and rail; the value pick for Texas deer and hogs.
600 Lux: a Bavarian-style walnut stock with iron sights, for hunters who want the classic look.
600 American: a straight-comb walnut sporter.
600 Range: a heavy-barreled precision rifle in a laminate stock for long-range shooting.
600 Trail: a compact rifle with a folding stock, AR-style grip and a 16-inch threaded barrel in .223 or 7.62x39, the truck and brush gun.
600 Ergo: a thumbhole polymer stock version.

Centerfire calibers for Texas

For Hill Country and East Texas whitetail, where shots are usually inside 200 yards, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Winchester and .243 Winchester in a 600 Alpha or American are the sensible picks; .243 for a young hunter, .308 for a hunter who also wants hogs and exotics. For South Texas brush country and the sendero shots that stretch to 300 yards, 6.5 Creedmoor and .270 Winchester are favorites. For West Texas mule deer and aoudad, .300 Winchester Magnum and 6.5 PRC in the 600 give the reach. For hogs at night with a thermal, the 600 Trail in .223 or 7.62x39, or a 600 Alpha in .308, is common. The 600 is offered in .223, .243, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .270, 7.62x39, .308, .30-06, .300 Win Mag and others depending on version.

Texas deer rules that affect the choice

Texas allows any centerfire rifle for deer and bans rimfire. There is no straight-wall requirement and no magazine limit for hunting. The general season opens November 7, 2026. Many Texas deer are shot from blinds over feeders at known distances, which favors a good scope and a rifle you shoot well over raw power. Hogs may be hunted year-round on private land, day or night, with landowner permission.

Optics and mounts

The 457 takes 11mm dovetail rings; a 3-9x or 4-12x rimfire scope with adjustable parallax suits it. The 600 comes with a rail or a 700-pattern base depending on version, and a 3-9x40 to 4-16x44 hunting scope covers Texas distances. A rifle at this quality deserves glass in the $300 to $800 range.

Suppressors and threads

Most 457 and 600 barrels come threaded. Suppressors are legal in Texas with federal approval and are popular for hog hunting and for teaching new shooters; we do not sell NFA items, but the threaded barrel is ready when you have one.

Reliability and accuracy, as reported

The 457 has a reputation as one of the most accurate factory rimfires at its price, with half-inch groups at 50 yards common with match ammunition. Early 600 rifles had a bolt-handle recall in 2022 that CZ addressed; current production reports are strong, with accuracy in the sub-inch range at 100 yards from the Alpha and Range models. Owner complaints are mostly about the polymer magazines on the 600 and the price of spare 457 barrels.

Buying in Texas

Rifles ship to your Texas dealer for buyers 18 and older, no permit, no wait; the Texas gun law guide has the details and the hunting rules. For a pistol to go with the rifle, see CZ 75 vs P-10. Search CZ 457 or CZ 600, or browse bolt-action rifles.

General information, not legal advice. Current as of September 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.