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Buying a used .22: CZ 455, Marlin XT-22 and Savage Mark II inspection guide

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Quick answer

The CZ 455 (2010–2018) has swappable barrels held by two set screws, and many 457 parts and magazines fit it. Check barrel compatibility before buying upgrades. The Marlin XT-22 (from 2011; the XT series is not currently in production per Marlin) has a Pro-Fire adjustable trigger and box or tube variants. The Savage Mark II is still in production ($329 FV-SR new), so compare a used price with new. Inspect the crown, chamber, extractor, trigger, mags and screws. For NRL22 Base, out-of-production rifles use their last MSRP adjusted for inflation.

The three rifles at a glance

	CZ 455	Marlin XT-22	Savage Mark II
Production	2010–2018; replaced by the 457 ^[1]	From 2011; XT series not in production now ^[2] ^[3]	Current (FV-SR $329 new) ^[4]
Barrel system	Two set screws; interchangeable barrels and calibers	Fixed; Micro-Groove rifling (tube-fed XT-22TR isn't NRL22-legal, because NRL22 requires removable mags ^[5])	Fixed
Trigger	Adjustable for weight	Pro-Fire adjustable (similar to AccuTrigger)	AccuTrigger
Feed	5-rd standard; 10/25-rd and single-shot adapters optional	7-rd box (XT-22) or tube (XT-22TR, 17 rounds of .22 LR)	5-rd box
Calibers	.22 LR, .22 WMR, .17 HMR, .17 HM2	.22 LR, .22 WMR, .17 HMR (XT-17)	.22 LR (others in Savage's line)
Mount	11 mm dovetail	Grooved, drilled and tapped	Varies; FV-SR includes a rail

Current rifles for price comparison:

Rifle	Action	Barrel	Trigger	Magazine	Optic mount	Weight (lb)	MSRP (source, date, confidence)	Aftermarket depth	NRL22 fit
Savage Mark II FV-SR	Bolt; thread-in headspace	16.5 in heavy fluted, 1/2x28	AccuTrigger 2.5-6 lb	5-rd box	EGW one-piece rail included	5.5	$329 Savage MSRP. source, 2026-10-12, conf: high	High (Boyds/MDT stocks, triggers, rails)	Base: leaves ~$1,321 for scope
CZ 457 Scout	Bolt; youth stock	16.5 in threaded	Adjustable	Single-shot adapter; takes 457 mags	11 mm dovetail; open sights	~5	$649 CZ-USA product page $649 (a third-party 2026 list shows $549). source, 2026-10-12, conf: high	Very high (shares 457 parts)	Base: leaves ~$1,001 for scope
Ruger American Rimfire	Bolt; 60-degree throw	18 in 1/2-28 threaded (8305); other lengths by model	Marksman Adjustable 3-5 lb	10/22 BX-1 rotary	3/8 in rimfire base machined in; drilled and tapped for Weaver #12	5.5	$509 Ruger suggested retail $509 (model 8305; other RAR models vary). source, 2026-10-12, conf: high	Medium (some stocks; uses 10/22 mags)	Base: leaves ~$1,141 for scope
CZ 455 (discontinued)	Bolt; 90-degree throw; swappable barrel	Various	Adjustable (less refined than 457)	CZ 452/455 polymer mags	11 mm dovetail	varies	n/a Discontinued 2018; replaced by 457 (used market only). source, 2026-10-12, conf: med	High (many 457 barrels fit, some need hand fitting)	n/a (used only)
Marlin XT-22 series	Bolt	Various	Varies	Varies	Varies	—	n/a Not in production per Marlin's site (used only). source, 2026-10-12, conf: high	Low	Box-mag versions only (tube-fed not allowed); used

MSRPs from the maker where available, otherwise labeled retailer listings, checked Oct 2026. Aftermarket depth and NRL22 fit are our editorial summaries (NRL22 Base: rifle plus scope MSRP up to $1,650). Specs are published figures, not our measurements.

CZ 455: what to know

Variants include American, Varmint, Lux, Scout, FS, the Varmint Precision Trainer (Manners stock) and the Tacticool/Evolution (Boyds stocks) ^[1].
CZ's polymer rimfire mags are listed as fitting the 452/453/455/457/512 family (5-rd, 10-rd).
Chassis that list 455 fitment: MDT XRS (457 and 455), MDT LSS Gen2 (457 and 455). Check each product page.
457 barrels may need hand fitting on a 455, per Area 419 ^[6].
The 455 has a 90° bolt throw (vs 60° on the 457), so check scope clearance with large eyepieces ^[7].

Marlin XT-22: what to know

Marlin's site says the XT series isn't currently produced ^[3], so parts may be harder to find. Buy spare mags when you see them.
Variants include the XT-22R (synthetic), XT-22VR (heavy barrel), XT-22YR (youth, 16.25 in barrel, 12 in LOP) and the tube-fed XT-22TR ^[2].
Its Pro-Fire adjustable trigger is described as similar to Savage's AccuTrigger ^[2]. Test the pull and safety function before you buy.

Savage Mark II: what to know

It's still in production, so a used one should cost clearly less than a new FV-SR ($329 MSRP) ^[4].
Gunblast's review of the Mark II BV recorded 0.31–0.88 in at 50 yd ^[8]. That's one rifle.
Large aftermarket for stocks and chassis. Check the model (BV, FV, FV-SR, BTV) before buying parts.

Our range results (coming soon)

This box will hold our own groups, chronograph data and photos for this topic once we've shot and recorded them. Until then, every accuracy number on this page comes from the published source cited next to it. We have not tested these rifles or products hands-on for this article.

Used-rifle inspection checklist

Check	How	Red flag
Safe and unloaded	Mag out, bolt open, look in the chamber	Seller resists
Crown	Look at the muzzle with a light	Dings, uneven wear, rod wear
Bore	Bore light from the breech	Pitting, rust, bulges
Chamber edge	Look for firing-pin strike marks on the chamber rim	Peening from dry-firing (can cause extraction issues)
Extractor and ejector	Cycle snap caps or dummy rounds if the seller allows	Weak or no ejection
Trigger and safety	Check function; on an empty chamber, bump-test the safety	Doubling, safety failure, very light pull
Magazines	Feed lips and spring	Cracks; missing mags (budget for replacements)
Screws and bedding	Look for stripped heads and stock cracks near the action	Cracks, buggered screws
Barrel threads (if threaded)	Thread protector on, threads clean	Damaged threads
Scope base	Dovetail edges and drilled holes	Stripped holes, gouges

More detail: T1x used checklist · CZ 457 used checklist.

NRL22 Base with a discontinued rifle

NRL22 says rifles and scopes out of production on the first day of the season are eligible if their last production-year MSRP, adjusted for inflation with the BLS calculator, falls within the $1,650 limit ^[5] ^[9]. Keep documentation of the last MSRP. PRS Rimfire handles discontinued models with a 2% compounding calculation from the date of purchase ^[10].

After you buy

Full clean: cleaning guide. Tools: coated rod, Rimfire Blend solvent; for CZ, a bore guide.
Check and re-torque the action screws (torque driver).
Mount a scope: Talley CZ 11 mm rings for a 455, or any rimfire rings.
Lot-test ammo: CCI SV, SK Standard Plus.
Check headspace if you swap barrels: Brownells .22 LR GO gauge.

When to buy new instead

If a used CZ 455 or XT-22 costs close to a new CZ 457 Scout ($649), Savage Mark II ($329) or Ruger American Rimfire ($509), new may be the better deal, with a warranty and a current parts supply. Compare: best by budget.

FAQ

Is a used CZ 455 worth buying?

Often yes. It has CZ's swappable barrel system and shares magazines with the 457. Check bore, crown and extractor condition; 457 barrels may need hand fitting.

Is Marlin still making the XT-22?

Marlin's site says the XT series is not currently in production. Used XT-22s are still common.

Do CZ 457 magazines fit a CZ 455?

CZ's polymer rimfire magazines are listed as fitting the 452/453/455/457/512 family.

Can a discontinued rifle shoot NRL22 Base?

Yes, if its last production-year MSRP adjusted for inflation (BLS calculator), plus the scope MSRP, stays within the $1,650 cap.

Sources

Confidence: maker specs and prices are high confidence as of the date seen; forum and owner reports are low–medium confidence and labeled as such.

Not affiliated with Sako/Tikka, CZ, Bergara, Ruger, Savage or any retailer. We have not tested products hands-on for these guides; figures come from cited sources. Affiliate disclosure · Privacy · Terms · Rimfire Builds is operated by Tomahawk Designs LLC, Utah · [email protected]