Well not really, but close as far as I’m concerned. I’d like to give a report of a new CZ 550 American 9.3x62 I picked up recently. I’ve been considering one for some time and finally gave in to internet peer pressure from this and other forums and bought a 9.3. The CZ was the most readily available 9.3 and I had one at my dealer 2 days after ordering.

First impressions…

The wood stock has much better wood than I expected. It’s down right pretty. Some have said the stock is “clubbyâ€, but I don’t get that feeling. The pachmeyer recoil pad is sweet! Wood to metal fit looks very good.

The scope mounts are HIGH!! But stout. I’ve put a cartridge carrier with a piece of a rubber mouse pad under it to raise the comb a bit and the scope, a Nikon 6x42, lines up nice. I’ve done some investigation into some lower mounts from Talley and Warne and may go that route in the future, but for now I’ll stay with the factory mounts.

It has the plastic follower that I guess everyone’s learned to live with…

Cycling the action was rough out of the box, but after several hundred cycles in my office it has smoothed up a bunch. I expect it’ll just get better. I’ve ran 30 or 40 rounds through it and feeding and ejection have been perfect.

The trigger is 4 lb with some overtravel unset and 1 lb set. I plan to adjust the unset to around 3 lb and maybe increase the set to about 1.5 lb.

Range report (100 yds)….

I ordered up some Laupa brass and 3 different bullets, 270 Speer for practice, and 250 TSX and 286 Partition’s for potential game bullets. I had some Varget and RL15 on hand that both show up in a lot of research I did for the 9.3x62.

So far I’ve only tried Varget and may not need to look any further. My first group with the 250 TSX went .5â€. I considered that this group had been luck. I had only loaded up 3 for my first trip so this morning I shot 2 more 3 shot groups and those went .8†and .65â€. Velocity was 2375 fps. I will try to run this up to about 2475 and hope the accuracy remains the same.

I shot 2 groups with the 286 Partitions and they were .8†and 1.1†running 2320 fps. I have to think the 1.1†was a pull.

Recoil was very managable. I’m not a fan of recoil at all and these loads were easy to shoot of the bench.

The first trip to the range I shot about 15 rounds and clean up of the barrel was very easy. I was really surprised at how little copper fouling remained in the barrel.

So to say I’m happy so far with the CZ 9.3 would be an understatement for sure. I bought this gun specifically for a hunt in Zim in July for large plains game. I expect it will work perfectly. As it looks, I am close to done with bench work and can start practicing field shooting with it soon.

Please add me to the 9.3 crowd!!

Congrats! I had the same reaction when I range tested mine. We will just have to disagree, however, about that tree trunk of a stock.

Maybe I can help you out with the 250gr Barnes TSX: In my 550 American, I load 59.0 Varget, CCI200 Large Rifle Primers, load to overall length of 3.45" (max that magazine will allow). Avg for 5 shots is about .8" group at avg velocity of 2542 fps. Whatever finds itself in front of that will be DRT. BobG in VA

Well done I have a cz 9.3x62 as well but it's the lux model.

Nice rig for sure !!

Decent accuracy, but the velocity is so low! You should have gotten the far superior 35 Whelen!

Great choice of rifle. I have the CZ Full stock 9.3 and I have 2 sheep to it's credit..and that with 286 gr TSX bullets..go figure! you have a premier rifle!

I have the same rifle. You will have to get used to your accuracy problem. Seems that what ever I feed mine I get those pesky one holers. Kinda takes the fun out of searching for that perfect load.

Feed that thing some 286gr Partitions and some Ramshot BigGame. One hole groups/2450fps.

I think that stock looks good!

I also prefer high scope mounts on heavier kickers.

Congratulations wyattd!!! You're discovering a piece of the puzzle of why 9.3's are getting popular.

Congrats wyattd - I have Warne QD medium rings on my 9.3 x 62 CZ550 Full Stock and they work great for changing out my two different scopes.
Mine likes the 286gr Nosler Parts and the Barnes 250gr TSX on pretty much an equal basis. Try the PRVI bullets in 285gr from Graft and Sons, shoot super and are really inexpensive for practice.

Larry Sellers

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
Congrats! I had the same reaction when I range tested mine. We will just have to disagree, however, about that tree trunk of a stock.

Same for me... I have a F/S carbine and love it.. {hate the stock} does someone make a stock for the CZ.??

quote:

Originally posted by MopaneMike:

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
Congrats! I had the same reaction when I range tested mine. We will just have to disagree, however, about that tree trunk of a stock.

Same for me... I have a F/S carbine and love it.. {hate the stock} does someone make a stock for the CZ.??

I also have a 550/FS....It is very chunky,say from the receiver forward...I really like the Lux style hump butt part as it seems to tame the recoil and the stock allows me to use either a scope or open sites without having to move my head around to find them...ie. the stock fits me perfect...one of these days I willl slim down the receiver area and the forarm to make the stock easier to look at...

Mr Lexma,

the good news about the CZ stocks; any decent gunsmith can slim them down to your taste very reasonably. That is much simpler, quicker, and less expensive, than buying one that is too skinny. That's where we get into the serious $$$ discussion to address. Personally, I like the heft of my three as well. One FS in 9,3x62, and a pair of 416Rigbys.

Rich
DRSS
CZ fan

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Mr Lexma,

the good news about the CZ stocks; any decent gunsmith can slim them down to your taste very reasonably. That is much simpler, quicker, and less expensive, than buying one that is too skinny. That's where we get into the serious $$$ discussion to address. Personally, I like the heft of my three as well. One FS in 9,3x62, and a pair of 416Rigbys.

Rich
DRSS
CZ fan

I am having mine restocked - in a much slimmer profile - with a straight-grained piece of Turkish walnut.

Shot again today with a little more Varget in the case and got similar groups. 2375 for the Partitions and 2435 for the TSX's.

I think 1 more grain of Varget will do it...

I still like my stock!!

I saw some Brno stocks on Elk Ridge's website including a classic style that is supposed to be set up comb wise for irons and reminds me a bunch of a SAKO Classic Grade. On their action list they show a Brno 600, 601 and 602 which I was surprised at. Wood runs from about $100 plus to ? for semi inletted...never seen one of their sticks though. They also had some laminates in a bunch of colors.
You might also look at Richards Microfit, but I don't remember seeing a CZ/Brno 602 on Boyds...but one my 'smiths uses Boyds for most of his VZ24 conversions in a JRS style.
Dunno who all does a synthetic stick but a good'un would be a nice weight saver.
Ron

Just picked up my CZ 550 American in 9.3x62 today. I'm very impressed so far with the level of craftsmanship. I do agree that the stock feels "thick" around the action though.

The CZ scope rings seem not too high for my Weaver K4 scope. They are heavy though. Will probably trade them for Talley's sometime down the road.

Bought two boxes of Prvi Partisan bullets to sight in with. Then I'll be ordering a custom Lee Collet die set for my reloading. Three month wait for the dies sucks though!

Also ordered up some Lapua Mega 285 grain bullets to try later. Anyone know the BC of these???

McMillans makes a synthetic stock-CZ AHR- available here-

http://www.mcmfamily.com/mcmillan/hunting/additional.asp

Spendy but nice!!! Glad to join in with all of you.

Steve Hunts

mine is a tack-driver, too. I knew going in that the rings were going to be too high, so I bought Low Talleys about the same time I got the gun.

I shoot mostly 250 gr TSX bullets pushed by 52 gr of IMR 4895.

Troy

Does anyone make an AM steel follower for the CZ?

Yes, CZ does. And a steel floorplate as well. Just got the FP for mine, $26 shipped.

Rich
DRSS

No steel followers for the 9.3x62mm are available, or so I was told by CZ-USA a couple of months back.

You might want to try Ramshot Big Game. 65grs and a 286gr NP give me 2425fps with a single diget SD. Groups (3 shot) are around 1 inch with a very light 22 inch barrel, whole setup weighs only 8.5lbs. Very consistant velocity from hot to cold temps also. 59grs of R-15 and the 285gr Prvi bullets from Graf make great practice loads and are fine for deer etc.

Just wondering about everyones concern about the plastic follower and the floorplate? Have there been problems with these items or is it just that were are used to "steel" in all these places? I.S. it's good to know CZ can/will supply replacements.

Larry Sellers

Larry, et al,

the follower doesn't bother me too much, although I would prefer steel...just old fashioned I guess.
The plastic floor plate on mine just shattered when the engraver went to work on it though. I am adding an inexpensive custom touch to mine, a bit of engraving and a color case-hardened finish. I am going to have the guy do the shroud too.

Rich
DRSS
CZ fan