Ok I am going to make the jump and would like some input on if I am on the right path. I plan on getting the CZ American in 9.3x62 and doing the following to it.

1. Add iron sights (New England Custom?)
2. Synthetic Stock (Gets wet here in WA)
3. Permenant protective coating.
4. After all of the above having a good smith work it over for feeding/ smoothness issues.

What am I missing?

Thanks for your time.

I'd make sure that the firing pin was double nutted rather than having c clips and I's want a metal follower. Yours may come with both or neither. CZ USA will usually swap them for you if you ask.

My CZ 9,3x62 had to have the firing pin update done, but didn't need any feed work at all with 286 gr Woodleighs or Noslers.

I think you're on the right track with the mods you want to make. The 9,3x62 is a terrific caliber!

.....Sounds perfact to me... my 550 Medium FS is the cat,s meow for light weight ruminate and black bear hunting....I like the 250 gr Barnes ,, I really like the set trigger also...!! I wouldn,t trade the plastic on mine for anything but I may have mine reamed out to the Brenneke round..

I would add the iron sights and mabye a timney trigger. And stay with the wood. As far as feeding and smoothness, I bet it will feed just fine as is ans just work the bolt a bit and it will probably smooth up too.
A synthetic stock , does not apeal to me, I live in the next state south of you and it ain't exactly dry here either.
If you really like synthetics and want to put some kind of coating on it go ahead but you might as well try it as is 1st, you can recoat and change stocks anytime...tj3006

I'm in Seattle, I hunt western WA, and I own a CZ 550 in 9.3x62. My local hunting has been 90% fast shots inside 50m and 10% slow shots beyond that. If I had to do it over again, I'd put my 550 in a good synthetic stock, add a 4x Leupold (the perfect 9.3x62 scope) in the lowest rings I could get and go hunt.

Iron sights use a lower sighting plane than a scope, so the muscle memory we use to make fast hits with each is different. I missed the best blacktail buck I've ever seen because I'd gone from scope to irons half an hour earlier. I shake my head when guys talk about pulling scopes to go "into the tall grass" after dangerous game. Pick one type of sight and stick to it. Then there's cost - a 4x Leupold in rings costs about as much as a set of NEGC sights installed by a good 'smith.

Coatings are nice, but normal care is plenty, even after a downpour. Coat the metal under the stock with Johnson's Wax and you've protected it for months. Tape the muzzle before you leave camp and swab the bore when you get in at night. You won't be the envy of other rifle nuts, but your rifle will be fine.

The feeding work may not be necessary if you cycle the bolt a few hundred times, but make sure that you have a double-nut firing pin setup. I won't bore the regulars by repeating the details but if you search for my posts on it, you'll see why.

Finally, I'd add a Brownell's Latigo sling. It's a shooting sling and you can snug it up for offhand. Nice for long shots and while packing out.


Okie John

I would send it to American Hunting Rifles Inc. Have them put their trigger in it.. All the difference in the world..

Have you thought about having the safety changed to one like on a Ruger or Win 70? Some guys with the CZs like to have the safety converted.

Good luck,

Eric

I live in WA also and have a CZ in 9.3x62....Great caliber!!! The info on the follower & firing pin set up is right on the mark. Like some of the others, I don't like plastic stocks but still log alot of time in the rain. Johnsons paste wax works wonders.
I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine.

If you need a smith...Jim Cloward is still working at his home in Lake Stevens, WA.

My CZ American 9.3 has the plastic follower, and while I generally much prefer steel, this thing is quiet, and slippery. Has anyone had an actual failure because of the plastic follower?

Thanks much for all the information. I will post pics when I get it all sorted out.

I found a good excuse to watch sports over the winter. Just sit there in my recliner and work the bolt on my CZ 416's and 9,3x62. Unbelievably smooth after a thousand or so cycles.

Rich
DRSS

I live in washington also and have had no problems with the weather as far as changing point of impact. The johnsons wax works like a champ. Also the trigger is a set type. If you do not like this type try adjusting it so the set part is taken out. I did this to mine and it breaks clean as any timney at 2 3/4 lbs.. I like it better than my tuned remington. Also try nosler 250's they are dealy out of my rifle out to 250 yards. Drop at that range is around 5 to 6 inches with a 2 1/5 inches high at 100. Dead on at 200.

I have a CZ 9.3x62 Lux that shoots great. I dislike the factory "billboard" on the left side of the receiver. After removing the factory lettering I replaced the factory bolt knob with a Winchester M70 bolt knob (big improvement) and had it Parkerized dark gray .I put NEC sights on it (also parked to match) and it looks sharp. If the factory stock is sealed properly and you put some car wax on the properly degreased metal you shouldn't have to worry about rust. Try it and see, you can always get a synthetic stock later, the McMillan's are nice, but kind of pricey and a long lead time. You should not have any feeding issues, most all work well out of the box. The bolt will slick up with use, if you are impatient using Flitz polishing compound or toothpaste makes a great bolt lapping method. If you want to put a M70 saftey on it go with Ed LaPour's, have him install it. I have one on my CZ 458 and really like it. Good luck with your 9.3, you're going to really like it.

I like mine, shot a nice bear and a 150-class whitetail with it last year. I will probably put NECG sights and a barrel band swivel on mine.

I have the lux version and am content with it. I had to get the c-clip issue fixed as well as swapping out some plastic parts. I use a 2-7 VX 11 leupold on it which I think is well suited to rifles in 9.3 and .375 cals

Dbltap,

one other thing. Grafs has the PRVI loaded ammunition 286gr for about $14 a box, and the bullets for about $105 for 500. Maybe buy 5 boxes of loaded stuff and just go shoot it...then use up the prvi bullets shooting the rifle. You should be a handy man to have around in a shooting situation with that rifle by then.

Rich
DRSS

That's some sage advice Rich.

Thanks!