I was impressed enough by CZ 550s to trade for 2 of them within the last couple of months, a CZ550 FS in 6.5x55 and a CZ550 Safari Magnum (Lux stock) in 375 H&H (I actually like the hogsback stock). CZ's overall quality/fit/finish/price IMHO definitely beats Remington and is at least on par or better than most other US manufactured arms. True, they are not quite as perfected as some of the more expensive European manufacturers, but they definitely qualify as a "best value" here in the US, especially for a "working" gun.

The CZ's enjoy a good reputation for quality for the money. They're usually priced less than Brownings, Remington and Winchester, about the same as Ruger, and a bit more than Savage.

And a previous poster was right - lots of folks in the State have more than one or two rifles in the affordable price range. And variety is surely the spice of life!

-WSJ

My CZ 550 FS 308 shoots cheap Remington "Corelokt" bullets under an inch at 100 yds. None of my other rifles do. The single set trigger is a joy to use. Some people on these threads say they are the best value for the money one can buy. Certainly it is not as pretty as a custom gun but it shoots as good or better than most of them. What more can one ask? I have other more expensive rifles, but I use the CZ the most. The only thing I do not care for is the detachable magazine.
Don

I think JOHAN got a large portion of it, as I believe it's largely a case of "the grass is always greener on the other side."



Also, here in the US, it's quite common for an average hunter to own 10 rifles or sometimes many more. I don't know how the price comparisons are in other countries, but here a Sako costs at least twice as much as a Remington or CZ, and other "high end" brands are even more expensive. With the average hunter buying several rifles, most people tend to buy mid-priced rifles, as few people can afford to buy and scope a bunch of high-priced rifles that total many thousands of dollars. Shooters here often don't care much about how nice the rifle looks or what kind of craftsmanship went into it, as long as it shoots well then it is okay for the intended purpose. Some people, including myself, actually find enjoyment in buying a rifle that is "less than perfect" and then working on it and modifying it until it is a great rifle.



Overall, I think it's just the "grass is always greener" theory and different philosophies of what rifles should be.

Jiri, interesting post. How difficult is it to own guns where you live? Do you have to have a special permit for each one? Can you own as many as you want? What is the general public perception of hunting and shooting? Hope I get a chance to visit someday.........DJ

Now if you enjoy fine rifles and are willing to pay that's fine but as to why CZ's are popular is because to many big game hunters the rifle is a tool to get the job done. Some folks appreciate the craftsmanship of fine rifles, others use them as status symbols but for many the bottom line is that deer are just as dead with a Savage as with a Rigby.

If a factory Rem, Browning, CZ will shoot 1.5" at 100 yd (many will do better) that's fine for most hunting purposes and hunters. If Sako, Merkel, Etc will shoot 3/4" at 100 it's not a big enough difference (for many hunters) to pay more than twice the price for that increase in accuracy. As far as wearing out a barrel - I believe that most average (non-pro)big game hunters never will wear out a barrel of any of these brand guns. Varmint guys- maybe.
Hope this helps.

Jiri: You wrote that CZ now uses lower grades of steel than in the past, and that barrel life with CZ rifles is short. Is this just rumor, or do you have some solid information about the steel and barrel life on these rifles?

Interesting. I understand it now pretty good.

About steel : I have a good friend which has contants to CZ rifle company. Until 1997, they used steel from one supplier. After that, steel is from more supliers and quality is varying. This is the most in the case of handguns. Some batchs was not as good as previous time ago, so it cast shadows to it. Barrels are "good medium level", but not comparable to Lothar Walther or Heym barrels, but in the past was. As I sad, people here rather own one 4000U$D rifle than five 600U$D rifles.

About rifle or handgun owning here:

Here, if you would like to own rifle or handgun, you must have "gun passport". There are different kinds of passport :

A - for firearms collecting (from 18 I belive)
B - for sport shooting (from 15 years old)
C - for hunting (from 16 years old officialy)
D - for work with guns (security etc.) (21 years old)
E - for self defense (21 years old)

If you are non-punishable (or with some unmeant punishmant), you can have all of that class. For owning full automatic guns, it need more byrocracy.

So every kind of passport is for about 20U$D, you mast past test (secure manipulation with gun, theoretics test and shooting on target), you pay also about $15 for test and thats all. f you want to buy semi automatic handgun or rifle or some othe kinds, you go to police, take paper, go to gun store and buy it. Than go to the police and they give you card for each gun. If shotgun or rimfire, you don't need go to the police for papers for the first, but you must register it later (in 5 days). For single or double shot muzzleloaders or airguns etc., you don't need gun passport.

But if you want to hunt, you must have "hunting license", and it take about a year, including theoretics and practise in woods etc. You must know a lot about game, hunting dogs, law etc. I still haven't that, I am studing at university and haven't time for that.

passport is for 5 years, after that, you go to the police and they will give you another 5 years without any questions or tests or etc.

Jiri

Jiri,

Thanks so much for that information. The Czech way of doing things is certainly different than over here in Canada. I have had the opportunity to hunt with several European hunters before, and I find their views on guns and hunting different than my own. I find it weird that hunters in Europe typically only have one or two rifles they use frequently, whereas, I am always trying to decide which rifle I would like to use at any given time. It is also easier to get a firearms license over here and once you have one, you can buy as much of anything as you want. I believe CZ does well here because the rifles are affordable and quality-wise they compete directly with other major manufacturers, making them a very attractive option for hunters looking for an affordable rifle which will be able to handle abuse in the field.

Well I love cz's and they certainly are better or as well finished as winchesters or rem 700's.....despite what some on this board will proclaim.

I think the CZ's are in about the same quality category as Remington, Winchester, Ruger, etc., and cost slightly less than U.S. made arms of the same overall quality. They seem to shoot well, so they are a good buy for the money. As noted above, in the U.S., one doesn't have to be wealthy to own firearms, participate in the shooting sports or to hunt, as one must be in Germany, for example. I don't know about the other European countries, except perhaps the U.K., where few ordinary people seem to be able to hunt. Now the poor Brits can't even defend themselves or their homes - criminals now have more rights than Englishmen. Victoria R. must be spinning in her grave!!

.

Jiri,



You are correct. Part of the issue is the differences in gun laws. But also, there are some marketing issues here as well.



The top makers you mention do not have a large following here. Their guns are priced on the high side. This is especially true as you begin to look at "african" or DG calibers, where even Winchester and Remington begin to charge a premium.



For a long, long time, people have considered the VZ24 action to be one the best european made mauser actions available. CZ has played to that feeling.



In many discussions, when someone here questions the CZ, they are reminded that it is the same as a VZ24. This usually changes the conversation to one very positive for CZ.



They also, wisely, have offered their guns in a broad array of calibers. In the last few years, they began to become more aware of north american tastes and are offering an "american" stock design.



When you come down to it, most north americans do not feel the need to spend a large sum on rifle. Many, including myself, started hunting with very cheap military surplus or department store knock-offs. A long time ago, shotguns and rifles were mostly sold in hardware stores here. Also, by european standards, there is a great deal of public land with available game here. So, as you grow older you continue to "add" to the rifle collection.



Pete

About rifles, here, I can own as many as I want but with every one I need to go to police "gun department" and register it. Thats all. For semiautomatics, you must go first to police for paper, and it take 5 minutes. Only issue is registering (you must go there, it take about 10 minutes, because they will make card for each gun). More byrocracy come if you would like to own full auto. As ordinary guy, you can own only full auto for "collecting" purposes, so can't hunt with it and you can't carry it for self defence, but you can shoot it on shooting range. There is also in the law, how guns must be sucured at home (gun safe etc.). Here is good I can carry for example two handguns for self defence with high capacity magazines and spare magazines for that without any problem . . .

Here, you can't hunt with muzzleloaders, crossbows or handguns. Only long guns are allowed, for "big game" minimum energy 1500J at 100m distance I belive. Can't hunt deer with shotgun, can hunt boars with slugs but only in certain conditions.

Jiri

And yes, VZ24 are good rifles, but it is "good old work" . . .

The CZ 550 was the only way I could get a 9.3x62 for under $500. When I had problems with it, they investigated my claim and changed the bolt design. Few American gunmakers would do that until several shooters had been killed and the survivors took them to court.

Also, buying a CZ is a cheap way to try a .416 Rigby, 458 Lott, 404 Jeffery or the 505 GIbbs.

I'll buy more CZ's in the future. Okie John

Here in Oz, CZ's enjoy a similar reputation to the Ruger/Rem/Winchester lines, as far as I know.

We also have fairly restrictive licencing laws, but like many others have said, to me (and most of my hunting friends) the rifle is simply a tool that gets the job done... We also have some pretty harsh conditions (eg 40-45degrees C with lots of very fine dust!) there's no way I would take a custom rifle into those conditions. Also, because of the size of some of the properties, a vehicle is used simply to get around - when the action starts, it's often fast and furious, and you don't want to be worried about scratches, or dings...

Years ago, I had a semi custom rifle built around a Ruger action, beautiful stock, and finish... spent more time orotecting than shooting it.

I now use an 'off the shelf' 77MkII Stainless laminate, (did a bit of tuning + Timney trigger and a CZ 527 American in 223 - what a sweet little rifle - deadly accurate, very well finished, and the only thing I did to it was to disable the set trigger. Would prefer a staggered mag, though...

so does anyone know what kind of chrome moly steel is used to make CZ 550 actions?



I emailed the CZ site and the guy said he doesn't know...

For me personally it's slightly better wood , slightly better metal/metal fit and much better metal finish vs. similar American rifles.



Not to mention (excepting perhaps Savage) more consistently accurate out of the box. I don't know if US makers do it now, but it seems CZ cares enough to put a dab of epoxy into the lug recess.



Bless their hearts.

Jiri,

Since the old Brno plant seems to have been revived http://www.zbrojovkabrno.com/arms/eng/zbrane.htm what do you think about their quality? Wouldn't these be the modern versions of the old VZ 24s?

I like the look of the damascus steel barrels on their rifles but several members besides me have mailed the Brno company asking for details though they have not replied.

Do check with them and give us information if you find time. Thanks, best wishes and good hunting!

The 98s have thumbcuts in the recievers. I'd be interested in one though, depending on price. Thats assuming they even have a US distributor....

They are also showing a small-medium bore side by side double rifle on thier webpage.

The Mauser rifles now being made at the ZB factory use reworked VZ-24 actions. You can get them made in almost any configuration you want.



A good friend of mine just returned from visiting the factory. According to him, the company is a shadow of its former self. There are only a handful of employees working at a snails pace and the firm occupies only a portion of the massive factory, which is also leased out to other businesses. He is importing a custom break action single shot (model 99) via the Form 6 route, as they do not have a U.S. importer/distributor.



ZB is still operating in receivership (similar to Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection) but seem to think they will emerge.