I don't have the money, but I saw a good price on a NIB CZ 550 in 9.3x62 on gunbroker.com
http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=24145684
Less than $450.00

I was watching Gunbroker and auction arms for a few items. One was a CZ 550 in 9.3x62. Seems like there is alway one on it from a dealer in Mississippi or Missouri. The "buy it now" price has crept up from $~ 440 to $460, with the "starting price" something like $ 439 - 459. To me, this isn't an auction, it is a retail sale. I wish these auction sites wouldn't accept items sold in that nature. Perhaps they need to start charging for a "reserve" or minimal selling price.

I called the dealer up one time to inquire (ie, do you have a jpeg? what is the serial number etc thinking it was his own rifle.). He was nice enough. I soon realized that he didn't have the gun in hand (that's why he danced around the serial number question, as he didn't have it). It turns out, the dealer puts in an order to CZ-USA to ship the rifle out when the "auction winner" (buyer) "wins" the auction.

I guess there is nothing illegal about it. To me, it is a retail sale, not a true auction. If it is a retail sale, just call it that. It bugged me enough that I bought the CZ 550 American from a dealer in New Hamshire (near me in Maine). No sales tax, no shipping fees charged (probably worked into the price anyway, no additional transfer fees,) brand new in box with a guy I know behind it. Walked out the door with it for $469. It is the only rifle I have ever purchased sight unseen. I am very happy with it, and can't wait to get my loading supplies in, so I can shoot it.

My 2 cents on "auction" sites. If you want a real auction site, go to www.juliaauctions.com They just had their fall firearms auction. I used to be their firearms division manager for them. On-line (free) catalog is interesting reading.

FWIW the 286 gr Barnes X didn't seem to be as destructive on the one Impala I shot as the Nosler partitions did on the three animals (Whitetail, Impala, Warthog) I shot with them. The Nosler literally blew a chunk of lung out of the warthog as large as a handball! The whitetail had internal injuries from his intestines to his heart from Nosler partition nose fragments!



The impala I shot with the X went about as far as the other game but showed a lot of blood loss.



I may have to try to whack a whitetail with an X this year to see how that works out. I've used Nosler, Lapua, Graf's and converted 06 brass. The Graf's seems to be a good compromise as I havne't worn any out or even had to trim any. The Lapua is nice stuff if you can find it but the Graf's will more than suffice.

Rick...I shot a whitetail buck a couple of years ago with the 250 grain X bullet at about 2500 MV in my 9.3 x 62...Passed through at the base of the neck..Left an exit hole about the size of a silver dollar and a minimum of bloodshot meat...Deer traveled about two feet, straight down..Instant gravity attack... I have some 270 Speers loaded to about 2200 fps mv that I intend to try on whitetails this year..

Haven't been impressed by the 270 gr Speers. Seem too soft. On a 100 lb pig and a white tail doe both bullets broke up on good hits. Going to use Nosler Partitions, Woodleighs and Barnes Xs in the future.

The Noslers worked great in Africa in May.

I don't think there is anything WRONG with what the guy did. The price WAS fair, and it sounds like he delivered as promised. No problem with that, and you shouldn't feel bad about your transaction. Sounded like a straight, solid business transaction.

I just figured I learned a little bit of how some of the participants on "auction boards" work.

I just figured that since there wasn't anything special about what the dealer was offering, I'd do it local. The important thing at the end of the day is that we both have rifles we like, and are happy how we got them. That is the main point.

I feel the speer 270 gr bullets are soft but they have there place on pigs and deer I think. Also the 9.3x62 drives that at speeds that preserves bullet integrity. For toughre game I agree the woodleigh is the ticket.