Someone recently approached me over on another forum since I was in the market. A 4 yr old CZ550 in 9.3x62, about 200 rds through it, Talley Lever Release rings, NECG island rear sight with 1-fixed and 1-flip up, NECG front sight. Too good to pass up for the $. Hope to receive it by 18 April.

I've got all the stuff necessary to reload, Redding dies, Lapua cases, 5 boxes of 286 gr Partitions, Rel 15, Big Game, Varget, H4895, H414 and H4350, WLR or Fed 210M primers. Picked up a new VXII 2-7x33 w/ the LR Duplex reticle, extra Talley Lever Release rings for an older M8 4x which will used for backup.

I've got a McMillan CZ550 stock on order but I'm leary about their delivery time of 4 to 5-1/2 months. Worst case scenario would be about 1 Sept and I should be heading up for a Brown Bear hunt. McMillan WILL NOT put a 9.3x62 CZ550 in their Edge stock. Lynn @ Mc said the barrel contour is too large. Checked w/ Darcy Echols and same thing. So I've got three options.

1. Pray McMillan delivers on time.
2. I've got Ed Plummer of American Hunting Rifles sending me one of his AHR fiberglass stocks in black heading my way, so I can at least handle and weight it. Either way I send it back for a full refund or the rifle goes with it for a bedding job.
3. Somehow waterproof the wood stock on the CZ550 and make it impervioius to moisture and warpage.

I've sent an email to CZ to see if I can obtain one of their 3-position safetys. I don't really care for the W70 style nor the cost to install/but it since I'm used to a Rem 700 safety and the CZ style suits me fine.

I might have AHR GunKote my rifle in black and paint their stock some shade of green.

I bought a CZ 550 American used from a board member here in early 2004. I left it in the wood stock. Has been to Africa and taken Warthog, Impala, Blue Wildebeast, Kudu, and Zebra in addition to Whitetails in WV and Texas as well as piggies in Texas.

Is one of my favorite rifles now. Kills like the Hammer of Thor! Almost everything I've hit with it has been DRT.

Congrats! You've acquired a wonderful rifle.

Do like we did thirty years ago before there were any plastic stocks -- Take it on the hunt and shoot a bear.

Looks like a really nice rig! I was talked into trying a 9.3x62 a few months ago, and it instantly became my favorite all around caliber. Mine is a Blaser R-93.

For your Option #3, strip the stock of the action, bottom metal and butt pad. Tape off edges of exterior finish. Use spar-urethane varnish (from the hardware store) to seal unfinished areas. No problems.

Just for shits and giggles, I emailed Brownell's Tech support and asked what to do to my rifle/stock for a wet Alaskan bear hunt.

Their reply was to use the following.

T-9 Waterproof Lube, 686-901-004 to protect the metal.

R. Gale Lock, Carnuba gun wax, 346-036-002, to protect the stocks finish.

Dem-Bart stock filler, 241-822-002, to seal the stocks interior.

Just go hunt.

One of the guys who works at my local gun shop just bought a CZ 550 FS and apparently loves it.
Which means they'll probably start carrying some 9.3 cases and projectiles.

Which is good for me.

GSSP: Take the advice from Brownells and go spank your bear with your wood-stocked CZ. Great rifle in a great caliber. My brother and I used Barnes 250-grain TSXs in Namibia last May in my 9,3 CZ with complete satisfaction. Same gun and bullet the PH carries.

I have a cz 9.3 in the lux model............all that was available at the time. I hope to re-stock it one day in a McMIllan or the Ed Plumber McMIllan which ever is quicker................I would order your stock, if its here on tim put it on if its not just use it the way it is. Your stock will probably tun up in the mail on the morning you leave.............

It came, it came!

Yesterday about noon I checked the USPS web site and it had hit my local PO in the am and was out for delivery. I headed towards home (for lunch), all the while looking for the delivery guy. Found him about 2-3 blocks from my house and basically accosted him. He was glad to get rid of the case as it did need adult signature and he knows my wife won't sign for guns. Don't ask, It's a long story!

Rifle was everything I'd hoped for. Trigger pull is 3.75lb and 1.875 lbs (set trigger). Three stages of creep for the main trigger. Instructions look easy enough to adjust the slack out. Hope it doesn't mess w/ the set trigger weight!

Mounted my new Leupy 2-7x33 in the Talley Lever Release rings the former owner threw into the deal; AWESOME!

Took the bare stock to work today and put it on the scales. 2 lb 7 oz with studs and Decelerator pad installed. When I take delivery of the AHR stock, will do like wise.

Barrel is not free floated. I'm thinking with an Alaskan hunt in the works, I will free float it. Have never done it myself. Stock is sealed internally. I'm sure I'll grab a wooden dowl and some sand paper to loosen up the barrel channel and seal the entire stock with the two products the Brownells technician suggested to me. One for internal and the other for external.

Found an un-opened box of 286 gr Barnes XXX in the local Cabela's Bargan Cave yesterday for $29.88 to add to my current stock of 5 boxes of 286 gr Partitions.

(update) Put the rifle on the scales; 8 lb 6 oz. Add 15 oz for the VXII 2-7x33 and Talley Lever Release rings for a total wt of 9 lb 5 oz.

Al,

Please, please shoot it first before you start tinkering!

I have the same rifle and it shoots extremely well "out of the box"...by that I mean consistent sub 1" groups at 100yards with 286grn Barnes X...

I've just put a new scope on mine and the first proper groups were both under between 1/2" and 3/4"!

A smith adjusted the trigger on mine down to about 3lb...it now breaks cleanly with no creep and just a touch of over travel...Whatever he did, didn't affect the set trigger as far as i can tell, although I never use the function..

There was an issue with the C clip that retained the firing pin coming adrift, but not all models were affected...You might want to search the forums for the old threads on the subject..

Also some models have a plastic magazine follower which some folks like to change back to metal, mostly for cosmetic reasons..

Regards,

Pete

Man, I'm glad they don't make these in a left handed model or the gun fund would take another $$ hit.

Brownels advice is spot on. I have CZ model 527s in small caliber CF which have all shot very well out of the box. All I've done to them is trigger adjustments and glass bedding for a fine shoting rifle.

I've alwayts wished LH syn stocks were available, but I'll leave them alone since they shoot so well.

Good luck!

I just got mine today ! very impressed with the workmanship. If it shoots as good as it looks i am all set. going to start with the norma oryx and see how she shoots.
Must Thank this fine forum otherwise i would not have even considered this rifle.
cheers!

I recentley got a newer CZ 550 American. The stock is a bit heavy, and I wish it had the iron sights as well. The action was a bit stiff, just a pass or two with 1000 grit and it is now smooth. My trigger had some creap as well. Again just a light touch with a stone and no creap. With Norma 232g and Barnes 250 TSX handloads both under 1" at 100 yards. You will like this rifle.

Went to the CZ "support" web site and it took me all of about 10 minutes to adjust the creep out and lower the main trigger weight to about 2.5 lbs.

This morning I called CZ and told them I had the c-clip on the firing pin. Matt simply said to ship the bolt to him and they would replace the c-clip on the firing pin with the nut/s and send it back free of charge. It will go out Monday. Maybe tomorrow. I want to at least shoot this thing, even if it's nothing more than 1/2 dozen shots from standing, in the am before I do sent the bolt out. Figure it would be good to get it glass bedded while the bolt it gone.

Is it hard to glass bed an action myself? I have zero wood working tools and would have to order in some kind of glass bedding kit from Brownells.

I had mine out of the action when going over the trigger. Mine had somewhat of a glassbedding job from the factory. The barrel is free floated and the recoil lug is glass bedded. I would just shoot the rifle first before making any changes. You might just be surprised at what it can do.

Very nice rifle ... What brand are the sights ?? My little 550 Medium shoots very well and gives me 2600 fps w/ 250 Molied X bullets from the 20 "barrel....I hope you have a great time with your rifle .... If you seal it up well including the entire insides and under the recoil pad , it will be fine on Kodiak .... ...Metal seal or Corrosion Block work great on the steel .......

quote:

Is it hard to glass bed an action myself? I have zero wood working tools and would have to order in some kind of glass bedding kit from Brownells.

Again, shoot the thing first! If the rifle is shooting under an 1" at 100 yards with suitable ammo (and many CZ'z will), I really don't see the point of tinkering with the bedding...It doesn't need it for the strength as it already has two cross bolts..

As I see it, you might turn that sub 1" rifle into a sub 3/4" or you might turn it into a 1.5" rifle!

If you ever decide to swap the stock to a synthetic, thats when I'd consider doing the bedding...

For the moment, I'd seal the interior wooden surfaces and then let the rifle dictate what needs doing by the groups in produces..

Regards,

Pete

Took it out shooting yesterday w/ some 270 Speer semi-spitzers. Reached 2400 fps.

What a pussycat!

Wanted to get a feel for it before I sent the bolt off to CZl this morning to get the c-clip on the firing pin replaced w/ the sincle nut for free. CZ tells me it should only be about a week plus shipping time.

I was also offered, by an AR member, a possible purchase of my wood stock if I go w/ the AHR stock, which should arrive this week. When I talked to CZ they said the replacement price of a new 550 American stock runs $215 plus $10 shipping. Do you think $150 is a fair asking price?

If I make the switch this is what I have to look forward to. Got these pics from Ed Plumer of AHR.

[URL= ]Grey AHR stock[/URL]
[URL= ]Right side grey CZ 550[/URL]

Metal is finsihed in their black GunKote.

The rifle in the last pictures looks very nice.

That is a very nice looking stock . Is it made by Lone Wolf ??.The biggest problem I see with either of them is the front sling stud , it puts the barrel way up in the air so it is unballanced and catches on everything ....
...Plus it is right in the way of where I hold the fore end .....
A band or stud sling mount is best , unless you use a tight sling for shooting ..., I don,t ...
The 9.3x62 is such a nice working rifle and caliber ...Ideally the sling eye should be part of the barrel steel .....

Gum,

The stock is from AHR and has "McMillan" stamp inside the stock.

I'll look into having Ed Plummer move the stud forward or place a barrel band installed.

I weighed the AHR stock. 1 lb 14 oz.
I weighed the CZ stock. 2 lb 7 oz.

The CZ stock is longer with the stud farther forward.

Thanks,

Alan

quote:

Originally posted by GSSP:
Took it out shooting yesterday w/ some 270 Speer semi-spitzers. Reached 2400 fps.

What a pussycat!

Wanted to get a feel for it before I sent the bolt off to CZl this morning to get the c-clip on the firing pin replaced w/ the sincle nut for free. CZ tells me it should only be about a week plus shipping time.

I was also offered, by an AR member, a possible purchase of my wood stock if I go w/ the AHR stock, which should arrive this week. When I talked to CZ they said the replacement price of a new 550 American stock runs $215 plus $10 shipping. Do you think $150 is a fair asking price?

If I make the switch this is what I have to look forward to. Got these pics from Ed Plumer of AHR.

[URL= ]Grey AHR stock[/URL]
[URL= ]Right side grey CZ 550[/URL]

Metal is finsihed in their black GunKote.

I bet that rifle balances and handles better compared to that CLUB of a factory stock that was on that rifle previously.

Jarrod,

Obviously, every one has a right to their own opinion.

I, on the other hand, have a right to listen to or ignore your opinion. Care to explain your response?

So Far I haven,t seen anything that AHR put out that wasn,t at least real nice and some are flat gorgeous...........The above rifle has the look of a great hunting rifle , excepting the sling stud of course ..

Mooose-Hunter,

CZ operates on the principle that you can take wood off easier than put it on at this stage in the game. They also build their rifles for people who shoot a lot.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Mooose-Hunter,

CZ operates on the principle that you can take wood off easier than put it on at this stage in the game. They also build their rifles for people who shoot a lot.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

Hey, you only got yourself to convince, and it seems like you already have.....

quote:

Originally posted by Moose-Hunter:

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Mooose-Hunter,

CZ operates on the principle that you can take wood off easier than put it on at this stage in the game. They also build their rifles for people who shoot a lot.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

Hey, you only got yourself to convince, and it seems like you already have.....

.

I think the factory stock looked pretty good also ......

quote:

Originally posted by gumboot458:

quote:

Originally posted by Moose-Hunter:

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Mooose-Hunter,

CZ operates on the principle that you can take wood off easier than put it on at this stage in the game. They also build their rifles for people who shoot a lot.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

Hey, you only got yourself to convince, and it seems like you already have.....

.

I think the factory stock looked pretty good also ......

Then you would probably love the wood on my custom model 70 super grade 257 weatherby.

Quick question for those in the know regards these rifles, you can get the FS version with factory iron sights I think and a 20 inch barrel. Would a resonable option be for a person that wants the iron sights to simply buy the FS version and replace the stock with a synthetic? I guess it still needs a trip to the factory to replace the magazine follower and the c clip???

Jimmy,

I can't speak for the stocking issue but I'm cofident the C-clip is not included on the new versions. They should come with the newer nut. Mine was at least 4 years old when I obtained it a few weeks ago. Also, the magazine follower is an after market item which you can have delivered to your door.

I'd contact either McMillan or Ed Plummer of American Hunting Rifles to speak to them about stocks.

quote:

Originally posted by GSSP:
Jarrod,

Obviously, every one has a right to their own opinion.

I, on the other hand, have a right to listen to or ignore your opinion. Care to explain your response?

Guess I should have put a coulple of these after the thumbs down. I was a little the majority of people on AR seem to prefer wood stocks.

quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy P Coaltrain:
Quick question for those in the know regards these rifles, you can get the FS version with factory iron sights I think and a 20 inch barrel. Would a resonable option be for a person that wants the iron sights to simply buy the FS version and replace the stock with a synthetic? I guess it still needs a trip to the factory to replace the magazine follower and the c clip???

.

Mine works just fine with the plastic follower , I havn,t checked the c clip thing .. I just pull the trigger and it goes BANG every time ...