Several weeks ago, I bought a CZ 550 American in 9.3x62mm from fellow AR member lawndart.

lawndart had done some work on this rifle. He had fitted a recoil lug to the barrel, installed double cross bolts, glass bedded the action and recoil lug and installed an AHR trigger.

Yesterday, I scrounged up and mounted a cheap, old Tasco variable scope on it, packed up some likewise cheap Prvi Partizan ammo loaded with 285 grain bullets, and finally headed off to the range with it for the first time.

From first round to last, it shot three bullets into sub-MOA groups, one after the other, all the afternoon long. This is the best target of the day, an even half inch:



Think I should keep this rifle?

Me, too. Thanks, lawndart, for a great deal on a great rifle.

Now I am going to send it off to fellow AR member Marc Stokeld for some gunsmithing. Did you see the photos Marc posted a while ago of that CZ .416 that he reworked? If you didn't, you need to find that thread and check it out!

Marc is going to recontour and rechecker the stock along classic British lines, including fashioning an oval cheekpiece and adding an ebony fore end tip, add NECG/Recknagel sights, a three position wing safety, straight bolt handle with solid bolt knob, barrel band sling swivel, etc., to make it just the way I like.

A trip to Africa is definitely in this rifle's future.

Couldn't you at least try to make it look hard!

Congratulations.

Charles, I would if I could, but I gotta admit that I just fell off the lucky truck and landed in clover.

What loads do you prefer for your 9.3?

I'm thinking that I will just stick with 286 grain NF softs and 286 grain Woodleigh solids at 2,350 or whatever velocity in that neighborhood that makes them shoot to the same POI.

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
Charles, I would if I could, but I gotta admit that I just fell off the lucky truck and landed in clover.

What loads do you prefer for your 9.3?

I'm thinking that I will just stick with 286 grain NF softs and 286 grain Woodleigh solids at 2,350 or whatever velocity in that neighborhood that makes them shoot to the same POI.

I cheat and have Superior load the 250-grain North Fork softs. In my somewhat limited experience they give excellent penetration on plainsgame (no recoveries -- all pass-throughs on two animals). If I were going to try something really large or thick-skinned I would go with 286 grain NF softs or the NF flat-point solids.

I have used the 285-grain Oryx in the Norma factory load for 9.3x74R and it worked fine on a hog, but I would want a tougher bullet at higher speeds.

I have a CZ550 American in 9.3x62 also. It is "stock" except for glass bedding. It will shoot these one holers all day long also.




The target below is 10 rounds fired at 100 yards. Five 286gr Partitions and Five 270 Speer using 65gr of Ramshot BigGame.



Gotta love them CZ's!!!


.

Thanks, Steve, for the info. Looks like I will have to stock up on some Ramshot BigGame powder!

Charles, now you have got me thinking about 250 grain bullets and I was trying to keep things simple!

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
Thanks, Steve, for the info. Looks like I will have to stock up on some Ramshot BigGame powder!

Charles, now you have got me thinking about 250 grain bullets and I was trying to keep things simple!

I have been known to complicate simple things.

I just hate those CZ's.

The 375 H&H I had gave me three different powder charges to pick from for sub MOA loads.

I have a CZ 17HMR that will shoot into inch and half groups all day as long as the wind isn't howling.

I have a 550 FS in 270 Win that shoots one hole groups with cheap Winchester factory ammo.

I currently have a CZ 416 Rigby at Marc Stokeld's getting reworked. And once I hit the bench with it. I will be absolutely surprised if it doesn't shoot MOA.

I think CZ knows what they are doing. They are making a heck of a rifle for a very fair price. Not that they can't be massaged a little. But they are good rifles.

I bought a CZ 550 American a couple of years ago from FourTails on this forum.

Came and I plopped a 2.5-8 Leupold on it and took it to the range. Shot <1" at 100 yards with everything I fed it.

Worked up a business load of 286 gr Nosler Partitions on Norma Brass using 58.0 gr RL-15 and WLR primers. That load chrono's at 2425 in my rifle and shoots about 3/4".

Because of a small scope problem with another rifle it went to RSA in 2004. Killed Warthog, Impala, Wildebeast, Kudu and Zebra with it. All except the Kudu (who had not read The Perfect Shot) fell to one round. No bullets recovered. Absolutely perfect performance.

Has also taken deer and hogs with same perfect performance.

Rifle is a very handy size that is easily hauled around. I love it.

Took a heavily worked over CZ550 in .416 Rigby to RSA in 2004. It blew a hole through the shoulder of a Gemsbock while generating a visible shock wave around him. It also went to Tanzania this year. Has had an additional recoil lug added, has been bedded and cross bolted, and a strengthening rod added to the wrist. Got a good trigger job too. It shoots 1 1/2" at 200 yards with 350 gr Barnes X bullets at 2700 fps. Killed Hartebeast and Buf with no significant difficulty. Only one bullet recovered ... and that was a followup shot on the ground that went through the haunch of the Buf, breaking the right rear leg and traversed the entire gut. It was found in the lungs. A good five feet of penetration including the right rear femur. Just amazing!

Good rifles these CZs.

MR

I read your description of mods you will do to your 9.3- a man after my own heart. I remember the thread re the 416 reworked, and did a search, but didn't come up with it.

Also did a google on Marc and didn't find him- do you have his email or contact info? Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by 404WJJeffery:
MR

I read your description of mods you will do to your 9.3- a man after my own heart. I remember the thread re the 416 reworked, and did a search, but didn't come up with it.

Also did a google on Marc and didn't find him- do you have his email or contact info? Thanks!

Look here.

Mr. Helm

Thank you. I did a search under Marc Stokeld and didn't find it- probably operator error. Thank you for your help.

He is not far from me in NC...

Steve4102

Apparently you still like that Ramshot Big Game load in the 9.3x62. You are exactly right about another thing, there is someone who's tired of her crap

H4895 got 286-gr. Noslers and 270-gr. Speers into the same group at 100m. Velocity was 2,300-ish in my CZ 550 American. One-hole groups were the norm, and the S&B ammo would give a lot of benchrest guns a run for their money.


Okie John

quote:

Originally posted by jstevens:
Steve4102

Apparently you still like that Ramshot Big Game load in the 9.3x62.

Thanks again for the load info. Just took the 9.3 out last weekend for some fun. The speed and accuracy of your BigGame load is outstanding.

Thanks

.

404WJJeffery,

You have a PM.

quote:

Originally posted by Charles_Helm:

I have been known to complicate simple things.

Charles, my friend, I am convinced that making simple things complicated is both an occupational hazard, and the blessing (yet curse) of a well-trained mind!

Mike Brady may be getting another email soon.

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:

Charles, my friend, I am convinced that making simple things complicated is both an occupational hazard, and the blessing (yet curse) of a well-trained mind!

Mike Brady may be getting another email soon.

He has always been good about giving me advice.

There was a cartoon series in the local paper while I was in law school where one character graduates from the university and goes to law school. The most memorable line at the end of one strip is where he says "I want my old mind back."

quote:

Originally posted by Charles_Helm:
There was a cartoon series in the local paper while I was in law school where one character graduates from the university and goes to law school. The most memorable line at the end of one strip is where he says "I want my old mind back."

I love it! But in my case, this one is more appropriate: "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."

Every CZ I have seen or played with shot like this...........

Now, why can't remchesters shoot like this?