Has anybody bought one of the laminate stocks for the CZ550 from CZ-USA? I was wondering how finished they are when arriving. Are they drop-in, completely ready to go, or do I need to do something to make them work? I've asked CZ-USA per e-mail, but contrary to their habit they haven't responded yet.

Frans

Well, speak of the devil, this is their response:

"it is the same shape as the American Safari Magnum, oil finished, drop in with only minor fitting required. pach. decelerator recoil pad installed.

I do recommend glass bedding and a crossbolt be installed by our gunsmiths to fit your rifle."

Heck, bedding and crossbolts? I might as well buy wood (?)

Frans

Hey Frans,

I was told by CZ a short while back that it would cost me $300 to have them cross bolt and bed the stocks for their safari rifles, which everyone here seems to recommend as the minimal work you need to make a CZ sufficient for field use. After taking a long look at one up close, I decided to pass on the CZ and am instead saving for Ruger Safari Magnum. I don't really have anything against CZ, just that their magnums seem a little too rough for me.

The RSM seems like a much better finished product, which are ready to go to the field.

In my heart, however, I long for the Win 70s to come back. I hope a manufacture that knows how to handle the Winchester name (unlike OLIN) picks them up.

Good Luck

quote:

Originally posted by Frans Diepstraten:
Well, speak of the devil, this is their response:

"it is the same shape as the American Safari Magnum, oil finished, drop in with only minor fitting required. pach. decelerator recoil pad installed.

I do recommend glass bedding and a crossbolt be installed by our gunsmiths to fit your rifle."

Heck, bedding and crossbolts? I might as well buy wood (?)

Frans

This comes up every once in a while but most people assume laminates are less prone to splitting than natural wood and it ain't so. They are less prone to warping or breaking but the laminate construction is at least and usually more prone to spiltting from recoil issues.

The birch wood is weaker, the grain is perfectly lined up alone the axis of splitting forces and the glue used to bond them doesn't penetrate the entire stock, only the surace of each layer of wood. The exception are the specialty laminates like Serengheti which use thicker and stronger wood sections.

Anybody had any experience with Brockman's laminated drop-in CZ stock? It comes with two cross bolts, however I think you still have to know what you are doing to get it bedded to your action (oh well, that leaves me out )

www.brockmansrifles.com

I got him putting my 550 Magnum in one right now. As soon as I get it back I was going to post a review.

In general, it is supposed to be a true drop-in so I guess it works with that front hanger doo-hickey CZ uses. If Jim says they'll work without additional bedding I would take his word on it. I didn't ask because mine is a different barrel profile with conventional barrel lug so I asked him to inlet it and I'll do the rest of the finishing.

Teat Hound - You've made the right decision. The Ruger RSM is a great rifle, and a real bargain for the money. I absolutely love my RSM in 458 Lott. I've put many rounds through it, with no problems. In my humble opinion, it's a much better rifle than the CZ. Best, Starcharvski.

BROCKMAN HAS MY 375 cz RIGHT NOW TO INSTALL ONE OF HIS STOCKS.

What I don't understand is why the CZ 550 laminated stock models are $200-$300 more the the basic walnut.

A laminate blank does not cost that much more than a basic walnut blank.

It's probably a third-party product so they have to buy them instead of make them. Two companies have to make a profit on one item. Also, walnut is CHEAP on that side of the pond.

I don't know but I bet they either import the laminate from here or have the guns stocked here. I don't think there is a European company laminating stock blanks.

Well, I'm 'stuck' with the CZ for now. I reckon if I put in the extra $$ I might end up with a rifle just as fine as the Ruger, for about the same money, eh? It's an easier sell to the home front to spend a $1000 initially (canadian), and then little bits and pieces after that. The end result in price and function might well be the same.

The gun is on its way to Martini & Hagn for resolution of the ejection problem, and if I find the right stock I'll have them bed and cross-bolt it, and may polish the action a bit.
I'm partial to the high comb of the american CZ stock, the Brockman drop-in seems more like the 'old' straight CZ stock, which doesn't fit me.

There's other things I'd like done, like a bigger bolt handle, a peep sight, etc... I'll have to look inside my wallet after all the other stuff is done.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Frans

Ok, a little off subject but has anyone tried the McMillan CZ Express stock? I will be picking up a .375 CZ in the next month or so and would like to go with a synthetic.