Went to the range today to check the rifles going to Tanzania on 8/15.

The M70 sighted-in fine with both Zeiss Conquest scopes and the irons using the 300 gr TSX load mentioned on another thread. Checked at 50 and 100 yards.

Th CZ550 worked fine with both scopes. The Leupold 2.5 Compact had not been on the rifle for two years but it went right to its 50 yard zero. The Leupold 1.5-5 IR has always shot well and did so today.

A 350 gr X bullet load at 2700 fps impacted within an inch of the 410 gr Woodleigh solid Federal load at 50 yards. Good to go.

Problem arose when I thought ... Gee I've never checked the iron sights on this horse.

The irons are shooting a foot high at 50 yards. Leads to the obvious question ... who made the front sight and where can I get a taller one? The sight is a barrel axis dovetail with a spring loaded button that holds it in. It is 0.200" tall from the bottom of the dovetail to the top of the blade. Has the number "1" stamped on the bottom of the dovetail.

Is this a standard CZ sight installation?

Do they or anyone else carry sight blade replacements? What height should I be asking for?

Mike,
take your sight insert out and there's a number on it.. that's the height, in MM.

you can call CZ and get a taller one.. I MIGHT have one laying around, so let me know

jeffe

Jeffe,

Let me eplain that I bought the rifle after Aleko had spent a lot of money on it with a smith ... so I don't know if the smith redid the sights as I did not see it new. The smith did a wonderful job on the bedding, trigger, and scope mounting arrangement. I think he may have ignored the iron sights.

The sight blade has the number 10 stamped into the bottom ... but it is only 6.3 mm tall.

What would you estimate the needed height to be?

(And THANKS! for the reply!!!)

mike

the sights go to 14!! is it 10mm from the bottom of the sight (insert) to top, or just 6.3 ?

anyway, call and see if they have an 11, 12, 13,14 ... i think they are like 6 bucks each

they are closed monday

jeffe

Jeffe,

The sight insert is 6.3 mm from the bottom of the dovetail to the top of the sight. Does not appear to have been modified.

How do I calculate the correct one to order? Got a quick and dirty formula for that?

In the jess, 2" high would probably be OK ... it's WAY bigger than that! Literally needs to come down 12 to 14 inches.

At only $6 each I would buy all 4 and see which one works best.

Louis

I just measured a CZ550 Magnum and it is a 19" sight radius. This means that changing the front sight by .0053" moves the impact one inch at 100 yards.

So if you are off 12" at 50 yards, then moving the impact point 24" at 100 yards means you need a sight that is .127" taller. That is about 3.23mm taller.

CZ's can be made into decent rifles, but they sure are rough as they come from the factory. But then if they were more refined they would cost a lot more and not sell as many. It seems like their barrels, actions raceways, and dovetails are rarely in alignment. Did you have to move your scope down a lot to get the point of impact where you wanted it at 100 yards?

Marc,

Thanks for the numbers!

The smith who bedded it, strengthend the wrist, and cross bolted the rifle also built a steel rail across the top of the action with two weaver slots in it. It is well done. Is arranged so the recoiling rifle pushes the rail rather than away from the rail. The slots are properly spaced to allow a wide range of scopes to be used. The bridge doesn't get in the way. Leupold QRW rings have worked great and scopes require very little adjustment to sight-in.

If there was misalignment ... he fixed it in the scope mount.

He also did a lovely trigger job.

is your scope pretty much centered in its vertical adjustment range with the new set up? I would love to know how it shot with the scope on the factory square bridges.

ANy way you could post a pic of the scope base? I would love to see how it looks.

Marc,

Will take pic tomorrow when there is good flat light.

The calc you used appears to be a straight, solved ratio and proportion:

x = 19*12/(50*36) = 0.127

Correct?

thanks,

quote:

Originally posted by mstarling:
Marc,

Will take pic tomorrow when there is good flat light.

The calc you used appears to be a straight, solved ratio and proportion:

Yep, you got it.
Similar triangles, straight forward proportionality, as you have solved.
x = 19*12/(50*36) = 0.127

Correct?

thanks,

Yes, you understand the straightforward proportionality of similar triangles here, as your solution shows.

Mr. Starling,

As I understand it the parts dept. at CZ-USA has a reference/correction chart for the sights. I called them and told them the caliber of my rifle, the number on the sight, distance I was shooting, and how high the rifle was hitting. They used this info to select a different sight for me which I installed and that put the rifle spot on.

The number for CZ-USA is 1-800-955-4486 and ask for parts.

When you buy a CZ, I think it's possible that what you get is dependent on which particular technician put it together. I suspect the newbies assemble the lower price models but that sometimes the more experienced run out of work and assemble them as well. The bottom line, if you're looking for a CZ, look at several if possible. I got the "economy" model but the stock, finish and other details are great.

If you need a new front site, you'll pay about the same shipping whether you order one or all so my advice is get them all. Also, when installing it, make sure the retainer is actually engaged. If it's not secure, you will lose your front site in the first shot or two (the voice of experience).

Mine was shooting about that high. I called CZ and they told me a 7 or 8, both of which they were out of at the time. After a couple of orders, I got a 14 and now it shoots where it should.

Telly

I have 3 CZ front sights here in the shop, an 8,9, & 10. I just measured the 8 and it is .231" total height. That works out to 5.86 mm. The 10 is .250", which is 6.35 mm. These measurements are from the bottom of the dovetail to the top of the bead. Don't knwo what CZ numbers are supposed to mean, but they aure aren't the height in mm's.

Mstarling-

WHat has happened with your sights? Did you get a chance to talk to CZ today? I know how crazy it can be trying to get ready at the last minute before a big hunt. Please let us know if you have it covered or still need help, and what you heard from CZ.

if it all goes to pot, call brownells, order the right sized sight as an NECG and a tube of "blackmax",,,, the necg sight WILL be way too long.... tap it in, shoot to check zero, use the blackmax to old it in (it's a plastisized superglue) and go hunt.

you can use a soldering iron to breakdown the glue when you get back.

jeffe

I talked to CZ on Monday ... they were open. The tallest sight they make is a 14 which is 0.286" tall. Probably about half of what I need, but better than what I've got. Should be here shortly.

Should be about 6" high at 50 yards. If I need the irons because a scope has crapped and I haven't been able to get to the spare yet, the distance and the error should both be a lot smaller.

You could file the rear V down to zero it, and check out all three leaves, a lot of work.

To lower your POI, increase the height of the front sight or lower the height of the rear sight.

You could also replace the front sight with a sweet NECG Masterpiece banded and get all the height you need and more, and many other variations on height , size of bead, etc.

also,
there are TWO rear sight heights... i might can be talked into loaning you one, if I have the other heigth.. measure from BOTTOM of dovetail to top

jeffe

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
also,
there are TWO rear sight heights... i might can be talked into loaning you one, if I have the other heigth.. measure from BOTTOM of dovetail to top

jeffe

Well, you learn something every day. CZ does have some room to play there. CZ probably forgot about that too.

Thanks Jeffe.

The #14 front sights arrived today. I ordered two on the theory that if one were lost I'd have another.

Was actually a much better idea than I had thought ... what was in the CZ package (at $27 including shipping) ... one #11 front sight, and one #14 front sight. Just f'n amazing! Was lucky to get one of them I expect.

Will try the rifle with the 14 tomorrow. Have made very certain that the retainer popped up in front of the sight. As I said earlier, it may not be perfect, but it has to be bettery than what I've got.

Mike,
glad you got them.. measure the height of the 14 and let us know!!

Ron,
heh.. i might have (man)handled a couple CZs..

anyway, glad to help

jeffe

I bought a NECG front site (the sourdough brass covered front post) designed for a Ruger N° 1. I filed the base until it resembled the CZ base and it fits nice and snug. I love it. Now I have to find a way to make a new rear site which is tall enough and fits the CZ dovetail cut for the rear sight!

Guys,

Load I am running is a 350 gr Barnes X on Norma cases with Fed 215 primers and 98.0 gr of IMR 4350. Velocity of the load is 2700 fps. Pressure is mild.

Range time indicates that the #14 front sight insert results in abt 6" high at 50 yards from sticks. So the original estimate of needing 0.127" in addition to the 0.200" original (#10) insert was probably close to correct.

It was not usable at all before, now at least it is usable within 25 yards if a scope craps and I've not had the chance to swap it with the spare.

Will work on getting it perfect for another year. Thanks guys!

Mike,
you can use a NECG super tall, should get you close.. see my post above on that.
jeffe