Gentlemen,

as some may remember, I ordered above rifle, with some extras at the Prague CZ store last year.
Two days ago I picked it up, together with a Meopta 1.5-6x42 scope, CZ mounts and 100 rounds Norma 300 grain softnoses.
Extras are:
- front sling swivel around the barrel, nicely done
- jewelled bolt, also done well
- set trigger mechanism removed
Stock is the standard straight form (custom work absolutely not possible), but with selected good, even really nice wood.
No problems with paperworks and air transport, checked baggage with Swiss. But I had a Czech friend coming with me to the police station for export documents, that helped.
My gunsmith will now mount the scope, put on a better butt plate and some more stock length, and check the bedding.
Then let's see if she shoots.

Martin

Congratulations on your new acquisition. Now the fun begins

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Doug Humbarger
NRA Life member

Just out of curiousity, is gun ownership still easy in the Czech Republic? A few years ago, a handgun permit was (I believe) required, but easy to get, and allowed concealed carry. Is this still the case?

Pertinax

Pertinax,

sorry, I do not know.
I live in Switzerland, and exported the rifle. So I cannot say anything about Czech laws.
But I had to show a Swiss import permit.

Martin

Martin,

You mention yours is the straight stock; is it the same as the CZ 550 American or nearer the hog back delux stock? Does it have schanble (sp?) fore end?? Any chance of a picture?? What do CZ charge for proving the barrel band swivel??

Thanks,

Peter

I owned 4 Brno ZKK rifles, made in the 80's. Most I have seen have fairly plain, soft wood. A 270 I had, however, was stocked with absolutely exhibition grade walnut, Turkish I was told. A friend who visited the factory recently says select wood is available on special orders.

martin f,
You are ready for anything with that great rifle in 375 H&H. The only thing I would question is the bedding from the factory. Have you had it glass bedded? This could help make it trouble free in the future, but of course, if is a tack driver in the accuracy department, you could let that go until any problems develop down the road. Some would insist on glass and pillar bedding regardless. You can make those CZ 550's as good as it gets in a hunting rifle.

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RAB

Pete E, fla3006,

this is the standard stock, without cheekpiece, hogback or schnabel. I can't post pictures, but you should find it at the CZ website. This stock has a bit much drop for a perfect mount when shooting with the scope, but it should at least work OK.
I also handled a CZ American, well-designed stock, perfect with a scope, feels great. Alas not available for the magnum calibers.

I did not yet dent or scratch the stock, so can't say if he wood is soft. But it looks dense, with small pores.

Charge for the extras was around the equivalent of USD 150. Overall I paid quite less than I would have paid in Switzerland. But it seems you may have even better prices in the US.

Martin

Martin,

Thanks for the info. I have been trying to get a look at one of those "standard" stocks for a while, but every picture I find is of the hogg back delux...I too want a .375 H&H with an American stock but it looks as if I am out of luck.

Pete

Congratulation Martin !

I hope you will be happy with your new rifle.

Jiri

DaggaRon,

The rifle is at my local gunsmith now, he'll check the bedding, mount the scope (the CZ rings come a bit high, but that can be modified) and install a longer buttplate.
I am still thinking about some cosmetic work on the stock - some reshaping, new checkering.

Pete E,

go to www.czub.cz, look under Centerfire Rifles. Look at the rifle on the top, CZ550 Standard, this is the standard stock, also for the magnum version. It has more drop than the "American". The hogback stock is the "Lux" version.
I have really tried to get an "American" stock for my .375, but no luck. CZ was quite flexible regarding metal work. It seems they get the stocks from another company, no modifications possible.
The standard stock is fine for open sights, a bit low for the scope. But I think I will be able to cope with it, we Europeans are used to shoot with big scopes mounted way too high!
And this stock has too good wood to through away.

Jiri,

of course I'm happy. I have not yet shot the rifle, and I think I'll be even happier when I can tell about the first groups shot with it.
And I liked the competent, honest service at the CZ store, good people there.
Also paperworks at police and customs were smooth, no hassles.

Martin

Congratulations, Martin! Could you please again post the adress of the shop? Can anybody have this mods or have you special relations?

As you know I have a medium action, 9.3x62. It will shoot Lapua 286 grs and PMP 286 grs in an inch and to the same point of impact! It should do even better because at home I found some scope slippage! Screws were loose. Of course I had checked them before, but the 9.3 ...

After this weekends experience, prior to hunting, everbody was checking zero, I may tell some things:

My CZ is great, its a shooter! Troubles with a Win 70, will have to test a little. It seems to shoot to two seperate points.

All Steyrs will shoot! Ansolutely no problems there! I honestly think about never again buying an American rifle!

Blasers shot well, but that curious thing hanging back of the action in opened position??? I wonder what is if the bolt under stress is shoved in some direction?Also slightest dirt ( powder residue )in the action leads to hard closing.

Do you think its possible to live with CZ, Swiss hunting rifle, Steyr and Mauser derivatives for the rest of my ( bolt ) live?

Hermann

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Hermann,

the address is:
Opletalova 1
Praha 1
phone 0042 02 24 24 15 73

This is close to Vaclavske namesti or Wenzels square, in the center of the city.
I have no special relations, but went there and asked politely. I was dealing with Mr. Jiri Stumpf, in English.
What I have learnt is the following:
CZ can do some extra work on metal, you can also have engraved presentation models.
It is not possible to have any custom work done on wood, but you can have selected wood - I understand the stocks come from an external supplier.
You have to pick up the rifle at the Prague shop and present suitable import documents from your country. CZ will not export directly to you.
Besides guns they have of course other things that may be interesting, Meopta scopes, some Czech and relatively cheap clothing (I bought a nice skeet vest for ca. 30 USD).
Moneywise, this is only interesting if you come to Prague anyway - of course a visit to Prague can only be recommended, wonderful city, good beer etc.
And the Czech Crown is gaining strenth in the last months.

On rifles: I have an old Wwalther .22 RF, an old Krico .222, a custom .30-06 on an M98 action, now the CZ .375, and I am also planning for a 9.3x62 on an M98 action, for open sights only (actually your first reports about your CZ triggered that).
There is not much more I need, and no reason to think of Blasers and other modernistic stuff. But I might be tempted by a CZ550 American in .270 Win., nice rifle, and my .30-06 is a bit heavy for mountain hunting.

Best regards,
Martin

Finally, I got the rifle back from my gunsmith (after mounting of scope and longer butt plate) and made it to the range.
The first 3 shot groups were about 1 3/4'' with Speer 235 gr bullets, and 2 1/2'' with Hornady 270 gr bullets.
Considering that I may have to learn some more about shooting a heavy caliber from the bench, I think that's not too bad for a start - and there should be room for improvement.

Martin

Good luck with your new toy!!!

Martin

GOOD LUCK

weidmannsheil

Martin