For those that followed the earlier posts, I bought a brand new CZ550 in .404 Jeffery on November 20, 2006. This was a "Custom Shop" rifle, and I use that term loosely. The rifle showed up and would not feed, and would not shoot -- sort of a problem for a rifle in my view. The bullets keyholed at 50 yards. Sent the rifle back to CZ on December 4, 2006. CZ dicked and screwed around with the rifle and shipped it back on February 6, 2007. I got the rifle today. The rifle showed up with a crack in the stock:





I know there are those on this forum that think CZ hung the moon, but in my opinion they have some serious quality control problems -- that coupled with the fact that their rifles are a piece of sh*t. Am I pissed, you bet. Will I get my money back, you bet. Will I buy another CZ, never. I will be giving CZ until March 1, 2007 to return my money or I will file suit in Harris County, Texas and let the good folks of Texas decide whether this is any way to run a company.

There, I feel better.

But does the crack go all the way through?

You go, Boy!!

Good luck Mike!

I nearly bought a CZ 404, but based on your reports on the 404 and other reports on CZ in general I decided to pass. I found a Model 70 300 rum and am going to do a custom build instead. Thanks for keeping us updated.

Thanks for the report. Hopefully it will help others avoid spending $2K+ on a defective rifle.

Guys give D'Arcy Echols shit about charging $10K or so for a plastic stocked Model 70. But his guns work. (!)

That does not sound like good business to me. I will say that I have been shooting full house 450 dakota loads, 500 grain bullets at 2470 ft/sec for about a year now and I have never had a problem with feeding or accuracy. Maybe you just got a lemmon. They should be bending over backwards to get this taken care of.

quote:

Originally posted by Will:
But does the crack go all the way through?

The crack in the stock or the one I am going to put in their head?

I've never viewed the CZ 550 as a finished piece from the factory. Their standard rifles need to go to a competent smith and be bedded and cross bolted (with the exception of the 9,3x62 which is already cross bolted). Some finish feed tuning is always desirable.

Let's face it guys, there is no cheap magic. Rugers cost a lot more. The M70 is no longer available new ... and it wasn't what it used to be. A full custom usually costs a lot more.

Choices are getting fewer. After the work is done, my CZs have shot very, very well. Must admit that it still amazes me that CZ can't figure it out.

Those of us who are not wealthy have to work increasingly harder to find a decent choice.

Mike, did they at least put a new barrel on that thing? What did they do about the feeding?

Keith

Keith,

In the words of Rhett Butler, frankly I don't give a damn. I have had my fill of screwing with the damn thing. Should not have to buy a new rifle and replace the barrel, magazine and stock. Good news, so far, no problem with the trigger or the bolt. Hurray!

Mike

Just so everyone understands, CZ does not make a rifle in .404 Jeffery.

These rifles are being built by a local gunsmith here in the US, commisioned by the import company CZ-USA. They are being built using CZ actions, but are not designed for a .404 as it leaves the factory.

I wouldn't touch one of these US built rifles, but I wish CZ in Europe would consider building a proper .404, that would interest me greatly.

Is it these same rifles that are being also offered in 505Gibbs and 500Jeffery?
Cheers...
Con

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Keith,

In the words of Rhett Butler, frankly I don't give a damn. I have had my fill of screwing with the damn thing. Should not have to buy a new rifle and replace the barrel, magazine and stock. Good news, so far, no problem with the trigger or the bolt. Hurray!

Mike

Mike, I understand your frustration, but did it ever occur to you that the stock may hve cracked in transit? Wouldn't be the first time.

quote:

Originally posted by Poleax:

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Keith,

In the words of Rhett Butler, frankly I don't give a damn. I have had my fill of screwing with the damn thing. Should not have to buy a new rifle and replace the barrel, magazine and stock. Good news, so far, no problem with the trigger or the bolt. Hurray!

Mike

Mike, I understand your frustration, but did it ever occur to you that the stock may hve cracked in transit? Wouldn't be the first time.

But you will have trouble with that trigger pretty soon.

quote:

Originally posted by Poleax:
Mike, I understand your frustration, but did it ever occur to you that the stock may hve cracked in transit? Wouldn't be the first time.

I wondered the same thing.

That is a pretty huge and obvious crack to have left the maker that way.

I posted here long ago about the CZ 404 piece of junk they delivered to me....sent it back. As I recall there were people disagreeing with me and maintaining the 404 was a great CZ product. Piece of Junk! Sorry you didn't know before you had your time wasted.

500 GRAIN
echols might charge $10,000 for his plastic piece, however that still does not justify the price, just break the price down , customer supplies the action , what does a barrel and stock cost ...chambering , bedding , bases etc
$10,000 you have to be joking!!!i can build up a RIFLE on a custom M 98 action from satterlee/ prechtal etc etc for a LOT less
daniel

/

Too many complaints about CZ rifles

quote:

Originally posted by M 98:
500 GRAIN
echols might charge $10,000 for his plastic piece, however that still does not justify the price, just break the price down , customer supplies the action , what does a barrel and stock cost ...chambering , bedding , bases etc
$10,000 you have to be joking!!!i can build up a RIFLE on a custom M 98 action from satterlee/ prechtal etc etc for a LOT less
daniel

Well, I agree. But my points is that at least they work (even if not as economically priced as some of us think they ought to be).

With all the hype about these guns I'm really confused by these posts.

Does this mean that the cheapest product in any catagory isn't necessarily the best...

Kyler

quote:

Too many complaints about CZ rifles Confused

yea the pot is being stirred for sure! I just may hold off a CZ purchase myself - mike wish you success in the justice you seek.

That's what happens when they start making too much of something. Let me quess, no more machine parts, cycles,...., just guns?

Mike,
Damn, Sorry to hear about the cracked stock. you are right. You shouldn't need to replace the barrel and have allt he problems you have had with a new factory rifle.

Out of curosity how much did the 404 weigh?????It would be nice if it was 8 1/2 lbs w/ a 24 " barrel...All of my CZ,s have been nice and accurate ..They have so much going for them that I will continue to buy them......I have considered them to be a great value....I didn,t shoot the one 505 that I handled but I thot it was worth the price ......I know how frustrateing it is to get a rifle that doesn,t live up to expectations.....

10K? I'm with Ross S. on this one, he took a printed shot at certain Arizona maker wondering why an accurate bolt gun should cost well over 10K. Good point. For less then that mound you can get one of those 'Thuringian' drop-feeders in kal. 470NE,... Just couple of years ago DrillingHotline gent had 4 in a rack made by well known O/U shotgun maker, and .500NE? was $8500, if I remember correctly.

Hello,
Sorry to hear about your problems with the CZ and would add that the cracked stock could have been as a result of shipping for I had a very nice, AAA grade Turkish walnut stock/Ruger RSM, arrive some months ago and broke completely at the pistol grip area!! However, the other problems you have are more serious than the stock for it can be replaced and yet it still does not feed nor deliver accuracy?? Not good in anyone's book. Others mentioned that CZ does not mfg. this rifle, rather custom made by an outside contractor and that is fine but it is still CZUSA and their product in question. As you noted, contact your Texas AG office and prepare for action yet hoping that the folks at CZ will come to the point of replacing the rifle and it will be correct. As I am sure you are painfully aware by now that it will not be difficult to provide a host of similar instances regarding CZ and their quality control. In my area, only CZ's not having problems are the little 22's and the small center fire versions (old Krico rifle designs I believe??) and again pointed out by others, the CZ's just do not seem to have been quite finished and require additional 'smith work to even approach being ready for service.
Even with all the supposed problems with the Ruger RSM's I will stick with them for the time being, but do hope CZ gets their act together for we can not have too many quality rifle sources. Good luck and please let us know how it goes with the CZ folks.

Mike,
as I suggested from the mornign it keyholed... new barrel or money back.

Alf,
as the one that "took you to task" you are misrepesenting yourself and the thread. The issue with Mike's gun was a bad barrel. THIS HAPPENS, and it's a mcgowen, a good name.

Trying to make that seem like you were right all along is making you doublely wrong

quote:

Originally posted by ALF:
Exactly my point and in another thread I was severly tkane to task for stating that these US CZ's are not working functioning factory rifles !

You stated the 458 lott, as well as the 404, 505, 450rigby where not factory rifles. I corrected you in that the 458 is without a doubt a facotry rifle and the 404, 505, and 450 are made in their custom shop... their CORPORATE custom house.


Then again, there's those that would throw the baby out with the bath water, damning all CZ rifles for a limited number of failures..


and D'arcy is a GREAT example...if one took a factory CZ action and put TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS INTO IT, of course it would be perfect.....

but (other than custom shop rifles) you can't spend 10% of that on a CZ....


SO, Yes Mike, CZ needs to either make fully good on this (at this point, a new barrel AND stock) or refund your money.

I believe the .458 bore rifles left the CZ factory designed only for the Win Mag cartridge.

The .458 Lott rifles were rechambered stateside by someone under the direction of CZ-USA.

Just a thought here
I would try to talk to the CZ USA president.
I have owned 2 CZ 550s in the standard hunting cartridges , a 7X57 and a .243. neither has givin me anytrouble whatsoever and are both extreemly acurate.
The lady that runs CZ is likly to dive into this problem head first, and I bet she would try to make sure you are taken care of, if not I would like to hear about it...tj3006

/

quote:

Mike, I understand your frustration, but did it ever occur to you that the stock may hve cracked in transit? Wouldn't be the first time.

Typically a rifle stock cracked in transit will crack in the grip area, not the magazine area. Shipping box looked fine too, although the rifle was not packed in anything other than the normal box they come in, i.e., they did nothing like wrap the gun in paper to tighten the fit, etc. All just suggests a lack of attention to details and a we do not care attitude.

I’ve never seen a CZ that didn’t have problems with feeding; functioning, etc (I’ve owned three and my buddy has had at least ten). My friend even had a 416 Rigby that shot so low he couldn’t get it to sight in and a 375 that would empty its whole magazine when you opened up the bolt.

Most of the problems can be fixed for a few bucks. But I agree it is a pain in the ass to have to screw around with a new rifle so much.

The way I look at is like cigarettes, in the old days no one new the risks. Anyone on this forum is informed enough to know that if you buy a CZ it might be a lemon (perhaps CZ rifles should have warning labels).

Matt V.

I've not been happy with the CZ in 416 Rigby that I own even after putting a few hundred into it. I'll stick with model 70's.

Alf.
the 458 lott is barreled in the CR, period.

the others are US custom shop

you really need to get your arms around that.

the % of 404, 505, and 450s that are built are TRIVIAL compared to totals.

The custom shop is factory... so, are you then saying that if a product isn't GLOBAL and COMMON from the factory then it's not factory?

No, of course not...


mike's 404 is FUBAR, agreed, and should be repaired.


Alf,
do you same "issues" apply to the remmington, winchester and weatherby custom shops? Factory guns, none the less, in my opinion

My Rigby shot 5-6" high at 50 yds. It came with a #8 front sight. CZ sold me the tallest, #11, and now it's OK with Federal ammo. I lucked out here so far. I know someone here who had one of the low shooters. It was hard to do but he got it corrected on his own. Express sights are not working for me. I need a ghost ring/post setup to hunt iron sights. I'll skip this and get a 1-?X scope. It's fed and ejected the box of ammo that's been thru it and ejected some empties too without fail. Due to run a box of Hornady thru it this weekend to create a brass stash. I don't like the thick stock combined with the straight & straight down bolt handle. Access is slower. Looking into a replacement stock that's thinner, poor luck so far. Wouldn't want the factory stock to crack though. Mine has the 2 crossbolts. This long action may be fickle to feeding shorter rounds with tapered cases. I've heard nothing about feeding issues with the Rigby, Lott or 375. I've seen guns chambered and stamped for Lott that had cal. 458 XXX stamped out without crossbolts and I've seen newer Lotts factory stamped with crossbolts. Problems with the so called custom shop guns shouldn't be happening. On these $800 guns, I don't know. It seems too that there are more issues than there should be. I'm happy enough, so far.

quote:

Originally posted by Pegleg:
I've not been happy with the CZ in 416 Rigby that I own even after putting a few hundred into it. I'll stick with model 70's.

pegleg, I'd interested in hearing more.

Gents: I am confused (easily done). Does this mean the 404, 458 Lott & 505 (others?) are sent by CZ here in the US to an external contractor for rebarreling for those calibers? jorge

/

quote:

Originally posted by Showbart:

quote:

Originally posted by Pegleg:
I've not been happy with the CZ in 416 Rigby that I own even after putting a few hundred into it. I'll stick with model 70's.

pegleg, I'd interested in hearing more.

I had the rifle professionaly bedded, crown recut, A Different front site insert machined, and the action slicked up a little. The stock was changed as it was one of the hog-back stocks. I had the snabble fore end taken off and the big hump on the rear of the stock taken off. Then the trigger went tits-up. Who wants a set trigger on a 416 Rigby anyway? The magazine spring now needs to be replaced, also. I suspose that if you aren't picky about your rifles the CZ's are OK, but I still think they are the roughest out of the box rifles out there.