Can anybody tell me what sort of group size to expect from the CZ M550 American in .22-250 at 100 yds?
I picked one up new end of last year and have been a little less than impressed with its accuracy. I've been shooting over 35 years
now and although I aint going to win the Olympics I'm not too bad a shot (well, I hope not!).
I've tried the following in it:
Factory fodder
Federal : 6" groups
PPU (Privi Partizan): 3" groups

Homeloads : Hornady 55gn FMJ, Sierra 52gn Matchking, 55gn Gameking, C-T 50gn Bal S-tips, CCI 200, Win & Norma brass
I've tried ladder tests with:
H380
VV N140
VV N150
Varget
and Blue Dot
best 5 shot group was H380 and 38.5 gns @ 1.5". COL of 2.427”, 0.026" off the lands.
everything else ranged from 2.5" to shotgun patterns.

I've shot the thing on a bipod, bench rest and even my hunting coat. Makes no difference to the groups.
I've shot it on sunny days and cloudy days, I even shot it in the snow. same as above.
I've swapped the glass on it 3 times now.

On one occasion, I thought "It's me, I can't shoot" so borrowed a mates 6.5x55 and was happy
with the 2" group at 200 yds.
He shot mine and said "This gun's shit!"

A word about the rifle...
I'm no gunsmith but some things look a little iffy...

The pillars really look shag, chewed up and puny and that's to my untrained eye.
Without the benefit of a headspace gauge, I put a piece of sellotape on a cartridge base
and the bolt closed on it...admittedly very inaccurate method but is this test a fair indication?
A gunsmith I talked to about it referred to it as a “Friday gun”! – terrific.

What do you guys reckon? Is it normal or a waste of steel?

Any questions, fire away.
Cheers

I would check all of the screws, those in the bottom metal and those in the scope mounts and rings, for proper tightness.

Assuming that they are okay, I would check the bedding.

It could be that there is uneven or intermittent pressure being applied by the stock to the barrel somewhere in the barrel channel. That will play hell with accuracy.

Good luck.

Hi there MR, thanks for posting.
Good point on the fixtures and fittings, should have mentioned that too. The scope mounts were checked at the start and end of each session and so were the action screws. I also checked the barrel float with the fiver test. Slipping paper money down the barrel to the receiver. It passed this one in all weathers too...
The bedding is a good point, it looks like 2 small blobs near the action screws, not really enough to do the job. Problem is, do I spend cash on bedding in when it could very well be a waste...?

Haggis, did your rifle come with a test target? What did it show? Also, have you contacted CZ USA? They may know something you don't, about a particular batch of rifles etc. I have 3 CZ's a 416 Rigby, a 375H&H and a full stock 7x57. The 416 and 375 shoot extremely well (3 shots touching). In the past I have posted pictures of test targets. The full stock I have been less successful with, but it does shoot pretty good 5 shot groups with certain bullet weights. About 1 1/2 inches at 100. I was hoping for better, but it is certainly satisfactory for a full stock.
Peter.

I have the same problem with a CZ 550 in 6.5x55. Darn thing wont' shoot accurately. I switched scopes a couple of times, hoping that would help.

I called CZ about it and they said it wasn't under warranty since I bought it used.

I am going ahead and have it bedded, and see if that does the trick. So far, this is the only CZ that I have that is not accurate.

I don't know yet what I'll do if it still isn't accurate after bedding. I might have it rebarreled, since it's paid for and I got it at a decent price.

KB

Peter,
It didn't come with a test target. I heard something about CZ stopping this practice. Don't know why though... I'm waiting on the importer here in the UK to get back to me on what to do next.
Kabluewy,
6.5 swede will be my next purchase and it's doubtful it'll be a CZ. Shame really as I've got another CZ rifle, shoots terrific and I used to own a CZ75 before we got skanked here by the gov't in 1997. It digested everything I threw at it and never missed a beat.

I am with Peter, the CZ'S I own 4, 243, 223, 375H&H, and 17 Rem, are all excellent shooters. I did have to fiddel around with the bedding float and action screw, other than that, I have been very happy with mine, as are the 2 or 3 other guys in my group, that own CZ'S.

Jerry

Haggis, I figured I would start with basics even though you might have already covered them.

I should have added that my CZs and my son's have all turned out to be tack-drivers. Not to say that a bad apple might not fall from the tree once in a while.

If I were you, and if I had recourse to the seller or manufacturer, before I did anything else I would return the rifle.

Let us know how this works out for you.

Best of luck.

Hi Jerry,
I agree with your findings with CZ's. I was just unlucky I think.
MR,
Bang on. The importer called earlier in the week and the guns now gone back to Czechoslovakia (needed to spell check that!) for a check up. Meanwhile, the importers got a new one heading down to my dealer, should arrive next week...!
The last time I ever had a dodgy gun, was 15 years ago an S&W 686 4". Couldn't shoot straight no matter what I tried. Couldn't complain though, I won it in a 1500 comp!

Haggis..I am glad that you are going to get a bit of relief on your rifle...Please let us know how it turns out in the end.

I have a 6.5x55 CZ550, and it is very accurate. I have thought about maybe purchasing another CZ and I have been following your thread... Made me think that another CZ may not be what I need...

Let us know how it turns out...

Z

Hi there Zee,
Thought I'd let you know... got the replacement end of last week but didn't get a chance to try it out till today. Shoots much better than the last one. Prints just under 1" @100 mtrs with 52gn Matchkings and 36gns of Varget. Doesn't like Hornady 50gn FMJ though in any load I tried. Here's a wierd one, thought I'd try some 63gn Varminters just for the hell of it and it put them into a 1 1/4" group... Wasn't expecting that!
Thing I noticed with the gun was it's come over from CZ USA. Every CZ I've ever seen here in the UK has come straight from CZ main factory. It's got a much nicer stock than the old one and the blue appears a little "deeper". You guys in the States are getting the best ones!

Haggis..Sounds like they made it right with you..that's great! I know that I was impressed with both the metal finish and the quality of the wood on the 550 that I got...Maybe you are right and we are get the best ones over here....

Sure glad that they resolved your problem..
Z