Anyone have an idea of how easy it is and how much it might cost to get the post and bead on a CZ550 in 458 replaced with a larger bead. Age is causing me to have trouble seeing the little bead that came on the rifle. I would like to replace it with something larger and possible in a contrasting color such as white so that I can see it. I am beginning to think that I would like to shoot and hunt with the gun, with out a scope. Any thoughts or ideas. Thanks.

You should search for this topic.

The standard approach is to get a NECG sight that fits the Ruger and file it down to fit.

I prefer to cut CZ Safari Mag barrels down to 22" w/ a deep protected crown. My favorite combo is to keep the factory express rear sight and use the .385" tall NECG Universal Front Sight base w/ the old style .099" solid red bead blade. When used w/ the .630" windowed hood it places the bead approx dead center of the hood. The sight picture is fantastic and it makes for easy close quarter point shooting using the hood to paint your intended POI.

GVA

I just went thru this with my CZ 416 Rigby. My factory front sight had an "8" stamped underneath it. I presume this was the height in mm. I cut off the factory bead and attached a fiber optic rod cut to fit for height and length. Leave the sight insert in the sight base when you cut it, lots easier this way. I used JB weld to attach the rod to the sight. The factory sight hood looks kinda big and clunky, so I replaced it with a K98 military sight hood.You have to open up the lead bevel to get it started in the groove on the sight ramp, otherwise it fits just fine and looks better. The fiber optic is a huge improvement for tired old eyes. I have put lots of rounds thru it since and it is holding up just fine.

Many Thanks for the comments everyone. I just have a hard time picking up the bead that came on the rifle and have had a hard time getting used to the front hood. Never had a rifle with one of those. As for the barrel length, except for my 6.5x55 Norwegian Krag and my wifes Model 77 Ruger UL, everything I shoot has a 24 inch or longer barrel on it.(I think the CZ's is 23.5, but that is close enough.) I just don't like shorter barrels.

Mine had 25.5" barrels and I found them too long and weight forward for my tastes. CZ must make them shorter now.

I think the guy in the shop at CZ-USA is Mike Eagleshield or something like that. At one time he carried drop-in replacement fiber optic sight blades. Give them a call, if they have them they'd need the number off your blade. Also, you can recut the dovetail and use NECG blades. If you use the fiber optic bead I'd keep the hood.

GVA

Gentlemen,
the standard NECG insert does NOT fit, though it can be made to work, in a CZ sight, as is.

However, there is a necg dovetail cutter, to "revise" the CZ front sight to take the NECG sights.


In fact, on my 458 AR, this is exactly what's on the schedule... shorten a cz 458win to 23", move the sight back, expand the band, and recut for NECG

jeffe