I sure hope this works. This is my CZ 550 American in 7x57mm. There is no way I can, as a now retired journalist, afford a custom rifle. What I did was remove the elephant snot finish CZ puts on its rifles. I could see some figure under that horrible finish, but removing the CZ finish was a booger. I finally got-er-done after several applications of Citri-strip. Next, I used GB Lindspeed oil. I applied a sparing coat, let it dry for two days, then applied a second coat and let that dry. I then took the stock back down to bare wood with OOOO steel wool. That process makes up one repitition. I did 13 repititions until the wood would absolutely take no more oil. I used my gun case as a drying box, by wiping the interior complely with pine sol, then used an air can to blow out any particles, cleaned the glass with windex and then, after putting the oil wet stock in the case, carefully closed the gun case door and taped all door seams with masking tape. It was amazing how that oil picks up airborn particles. In retrospect, I could have left the door taping out until the very last repitition, but what the hell, live and learn. Refinishing the CZ stock brought out what I consider a fairly nice looking chunk of woodstock. Next, I used Probed 2000 to glassbed. I got the Probed from Scorehi Gunsmithing in Albuquerque and the glassbedding came from a tutorial by Jack Belk via the internet and via telephone. It was nice having someone as knowledable as Mr. Belk on the other end of the telephone reassuring me that everything was going to be okay, that I wasn't going to screw it up. While glassbedding the action I also freefloated the barrel. Next, for $50 I had a gunsmith my brother knew in El Paso, Tex., polish the jetblack bolt handle to the nickel finish that is underneat the black, then jewell the bolt body with a small herringbone pattern. Next, I gave the CZ rings away and got a set of Talley Rings. To me they look a lot better and they are a tad more light. I got a Leupold VariX-1 Scope in 4x12 from SWFA, and a leather sling from El Paso Gun Exchange. With the 160 grain Nosler Partition I get sub minute of angle three shot groups and with the 162 grain Hornady SST I get sub-half minute of angle groups and both loads are speeding along at 2,800-plus feet per second. It isn't custom, but I sure like it and in the process I learned a whole lot about rifles, which, to me, was just an added bonus. I didn't have to do all this, but I wanted to do it. This rifle was pretty accurate right out of the box, but I was actually able to make it even more accurate and even better looking in the process. I am proud of it! Tom Purdom

Looks good, Tom! I wimped out and had my CZ 7x57 restocked....but I REALLY like the rifle!

I like it, as a matter of fact, I like it a lot. That's the second CZ I've seen on this board with really nice wood hidden under that road tar finish they put on those stocks.

If it were mine, I'd drop a few extra bucks on one of those Gentry 3 position safeties when the funds became available and call it perfect.

Terry

Tom,

Looks great, post some detail pics of the bolt and bedding.


Dan

I never did think I was going to break that picture barrier. Hope I can do it again one of these days. For those interested, Serengeti Stockworks makes a stock for the CZ. I saw it on their website, however, they are proud of their work, as they should be, as any stockmaker should be. My brother has a CZ 550 Fullstock in 7x57. Though the stock is okay, it is far from good. Serengetti has a drop dead beautiful fulllength stock available. I'd like to talk him into getting his restocked. Any, I needed some cheering up and the responses have done that. Thanks fellas. Tom Purdom

Very nice job and congratulations on defeating the internet and your computer and getting your picture to post!

Tom,

I'd have never guessed that was a factory CZ stock, the ones I've had looked a #3 grade 2x4. I think you did a great job.

Billy

Tom,
The rifle looks really nice. If it was mine, I'd just add an ebony forend tip for the classic look.

It's amazing what you can find under the CZ factory finish.

Harris

Great looking rig 7x57mm

Truly a sweet cz......I am green with envy

Tom,
Your 7x57 looks good and a couple of years ago, after my communications with you when I was considering a new rifle, I wound up getting one just like it. For several reasons we don't need to go in to here, I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet but that should happen in 2006. Got a Bushnell Elite 3200 for it.
I'm considering a .222 and I'm wondering if you have a CZ in the 527 line. Of course, I would like to find a mint condition early Sako .222 for next to nothing, but....

If you have a CZ in .222 or .223, what do you think of it? I got one report that the magazines cause a feed problem and scratch the cases and they need to be reworked some way to cure it.
Also curious about the rate of twist on these rifles (having a hard time getting info out of CZ USA) and would like to be able to use the heavier bullets so should have a 1:9 or 1:10 twist perhaps.
Anyhow, you were still with the newspaper in NM and I was still at the post office in Friday Harbor. So, now that we are both retired, I hope you are finding more time to shoot than I do.
Hope you are well and are enjoying your leisure. Doug Smith

Thanks for the great post and a great idea. I have a 9,3x62 550 American that deserves a decent finish on the stock.

What did you do with the checkering? How did you avoid damaging it? Did you recut it?

Again, thanks very much for the post!

You did a very nice job on the stock. It is amazing what CZ is hiding under that crappy finish. I have refinished 2 of my CZ's so far and they have turned out great. I still have to do my 458 and 7x57. Both have very nice wood, especially the 458 which is exhibition grade.

Not to detract from your post, but I thought I would show my CZ's that I refinished also. That way people can see what they are missing.

My CZ 527 .223 before refinishing.



My CZ 527 .223 - bottom - and CZ 452 .22lr after refinishing.


My CZ 550 American 7x57 that is yet to be re-finished. As you can see, it has a lot of potential hiding underneath that nasty factory paint job they call finish.

M1Tanker,

What procedure did you use to refinish your stocks? How did you deal with finish removal and the checkering?

Thanks,

quote:

Originally posted by mstarling:
M1Tanker,

What procedure did you use to refinish your stocks? How did you deal with finish removal and the checkering?

Thanks,

I used a chemical stripper to remove the factory finish. It took a few applications to completely remove the factory crud. I used a stiff toothbrush to scrub out the checkering while stripping the stock. I took the opportunity to slightly re-shape the stock just behind the grip cap area and near the comb flutes. I then sanded using my way up to 400 grit if I remember correctly, but it may have been just 320. I taped off the checkering using green 3M painters tape. I used an Exacto knife following the outer line of the checkering pattern to get the proper fit. I applied several applications of oil finish and wet sanded in between to fill the pores of the wood.

I still need to re-cut my checkering to clean up the factory job, but I havent built up the courage to try that yet.

This is basically a summary of the finish procedure I used. I hope that helps.

CZ does use something terrible to finish the stock!!! its like they mix rotten milk in with the varnish. CZ's are actually my favortie rifle, most need a tweak or two, but thats half the fun. that 527 m1 has is enough to make you creame your pants. it is light years ahead of what CZ puts on their stocks. The 550 stocks also seem to be very club like, they seem bulky and lacking grace.

someone asked about the 527's they are my favorite without a doubt rifles. that action is very smooth, of course a few tweaks help a bunch, set trigger and both mine are very accurate, add in the compact light weight action, you have a very nice light accurate rifle

Tom,

From a quick look, it doesn't look like a Chay Zed anymore; good job!

Bill,

Your stocks cleaned up really well.

I had a synthetic stock M700 out when I brought up this thread, I had to put it away.

jim

Sweet rifle, 7x57-

flaco

Love all those CZ's

I thought this post dried up and went away, but like the little 7x57mm, it appears to have survived, for now at least. I am in the process of trying to buy a digital camera, just a point and shoot, but if I do will try to post photos which are not out of focus.

TC1 -- Terry, there are other's out there who have nicely figured stocks covered by the finish CZ applies to its stocks.

ACRecurve: is there any way you can post a photo of your CZ 7x57? How accurate is your rifle Andy and what loads do you use?

DanM--I will try to post photos of the bolt work when I get the camera and figure out how to work the darn thing. Essentially, the CZ 550 bolt unit has a nickle bolt handle. If you want it to be nickle, just use a wire brush and polish the black matt off of it. Although some of the jewelling is beginning to rub off in spots, I will post photos if I can.

Charles Helm -- Thank uou for your words. It was work, but, at the same time, it was work that was fun.

Gringo Casador and Harris -- Thank you both for your suggestions and words. Gringo Casador, my experience has been just the opposite. I've seen more stocks with figure to them than stocks without figure to them.

PC -- Hope all is well Down Under. It appears you waited a tad too long to get a CZ 550 in 7x57mm. That caliber is no longer imported to the United States. Now that CZ-USA will no longer produce the Model 3, and thus no more 7mm WSM, just maybe the company will bring the 7x57mm back into the US.

grubbybydog -- I'm glad you got one. If you reload, let me know and I'll shoot some reloading information to you that has worked very well in mine, a CZ 550 Full Stock in 7x57mm that my brother owns, and a CZ 550 Full Stock 7x57mm that a friend of his owns. I do have a CZ 527. It began life as a Lux with the 23.6 inch barrel in .223 Remington and the humpback stock. I refinished that stock as well, but was not quite satisfied with the shape of the stock as I had a bit of trouble finding the scope fast. CZ offers aftermarket stocks for the 527 line, so I bought a fancy grade American Walnut stock for it and sold my other stock. I had glassbedded the old stock. Anyway, the new one came and I had to do a bit of work with it. I had to inlet the barrel channel slightly to allow for the rear sight band to fit into the stock. I then found out there was a bit of feeding problems with the rifle in the new stock. For my rifle, and I suspect others as well, cycle problems stem from an improper fit between the bottom metal and the barreled action. Take the barreled action out of the stock as well as the bottom metal. Leave the little metal clip in and insert a magazine loaded with dummy rounds. Next, hold the magazine in place and cycle the bolt. You will see that the dummy rounds cycle perfectly. What is happening is that there is just too much of a gap between the action and bottom metal when in the stock. What I did was, after glassbedding the barreled action with the stock, I removed wood from the stock where the bottom metal makes contact with the wood. I didn't remove too much wood. I calculated my wood removal by taking the barreled action out of the stock as well as the bottom metal, inserted the action screws, determined at exactly what point the screw begins to enter the barreled action and then counted the turns the screw required to sung the screw home. I can feel when the screw is at the end of its turns and is snug. I can turn beyond that point, but that is when I begin to bend the action with the screw. I did this with both the front and rear action screws. In both cases I counted turns based on the position of the slot on the top of the screw and counted the actual turns the front action screw required to snug home. I wrote down each number and then used a dremmel tool to lightly remove the wood until I came within one turn to a half turn of reaching the number of turns to snug the bottom metal to the bottom metal. I then skim-bedded the stock where it fits into bottom of the stock. In short, the top of the magazine was too far from the rails of the barreled action for the bolt to routinely pick up cartridges out of the magazine. It was a matter of getting the top of the magazine closer. I hope I didn't confuse the hell out of you. I had to retire from the newspaper business because of health reasons and moved to a lower elevation so my lungs would function better. Unfortunately, Kansas has a total lack of public shooting ranges. There are ranges, but they are out of my meger price range now. I hope to meet people from this area who shoot and possibly get in on some private land shooting. I hope your retirement is going well Doug.

mstarling -- M1Tanker did an excellent job with his stock refinishing, his explanation and photos. I used chemical stripper to remove the old finish. Citri-Strip is a good product, but it takes several applications of the stuff to get the old finish off. I also used the Citri-Strip with and old tooth brush to get the CZ finish out of the checkering. I did not mask off the checkering. I was just very, very carefull around the checkering when bringing the Lindspeed Oil back down to bare wood with the steel wool. I used an old tooth brush to work the GB Lindspeed Oil into the checkering and then used the palm of my hand to wipe away the excess. My brother refinished his CZ 550 Fullstock, got into a hurry and got too much oil into the checkering. His needs to be recut. Thank you Mike, for your words.

M1Tanker -- Those photos are excellent. Bill it is graphic proof that CZ hides the true beauty of some of its stocks behind that elephant snot it calls a finish. Thank you very much for posting your comments and photos. I just hope that my posting photos with my new digital camera is 1/10th as good. I am supposed to get the camera tomorrow. Hey Bill, do you plan on starting your refinish of the other CZs any time soon. If so, you might consider photographing the process at key points and posting the results on this site. I think there are many folks out there who would benefit from it.

Cummings Cowboy -- I can tell you one thing, that CZ finish is tough because it was tough as hell to get off. The CZ 550 stocks do fill out my hands more-so than my buddy's Model 70 FTW in 7x57mm, but then, mine seems to be more accurate, or maybe hit is just my handloads. One thing I really like about the CZ single set trigger is the darn thing is so easy to adjust.

Hunter Jim --- Thank you sir for your comments, the same to Major Caliber.

Tom Purdom

quote:

Originally posted by grubbydug:
Tom,
Your 7x57 looks good and a couple of years ago, after my communications with you when I was considering a new rifle, I wound up getting one just like it. For several reasons we don't need to go in to here, I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet but that should happen in 2006. Got a Bushnell Elite 3200 for it.
I'm considering a .222 and I'm wondering if you have a CZ in the 527 line. Of course, I would like to find a mint condition early Sako .222 for next to nothing, but....

If you have a CZ in .222 or .223, what do you think of it? I got one report that the magazines cause a feed problem and scratch the cases and they need to be reworked some way to cure it.
Also curious about the rate of twist on these rifles (having a hard time getting info out of CZ USA) and would like to be able to use the heavier bullets so should have a 1:9 or 1:10 twist perhaps.
Anyhow, you were still with the newspaper in NM and I was still at the post office in Friday Harbor. So, now that we are both retired, I hope you are finding more time to shoot than I do.
Hope you are well and are enjoying your leisure. Doug Smith

I have a CZ 527 in 223. I know 4 other people who also have 527s. It is universal, they are very accurate and well made!