Okay, all this talk about 9.3�s and CZ�s was too much for me: Yesterday I bought my CZ 550 Full stock in 9.3x62. Rifle looks fine, although that barrel looks mighty short.

Metal work is great, good polish on moving parts, action is really smooth - especially after BreakFree + ~ 50 cyclings. The action is IMHO less likely to bind as a Win 70 Classic SuperGrade, although this still has a smoother action. The wood looks fine, though not fancy. The trigger needs adjustment: has anybody tried this? Any comments? It also works as a set trigger by pushing it forward, for people who like this feature.

The gun has a 3rd locking lug, although not exactly like an original Mauser; on these the lug is approximately as large as the front ones and its recess is in the rear bridge. On my CZ its smaller and more to the back. Its recess is just after the rear bridge, ~ in a line with the bolt handle/recess.

The front sight seems to be of NECG? Would make replacements easy. The front hood is somewhat "rakish". I don�t care for this, but the hood is open at the top, which enhances visibility, while protecting the sight.

My problem is, that the trigger group assembly and the mag follower are made from PLASTIC! Yes, the real ugly, cheap, original one! Also I suspect the safety and the bolt stop to be of plastic ( still searching for a magnet ).

CZ owners: You too have plastic parts? You opinions at this? How strong may I tighten the action screws? I mean this is against plastic! What if it cracks?

Also, IMHO the bolt stop takes quite a beating, so overall I would like to replace all these parts with metal ones.

Does anybody know of any source for replacement parts? Is this a new phenomen - CZ switches to plastic, too? I will not call it Poly-God-knows, I say cheap, ugly plastic.

Please write me Your opinions. I already mailed CZ. Feel free to write Your ideas about plastic in general, or if this will be the way of the future and if You will like it, to:

eichner@czub.cz

Have not shot the gun until now, will let You know ...

Good Shooting! H

Good Shooting! Hermann

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Hermann,

I can't remember if the NECG front sights fit or not. They look like they would, but I seem to remember someone saying they had to trim them slightly. Let me know if they fit.

I don't know about the rest.

Don

Hermann....You've certainly given your new rifle a going over.....I haven't even had mine out of the stock yet..Been too busy shooting it...I'll check out the features you've discussed and get back to you..

My trigger needs adjustment also and I have not attempted it yet..I've been using the set trigger for shooting from the bench working up loads and it works fine for that..

Meanwhile, it sure is shooting little bitty groups with those 250 grain Barnes x bullets..Last night I got a neat little 3 shot cloverleaf that measured .5 " from center to center, although I suspect it was a lucky group because consistent half inch groups are beyond the capability of this shooter and his 4x scope....None of the groups spread over 1.2" however, and that was with two different powders( 4064 and RL-15) and two charges per powder...

The 4064 seems to be the most consistent performer so far....Velocity deviation last night was 13 fps for 4 shots with a high of 2500 and a low of 2487......All groups have been around an inch or smaller......

Just back from shooting it. The 9.3x62 might be based on a Mauser ( read -06 ) case, but I tell You: if that thing goes off You haven�t ask Your neighbor about it! If You then still have a neighbor at the range! Recoil is DEFINATELY above the �06 even in High Energy loadings.

Open sights were totally wrong, very much to one side. Now its sighted in, center and 2 cm high at 20 yds. ( first phase to get at paper at 100 yds and to know it goes "bang" -Yeah thank You enough of that - also if I need a gun in a hurry for trackin ). I�m happy, now the sights are nicely centered. Last two shots did touch.

Now I�m gonna disassemble it and look at this trigger and as I know me I can�t leave my fingers from a screwdriver ...

Load was Norma factory 286 grs plastic tip. BTW I have nothing against plastic at the bullet tip ...

Good Shooting! H

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I had a plastic follower, which we took off and replaced with a metal winchester follower. as for adjusting the trigger, it's pretty simple, i adjusted mine.

If I remember correctly, once you have the gun out of the stock, you'll see an adjustment screw on the trigger (i think i uses an allen key). Just to let you know, the better a regular trigger pull you have, the worse your set trigger becomes...sorry for all the vague details, but the last time i stripped mine was last July something or other...

anyway, hope this helps

ps. the barrel is a short little 23.3 inches

Yesterday I wanted to go hunting - but it was raining :-((

So I disassembled the gun.

Found a magnet. In case You don�t know, they usually grow just south of magnetic presentation boards ...

So I recall the words I said yesterday, and insist now on the opposite. ( thats not from me, all politicians do this all the time )

The safety, the bolt stop and the trigger guard assembly are dull finished, but real metal. The magazine follower and the mag floorplate are still plastic. I can live with the follower, but will try to get a metal floorplate.

The quality of the metalwork under the stock was a real joy: all nicely finished, even polished. The stock inletting is not polished, but seems well done. I leave it at the moment. There�s a steel plate against which the front recoil shoulder rests. There�s also some kind of extra lug under the barrel which has a corresponding cut in the stock. The underside of the action ( well polished! ) looks not like a Mauser, with its flat surfaces and generous recoil shoulder it�s more like a Win 70 - all very good!

Somewhere at this boards there was somebody who wanted to rechamber a 09 to 9.3x62. The CZ has a separate mag box like the Winchester, clearly marked 9.3x62, so for the conversion I think there is no rail work necessary, but only opening up the mag well in front, where the cases shoulder is. One could build a shoulder for keeping the cartridges back under recoil there.

I started adjusting the trigger by reducing takeup. That�s the screw without lock nut that enters from behind the trigger. I turned it in until the bolt would not stay cocked, then backed off a little. Wow - short takeup without creep and easy break off - and I did not touch the trigger weight screw! I put generously FP 10 on the moving surfaces and snapped ( with cap in place ) several times. All o.k., it might even be that the trigger is slightly too easy. Safe, though: I stamped the rifle with the butt plate on the working table - nothing happened. Set the trigger and worked the bolt: stayed cocked.

I tell You: I�m really happy with this gun. I will replace the front sight, a bead which is filled with white paint: either I go to gold bead, or to thin post ( with brass on top ). And I have to scope it, just to see how it shoots.

I can�t find any fault with this rifle except for the two plastic parts.

I wanted a full stocked rifle, but I wonder what a looong tube would do ( 26", Ray where are You? ).

Any body I talk to, has good things to say about the 9.3�s stopping power. Now I�m hunting down some ammo and rings.

Good Shooting! H

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Hermann.....You certainly given that rifle a thorough examination....

You must be an engineer.......<<grin>>....

After your description of adjusting the trigger, even a ham-handed Klutz like ME should be able to do it..... ...........

Rings were provided with My 550 American..

I presume they are not supplied with the Stutzen model ??

What season is open and what game will be your primary target with your 9.3 ??.....

I plan to use mine specifically for large game such as elk and moose, but I also will do some whitetail deer hunting with it...

[This message has been edited by Pygmy (edited 08-09-2001).]

About the workout: I�m a real, diehard, certified gun nut and proud of it ;-))

At the moment it is legal to shoot: Roe deer-buck, wild boar and varmints ( fox, badger, Marder,... ).

It is also legal, but not very probable to run into: Red deer-small buck and doe, Dam deer and mouflon.

As in Europe it is very restricted what kinds of game You are allowed to shoot, and the amount of game You are allowed is also very restricted, and there is NO free country - You have to lease territory, which is very expensive- or You are in a hunting community, but it is difficult to get into one, hunting is somewhat limited. But there are pluses: Roe deer buck is open from 16. May to 15. Oct. Roe deer doe is ~ 15. Aug. to 31. Dec. Wild boar except soe with small ones is open always. And there are lots of them.

I intend to shoot the 9.3 on driven boar hunt, where I may need the stopping power. Also for tracking wounded game, although I like the .44 for this, too. If I have mounted a scope I will use it for pigs in late evening. If I ever again get a chance for red deer " Hirsch" I will use it of course.

Also if I do a hunting trip to CZ or SK or Pl ... prices are sometimes reasonable there.

Good Shooting! Hermann

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Just checked my floor plate on my 550 American, it is steel. Maybe you could order one as a replacement if they will interchange.
Good Hunting !

My Lux was all metal save for the follower. As for groups, with a Leupold 3-9x I got groups under an inch with 4895 and 4350. I had absolutely no luck at all with H414.

Hermann,

I will be in Prague next week and visit the CZ factory store, to discuss a CZ 550 in .375 H&H. I also don't like plastic in rifles, and sure will take a magnet with me!
At an earlier visit to that store I have learnt that the CZ factory workshop also makes some presentation grade rifles to order(I have to travel to Prague then and now for business).
I certainly do not need a presentation rifle, but I would like to have some alterations to the production model, like a longer stock, a front sling swivel fixed to the barrel, etc.
Getting this done for a decent price would be my main reason to buy in the Czech Republic directly, but I still have to see what's possible.
A 9.3x62 would actually be enough caliber for me, but I will go for a .375 H&H because of the longer barrel (63.5 cm) and heavier weight, I like my rifles that way. And with reloading I have some more flexibility for heavy loads, if I ever should need them.

Regards,
Martin

<<<hehehehe>>>

I'm just giggling at the vision of all of us grabbing magnets and giving our CZ rifles a close examination after Hermann's post...

Yup..I did it too....The only plastic I could find on my 550 American is the follower....

That may have escaped me for YEARS if Hermann had not brought it to my attention...... .............

I think I'll adjust mt trigger and go shoot my rifle some more..I've put about 200 rounds through it working up loads and I'm just getting nicely warmed up......

martin, I thought about the .375, too. As I see no chance to get to Africa in the next years, there was no reason not to buy the 9.3. I wanted a Stutzen badly, and for "Riegler" ( driven hunt ) it is right on, but the more I study the ballistics of the 9.3x62, the more I am impressed and think I should perhaps have bought it in a longer barreled version.

There was a string somewhere at these forums, not too long ago, where somebody bought a Magnum, and complained about it�s weight. I don�t want to argue about Your decision, I was severely tempted myself, but if You have a chance to have it modyfied, perhaps taking some weight off ( stock, some releaving cuts in action, hollow bolt handle ) might be an idea!

BTW, if You are successful, You could not let me know the address of that outlet??

Have fun! Hermann

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Pygmy, I hope You get no headache from that plastic follower now. What I especially don�t like is the plastic magazine base.

To tell the gun manufacturers that customers in the future will take on their guns with magnets is not a bad idea IMHO. On certain manufacturers one perhaps should start with the barrel ...

Kidding aside I like this gun, the gunsmith wants only to sell me a complicated mount, no, the European models are not sold with rings included, I try to find out if NECG front sight inserts will fit in the CZ, I have already ordered two kinds of ammo and I am about to contact LEE for trimmer and factory crimp die - although I do not own dies up to now ( which do You?).

Did You read these strings about "You might be a gun nut ..." a while back?

Good Shooting!

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Hermann,

you will find the info in an earlier thread in this forum, look under African Big Game Hunting, for "CZ Rifles - question to Jiri in CZ", started 06-05-2001.

I have to confess that currently most of my shooting is at targets, and there weight is great! I have a .30-06 rifle with 65 cm (26 inch) barrels, weighing 3.8 kg without scope, ca. 4.5 kg with scope (8.4 and 10 ibs.), and it is easy to shoot decent scores e.g. in the DJV competitions. And I think it's still fine for hunting, with some exceptions, like mountain hunting, or crawling through thickets.
A short barrel or a light rifle is fine for some situations but generally I think one will shoot better with a heavier rifle.
And I have been advised that a .375 needs a decent weight to control recoil, or you will not be too happy with it.

I will report about my visit to the CZ store.

Regards, Martin

Martin F
Sir, Your trip to the factory store sounds interesting. Perhaps you could put in a plug for us Yanks who would love to see the Safari Magnum in a staight, English/American classic style stock. I think their sales would improve here. Good luck on your trip !

Kboom,

according to the brochures and catalogs I have seen the CZ 550 Magnum is available in Europe in Standard (no cheekpiece, straight stock, but maybe with too much drop) and in Lux (humpback stock) versions.
I want a straight stock, too, and will ask about the models exported to the US.

Regards, Martin

Well, Hermann, I am surprised, you being in Germany and all, that shooting the 9,3 is new to you. Now you know why this is the round for a proper Keilerb�chse! Maybe you shouldn't have gotten the Stutzen version since it is a real firekr�cher!

It is not based on the 06 case but is very close and was inspired by it. Actually, it is about 1 notch below the .375 H&H round in power which is why such guns must not be built too light. For American members, this round is like a .35 Brown-Whelen or .35 Whelen Improved in power with better bullets.

When the 550 first came out, I do not recall it having any plastic parts but the only ones I saw in Germany were the Magnum action models. The 550 is a product-improved ZKK and is a good choice for any hunter.

The NECG front sights are made by Recknagel in Schweinfurt and I assure you they are oversize for just about any application. They are easily fitted to the dovetail by filing the bottom until it is a smooth, sliding fit in the ramp. Then you have to take a chain saw file and form the front of the sight until the little button on the ramp just clears it for a firm fit. This requires careful work, something the Brno people just can't afford to put into such an economically priced rifle. I have put Recknagel sights many times into ZKKs and the 550 has the same front ramp so this applies here too.

Waidmannsheil!

PS: In Germany, it is best to stick with lead round nose bullets since the patent Brennekes, KS, usw. are much too hard for European game, especially if you are going after Reh. The Vulkan PPC is supposed to be good for everything, too.

Martin, thanks for the reply. CZ USA only imports the Safari in a Bavarian style stock with shnabel forarm. this realy looks strange to most of us here. If they were to make one like the Winchester Super Grade with the better pieces of there Turkish walnut, they would realy have something.
Thanks

Hermann... Does LEE make a trimmer for this caliber?

I will eventually be needing a trimmer, although these excellent Lapua cases show very little stretching after 4-5 loadings....The Remington cases I use in my .280 and 7mm-08 would need trimming by now...

Thanks to all for the info�s. As for ammo, I have heard that thing about TUG�s too hard for Europe and too soft for Africa, too. I�m using Norma 286 grs plastic tips now, I have ordered PMP 286 grs ProAmm ( these South Africans should know about which bullets are necessary, and its a double core bullet with jacket reinforcements ) and Lapua�s 286 grs JSP ( I don�t recall the name just now ).

I already mailed LEE for trimmer and factory crimp die. From first shooting experiences I�m sure a crimp is advised. I don�t think I will reload cases with hunting loads more than 6 times???

If I find no replacement sight, and You could be right, that the Czech�s never would use such an expensive sight, perhaps I start a war and try to get a drop of nail laquer from my daughter. Bright orange or something exotic or glooming in the dark ...

BTW, excellent info on NECG/Recknagel!!

As I have a Win 70 Classic SuperGrade with a looong barrel in .30-06, I wanted that Stutzen, as You said, a "Keilerb�chse". I agree with the British: one should suffer a bit, too, and whoever is up first after the shot, has won ... :-))

The stock fits me just fine, but perhaps a classic stock with fine grain ( from CZ? ) would sure look better.

Have fun! Hermann

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I have pretty well wrung out the 9.3x62 in several rifles and found RL-15 about the best powder with all bullets.....

58 grs. RL15 300 Swift MV: 2450 (Av. 14)
56.5 RL15 320 Woodleih MV: 2350 plus
58 RL15 286 Nosler MV: 2520
60 grs H414 250 Swift Best Accuracy

Norma brass, fed 215's except the H414 load which used Fed. 210.

I got some higher velocitys but this is where my accuracy was and all loads shot together in a the same POI give or take an inch high or low....

I have used the 9.3 x 62 on Buffalo and other big animals.. I can't tell any difference in it and the 375 H&H in actual use....It is just a wonderfull caliber..

kimberly Cauthen used one that I built her for her Tanzania Buffalo hunt last year and her Buff was dead within 30 or 40 yds. Bills 470 shot Buff went considerably farther with a like shot, so there ya go, typical of the the 9.3x62, Like Finn Aagard said, it was the workhorse of Africa, the best of the lot....
D'Hunter,
I'd keep that tube at 26" if I were you...but it would make a dandy manlicher, now you got me thinking....It wouldn't hurt to own a couple of them, would it?

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

Hermenn,
When you get a chance, could you check and see what the length of the magazine is? I am assuming that you have a fixed floorplate and not the removeable magazine.
Thank you,
Todd

Boltgun, the inside length of the magazine is ~ 88 mm, or just shy of 3 1/2". This is accurate to ~ 1/2 mm, as I did not disassemble the gun, just opened the floor plate. IF You need further data, just tell so.

Ray, thanx for the data. And, Yes, the thought of a second, long barreled 9.3x62 has occured to me, too. But first lets wring out that one, shoot some game with it and let�s see ...

Good Shooting! H

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I may be a the only one with this experience, but...my 550, purchased 3 years ago, was a disappoinment. For the money it shoots OK, but the bolt handle came with a loose nob, the action was rough, and plastic parts.
Mine has the Bavarian style stock which fits like a glove with open sights. I had the set trigger disabled and adjusted to 3 lbs, works well. Using Warne rings, I had go much taller than I wanted to get scope/bolt clearance. This is the main problem. The bolt handle's lack of scope clearance and screw on nob is a abomination, IMHO. I use this rifle for black bear over dogs and don't worry about very rough use. So, it does meet my needs, but I'm not sure I would want to use this action for a custom rifle. My reason for buying a 550 was the 9.3x62. This is my go-to round anytime the game is large and the ranges likely be short, e.g. bear or elk in timber.

I had a loose knob on my bolt handle too. i just used some lock-tight on it....loose no more it is

Just received an email from CZ: they just made one test run with plastic floorplate ( to be exact it stated " mit Plastikteilen"). Ing. Michal Frenzl also stated that consumer reaction - me included - was so, that they will stay with steel in the future!!!

He also asked about the serial number of my rifle. We�ll see how this goes on.

Now, what do You say? Can You imagine RemChester to react to the buying public? :-)

Good shooting! H

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For all you 9.3 guys out there, I have a question. Could your 550's be rechambered for 9.3X64? The latter has a case length of 2.52 in and a little larger rim. I have no idea of the OAL of the 64, but the magazine should be good for 3.4 inches. Rail work involved? Thanks, Bob

Bob,
The 9.3x64 was designed to fit in a standard length Mauser action. Rechambering isn't dificult though a little work on the rails is probably a good idea. The drawback to this excellent cartridge is the shortage of components. Though you would think that any RWS dealer could get them for you, only Old Western Scrounger ever seems to have the cases and he doesn't have them regularly, I hear. If only Norma or Bell would come to and make a good run, I'll bet there would be a rush to rechamber like you wouldn't believe. I think it was Ku-dude that recommended that you get your brass first, then rechamber .

Sarge

Sarge,
You da man! The scrounger has RCBS dies in stock for $87 and brass for $1.55 each. What is your general opinion of the round? How does it compare to the .376 Steyr, which has cheap, readily available components? Thanks again, Bob

PS. Could anyone recommend a smith that can do the rechambering/reblue? Thanks, Bob

My opinions are purely academic. I've never even seen a real one, only the pictures Ray so kindly emailed me. Someday . . .

If WWI hadn't stripped Germany of its East African colonies or WWII hadn't resulted in the complete distruction of the German sporting arms industry, the 9.3x64 would be a standard American load, I believe. It gives .375 H&H (All kneel!) ballistics in a standard length action. The European throws a 293 gr. bullet at 2570 fps in the factory load versus a 300 gr. bullet at 2530 fps. for the belted rimless. Who could tell the difference at either end? Now that the major American bullet manufacturers all provide premium bullets in 9.3mm there is nothing to prevent you from building up a truly grand African sporter (with a faint wiff of sausage and beer) on a good Mauser action. Have fun!

Sarge

Just to finish this correctly: received the metal replacement parts, were installed without problems.

A praise to CZ for listening to customers.

Good shooting! H

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