I thought I'd pose this question to the gunsmithing crowd while I plan my next project. I've got a CZ-550 Varmint in 22-250 that I'd like to have rebarreled in the next year and I have a couple of questions.

Does anyone know off hand if the action will take a 1.25" blank or does it need to be smaller? The barrel is roughly 1.2" but I can't recall what the action diameter is at the moment and I don't have the gun with me. Plus, I wanted to bounce if off of some experts. The stock barrel is Roughly 1.2" for 2" then it tapers down to about .865 or close to that at 26". I was looking at a Shilen #7 blank and wondering if it would fit.

The #7 is 1.25" for 3" (which could easily be shortened to 2" to fit into the existing barrel channel without as much work) and I'd still have a ~27" of barrel left with an .875 muzzle diameter. That seems like it would be about pertfect, but again I want to make sure that the shank on the barrel isn't too large to begin with. I know it could be turned down but I was just looking for an off the shelf barrel that I could buy, have threaded, chambered, and go to town. I'm not dead set on Shilen either, so if there's another option out there that would be an easy turn-key setup, let me know. I just know that Brownelss stocks the Shilen #7 and while I wouldn't mind going with a Lilja on my next build, they don't keep 6mm barrels in the twist/contour I want in stock. I'd have to wait on it and I'm kind of the instant gratification type.

BTW I checked my measurements on the receiever and it looks like it spec'ed out at 1.335" or around that. As close as I can get with the calipers anyway.

Are you asking about bleeding the stock or the threaded part? The barrel will have to be turned to proper length and diameter for the threads to fit to the action. Other than looking funny. The barrel could be 3 inches in diameter, and not likely affect anything

Jeffe I was mainly curious about the shank. Obviously it'll be turned and threaded to fit where it screws into the acation, but I'm curious if the shoulder/shank area is still going to be too large to screw down properly on to a receiever that is only ~1.33", i.e does the .08" leave enough of a lip. FYI The outside rim of the face on the reciever is beveled which slightly reduces the actual face diameter.

Pardon, I just re-read your post. Let me rephrase... do the measurements I have above leave me enough room so that it doesn't end up looking funny. I don't want the barrel to end up with a lip.

about the largest would be the same diameter as the receiver ... it can be larger, of course, but for looks, that about it

Dangit I hate it when people give me simple answers. lol So yeah, I totally get that. Was just hoping to find someone who had rebarreled one and what route they went. No biggie. I'm putting together the pieces for a 6.5mm project and I'll take the CZ with me when I haul it all to the gunsmith. Meanwhile, I appreciate you taking the time.

This is kind of a "non-issue" kind of question. Once the barrel is set up in the lathe to thread, it would take about 90 seconds to turn it to the proper diameter. I may be wrong, but I suspect 99% of the barrel installers would turn it down to action diameter without even asking. Most people would do this to be sure the chamber/threads are centered on the bore center, and would turn it to slightly less than the action OD on a barrel this heavy. I have a couple of heavy varmint rifle with this size barrel. They are bedded from the magazine to about 4" out on the barrel with everything else floated, and shoot really well.

I personally would leave it as long as possible. If you ever want to rechamber, you could set the barrel back as much as needed.

Taking the action to the smith when you start the project seems like a good idea too.

Thanks for the follow-up Art. I wondered if that was the case. I knew that a gunsmith could easily turn it down, but wasn't sure how common a practice that was, if it would have to be stress relieved afterwards etc. Regardless, I know my gunsmith can handle all the work. Just trying to satisfy some questions that have been rolling around in my head in the meantime.