Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only AHR CZ550 upgrade 2

Secured an aramid stock from CZ and will be shipping out my 375 to Wayne the end of this week for his upgrade 2. I'm looking for some advice and maybe photos of rifles that you all have had him work on. Debating 21 vs 23" barrel. I'm leaning 21. Also looking for advise on which front site to go with. I'm leaning fiber optic but I'm open to thoughts and suggestions. Going with the gunkote finish, graphite color. This will be an all around rifle for hunting in the northeast US and hopefully get it to Africa a few times in my life.

I had a chance to pickup a used CZ 375 that wayne had worked over for the last owner. Nice gun and nice work. Mine has a slender wood stock with a good feel. And the enhancements which you will get in the level II. It is a whole different style, from your vision. A more traditional rifle. Unfortunately the bbl was left at 25". That maybe typical of the old days, and I am too cheep to change it. But it is just too much.

I like the CZ pop up receiver site for a classy and classic option. I dont have one and never saw one in person. I just think I would like that. It is an old school Brno site. If wayne can retrofit the CZ rear peep sight, think about that. Or there are NECG peeps which I use now. On a custom, I might even delete the rear bbl sights, if it could be done and look clean. Maybe. Then use a QD mounted scope and peeps. The NECG peeps work. I dont know how or how well the CZ's adjust.

For my 2c all these big guns should have a as standard factory offering a 22" barrel. Not 24 or 25. My vote is 22" as was standard on Winchester M70 African guns for many years.

Here is a 9.3x62 I traded for a few years ago. It's a full custom, nice gun. My only fault with it, it's a tad heavy. But with this round, a very confortable shooter.

DF

While mine is an older BRNO I had the barrel cut to 23" and added an NECG adjustable front sight with the larger white bead, kept the original rear sight and added a Talley banded sling base. It already had the 3 position safety, single stage trigger and modified bolt when I bought it. I am pleased.

Nice.

What caliber, Ed.

And what rings?

DF

My buddy just had AHR build a CZ in 505 Gibbs delivered with a 22 " barrel. We tried it out a couple of weeks ago, splendid rifles. He also has a 600 ok on a Montana action by AHR. What can I say they are impressive pieces that function very well.

Trying his new toy.

Thank you all for showing your beautiful rifles. Beyond that, and something I hold valuable, they all look like solid working rifles. I'm still hemming and hawing on 21 vs 23" barrel, Ill talk to Wayne about that this week to discuss balance. I'm probably going to go for the fiberoptic front site to back up the Leupold Euro-30 1.25-4x scope that resides on the rifle now in Warne QD's.

Balance is the deal.

My very heavy factory barreled M-70 NH .375 H&H did very well cut to 21". The factory 24" tube handled like a club. Lighter contour barrels may do better longer.

DF

The fiber optic is nice and bright.

I have one of those I have been considering cutting down. Who did your work for you? Did you do anything on the sights?

Dave at IT&D.

21" balances and handles great with the NH M-70 Express. NECG irons.

DF

I like it!

Thanks.

I tweaked the NH trigger to a very slick 3# let off. This gun will cycle EMPTY .375 H&H cases from the mag as fast as I can work the bolt and with NO hang ups. The old H&H is a genius of a case design for DG and pure function. And, it shoots really well.

I ripped out the Tupperware hot glue bedding, drilled holes all around and bedded the lug with Steel Bed. Nothing sticks very well to Tupperware. By drilling holes in different directions, the bedding traps itself and won't be going anywhere.

I like this gun, as you can tell. Guns come and go. This one is a keeper. The only upgrade would be an Echols Legend stock. But, for $600, this stock isn't that bad. It has good ergonomics and feels right. So, it may stay as is.

DF

Forgot to add, it now has a different scope in Talley QD's.

DF

That's a fantastic looking rifle, dirtfarmer! How do you find muzzle blast now with the shorter barrel vs the factory length? I obviously assume louder/more, but significantly?

Well, if you shoot'em long enough and often enough, it's not a problem. You won't be able to hear anything, anyway...

Seriously, I can't tell the difference, 24" and 21" with that round. Maybe I've reached the round count to qualify for the above...

That's not a high intensity round such that you'd see a lot of difference, IMO.

With a DG rifle, balance and handling are high level concerns, more than velocity, etc.

DF

Wayne certainly knows his way around Dangerous Game rifles and will "work" the rifle to achieve reliable feed and ejection BEFORE shipping the rifle, not just after a customer complains. That's a refreshing change in this day of bolt-together "custom" rifles.

I'd order it with the blade sight and no folding leaves, and no hood. Wayne does great work. He regulated my sights for the ammo I sent him and made sure it fed flat nose bullets like I asked.

Found a photo showing current configuration with 3-9x40 Conquest that I mounted for load development. In fact, it's not a bad scope to go with, although I have a 3X Leupold with #4 German reticle in QD's. The Conquest has a nice, easy to see duplex and great glass.

DF

Well, received my upgraded rifle today and I can honestly say it's everything I wanted. The rifle balances really well with the 23" barrel, and points very nicely. The action has fed one of everything I've tried to feed through it (235-300gr, spitzer, TTSX, TSX, round, flat, and empty cases). Side by side comparison between this rifle and my stock CZ 550 Lott is night and day. Love the reshaped bolt handle and really love the trigger. Hoping to get to the range early enough tonight before trap starts to send a few down range.

Now to just convince my wife I need one of Wayne's Big Game rifles for my 30th birthday to match it! Well, I've got almost two years to do that, so I better get going...

Can you post photos?

DF

Haha, I'll get some photos up tonight when I get home from work.

Ok, a few quick (crappy) cell phone pics. I apologize, my good camera is packed away in our impending house moving coming up in a few weeks.

Cool. Very nice rifle. Thanks for taking the time to post.

Very nice.

Thanks for posting.

DF

Brandon,

That turned out really nice. Congrats!

Been trying to resist the temptation to have Wayne do a short barreled 458 with a McM Express stock. Do I need it? No, but I want one really bad...

Let me know what you think of the B&C stock on that. I've been toying with the idea of a 404 Jeff, and that stock is really calling to me, esp since B&C sells to the public now. I don't have to go through CZ to get it.

I think B&C nailed that one.

If I was building another .404J, I'd look at it, too.

Nice lines, tough stock.

DF

I've been thinking about letting my CZ 550 American 9.3x62mm go and hanging on to my pre 64 model 70 375 H&H for the big critters. Not that there's anything wrong with the CZ. If anyone wants to do an AHR upgrade to this rifle, they are likely to never find another one that shoots as accurately. Brain shots on a croc would be easy. This rifle has been to Africa with its original owner 2 times. He installed a red hi-viz front sight for quicker target acquisition when he went to Africa. I've shot elk with it and it puts them down. Never recovered the bullets. They (the bullets) kept going and going..




I truly hate to let this one go, but if anyone is interested let me know... I'll start a new thread with plenty of pics and details.... Thanks guys..

PM on the way.

Geno

You need to sell me that!!!!!!!!!!

I'm afraid I'd miss it too much.

Not flashy, just functionality on steroids...

DF

Id love to build its twin. Keep my eyes open but seems when i find one money is tight lol

Lastest scope combo after "musical chairs", scope version, at my shop. Victory 1.5-6 may be the final one. Had to go back to steel Weaver bases/Warne QD's because I needed some offset. I cut the extension base flush with the front receiver ring to prevent overhang. I had to cut a new recoil groove.

Hmmm...

Guess we sorta hijacked the 9.3x62 thread.

But sorta in the same ball park...

DF

The OP probably doesn't care...

NICE.

DF

I don't mind at all. I'll gladly look at nicely assembled and outfitted working rifles all day!

There's just something about "working" rifles. For sure.... The 9.3x62mm cartridge is one of my favorites too. They seem to be very inherently accurate. Mine thinks its a varmint rifle..

What does the rifle weigh since the upgrade? Im still torn between a cz and a model 70

Yeah, those big bores usually shoot amazingly well.

My AHR 9.3x62 is a solid inch or better gun with 250 NAB's and JB's load.

The M-70 .375 H&H shoots tight groups, too. That was the reason for saving the New Haven barrel, even though it was way too heavy. They shoot too good to replace and my smith didn't want to cut it down because of the sight holes. He said the cutter would start chattering when it got to those holes. The 24" to 21" decision made a big difference.

DF

My .375 M-70 weighs 9# 6 oz with the Victory as shown. It balances at the front action screw.

My AHR CZ 9.3x62 weighs 9# 11 oz with the Conquest as shown. It balances behind the front action screw around the front of the floor plate. That wood is really dense, for sure heavier than the Winchester Tupperware stock. And, that may make the difference.

To me, the M-70 feel lighter and handles faster. The CZ sure is a sweet shooter, smooth kicker. The .375 isn't bad, just jumps a bit more than the CZ. You gotta hold onto both of them on the bench or they'll jump off the front rest, especially the M-70.

To me, the M-70 action is slicker even though it's not a custom and the CZ is. I think I can cycle the M-70 slightly faster. The M-70 New Haven trigger is very good, even better since I tweaked it. The AHR trigger is good, to me not quite as good as the CZ Timney. I do like the way it sits back in the trigger guard. I'm not crazy about the factory CZ single set trigger. It sits pretty far forward, is made of MIM and that stuff does break. I'd put a Timney in a CZ in a heart beat. Very easy to do and a super trigger. Lot of folks like the simplicity of the old M-70 trigger, more than the new SC Winchester trigger.

Real big bore, express shooters use a stand up bench. I have long legs for my bench, but never go to the trouble to set it up. I guess if I was going to shoot a bunch of big guns, I would do so.

DF

All excellent points. My model 70 jumps off the front rest more than my CZ does. The CZ 9.3x62mm is a sweetheart to shoot. The 1" pachmayr decelerator helps too...

PM sent.... Rifle is yours my friend. We'll get together and you can check it out in person... Just don't tell these guys what kind of deal I'm giving you...

Factory CZ single set trigger. MIM sucks...

MIM breaks. Timney is steel. It' don't break.

DF

Now lets hear the story again about how you broke your factory trigger...

Great thread guys. I always enjoy the hell out of talking about my CZ and the 9.3x62mm... I know DF feels the same.. Even though he is hard as hell on his triggers..

I can do fairly well keeping secrets.

Their loss for not jumping in, right?

Geno

Just be careful removing the barreled action from the stock and the set feature dialed out. The trigger won't hinge forward in that mode and the trigger slot in the bottom metal is sorta tight to clear the trigger when locked forward.

And MIM parts do break... Way too easy, IMO...

Otherwise, I had that thing adjusted very well, pretty good trigger.

Had it not broken I don't think I'd have gotten the Timney. But, the Timney is better than the factory trigger tweaked to perfection. The Timney is better than Wayne's custom AHR CZ trigger in the 9.3x62.

DF

This shows how the Timney is positioned in the trigger guard, closer to the rear. Now, that may not make a lot of difference unless your trigger finger is getting whacked by the bolt handle.

DF

. Yes sir...

DF, thanks for the explanation on the trigger mishap again. I've had mine out of the stock a few times and it is also tight. Maybe even a bit tricky to get the trigger guard back on, if I remember correctly...As far as the operation of the CZ trigger, mine is adjusted so the set feature is disabled and it is a sweet trigger. It breaks right at 2.5 pounds and is very smooth, no discernible amount of creep. It just plain works very well....

If you're going to dial out the set feature, the trigger will be locked hard and fast, no hinging back and forth.

You need to extend the bottom metal trigger slot at least 1/4", maybe more, toward the rear action screw, elongating the bottom metal trigger slot. It's easy to do with a padded vice and a good file. That will solve the problem and you won't break the OEM trigger taking the barreled action in and out of the stock. Seems to me CZ designed the bottom metal trigger slot for single set, not so much for the locked out setting.

DF

Sorry to muddy up the thread, but valsdad will be checking out and probably buying my 9.3 today. I've received some PM's regarding this rifle. The only reason I'm selling it is because I have a good pre 64 model 70 375 H&H and only need 1 elephant rifle...



Have a great day guys..

nBSA "only need 1 elephant rifle... laugh". But their's more than 1 elephant out afield. Unless they have all been poached by now. Of course, you may have to cull a rogue garbage truck now and again...LOL. BTW - love the look of that 'butter knife' bolt handle with the full stock. Is that part of the upgrade package too? Homesteader

Not to my knowledge. I traded for this gun, a 7x57. The previous owner had gotten it used, so no one knows. It appears to be factory, maybe a European variant, not sure.

That butter knife handle is long and when the bolt is opened, it positions like a 60* bolt throw gun, not a 90*. No bumping the scope ocular with this set up...

The gun was really slick when I got it and is one of my fastest cycling bolt guns, right behind my MkV, which is 60* or close to that.

DF

Now, that's a nice one...

DF

Love that mcmillan