CZ 550 FS 9.3X62 Report - 03/17/11
I am sure some of you have read/researched reports on this rifle, but here is some more info on the topic, and the more independent reports we have the more accurate we can determine whether something is worth a damn. So here goes...
I picked up this NIB 2006yr manufactured CZ 550 FS off Gunbroker for $805 in hand.
Initial impressions
Stock:
I am really pleased with the fiddleback Turkish walnut. The hogback stock makes shooting this rifle a dream. The drop of the stock and the hogback profile keep recoil from the face. It acts as a fulcrum where the recoil seems to be absorbed lower in the chest and the muzzle end hops straight up. Recoil pad is a nice feature as well. I would say the recoil is like a 12ga 2,3/4" slug.
The end cap is secured with a small screw and sqaure nut that sits recessed into the inside bottom of the stock. This nut ended up stripping the wood, letting the end cap shoot loose every session. I discovered that the barreled action can be removed with end cap bolted on, so I JB Welded the nut in place inside the stock. Basically, just filled the indention, where the nut sits flush with the stock. (I think the factory should embed the nut in nylon and place it inside the stock to prevent it from stripping wood)
I applied 6 coats of pure tung oil inside and out of the stock and then finished the outside with Minwax paste wax. The stock now has a nice glow and should be more weather proof.
A dollar bill drags for a couple inches one side of the barrel channel near middle, and rests tight against the top prongs of the end cap, but this doesn't seem to be a problem with accuracy. (Or at least what I call acceptable accuracy)
Action:
Out of the box the action was gritty, even after cleaning, and the bolt felt and sounded like it was wrapped in sand paper why cycling. A few hundred cycles while watching TV and some grease has remedied this 100% and is now slick as any other, well...slick rifle action.
I also found that if I muscle the bolt to the rear, while I still have the rifle shouldered, the case does not eject and stays on the bolt face. I noticed this problem was caused by the bolt rotating and covering the ejector slot as the bolt was brought to the rear. If I don't impart that angle, or binding force, on the bolt while cycling, it throws brass just fine. Now that I have a scope mounted, I cycle the bolt by blading the bolt with my fingers together like a handshake, and throw it back straight to the rear. Problem solved.
Trigger:
Easiest and most screw accessible trigger I have set! 3 screws and I have it set just where I want it. No trigger pull gauge, but the trigger breaks right when I want it to (probably 3.5lbs) wihtout any creep. The set-trigger is a nice feature, but since I have my trigger set so well to my liking I don't see me needing the set trigger so much.
Load Developement:
My recipes
(Fired at 50 F. 750ft ASL, no pressure signs. All bullets seated with slight roll crimp)
Bullet: 250gr Nolser Accubond
Powder: 60gr Varget 60gr AA 2520
Case: Prvi
Primer: WLR
COL: Cannelure
MV: 2550fps / 2600fps
Std Dev: 5fps / 4fps
Bullet: 286gr Hornady Interlock
Powder: 58.5gr Varget 58.5 AA 2520
Case: Prvi
Primer: WLR
COL: Cannelure
MV: 2380fps / 2390fps
Std Dev: 8fps
Bullet: 285gr Prvi Partisan seated to aft cannelure = identical data as Hornady Interlock.
The AA 2520 is more temperature sensitive than the Varget. I heated all the rounds for 30 mins via truck cab heater and stored them in my coat before firing to mimic performance in the hoter temps, and to make sure I am safe for the summer shoots. AA 2520 loads were easier to seat the bullet as the case was less compressed than a similar load of Varget.
Accuracy
I had a 1.75-5X Burris Signature Series Safari scope collecting dust so I mounted it with the supplied CZ rings and it seems to be doing the job just fine.
I fired at 50yds with rifle secured in a Bulls Bag from atop a rickety old shooting bench. Not the best of testing conditions, but I was impressed with my results considering my end cap was loose.
PRVI 285gr: 4 Shot Group w/ AA 2520 (Inner orange circle, shots outside orange were sighers)
PRVI 285gr 3 shot Group w/ Varget
Hornady 286gr 5 Shot Group w/ Varget
I will be testing out the Nosler Accubonds tomorrow and will post my results as well. Now that my end cap is welded and some 67 F. weather...should be some good shooting!
I picked up this NIB 2006yr manufactured CZ 550 FS off Gunbroker for $805 in hand.
Initial impressions
Stock:
I am really pleased with the fiddleback Turkish walnut. The hogback stock makes shooting this rifle a dream. The drop of the stock and the hogback profile keep recoil from the face. It acts as a fulcrum where the recoil seems to be absorbed lower in the chest and the muzzle end hops straight up. Recoil pad is a nice feature as well. I would say the recoil is like a 12ga 2,3/4" slug.
The end cap is secured with a small screw and sqaure nut that sits recessed into the inside bottom of the stock. This nut ended up stripping the wood, letting the end cap shoot loose every session. I discovered that the barreled action can be removed with end cap bolted on, so I JB Welded the nut in place inside the stock. Basically, just filled the indention, where the nut sits flush with the stock. (I think the factory should embed the nut in nylon and place it inside the stock to prevent it from stripping wood)
I applied 6 coats of pure tung oil inside and out of the stock and then finished the outside with Minwax paste wax. The stock now has a nice glow and should be more weather proof.
A dollar bill drags for a couple inches one side of the barrel channel near middle, and rests tight against the top prongs of the end cap, but this doesn't seem to be a problem with accuracy. (Or at least what I call acceptable accuracy)
Action:
Out of the box the action was gritty, even after cleaning, and the bolt felt and sounded like it was wrapped in sand paper why cycling. A few hundred cycles while watching TV and some grease has remedied this 100% and is now slick as any other, well...slick rifle action.
I also found that if I muscle the bolt to the rear, while I still have the rifle shouldered, the case does not eject and stays on the bolt face. I noticed this problem was caused by the bolt rotating and covering the ejector slot as the bolt was brought to the rear. If I don't impart that angle, or binding force, on the bolt while cycling, it throws brass just fine. Now that I have a scope mounted, I cycle the bolt by blading the bolt with my fingers together like a handshake, and throw it back straight to the rear. Problem solved.
Trigger:
Easiest and most screw accessible trigger I have set! 3 screws and I have it set just where I want it. No trigger pull gauge, but the trigger breaks right when I want it to (probably 3.5lbs) wihtout any creep. The set-trigger is a nice feature, but since I have my trigger set so well to my liking I don't see me needing the set trigger so much.
Load Developement:
My recipes
(Fired at 50 F. 750ft ASL, no pressure signs. All bullets seated with slight roll crimp)
Bullet: 250gr Nolser Accubond
Powder: 60gr Varget 60gr AA 2520
Case: Prvi
Primer: WLR
COL: Cannelure
MV: 2550fps / 2600fps
Std Dev: 5fps / 4fps
Bullet: 286gr Hornady Interlock
Powder: 58.5gr Varget 58.5 AA 2520
Case: Prvi
Primer: WLR
COL: Cannelure
MV: 2380fps / 2390fps
Std Dev: 8fps
Bullet: 285gr Prvi Partisan seated to aft cannelure = identical data as Hornady Interlock.
The AA 2520 is more temperature sensitive than the Varget. I heated all the rounds for 30 mins via truck cab heater and stored them in my coat before firing to mimic performance in the hoter temps, and to make sure I am safe for the summer shoots. AA 2520 loads were easier to seat the bullet as the case was less compressed than a similar load of Varget.
Accuracy
I had a 1.75-5X Burris Signature Series Safari scope collecting dust so I mounted it with the supplied CZ rings and it seems to be doing the job just fine.
I fired at 50yds with rifle secured in a Bulls Bag from atop a rickety old shooting bench. Not the best of testing conditions, but I was impressed with my results considering my end cap was loose.
PRVI 285gr: 4 Shot Group w/ AA 2520 (Inner orange circle, shots outside orange were sighers)
PRVI 285gr 3 shot Group w/ Varget
Hornady 286gr 5 Shot Group w/ Varget
I will be testing out the Nosler Accubonds tomorrow and will post my results as well. Now that my end cap is welded and some 67 F. weather...should be some good shooting!