Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles CZ 550 in 7x57 Any Sense in Buying It?

This is not political/campfire section....

Stick with the question...

Just funny you vote for politicians that would take away the subject of this thread.

I like the 2a... But I dont like that my neighbor 4 houses down on my block, has access to the same liberties the 2a affords , because he is a [bleep] [bleep] dumb [bleep] [bleep]. Hell, he should not even be allowed to have kids! Or pets...

Not to mention the "challenging" kids at the "special institution" 30 min from where I live..




A minority of Dems might want all guns restricted... and a minatory of Repugs wants free access to all guns....
Somewhere in the middle, there is consensus... like there should be in a sane country.




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My knowledge of the current (since about 1960 :)) generations of CZ rifles is limited. I did own a ZKK60 which was a quite decent build but as noted above; as what I termed "Americanized" as 'heavy' for even its 30-06 chambering. But also, I'm prejudiced toward the early post WWII Brno / Cz rifles. 7x57 is one of my favorite chamberings (along with 7mm Rem Mag & 7mm 08). In that earlier "Brno" era a great combo of 'essential' Mauser 98 pattern with some nice sporter era update twists. Early Brno Models 21 & 22 (also termed 721 & 722 but too easily confused with Remington models of that era). The 21 in half stock and 22 in full stock models. Superb in quality with European classic styling. Following in early fifties, a scope accommodating integral dovetail model. If interested in scoping, great design. If "open sights", the 21 or 22 work great. All referenced here as Mauser "Small Ring" actions. Packages resulting slim & lightweight!

Below a GB Forum post of old, reflecting my above referenced models and other ones too.

https://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?335607-BRNO-21

My point that if going to consider a Brno/CZ rifle, I'd seek these early models rather than fall into the, excuse me, more 'ho-hum', later models. If not... Never mind!
Just my take!
Good Luck!
John

Iskra...I agree the 21/22 are epitomes of great gunsmithing / manufacturing prowess.. but the BRNO ZG-47 is THE hunting action/rifle!

Its not a finely finished as the 21/22, or as light and pointy... but it has a good bolt handle that works with modern scopes, a safety that locks safely and a great trigger.

The 21/22 is the best finished and most worked on BRNO rifles (and later CZ action) but, the ZG-47 is the epitome Mauser action...


Im only interested in the CZ 550, because I came across a rare new AHR McMillan stock...



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100% +

Thanks for the comments men. I’m going to have a look at the rifle next week. I’ll keep you posted. Thanks again.

iskra, you just had to bring up the Brno 21 and 22. I refer to them as the grandfathers of the CZ 550s. I don't know how CZ managed to go from making some of the finest factory sporters around to the blunt instrument that is the 550. Don't get me wrong, I love my 550 FS, but my Brnos are the apples of my eye. By the way, I thought the numbers 21 and 22 referred to the barrel length and either H or F referred to half stock or full stock. The Brnos are small ring 98 actions while the 550s are large ring. Despite that, CZ could have shaped the 550 stocks more like the Brnos and made them much handier.

My two Brnos (that I refer to as 22Fs, maybe incorrectly), with the 7X57 on top and the 8X57 underneath.



Another pic showing the two Brnos in the middle, with the CZ 550FS on top and my homemade (mid 80s) full stocked 7X57 on the bottom.





soup, you better buy that CZ or you'll regret it!

I have one, and it will be one of the last to go. But I'm a reloader.

The weight wouldn’t concern me, it’s part of being “period correct”, and makes shooting them very pleasant. I have modern light rifles that get hunted the most, but still like to carry the Mausers (98s if you prefer) because I just love the damn things. You can mitigate the weight a bit with you choices in sights, mounts, scopes, etc- no Hubbles.

The cartridge doesn’t matter much to me either; they all work just fine. I do have a practical preference for ones I’m already equipped to feed: .270, .30/06, .308.

Buy it! Every CZ 550 I have owned were shooters!

CZ 550 in 7x57 at a good price? Buy it.
Anything you don't like in the factory wood, a $9 horse rasp and an afternoon will fix. The majority of the club feeling in in the wrist, you can see this in the above pictures, and is easily slimmed down to exactly as you prefer. Finish back as plain or fancy as your feeling that day and get back to shooting. Same on forend. I turned a 788 Remington 7mm-08 club into a wand in an afternoon that way. Used some reddish stain I had laying around for a final finish on the stock and it was just what my hands liked to carry and shoot.
Best regards,
F01

If I may: A 7x57 is never a mistake! CZ-550's are a little heavy but, are very fine rifles. My 7x64 FS carbine was very accurate with a variety of components.

That’s an interesting take on “Shall Not be Infringed.”

Who gets to decide what the middle is? There is no consensus. There never has been a consensus. There’s only what the 2A says.

I am down to only a couple CZ's. The largest is a 308 Win. Those small cartridges don't kick that much, but I'd take an early BDL (maybe ADL too) over one any day. CZ's seem accurate enough though. I prefer the way the Remingtons fit me, I guess.

I see all the "cuts down on recoil"...in a 7X57. GMAFB! If someone is afraid of recoil from a 7X57 they need to start shooting bows and leave HP rifles alone.

When I'm hunting deer here in our area I'm walking and climbing in rugged, high, and steep terrain. The high altitude takes a toll. I carry the rifle all day long. I shoot it once the whole trip, usually. Struggling with a heavy club while yanking a deer back to a road across steep boulder strewn canyons, through mahogany and manzanita thickets, and sometimes back uphill, often for several miles, is why I went to light compact rifles, but that's simply what's best for my particular deer hunting.

Recoil is never a factor, but several extra pounds and increased overall size over long days of strenuous hiking are.

As to whether the OP should get the rifle, it's his choice, and if he likes it he should have it. Their accuracy makes them fun to shoot at the bench. If he hunts from blinds, over food plots and feeders the CZ 550 7X57 would make absolute sense. They cut one hole if the shooter does his part and the 7X57 is a pleasure to shoot. I love my Husky 1640 7X57AI I got for a song years ago at a pawn shop that didn't know what "AI" meant. I'd love it in .275 Rigby, too.

I would definitely buy it. If for some reason you don’t like it, you can always put it back up for sale.