Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles CZ 550 FS 6.5x55 Swede

Hi!

My first post. Just found this forum. I am a happy new owner of a CZ 550 full stock in 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser. Wrote the following review in another forum, seems like there are quite a few 6.5x55 fans in this forum as well so here's the review of my new rifle (can you tell I am proud of my Swede?):

"Well, I got my CZ 550 full stock in 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser a couple of weeks ago, so I thought I post my first impressions after taking it to the range. But some background first...

I sold my Ruger M77 Ultralite in 30-06 last spring and I've been looking for a new deer gun since. The boss gave her approval on a new gun, so I started my quest for the perfect deer rifle for me. My local gun dealer special ordered a CZ 550 FS in 6.5x55 direct from CZ-USA and it took almost 7 long weeks to get the gun.

Why CZ 550? After talking to my local gun dealer and researching on the net, I concluded that the CZ 550 is a very accurate and well made rifle that doesn't cost mega$$$. I paid $629 + tax.

Why full stock? There is just something about a full stock that aesthetically pleases my eye. Here's a picture of my gun: http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee68/ushunter/CZ%20550%20FS/IMG_0836.jpg

In addition the CZ 550 is very well balanced in the full stock version and comes up nicely into shooting position. I am average build at 5'10" and 165 lbs. The full stock version has iron sights, which I wanted. You can attach a scope if you'd like, but I like mine just the way it is with the open sights. A special bonus is the set trigger, which reduces the trigger pull to less than 2 lbs (?).

Why 6.5x55? Quite frankly, I was initially looking at the more common 30-06 and .308 calipers. However, with my Nordic roots, the guns mannlicher stock and Mauser action, I came to the realization, that the 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser would be a perfect fit for the gun. In addition, the more I researched this caliper, the more excited I became with it's reported accuracy, moderate recoil and proven killing power. I also liked to get a less common caliper. Why? Because I could.

So, yesterday I took the rifle to the local indoor range and shot three different ammos (six shots each) through it. When looking at the results, remember that I am not an experienced rifle shooter (I've shot maybe two dozen rounds in the past 15 years...) Here are the results (all shots are from 50 yards on a bench with open sights and set trigger):

With Swedish surplus ammo: http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee68/ushunter/CZ%20550%20FS/IMG_0832.jpg
With Sellier&Bellot: http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee68/ushunter/CZ%20550%20FS/IMG_0833.jpg
With Prvi Partizan: http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee68/ushunter/CZ%20550%20FS/IMG_0834.jpg

Based on the results I conclude the following:
1. I am tickled with the accuracy of the rifle!!!
2. I need to adjust the sights (the gun is shooting a little below and a tad to the left).
3. Maybe the best results were obtained with the Prvi ammo (tightest groups). The reason I shot the other ammo more at bullseye, was because I adjusted my POI after Prvi. The Prvi also gave the cleanest bullet hole, indicating that the bullet was traveling perfectly horizontal through the paper.

All in all, I am very pleased with my choice. This will be a gun that I will keep for the rest of my life, if it continues to perform as well as it did on my initial try.

Next on my shopping list is to find a sling that will complement the gun. Any suggestions are appreciated! Be safe out there..."

nice purchase.
love the chambering.
betcha some norma and/or handloads will tighten those groups some more ...

oh, and welcome.

USHUNTER,

Great first post. Congratulations on your new rifle, and welcome to the forum! It's always good to hear from another fan of the 6.5x55. Please keep us filled in as you get more experience with your new rifle. :-)

Mike

Not a normal fan of the full stock guns, BUT in 6.5 swede it just seems right....

Almost all who buy a Cz seem to love them.

Looks like a great shooter

Nice looking rifle. I always did like the mannlicher look. I'm considering a CZ550 myself but will probably choose the American in 9.3 X 62 because elk is on the menu.

How heavy are the CZ triggers as used in the regular (unset) mode?

Welcome to the forum, and I hope you like your 6.5X55 as much as I like the one's I have. have fun with the new rifle.

Welcome to the 'fire and congrats on two good choices. Older son has the same rifle/chambering and you could never convince him that there's a better setup. I've also got one of the 550 Americans and both shoot a little over an inch with just about any factory ammo we've tried, with some going a little under. FishOught6 makes a good point about the ammo. You done good.

Best Regards

Welcome to the fire. Nice rifle, good story. Tweak your bench technique and loads and the groups will tighten up. Can't beat a 6.5x55.

Thanks for all the nice welcomes! I've bought several hundred rounds of military surplus ammo, now it's time to practice for next seasons hunt.

Welcome and congrats....

The CZ is a shooter for sure and will give you years of enjoyment...

I've got a few myself!!!

One of my CZ's triggers breaks at 2.5 Lb the other at 3 lb. Both required a little adjusting. I didn't try to go to minimun pull so they could probably go down a bit more, but I wanted a little safety margin.

So now you have had your CZ 550 6.5x55 Swedish for over a year now. Do you still like it? Any bad qualities discovered? Have you reloaded for it?

Welcome to the Campfire! I really enjoy the 6.5x55, too. I had a couple of stock military Swedes and now have a couple of Tikka Swedes. Handloading really brings out the potential in a modern rifle like ours, as the factory (except Norma) is loaded a little on the light side to accomodate the older surplus rifles out there. I bet you'll have fun burning that surplus ammo you bought. Might want to check and be sure it is non-corrosive and adopt the appropriate cleaning process if it happens to be. Enjoy it!

Sweet rifle and good groups. Now go and kill something

And welcome to the place that will assist in divesting you of more cash on shooting stuff.

Congratulatons, and welcome to the fire.

Welcome, Congrats on rifle and cartridge.

Wow you guys are a friendly bunch. Still welcoming after all the time that's past

Yep - But how's it been in the time since your OP ?

Have you scoped it ?

(BTW - Special Burris rings for the CZ-550 are half the $$$$ of CZ rings, w/twice the looks/finish (better) - and easily available online at this discount mounts/optics dealer: www.swfa.com

I've done a LOT of business with swfa over the last five years, and can heartily recommend doing business with them

.

Couldn't help but chime in....I have the CZ American with the newer stock design in 6.5SE(and also 550FS in 7x57). Had it at the range Fri. Shooting well under moa with 4831SC behind Hornady 140's and a mediocre scope. The 7x57 is just as accurate. Hunted last season for the first time w/this particular 6.5. It's the usual hammer of Thor effect w/ the 6.5 and the CZ delivery system is smooth and beautiful.

Enjoy!