Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only I sure do like my CZ

Exactly what I have published several times.

It always puzzles me when so many people advise expensive modifications of a CZ 550. I have had several 550's and all have shot very well out of the box.

The trigger is easily adjustable, and in my experience crisp and rugged (I have only hunted with them from Alaska to Afica). Straightening the bolt handle just makes it further forward, hence harder to grab quickly. The safety is perfectly functional and much handier and less likely to be bumped around than a Model 70 type.

WTF do you gain by all the modifications, except being able to brag that you paid for them?

I've smoothed a few minor rough places. Big deal.

What the heck are the differences between a BRNO and a CZ 550?

I found a lightly used BRNO .375 for $400 last year and sent my Africa bound friend after it. He snatched it up in a heartbeat. Great rifle, but neither one of us knows much about it.

Safety on the 602 is backwards from most safeties. You pull it backwards to take it off safe and push it forward to put it on safe. I'm not a 602 fan but my buddy back40sniper loves his and sold a 550 in 416 Rigby when he was able to locate a 602 in the same chambering.

I should have bought that 550...would have made a fine donor!

I held a re-stocked 550 in 375 the other day and all I can say is wow! night and day versus the factory stick. with a slimmed down stock and a slightly open grip that rifle comes up like a dream even with a 25" barrel. In fact, the balance was spot on and it just hung there.

that is one seriously addictive rifle when re-done.

A friend of mine picked up a 243 Win a few years ago and found the unset trigger pretty bad, so he had the 'smith at Gander Mtn rework. It is wonderful now. Great suggestion.

I only have one complaint about mine. I do not like the hollowed bolt handle, then way it was drilled then the hole beveled makes a sharp edge. I am seriously thinking about having it welded in recontured and blued or make an insert to fill it in.

I have to agree with Mule Deer as his article on the subject of the set trigger worked for me: I turned the screw in until the "set" was gone and it breaks cleanly at 2.7 lbs... every time!

Mine's in .458WM, has very nice wood, is accurate and FAST! I don't load 500's in it any more as it's used in moose and bear hunting with a 350-gr TSX at 2750 fps @ MOA. The weight and fit are perfect and I wouldn't want the stock changed one little bit! It's a great rifle for under 1K IMO.

If I were a one-rifle guy, it might well be my CZ550 in .458WM.

Bob

www.bigbores.ca

I like my CZ a lot too!





Chuck

Beautiful rifle! Details please....

Hi Ost. My rifle started out as a CZ 550 Safari Magnum in 375 H&H, but I special ordered it and had them add the barrel band, cross bolts, action job, and glass bed it. All in all it only came in about $300 more than one off of the rack.

I then sent it to AHR for their CZ #1 Upgrade (straighten and fill bolt, replace trigger with their own single stage trigger, and put on M70 type 3 position safety). I freely admit none of this was necessary, but for $500 plus shipping AHR did a wonderful job.

Finally a fit of insanity hit me and I had it rebarreled by Triple River Gunsmithing (who do most of the CZ Custom Shop's work) to 500 Jeffrey ... ouch ouch! A 375 H&H is a sweet gun, I wouldnt change yours, must've been mid life crisis or something lol ...

Here's a couple more pictures but my photography (particulary lighting) leaves much to be desired.







Regards,

Chuck

Thanks for that link. Beautiful work there.

Hey Heeler,

I was looking back through this thread and wondering how you are making out with the old H&H? a couple of things have been taught to me and I'll share them as they relate to your photo:

I was taught to place my non-trigger hand fore of the sticks and to hold the forestock there. You hand is behind the sticks and the muzzle may be jumping a bit on you.

Second, you look like you may be a tall guy (or the sticks are just too short), but your stance makes it look like you are bracing big time against the recoil impulse of the rifle. with your hips as a fulcrum it all goes to your shoulder. instead, stand a little taller, but take your lead foot (left one for you) and move it so it is about at a 45 degree angle to the line of fire. I find this to be a much more comfortable position and lends itself to a bit more rocking with the recoil rather than sucking it all up.

curious to get your feedback!

JS,
I'm loving the H&H!!!!!!!!!!! I'm probably gonna use it for whitetail hunting this year also.

I've got the Leupy VXII 3x9-40 on it now and dialed in. The rifle will shoot better than I will. I've put about 3 boxes through it so far.

I'm 6'2". That was the first time shooting the rifle so I wasn't for sure how recoil would be, so that's why I was bracing like so. I'll try holding the fore end fore of the sticks this weekend and see how that works for me. Thanks for the suggestion.

When shooting now, I do stand taller (sitting, kneeling or true standing). I haven't noticed a lot of muzzle jump at all. Even on the bench with nothing holding down the front end. Maybe becuase it's pretty heavy???

As far as stance, do you mean I should take my lead foot and move it to the left until I'm at a 45 degree angle with the line of fire?

Brad

yup, so you are open to the line of fire.

stand with your feet together like normal. take a 1/2 step forward with your left foot. now slide it over until the line from toe to toe makes a 45 degree angle to your beginning stance. it gives me more "roll" to the recoil impulse.

let us know!

JS,
Just thought I'd give a quick update. Went shooting again this evening. Stood taller (pretty well straight), moved left foot as you indicated, and held fore-end in front of sticks. Results?

I was 6 of 7 at 100 yards on popping 20 oz water filled soda bottles.

atta boy! I am expecting my CZ back from Dennis Olson soon and will have to get some photos up. That sounds like pretty good shooting to me!

Thanks, I was pretty happy with that myself. What's really fun was last weekend at 200 yards making a gallon milk jug explode. HaHa

Well, I'm hoping to have some good photos of it and my animals after going over to RSA here in 5 weeks.

I do think I'm gonna have the CZ custom shop "clean up" the trigger a little bit after I get back. Get some of the slack out, etc. Would do it now, but feel it's too close to trip time.

Dennis Olson. Ridiculously short turn around time.

406.826.3790

Heeler,

I'll have some pics this week for you I think of my Olson CZ.