CZ550 general opinions

I have a 6.5x55 550 and it is a nice gun. Very well made. My only complaint, if I would call it a complaint, is that it is a little on the heavy side. But, that is because it is a well made firearm.

I have two 550's in 6.5x55 and 7x64. They are excellent rifles. Like Viking said they are a little on the heavy side.

I have one in 30-06 with a full length stock...
Very well made. Fairly accurate, great trigger. Made like rifles used to be made, before everyone became wimpy and started to think that an 8 pound rifle was too heavy.
They will last 100 years...

I have a 550 in 30-06. Bought it new in 1998 or 99. It is a really nice rifle. Only complaint is the CZ scope rings... I ended up with a set of Talley QD's on mine. Expensive but much nicer than the CZ rings.

Mine is not an exceptionally accurate rifle. Very good (1.5 moa) but not exceptional with my prefered Factory hunting load (Federal Premium 180gr Nosler partition)... maybe its better with something else but I've only tried the Federal load which is adequate.

I have noticed the 550 is a pretty expensive rifle these days... msrp over $850... I only paid $450 back when I bought mine. I know inflation and all that, but IMO its not as good of a deal today as it was. Nice rifle but I'm not sure I'd buy another at todays prices.
Will

IMO the 550 is a good, basic 98 type sporting rifle. The ones I have seen had rather plain wood and the finish was OK. But only OK. They are for go, not for show.

Yes, I have one. And it's even in 30-'06.

I have two.

the 6.5X55mm and the 30-06. Both are better the 0.75MOA when I am shooting right. Had the 6.5mm dowm to 0.6MOA

Very solid, but although I love them they need a little work.

a) You need to get a burnishing compound so you can work the bolt and get is real slick, my 30-06 is there the 6.5mm getting there.
b) I found the need to glass bed mine, this was done only at the recoil lug. This improved accuracy by over a MOA on both. I am a believer in glass bedding and will do so as a matter of course.

If you get the American version then you will be fine. Here in South Africa we could only get the one with the Bavarian type stock which is suited for iron sights. Both my rifles have one of those neoprene sock which allow the addition of spacers to get a good cheek weld.

rklessdriver said:

I have a 550 in 30-06. Bought it new in 1998 or 99. It is a really nice rifle. Only complaint is the CZ scope rings... I ended up with a set of Talley QD's on mine. Expensive but much nicer than the CZ rings.

Mine is not an exceptionally accurate rifle. Very good (1.5 moa) but not exceptional with my prefered Factory hunting load (Federal Premium 180gr Nosler partition)... maybe its better with something else but I've only tried the Federal load which is adequate.

I have noticed the 550 is a pretty expensive rifle these days... msrp over $850... I only paid $450 back when I bought mine. I know inflation and all that, but IMO its not as good of a deal today as it was. Nice rifle but I'm not sure I'd buy another at todays prices.
Will

Click to expand...

Bed your rifle, I believe it will make a difference. My 6.5 out the box had a problem, the recoil lug actually touched at the bottom of the stock. This caused the barrelled action to pivot and rock about this point, I removed the excess wood and glass bedded, it was chalk and cheese therafter.

I hand load. My prefered load on the 30-06 is also a 180gr. pill but I use the Accubonds which I found slightly more accurate than the Partitions. More accurate than that is the Sierra Game King and Pro Hunter, but we are talking small amounts here which in the hunting context can probably be discounted at shorter ranges.

However the best my rifle has shot is with a 165gr. Sierra Game King, I think that the sweet spot for a 30-06 is a 165gr pill.

tackelberry45: My CZ 550 is the most accurate 30-06 I have, I bought it used 8 or 9 years ago, and it will shoot any thing I have tried in the rifle, an 1inch or less at a 100yds. And I have tried from Hornady 110gr V-MAX`s to Seirra 180gr SBT. The set trigger is great but the standard trigger works very well also. I shoot my CZ 550 30-06 quite a bit and have really enjoyed it. I have never had any problems with this rifle, or any other CZ rifle I own. I can`t belive, you won`t feel the same way, if you buy one.
ken

I've got two CZ's, one a 527 in .204 Ruger and a 453 Varminter in 22 LR. A few weeks ago I shot two groups of about .2 at 50 yards with the .22. The .204 hovers around and inch at 100. Work in progress.

I LOVE the single set trigger. Amazing. I've got a Ruger 77/22 in .22 Hornet that's gonna got away and get replaced by a CZ.

I have the 550 in varmiter 308, One of the best shooting rigs I own for right out of the box guns other than my Cooper. I got it for long rang shooting in prairie dog country. I used to have the Bushnell on it but have since changed to the Vortex Vipor HS 4-16x44LR. I also have the 527 varniter in 223. Can't go wrong with one or two.

Allen, how do you like the 527?

For a varmint rifle it is a great shooter and not of the heavy style like most other varmint rifles. Looking for another one, just not sure what caliber yet.
The only other rifle in a varminter I ever wanted was a Cooper in 223 and now I have one of those also, course it was 3 times the money.

Just had a CZ-550 Varmint (re)built in 6XC for long range shooting. The CZ-550 and the ZKK Brno's that preceeded it are excellent little guns. The set trigger isn't for everyone but it's a nice feature. Good looking stocks, etc. A 550 in 30'06 would serve you very well for just about anything you could encounter in North America (and then some).

Outstanding.

I own two CZ's 527 and CZ550 Varmiter. Both are sub MOA with the 550 being the best. I load my own ammo and have found that it improves over factory by a considerable amount. Factory ammo slightly above 1 MOA and my own at .5-.6 MOA out to 550 yards. (Farthermost I can shoot at my ranges.) I am having some problems with the 527, screws working loose which effected accuracy. After tightening them up, back to sub-MOA. Love the guns and best trigger I have used,...but the 550 is heavy. 13 lbs with scope and bi-pod. Not for off hand shooting.

I've owned the .458 Lott pictured (middle rifle) for six years and put close to 600 rounds through it. This one is a factory rechambered .458 Win Mag.

Nice shooter and the set trigger is very nice for target work....I use the win mags for plinkers.

Pros:

1. CRF
2. It's all wood and steel
3. Rock solid throwback construction

Potential Cons:

1. Heavier than some care for
2. Longer length of pull than some care for
3. Larger scopes may need to be mounted higher than on some other rifles

Good summary Pork.

I have owned two. A .308 full stock and a 6.5X55 American.

CZ makes a top quality product. The fit and finish on mine were both outstanding.

Mine were both accurate after I worked up loads for each one of them.

If you get one with a set trigger you will be ruined for life. Mine each had 4-5 pound triggers, very smooth. But when the set feature was used they were under 2 pounds and made accurate shooting from the bench much easier.

I have another rifle with a set trigger and if you have the right shot they are also great for field use but you must of course be in a position to take your time.

I put the CZ's right up there with any of the nicer Winchesters or Brownings. They are easily in that class. The only complaint I ever had was that CZ for some reason uses a slower rifle twist. I don't know what they use in 30 06 but it would be worth checking before buying.