Tell me about the CZ 550 American .308

[ny32182]

So I am getting into handloading, and would like to have a rifle that can hopefully help test the accuracy limits of my handloads, and I presume the FALs will not be able to do that. I mentioned this to a friend of mine, and he told me that he has a lightly used CZ 550 American .308 that he would sell to me for $400, including some sort of 3x9 scope. I'd have the chance to inspect and fire the rifle before purchase.

Is this a good rifle? Good price? I assume that the scope is nothing special as he didn't mention its brand or detailed specs in the initial description. I assume this will be something that I would want to replace down the road. For the purposes of this discussion, assume the scope is monetarily worthless or close to it.

Thanks for any input.

 

[aspade]

They're very good hunting rifles. Well built, accurate, great adjustable triggers. $400 lightly used with an inspection is a no brainer buy, if the scope is any good that's just gravy.

That said, you'd probably be better served with a heavy barreled target gun for your stated purpose.

 

[DnPRK]

CZ550 is a great rifle and $400 is a great price.

You understand that a handload tailored to shoot well in one rifle may not shoot well in a different rifle, right? That said, I did all my learning about handloading using a similar skinny barreled Savage 110 hunting rifle some 25 years ago.

 

[rangerruck]

that is a 600 plus dollar rifle, even if the scope is not what you want , sell it for 30 bucks at the next gunshow, paying for your ticket, parking and gas, then get the glass you want. As far as the rifle goes, they are fantastic, they are accurate, they are classic, they are well respected, even with the PH's in Africa, and they will last forever, with a modicum of good treatment.
I have 3 myself.

 

[viking499]

Well worth 400 hundred. The only problem is, after buying one, you will probably want another. That is what happened to a lot of us here....

 

[Nhsport]

If the gun has a low value scope the rings/mount might actually be more valuable . About the only thing I ever heard said on the negative side about a CZ is that the tang safety slides the opposite direction compared to standard US made rifles. This could lead to someone slideing the safety to "safe" and missing that one shot at a lifetime buck. Certainly not a problem for a one rifle hunter (with some practise) but could be an issue for a gentleman shooting a different rifle every week.
Not sure if this safety is on all models of CZs and it would not be an issue for a range gun.

 

[ny32182]

Thanks for the input guys; I think I would like to buy this rifle since I get the chance to inspect it, and if it turns out that I feel accuracy-limited by the rifle down the road I can probably recover my entire investment in favor of something with more accuracy potential... It is surely more accurate than any rifle I have now.

Is there any specific stuff I should be looking for when inspecting it?

 

[CZguy]

Well worth 400 hundred. The only problem is, after buying one, you will probably want another. That is what happened to a lot of us here....

Isn't that the truth.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

CZ addition

Yep, I've ended up with two 550s and four 452s. Great rifles; very smooth, accurate, and aesthetic.

$400 is *OK*, depending on how used "slightly used" means, and the stock type and condition. Likely you will be very pleased with it for that price. Just check the bore and breechface for wear, etc., if you are not 100% that he is honest about the "slightly" used part.

 

[rangerruck]

dont worry about the bolt being sticky or not, that is common happenstance with cz's, if you must smooth it up, just slop it up with jb bore paste, or toothpaste, and sit in front of the tube, and work the action about 1 million times.
Just make sure you like it, and it feels good to you.

 

[ny32182]

Well I picked it up this past Saturday... The scope is indeed a $55 special, but, that is fine for now. I shot a 5 round test group into 0.7" at about 85 yards (estimate) with factory Winchester hunting ammo. I was pretty impressed with that considering the rifle is all stock, ammo not match grade, etc. Can't wait to get it on a measured 100yd range and see what I can do with the same ammo, then start looking into handloads for it.

I'm sure at this point the rifle is probably far more capable than I am.