6.5x55 CZ 550!

[Waddison]

I was in Sportsman's Warehouse the other day to buy a replacement scope for the bad one on my .300 WSM.
Now, I have to admit to a fondness for the CZ's. My 527 FS in .222 Remington is consistently sub 3/4" MOA and often 1/2" MOA. And I have been looking for a CZ in 6.5x55 or a nice Sweedish Mauser off and on for a couple years. (Saw a NICE SM at the last gun show, but the price was way too much! )
So after I have my selected Nikon Monarch in my little hot hands and ready to head for the check-out, I ask the gun guy behind the counter, "What do you have in the CZ's tonight?" :banghead:
"Let's see... We only have three. Just came in yesterday. A .22-250, a .270 and a 6.5x55."
"Let me see the 6.5x55."
He proceeds to tell me all about the great 6.5x55 Swede's accuracy, how wonderful the CZ's are, etc., etc. Babble. Babble.
I handled the gun. Worked the bolt. Manipulated the single set trigger.
Fit and finish was typical CZ. Above average. The metal was highly polished, the wood satin finished.
"If you have dies and brass, I'll take it."
RCBS FL die set , 150 rds new Winchester brass to prep, two scopes (had to get another Monarch for the CZ! ) AND the CZ went with me to the check-out.

THIS replacement scope has to be one of the most expensive Nikon Monarchs on record!

Anybody have a tried and true recipie for the 120 gn Sierra or Barnes TSX for the 6.5x55?

Waddison

 

[Sigarmed 1]

Dr. Lunde over on SigForum posted at one time one of his 3 shot one hole (100yd) targets that he made with his Cooper 6.5 x 55 Swede. His load data showed that he used a Sierra 120 gr. Spitzer, 40.1 gr Varget and Lapua brass. Quite impressive results!!! In fact, I just bought a Cooper identical to his and am waiting for it to arrive now. I can't wait to get started with this baby!! I was also looking at the Monarch scopes. I take it that you have been pleased with yours?

 

[Waddison]

Nikon Monarch scopes

I have been very pleased with the value for dollars cost.
I find the Nikons are as bright as the comparable Leupold VXII's or Burris Fulfields. The image seems better defined at the edges than the Burris and they are head and shoulders above my old Weaver fixed 4x, Swift 3-9, Redfield 3-9 or Simmonses.
I also have 3 Nikon Buckmasters but the Monarchs are a touch brighter and sharper. Coatings? Better glass? Dunno.
I may be biased, but I have all the brands mentioned. Some are still mounted on rifles, some are not. (No more Burris or Simmons, thank you!)
Dollar for dollar, I think they (Nikon Monarch) are an excellent value.
Waddison

 

[LittleLebowski]

I'm thinking about the same weapon. Pics? Looking forward to a range report.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

My 6.5 is a '96 Swede sporterized by Kimber. The Swedes are long-throated, originally for a 160 grain roundnose, so I like a heavy bullet in that gun. The 140 grain Remington driven by 44.0 grains of H414 has always shot well for me -- after I figured out the stock was rubbing on the bottom of the barrel and causing the gun to shoot progresssively higher as it warmed up.

 

[Waddison]

LittleLebowski

I'll try to get a couple pics soon.
I have some handloads in the process. (Winchester brass is prepped and primed.)
I'm heading to the range Saturday for a sight-in / break-in session. Report to follow....
By the way, thanks for the recipies!
Sigarmed 1 - I'm gonna try the Varget & Sierra 120's. I have some of both! (I am also feeding a .260 Remmy!)
Waddison

 

[Sigarmed 1]

Waddison-That's good to know about the Nikons. I think that's the route I'll probably go. Here are a couple of pics with the associated 6.5 x 55 Swede load data on them. The first is the one Dr. Lunde made with his Cooper and the second was made with the rifle I just bought. I hope I can duplicate their results!!

 

[Sigarmed 1]

OOps, I forgot to add the second pic. Here it is...

 

[Waddison]

CZ Photos

Sigarmed1,
Attached are three kinds lousy photos. My shop area is a little tight. Couple that with my marginal photography abilities and this is what happens!

Weatherman is forcasting rain for the weekend. If it isn't heavy I'll make a range trip for sighting-in and break-in.

The target attached is 5 rounds fired from my CZ 527FS in .222 Remington at 100 yds. Note the grid is 1/4". POA was lower RH corner of the black 3/4" square.

Waddison

 

[Sigarmed 1]

Wow! That's a great group and a beautiful rifle. I really look forward to producing something like that one of these days. I'm about to start on a home remodeling project so it might be a little while before I can get serious with the shooting again. Until then, I'll just continue to live vicariously through you guys! Thanks for the inspiration!

 

[Waddison]

Range report...

My objective today was to get the new scope/gun combo zeroed and run through a barrel break-in routine. So I did both simultaneously. And had some fun, too.

I began at 25 yards. I removed the bolt, sighted through the bore and moved the reticle on target. Fired one round for location. Adjusted windage and elevation. Cleaned bore. Fired one round for location. Adjusted windage and elevation. Cleaned bore.

Moved target frame to 50 yards. Fired three rounds for group. Adjusted elevation. Cleaned bore. Fired three rounds for group. Adjusted elevation. Cleaned bore.

Moved target frame to 100yards. Fired three rounds for group. (See target1 pic.) First group fired at 100 yards measured 0.629"! All rounds fired so far were the recipe passed on by Sigarmed 1 in new, unfired, Winchester brass! [Thanks Sig! All I have left is a little tweaking! ]
Cleaned the bore. Adjusted elevation. Fired 5-shot group. First two rounds touched. First three rounds were 3/4" +/-. Next two rounds blew the group to 2-1/4". Probably my doing. Cleaned bore. Fired last 4 rounds through previous 5-round group's target and the group grew to nearly 2-1/2". Cleaned bore.

I only had 20 rounds of handloads but I also brought 40 rounds of "HSM", 120 gn spitzers. Ho, hum. Right? Uh uh. Fired two 5-round groups. Went to about 1-3/4" plus a smidgen. Cleaned bore. Fired 3 shot group. Measured 0.708"! (See target 2 pic.) This was the best three shot group from the HSM ammo for the day, but others were within 1-1/2"! Plus I fired a single 10 round group. It measured 3.093" including a called flyer. 2.595" without the flyer. Still not bad.

Overall impressions:
The action was silky smooth and performed perfectly. The single set trigger was awsome and was instrumental in getting these groups and makes the trigger in my BAR feel not so good. I had zero malfunctions. All rounds were fed from the magazine without incident. Zero FTF's.
The CZ 550 is hefty and weighs in at just over 8 lbs. with the Nikon Monarch 3-9x40 scope, unloaded and sans sling. Recoil is all but nonexistent.

This absolutely has to be the best, dang, out-of-the-box, load-'em-up-and-shoot-'em rifle I've had to date! (I may get better groups with my Kimber in .260 Remington, but I burned a lot of handloads through it searching for its sweetspot.)

I have to tell you... This CZ 550 in 6.5x55SE is a real keeper!

Waddison