CZ 550 Lux or 550 Standard in .308 - How Does A Guy Get One in the U.S.?

[DougD]

One of the dumbest firearms-based things I ever did was to trade my CZ 550 American in .30-06. One of the best firearms-based things I ever did was to buy a CZ 527 FS in .223. Today, I have a hankering for either the:

CZ 550 Standard in .308

or the

CZ 550 Lux in .308

My strong preference is for the 550 Lux in .308. I have a very strong background in tactical firearms and scoped rifles but I've been reverting back to iron sights and bolt actions lately. I'm clearly not the only guy who wants something like this either. My google-fu and CZ website research indicates that neither of these rifles are currently available for American CZ aficionados. What is the deal with this?

What are my options then? Do I get the CZ 550 American and have sights such as these made by Williams installed on it? If I did that, would the straight, American-style comb cause problems with aligning my eye with the iron sights since that rifle is designed for use with a scope?




Any thoughts on how to approach this? I'm not made out of money and I cannot afford some kind of custom rifle.

 

[sumpnz]

They're not easy to come by but look around for a used 550 Lux. They were imported at one time, so there are some out there. You might have to settle for something other than .308 though depending on your level of patience.

Another possibility, if you find you don't like American stock with the irons would be to get a Lux style stock made and fit it to a .308 American along with the William sights.

Also, I just remembered that you can still but the 550 Medium Magnum. Anymore the new ones are only available in 7mm Rem Mag, but it otherwise a Lux version of the 550. Just checked the website and they don't show them anymore, but there's likely to be dealers with new-old stock of them.

Another option would be the full-stock version. That has the hog-back stock like the Lux, but it does have the forearm all the way to the muzzel, and it has a shorter barrel (20.5" vs 23.6"). But it does come with irons.

 

[sumpnz]

Here's a medium magnum like I'd mentioned. BTW, I have one in my safe, though it's in 9.3x62mm. Great gun. It's my dedicated elk rifle.

This one is listed as a 750, but the seller made a typo. It's another 550 medium, also in 7mm RM. And cheaper than the first one I linked to.

 

[Deckard]

Both of these rifles were on the CZ USA site before its redesign six months ago or so, but after the new site went up it looks like they dropped them from their product line. It seems like CZ is giving fewer and fewer options to their American customers, they already dropped their semi-auto .22s (CZ 511 & 611). I like the lux myself, the FS is just so darn pretty I think it might turn into a safe queen for fear of marking up the stock.

 

[Mr_Pale_Horse]

Here is a 243:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/c...1531060_cz550243_lav.jsp?categoryId=SEARCH_gl

And a 300 WM:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/c.../1133117_cz300wm_lav.jsp?categoryId=SEARCH_gl

 

[DougD]

Looks like the only option is to buy a 550 American and have sights installed on it. I called CZ-USA today and spoke with a customer service representative who was neither helpful nor friendly. He had a "don't give a $#it" attitude and was quick to tell me that there was not enough demand for the 550 Lux in America. He also said that CZ does not monitor internet forums of any kind "because it's all gossip anyway." When I informed him that many firearms companies not only monitor internet forums but actually have representatives who post in them and answer questions from customers, he re-stated in his monotone voice that CZ-USA does not monitor internet forums of any kind. When I asked him how CZ gets a "feel" for the demands of the market and for what CZ customers are looking for, he said, "We don't." He said that CZ in Europe determines what the market is in the U.S., not CZ-USA. He further informed me that he would not be forwarding a record of our conversation to CZ (i.e. a request by an American customer who would like to buy a rifle they don't offer in America) because "it doesn't matter." When I asked if it was possible to get a Lux stock, he answered with a short but definitive, "NO."

I remained polite and civil throughout the conversation but it was made very clear to me by both his tone of voice and quick answers void of explanation that he did not want to speak to me. When I asked what my options were for having CZ's sights installed on a 550 American, he said that I could buy one and take it to a gunsmith who would probably install sights from "like maybe Brownells or Cheaper Than Dirt or some place like that. I guess if you really want to, you could talk to one of our gunsmiths here." His tone of voice made it abundantly clear that he did not want me to speak to a gunsmith at CZ-USA and that I was bothering him.

This is the second negative experience I have had with CZ-USA on the phone. Great products, bad customer service.

I guess I'll just have to suck it up and go with the 550 American and then get those sights installed by someone else.

 

[desidog]

After a conversation like that, I'd go with another manufacturer.

I too would like a Lux in .308 - but if CZ doesn't read boards like THR, and doesn't listen to the consumer, they'll never know, and never get my business.

 

[DougD]

Regardless of all that, they're still getting my money....I just gave up on the LUX and ordered a CZ 550 FS in .308.

I already have the smaller version of this rifle (527 FS) in .223 and absolutely love the thing. The 550 FS has the stock and sights that will work for my needs. If I ever decide that I simply must have the shorter/standard fore-end, I'll probably be able to find one somewhere. At least I'll already have the rifle in hand. I think I'll choose not to freak out over CZ-USA's bad attitude and just go with a proven design and a rifle that I know I will like.

 

[Walkalong]

I just gave up on the LUX and ordered a CZ 550 FS in .308.

That is gorgeous. I love the full length stocks.

 

[Isher]

DougD -

Kinda different experience for me.

Go to CZforums -

Scroll down to the VZ58 thread,

There's a fulltime CZ rep named Dan.

Who does a stone great job of fielding questions from everywhere.

Just sayin'


isher

 

[browningguy]

It seems like CZ is giving fewer and fewer options to their American customers

Actually, that's not quite accurate. CZ is offering all the options that people will actually spend money on. So few of the Standard and Lux models sell in the US that it makes absolutely no sense for them to spend the extra manhours importing and holding items in stock when they sell only a few dozen a year. Manhours cost money, stocking space costs money, and having your capital tied up in inventory costs money.

 

[DougD]

Actually, that's not quite accurate. CZ is offering all the options that people will actually spend money on. So few of the Standard and Lux models sell in the US that it makes absolutely no sense for them to spend the extra manhours importing and holding items in stock when they sell only a few dozen a year. Manhours cost money, stocking space costs money, and having your capital tied up in inventory costs money.

Quite right! I fully recognize there are probably market forces and management issues at play within CZ that I am not privy to and which directly affect the availability of specific models for U.S. customers. Still, assuming that maybe 20 guys per year would buy any one of their European models, wouldn't it make sense to ship a mixed lot to CZ-USA as part of a regular shipment of their American models? You know, 20 Lux models, 20 Standards, 20 Whatevers, 20 This-And-Thats, etc. If they're already paying the freight for their regular shipment, why couldn't they throw in a few "specialty" items with the "meat and potatoes?" After all, a sale is still a sale and the items are still the same basic models.

 

[desidog]

Good choice.

Are you going to scope it?

 

[wlightaul]

what mounting rail or scope rings would i use to mount my scope on my 550 level i cant seam to find the right ones to level the scope with the back being lower than the front

 

[lopezni]

Mr. DougD, you wouldn't happen to be active duty, reserves, or retired military would you?

 

[DougD]

Mr. DougD, you wouldn't happen to be active duty, reserves, or retired military would you?

No sir. I'm a police officer for a large agency in the North Texas area. I spent 8 years on SWAT and am heavily involved in our firearms program. I'm just a regular guy...nothing special. Why do you ask?

 

[DougD]

Good choice.

Are you going to scope it?

No, I'm going to use the iron sights. I already have two scoped rifles and one of the driving forces for my purchase of this rifle is to get back to my "roots" where shooting is concerned. There's something very satisfying about using a traditional bolt action with iron sights even if you own a high-quality precision rifle.

I will probably either paint the bead with brighter paint or see if it's possible to replace it with a fiber-optic sight.

 

[CB900F]

DougD;

Actually, there are other options available to you. It is possible to import from Europe. It's not particularly easy or cheap, but it can be done.

Here's a contact: Jagdwaffen Fuchs, located at Bazner Platz 1, 6020 Innsbruck Austria. you can e-mail at: [email protected]. Homepage is: wwwljagdwaffe.com Or: www.austrojagd.com Fax: 0 512/58 72 67 (4)

900F

 

[lopezni]

Well DougD, never mind I see you got the 550fs, great rifle one of my fav's. Was gonna get one in 6.5x55 but got a TC encore and an E Arthur Brown custom barrel instead. I was just wondering if you were military because I sell them here in NY, no Tax for servicemen on a Military post and they can get 'em down in Ft Hood TX too.

 

[DougD]

Thanks to all who replied. I sincerely appreciate it.