The CZ 550 is one of the few rifles that was reasonably priced (on comparative terms) in Pakistan, where I live, and the CZ 550 Varmint in 308 was a rifle I have waited for over 3 years now. The CZ 750 was almost always not available to me, at least not in the price I wanted, and the varmint was the next best thing I could have had. I bought the Varmint in Jan'15 (sight unseen), from a city about 1800km from my location, and it was in custody of a friend till I traveled and brought it home in June'15. I preferred the kevlar stock version, but it was not available at all.
FIRST RANGE TRIP, 25TH OCT 2015
Shot the CZ550 Varmint 308 (wood stock) for the first time. Have to really learn the basics of rifle shooting. I zeroed at 50mtrs and moved out to 100.
Rifle: CZ 550 Varmint (Wood Stock) 308Win, Leupold vx3 4.5-14x40mm, varmint reticle
Distance: 100 Mtrs (110 yards)
Technique: Prone, front bipod rest
Ammo: LC M80, surplus (150 gr)
GROUP SIZES
1st Group: Circles (not pictured completely). 3"
2nd Group: Squares, 3" (slightly less than 3")
3rd Group: Triangles, 1.1" (1MOA !!)
4th Group: Hashed square, 1.9"
Encouraging start, I say. A long way to go. I need to be shooting consistently under 1.5" at 100mtrs before I move out to 200 or 300mtrs. I was not very comfortable or consistent with cheekweld. Will need some doing on my part.
The group marked in triangles was encouraging.
SECOND RANGE TRIP, 8TH NOV 2015
I stuck to 100 mtrs, and shot 7 strings of 3 shots each, and eventually managed to be consistently about 2" average group size. I was, in between groups, trying to get a decent zero as well. Which I did, in the end, but 3.5" high at 100 meters.
Rifle: CZ 550 Varmint (Wood Stock) 308Win, Leupold vx3 4.5-14x40mm, varmint reticle
Distance: 100 Mtrs (110 yards)
Technique: Prone, front bipod rest
Ammo: LC M80, surplus (150 gr)
This was the first group, and not bad at all. Just needed adjustments, which I did over the next few groups.
This was the best group of the day. I shot two groups of about 2" in between, not pictured.
Last picture is the final two groups I shot that day, under 1.5" both. I got a couple of groups over 2", but most were under 1.5", and one of them under 1".
THIRD RANGE TRIP, 20TH DEC 2015
100 METERS
Rifle: CZ 550 Varmint 308Win, Leupold vx3 4.5-14x40mm, varmint reticle
Distance: 100 Mtrs (110 yards)
Technique: Prone, front bipod rest
Ammo: POF M80, surplus (150 gr)
The group size was a tad under 2", and I had been shooting that for the last few sessions (3 sessions in all including this one). Occasional group size was sub MOA in the past, but not consistently.
I then moved to 200 mtrs (219 yards). Below is the group without any adjustments from 100 mtrs. The drop was around 3.7", more or less as advertised in most charts. The POI is different from where it was last time, but so is the ammo!
200 METERS
Rifle: CZ 550 Varmint 308Win, Leupold vx3 4.5-14x40mm, varmint reticle
Distance: 200 Mtrs (219 yards)
Technique: Prone, front bipod rest
Ammo: LC M80, surplus (150 gr)
Group size was 1.35" center to center, which turns out to be 0.6 MOA. Pretty impressed I was. So impressed, I moved to 600 yards bay, where some senior shooters were preparing for an upcoming competition. I had to use a used target, but below are the results.
600 YARDS
Rifle: CZ 550 Varmint 308Win, Leupold vx3 4.5-14x40mm, varmint reticle
Distance: 600 yards
Technique: Prone, front sandbag rest, rear 'wobbly' sandbag rest
Ammo: LC M80, surplus (150 gr)
As mentioned, I had to use a previously used target. My first shot, after 40 clicks for elevation (10 MOA, 60"), and no adjustment for windage, missed the target by a few inches to the right. I gave a few clicks, and then the fired sighter shot is marked as '5'.
I then shot my first group without any adjustments, and it is marked as '6'. I gave 3 clicks to the right, but perhaps there was more impact of wind than I had ever experienced prior to this.
THE RANGE
THE TARGET
GROUP SIZES AT 600 YARDS
1st Group: Three shots, marked as '6'. 5.2" center to center, 0.87 MOA
2nd Group: Three shots, unmarked. 4.9" 0.82 MOA
The 10 ring is 6".
Getting Sub MOA at 600 yards, twice on the same day, that too with surplus ammo, well, I am impressed with the rifle. Particularly considering my very limited experience. The sandbag rest did help, the gun was much more stable than with a bipod. Boy am I pleased. The 550 varmint is amazing indeed.
On a side note, I will have to keep a check on the scope. I feel the windage clicks might not be spot on. But, there was a decent wind of over 5mph, and I am pretty new at this. And, I will also suggest a better bipod than the UTG that I have. It just keeps wobbling despite being tightened prior to, and, in between sessions. I will loctite it and see how it goes next time round.
FIRST RANGE TRIP, 25TH OCT 2015
Shot the CZ550 Varmint 308 (wood stock) for the first time. Have to really learn the basics of rifle shooting. I zeroed at 50mtrs and moved out to 100.
Rifle: CZ 550 Varmint (Wood Stock) 308Win, Leupold vx3 4.5-14x40mm, varmint reticle
Distance: 100 Mtrs (110 yards)
Technique: Prone, front bipod rest
Ammo: LC M80, surplus (150 gr)
GROUP SIZES
1st Group: Circles (not pictured completely). 3"
2nd Group: Squares, 3" (slightly less than 3")
3rd Group: Triangles, 1.1" (1MOA !!)
4th Group: Hashed square, 1.9"
Encouraging start, I say. A long way to go. I need to be shooting consistently under 1.5" at 100mtrs before I move out to 200 or 300mtrs. I was not very comfortable or consistent with cheekweld. Will need some doing on my part.
The group marked in triangles was encouraging.
SECOND RANGE TRIP, 8TH NOV 2015
I stuck to 100 mtrs, and shot 7 strings of 3 shots each, and eventually managed to be consistently about 2" average group size. I was, in between groups, trying to get a decent zero as well. Which I did, in the end, but 3.5" high at 100 meters.
Rifle: CZ 550 Varmint (Wood Stock) 308Win, Leupold vx3 4.5-14x40mm, varmint reticle
Distance: 100 Mtrs (110 yards)
Technique: Prone, front bipod rest
Ammo: LC M80, surplus (150 gr)
This was the first group, and not bad at all. Just needed adjustments, which I did over the next few groups.
This was the best group of the day. I shot two groups of about 2" in between, not pictured.
Last picture is the final two groups I shot that day, under 1.5" both. I got a couple of groups over 2", but most were under 1.5", and one of them under 1".
THIRD RANGE TRIP, 20TH DEC 2015
100 METERS
Rifle: CZ 550 Varmint 308Win, Leupold vx3 4.5-14x40mm, varmint reticle
Distance: 100 Mtrs (110 yards)
Technique: Prone, front bipod rest
Ammo: POF M80, surplus (150 gr)
The group size was a tad under 2", and I had been shooting that for the last few sessions (3 sessions in all including this one). Occasional group size was sub MOA in the past, but not consistently.
I then moved to 200 mtrs (219 yards). Below is the group without any adjustments from 100 mtrs. The drop was around 3.7", more or less as advertised in most charts. The POI is different from where it was last time, but so is the ammo!
200 METERS
Rifle: CZ 550 Varmint 308Win, Leupold vx3 4.5-14x40mm, varmint reticle
Distance: 200 Mtrs (219 yards)
Technique: Prone, front bipod rest
Ammo: LC M80, surplus (150 gr)
Group size was 1.35" center to center, which turns out to be 0.6 MOA. Pretty impressed I was. So impressed, I moved to 600 yards bay, where some senior shooters were preparing for an upcoming competition. I had to use a used target, but below are the results.
600 YARDS
Rifle: CZ 550 Varmint 308Win, Leupold vx3 4.5-14x40mm, varmint reticle
Distance: 600 yards
Technique: Prone, front sandbag rest, rear 'wobbly' sandbag rest
Ammo: LC M80, surplus (150 gr)
As mentioned, I had to use a previously used target. My first shot, after 40 clicks for elevation (10 MOA, 60"), and no adjustment for windage, missed the target by a few inches to the right. I gave a few clicks, and then the fired sighter shot is marked as '5'.
I then shot my first group without any adjustments, and it is marked as '6'. I gave 3 clicks to the right, but perhaps there was more impact of wind than I had ever experienced prior to this.
THE RANGE
THE TARGET
GROUP SIZES AT 600 YARDS
1st Group: Three shots, marked as '6'. 5.2" center to center, 0.87 MOA
2nd Group: Three shots, unmarked. 4.9" 0.82 MOA
The 10 ring is 6".
Getting Sub MOA at 600 yards, twice on the same day, that too with surplus ammo, well, I am impressed with the rifle. Particularly considering my very limited experience. The sandbag rest did help, the gun was much more stable than with a bipod. Boy am I pleased. The 550 varmint is amazing indeed.
On a side note, I will have to keep a check on the scope. I feel the windage clicks might not be spot on. But, there was a decent wind of over 5mph, and I am pretty new at this. And, I will also suggest a better bipod than the UTG that I have. It just keeps wobbling despite being tightened prior to, and, in between sessions. I will loctite it and see how it goes next time round.