CZ 550FS in 9.3x62 report

[tcrocker]

Here is the Christmas rifle my wife got me, it's a CZ550FS in 9.3x62. This is the frist time at th range with this gun. I was shooting at 50yds open sights off the bench the weather was cool and windy but the sun was out. I'm handloading with 285 gr Prvi bullets and brass over 57gr of Varget.
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[sappyg]

that's a nice looking CZ and a fascinating caliber to boot.

 

[HorseSoldier]

I've got that exact gun/caliber combo on my wish list for moose. Thanks for the look at performance. 9.3x62 gets discussed very rarely on gun boards.

 

[tcrocker]

I got this from a local guy that knows my taste. Yes I'm a little off my rocker I like guns you don't see every day at the range or hunting club. So I asked him if he could get me a CZ 550FS in 9.3x62. He told me that thats not a uncommon gun in Africa. He hunts there alot (lucky dog) and told me that ether he or another hunter (don't recall which) has taken cape buff with that calaber. I did look this calaber up and if you have not looked at the history of the calaber do it's interesting.

 

[BrocLuno]

Nice gun and nice shooting. Yup - it's big enough

 

[Float Pilot]

57-58 grains of Reloader 15 , with the same bullet, works well for the 9.3x62 as well.
That cartridge has become somewhat popular here in Alaska over the past few years.

 

[tcrocker]

I got a coyote Sa morning around 50yd going away I split it right between the eye it way dead before it hit the ground. I would be willing to bet that that was the first coyote shot with a 9.3x62 in this state.

 

[Red Beard]

Haha! You remind me of, well...me! Coyote with a 9.3x62...cracks me up.

I have a hankering for that same rifle of yours. Trying to work up some scratch-cook some books-trade-sell-pander-steal-credit card bomb to get it done, lol.

It will feel real nice in my hands reading my African Safari books...and I intend to blast some TX wild boar. Been using the M1A and FAL the last 8 years...hope to change the color of their mood rings with the 9.3x62!

Far as ammo, I already have in my wish list with Grafs the reloading components. I already have 8lbs varget and 24lbs AA2520, thinking between those two powders I should find a humdinger load for that 9.3.

ETA: I happy birthday'd myself a nice tiger striped CZ 550 FS 9.3X62! Grafs got an order too. Will be experimenting between Hornady and Prvi 286gr bullets.

 

[CraigC]

Great rifle and the 9.3x62 is the perfect mate for it.

 

[Red Beard]

Well, I got my cz 550 FS in yesterday and looking to boxing it up to send to the factory already. If I have the rifle shouldered and hold the bolt while cycling, the damn thing won't eject the rounds or empty brass off the bolt face and causes a double feed situation all the time. If I cycle the bolt with rifle out of the shoulder and slow, it sends the brass across the room. Thinking its got an ejector timing problem.

Haven't even fired round one and have to pay shipping to have it fixed.

 

[shadow9]

Red - those are Controlled-feed (as you probably know), is it possible that its just the angle/torque from arm-movement between shoulder and down? Out of factory, their bolts are VERY tight, and clearances can cause sticking with the bolt. If at the end of the bolt throw going back, it's sticking on a machining point, that would cause it to stop right before the ejector. Likewise, once down and at a different angle, the bolt may be moving slightly and missing that "Stick point" allowing full torque down onto the mechanical ejector. Try going soft on the cycle when the rifle is off your shoulder, does it replicate the issue?

 

[Red Beard]

Shadow,

I found if I don't hold the bolt by the knob, but rather "blade" the bolt back with my index finger(which I would do if a scope was mounted) while cycling, it throws the rounds about 15 ft! This was verified after about 100 ejected rounds.

So, you are right in that there is a certain angle when the bolt is cycled that will cause a failure to eject. It is a shame that there is such a condition. I won't be using this for a DG rifle for sure. I think I might hold off sending the rifle in and see if it works itself out.

However, I got the trigger adjustments perfect and the gun is beautiful!

 

[shadow9]

Red - Glad to hear the trigger works at least!! They are beauts, and WELL regarded by the hunting community. It sucks that it's having feed issues, as this is exactly why most hunters get CZ's when they're getting DG rifles (that won't leave their wallet crying on the ground ).

Also, what did you mean by "blading" the bolt? by the sounds of things, it's possible your ejector is oddly-shaped or loose...I haven't seen one up close though. They don't use plungers like Rem 700's, instead it's a blade/protrusion at the farthest back point of the bolt throw that runs in a channel under the bolt, and when the bolt face goes behind the "ejector blade", it pushes the empty shell off the face of the bolt, fighting with the extractor (which, is both HUGE and NEW, thus probably strong). If the bolt is moving up or down, or the ejector is, then when the gun is level (at shoulder), it wouldn't catch, but once the gun is angled (such as at your hip with the nose up), it's moving either of the two parts someplace. Are you altering the force you move the bolt back with at all? like very slowly/softly, or hard? On a properly functioning CRF, the force you move the bolt with will alter round ejection distance or won't eject it at all...

Just thoughts. Also, thank you for giving me a heads up of what I can look out for should I get a CZ. I'm bouncing between a Steyr Prohunter 7mm-08 and a CZ 550 in 6.5x55, and scouring for where the troublespots on both are, as well as their perks. (btw - "thank-you" is meant in the most non-sarcastic, literally "learn from another" way possible. )

 

[Red Beard]

I figure its picture time:

The Hogsback Beaut



What I mean by blading the bolt handle. Its a technique that allows one to clear a mounted scope with the hand.



Round not ejecting, sitting on bolt face when I get that wrong angle at the end of the bolt open position.



CRF Double Feed ensues when round doesn't eject off the bolt face.



I've literally cycled the thing 200 times now (ALL SPEEDS) and its a constant that at the end of the bolt open position, there is an angle that will prevent ejection. My Browning A-Bolt feeds fast, slow, up-side-down, and runs 100% reliable no matter how I hold the bolt handle. Not so much with the CZ and that disheartens me.

A note on the trigger: I did a Rem 700 and also a Model 70 trigger in the past and the CZ is the nicest to work on. Three screws: Trigger pull, over-travel, and creep/slack. You can see clearly how the disconector and all the fire control group parts interact. Small metric wrenches and mini-screw driver set is all thats needed. (Eye glass screw drivers)

I've decided before I send it back, I'm going to shoot some of my rounds and see how it goes. Shop stated it would be 3-4 weeks to get the gun back, so might as well play a little!

ETA: Shot some of my reloads. 2390fps and recoiled like my Rem 870 with 2,3/4oz slug! NICE!

 

[shadow9]

Wow, Red, it's a beaut! I've been considering one in .308 or 6.5x55 (ammo rarity pushes that off though >.<, plus I already have an M96). Got a look at a 527FS in a shop - if the bolts are truly the same, your ejection slot is on the side of the bolt. Is she still having ejection issues? It could be an ejector thats too short for the bolt. Also, in the pictures, when a round is on the boltface, is it going ALL the way back? I noticed that "full back" is still in line with the rounds in the mag - my exp with bolts is the ejector is mounted behind the farthest-back round in the magazine...

 

[SaxonPig]

I like the 550 FS and have one in '06. But the 9.2mm would not interest me. I have enough rifles using oddball ammo or bullets to give me fits for the rest of my life. Now I only acquire guns in easy to find calibers/bore sizes.

 

[Float Pilot]

Question:

Is it not ejecting empty brass in that position or is it not ejecting loaded rounds that you are cycling?

 

[Red Beard]

Tcrocker: Apologize for completely stomping on your thread, but it just sort of happened.

Shadow: Thanks, she is a beaut...bout the only reason it hasn't ended up in the trash, lol!

Float Pilot:

I know what exaclty is happening. When I pull the bolt to the rear, when the rifle is shouldered, the bolt rotates so that it sits over the ejector as the ejector tries to "pop-up". So, both slots, the receiver slot and the bolt slot, get misaligned. Its only a hair over the slot, but enough to keep the ejector from coming all the way up. It looks like the ejector has a slight bend at the top, towards the direction that puts it under the bolt.

The picture I show of the double feed shows what happens after the bolt has been furthest to the rear and pushed back to chamber the next round. By staying on the bolt face, it picks up the round in the magazine and causes a double feed. THIS HAPPENS WITH EMPTY AND LOADED BRASS.

Now, I mounted a scope on the rifle since, and since I action the bolt like the blade method I showed above, I rarely get the problem. However, if I keep full control of the bolt, without just flicking it back, it will cause that failure to eject problem. If I let the bolt handle ride against my extended index and middle finder together and flick it back, it ejects every time.

CZ already gave me an authorization number to return the rifle, but I'm holding onto it until I get my load development perfected and I put about 6 coats of tung oil inside and outside the stock...man she is pretty!

Load Development:

Bullet: 286gr Prvi
Brass: Prvi
Powder: Varget and AA2520
Primer: WLR
Velocity: 2390-2400
Notes: Varget and AA2520, both at 58gr, gave just under 2400fps and grouped better than the 50yd factory target by CZ. Hornady 286gr bullets identical velocities and Standard Deviations as Prvi 286gr bullet!

Scope: 1.75-5X Burris Signature Safari, post reticle, mounted in CZ mounts supplied with rifle.



Below, in the orange sticker is a 4 shot group! I was so happy about the 3 going same hole, that I jacked up that last shot that went left a bit, doh! (Shots outside orange were sighters to dial in the scope)