General opinion of CZ rifles

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Chiseler

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I'll admit it...I'm a sucker for European guns.
Anschutz, Mannlicher, Sako, Holland and Holland--love 'em all.
While I was drooling over a Rigby the other day in an effort to make it within my reach (without success, the price still floated up around the same area as my folks' house), I stumbled across the CZ webpage.
Pretty nice looking guns, and I've heard from time to time the fabled stories of the factory at Brno (probably from Jeff Cooper's writings). But I've not had any firsthand experience. I'm trying to find out if they're worth it. They look wonderful, but I've not shot one yet. Do y'all have any experience with them? I guess the real question is whether they can compete with the "old money" brands like Anschutz or Sako, who have an outstanding reputation, but command prices that would have most of us gasping for breath.
I know I could just buy a Savage in stainless and synthetic, and have it be accurate and something you could just throw in the truck, but I really do like nice rifles. You only live once, right?
 
I have a 452 American in 22cal. and I love it. Nice lookin,very well made,and it is very accurate. There are more CZs in my future.
 
Outstanding firearms. Sometimes they miss on the plating on the trigger shoe, but it is easily remedied with OOOO steel wool.

Great triggers, accurate, the wood is nice, the entire package is really top notch. I wish they still imported the Lux versions of their firearms, but even if they don't a 6.5 Swede with the full stock is in my future. What a neat firearm.
 
Another positive reply here.... I have only had rimfires, 452's and a 453, nothing but good words for the CZ's. For the money they are the best all around rifles for my use. My "go to" rimfire is a 452 with a trigger kit and a Nikon scope but I kept the iron sights on it. All of mine have been solid, reliable and very accurate.
 
GREAT bang for the buck.. or at least they used to be. Now the secret is out and I haven't priced any recently.

Put quality rings and glass on it, use good ammo and you'll be amazed what it can do.
 
They are some of the best bang for the buck out there, especially the rimfires.

I have a CZ in 22-250 and a CZ in .204. The .204 is new to me and I have not shot it yet but the 22-250 is a tack driver.

The single set trigger is fully adjustable and is one of the better factory teiggers on the market.

Can't go wrong with a CZ!!
 
I've got 2 CZ centerfires in 223 that are extremely accurate. I'd probably buy one of their 550 series if I didn't have a couple of lefty Rem 700s that already fill that niche. I'm hoping they come out with a 527 in 17 Rem. Fireball in lefty. That might be asking a bit much though...
 
Anyone know who around Houston carries CZ rilfes? I wouldn't mind looking at them, but I have never seen them for sale that I know of.
 
I have a cz 550 American in 6.5x55 for deer. Adjustable set trigger.
Damn fine rifle. Have two 452's(.22) and they are great as well.
 
Glad to hear of such a supportive following among CZ owners. Speaks well both of the weapons and the company.
Couple questions that formented on looking at these rifles. One, how does that "Bavarian" stock profile work with optics? Seems like it would put your cheek weld too low vice a straight comb.
Also, how do you get the most out of a full stock? On most of my rifles, I free-floated the barrels, but on this it seems prohibitive. Is that long forearm supposed to hold the barrel up? Coupled with the muzzle cap clamped down on the end, wouldn't that interfere with natural barrel resonation? Not sure about this, and I can't really pick one up to find out right now. I'm stuck in Iraq for another four months before I can get home and fondle one with the appropriate level of reverence.
 
I have 4 and just got my fifht in mach 2. I looovvvvve them!!! now of course, I got the majority of mine, when they were strictly 100% made in Czechland, and they used front and rear sites, and had all the cool bbl markings on them. plus they were all hand fit and finished , with some very nice turkish walnut.
That being said, they are still supernice, wood is allways a surprise, as it will be from very nice, to , WOW that is some great wood!!! Accuracy is usually better than any other large company factory rifle, you name it; tikka, wetherby, remmy , etc., The set trigger is fully adjustable, from the OUTSIDE of the stock, you don't have to remove anything to adjust it.
The cz americans are generally considered to be the lightest , most handiest rifles made in centerfires, and I'll say they are.
Now then, some say there is one flaw, that you may run across one with a sticky bolt
, this is a possibility, as my 223 is sticky , and my 762 russian is not.
this prob is easily overcome, either by sitting in front of a tv, and load up the receiver with some jb bore paste , or toothpaste, and work the action about 1 million times. Mine is diff as I am a lefty, I have a natural propensity, to raise my left thumb after shooting. All I do is put it on the back of the bolt, and start the bolt assy moving; it is so slight now, that it has become a reflex; I don't even realize i am doing it, so I don't worry about it.
This is one of the few rifles where you will say, I truly got my money's worth. It was really true about 2 years or more ago, before cz's got popular, and they raised their prices about 200 bucks. I got both of my americans for 400 each, new!!!! Schwinnggg!!!! But that was then, even now though, they would be the rifles I would buy, if I was looking to spend 600 bucks or less, on any new rifle.
 
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usually in Houston, all the gunshops have them, Fountain firearms, Collectors firearms, Gander mountains, Basspro, a funky little place I got both of my americans for the cheap, was a little place called Republic arms. Call there and ask for Art, see if he may have a new or used one around, you could bet lucky, like I did. Collectors will proly have the most, and the best, even in their used rifles, and they are 100% czech, and all nice, but they will also proly cost the most. However, if they are in their used rifle rack, you can haggle the price, i allways have!!!
 
The 452's are great guns. Very accurate.
You will want to do a trigger job and float the barrel right off to get the best performance from whichever one you pick.

I have five 452's so far and like them all. Check out Rimfirecentral forum for all the "how to's" for the trigger and stock work. It's real easy, and cheap.

Good luck.
 
Chiseler

This is my CZ 550 Full Stock. The stock is free floated with the exception of the contact point at the end of the barrel. I refinished my stock this past summer. It now sports an in-the-wood finish as opposed to an on-the-wood finish. I applied 14 coats of Tung Oil Varnish. CZ applies some sort of brown gunk that masks the grain in the wood. It came off easily enough with Zip Strip Marine Varnish Stripper when I refinished it. I sanded out the barrel channel. Mine has a good tight fit in the action so I didn't bed it. It is a very accurate rifle. I had a scope on it during load development but I didn't like the way it changed the balance of the gun so I removed it. There was no problem with scope height and the hogback style stock. In fact, the stock style is one of the main reasons I bought this gun. It comes up quickly and sights well. I shot it quite a bit over the summer and can easily put a full magazine into a 6" paper plate at 100 yards. I set up the iron sights with the 6:00 sight method I would like to find better after market sights and I am very fond of the Fire Sights but they are not made for this gun.

Refinidhedstock1.jpg
 
I have three, 452, 453, and a 527. All are very well put together and are shooters. Looking now at a 550. Buy one, you won't be sorry.
 
I particularly like the 527 MiniMausers:

527hornet-1.jpg
 
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