Shorting my CZ 550 243win

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regulate34

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I have a cz550 lux. I’ve mounted it in an American style stock to suit an optic better.
I like everything about the gun except the overall length.
Years ago I got into shorter barrel guns. Almost all my guns are 20” or less.
I’m 6’3” and find a long barrel gets caught on branches and is generally awkward to maneuver with.

This gun has a 24.5” barrel I am contemplating having it knocked down.

Trying to decide on a length.

How short would you go with a 243?

I have another 243 with a 20” bbl. It’s fine and still see 2950-3000 fps with 100g hand loads.

22” seams like not much difference.
20” seams redundant as I already have one.

Is 18.5” too short?

Any opinions on the matter?
 
My CZ 557 SA Lux has a 20 inch barrel and shoots lights out. Love it. I don't think the velocity loss is huge, but I probably wouldn't go too much shorter--you don"t see much if any factory 243 chambered rifles shorter than 20 inch for a reason.
 
The Kurgan said:
My CZ 557 SA Lux has a 20 inch barrel and shoots lights out. Love it. I don't think the velocity loss is huge, but I probably wouldn't go too much shorter--you don"t see much if any factory 243 chambered rifles shorter than 20 inch for a reason.
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There are some compact models with 16.5” barrels.
Only complaints I find online is the the noise.

For the hunting I do. Velocity loss will be not an issue. Inside 300yrds
 
I have a 16.5" barrel on my Model 7 in .308 Win, and it is extremely accurate at 100 yards. Having said this, however, unless a rifle comes from the manufacturer with a barrel length of less than 18.5", I believe you may not go shorter than this if you are shortening things...
 
Years ago, I made up a .243 Win Rem 788 for my wife - made pistol grip smaller for her hands - Length of Pull shorter to suit her. Cut that original 22" barrel back to 19" - more for weight balance for her than anything. A Weaver K3 scope as I recall. She got a nice Mule Deer buck with it. Our son got his first White Tail with it - as a 243 Win. Then I swapped it to 22" 308 Win barrel - our daughter got her first White Tail buck with it. I was loading 85 grain Speer Flat Base (HotCor?) for that 243 Win at that time - I did not own a chronograph, so no clue what velocity that was putting out. For that 308 Win, I was loading 165 grain Speer HotCor - I still use those in several other 308 Win for deer hunting.
 
Unless you chase numbers and just have to have maximum performance, go ahead and cut it down to 18.5" or 20" if the extra 1.5" makes you feel better... the real world performance will barely be noticeable and if it is a hunting rifle, the difference will likely never show up in the results on game.
 
Are you going to have the front sight moved back?
Would it be more cost effective to just wait for a cz550 with the 20.5in barrel to pop up on the EE and sell your lux ? The cz557 is commonly found with a 20in barrel as well.

I you're thinking of going less than 20in then by all means cut yours.
 
woodlotowner said:
I have a 16.5" barrel on my Model 7 in .308 Win, and it is extremely accurate at 100 yards. Having said this, however, unless a rifle comes from the manufacturer with a barrel length of less than 18.5", I believe you may not go shorter than this if you are shortening things...
Click to expand...
Yes 18.5 is the shortest you can modify. That’s what the gunsmith that shortened another barrel told me
 
Potashminer said:
Years ago, I made up a .243 Win Rem 788 for my wife - made pistol grip smaller for her hands - Length of Pull shorter to suit her. Cut that original 22" barrel back to 19" - more for weight balance for her than anything. A Weaver K3 scope as I recall. She got a nice Mule Deer buck with it. Our son got his first White Tail with it - as a 243 Win. Then I swapped it to 22" 308 Win barrel - our daughter got her first White Tail buck with it. I was loading 85 grain Speer Flat Base (HotCor?) for that 243 Win at that time - I did not own a chronograph, so no clue what velocity that was putting out. For that 308 Win, I was loading 165 grain Speer HotCor - I still use those in several other 308 Win for deer hunting.
Click to expand...

I thought about stepping down to a 85g partition if I go to 18.5”. To get a little velocity back. If for some reason the 100g loose a lot
 
hoytcanon said:
Unless you chase numbers and just have to have maximum performance, go ahead and cut it down to 18.5" or 20" if the extra 1.5" makes you feel better... the real world performance will barely be noticeable and if it is a hunting rifle, the difference will likely never show up in the results on game.
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I think you are correct. I don’t think I would see a difference in hunting performance.
Just put it where it needs to be.
 
regulate34 said:
I thought about stepping down to a 85g partition if I go to 18.5”. To get a little velocity back. If for some reason the 100g loose a lot
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Our next door neighbour lady borrowed that rifle a few times for mule deer - no clue what ammo she used in it. A co-worker borrowed it for several seasons for his son to use in Northern Sask - they got several white tails, I understand - always came back with remnants of ammo they had been using - 100 grain Federal Classic, as I recall. I think I ended up with 30 factory rounds over the years - are with my Grandson for his deer hunting attempts with his 243 Win.

For the Grandson's "practice" ammo, I was loading up 55 grain V-Max for his .223 Rem, and then same weight - 55 grain - Ballistic Tip for his .243 Win - I believe intention is to use the factory 100 grain to hunt deer with.
 
doctor_meltdown said:
Are you going to have the front sight moved back?
Would it be more cost effective to just wait for a cz550 with the 20.5in barrel to pop up on the EE and sell your lux ? The cz557 is commonly found with a 20in barrel as well.

I you're thinking of going less than 20in then by all means cut yours.
Click to expand...

Yes I would have the front sight re-mounted.
I like the look of irons on a gun. Even piece of mind having some sort of back up sight.

Looking at the 557s I would have to find a 557 carbine to have sights?

I’m figuring under 200$ to have it shortened and the sight re-mounted.
The last barre I had shortened didn’t have sights. It was 100$.
 
regulate34 said:
I have a cz550 lux. I’ve mounted it in an American style stock to suit an optic better.
I like everything about the gun except the overall length.
Years ago I got into shorter barrel guns. Almost all my guns are 20” or less.
I’m 6’3” and find a long barrel gets caught on branches and is generally awkward to maneuver with.

This gun has a 24.5” barrel I am contemplating having it knocked down.

Trying to decide on a length.

How short would you go with a 243?

I have another 243 with a 20” bbl. It’s fine and still see 2950-3000 fps with 100g hand loads.

22” seams like not much difference.
20” seams redundant as I already have one.

Is 18.5” too short?

Any opinions on the matter?
Click to expand...

I made it about two frogs hairs short of 6 feet and start going to short rifles 20ish or more years ago. When I cut my 300wsm to 19 inches there was howls of protest from a couple of online forums. The longest in the closet at the moment is a 20 inch 22rf.

How long... it it a really good shooter now? Maybe bite the bullet and leave it as is, if it isn't the cut it as short as legal or if you can slug the barrel your self? Or get someone the can and find the tightest spot in the barrel and cut it there, usually the tightest gives the best group - according to Zig a old smith that never let me down.
 
MRP said:
I made it about two frogs hairs short of 6 feet and start going to short rifles 20ish or more years ago. When I cut my 300wsm to 19 inches there was howls of protest from a couple of online forums. The longest in the closet at the moment is a 20 inch 22rf.

How long... it it a really good shooter now? Maybe bite the bullet and leave it as is, if it isn't the cut it as short as legal or if you can slug the barrel your self? Or get someone the can and find the tightest spot in the barrel and cut it there, usually the tightest gives the best group - according to Zig a old smith that never let me down.
Click to expand...

It’s a ok shooter. I haven’t really chased a good load for it. Just feed it the load for my other 243 and it shot 1.5” It dose have a long throat and a roomy magazine length to play with. I’m
Sure it I will be plenty hunting accurate if cut it.

I’m kinda leaning towards “ if I’m gonna cut it…..go all the way”



Thanks for the tip about cutting at the tight spot.
 
woodlotowner said:
I have a 16.5" barrel on my Model 7 in .308 Win, and it is extremely accurate at 100 yards. Having said this, however, unless a rifle comes from the manufacturer with a barrel length of less than 18.5", I believe you may not go shorter than this if you are shortening things...
Click to expand...

You're mixing up the rules for semis and bolt guns. Semis can only be cut to 18.5" before becoming restricted. Manually operated can be shortened to 18". Why? God only knows.
 
Cringe! I love the longer barrels. I guess you have to choose the rifle that fits your hunting method. Maybe a model Winchester 1894 or a Remington 7600 carbine would a good choice.
 
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