Anyone shooting CZ 557
- Thread starter dmcdam
- Start date
RangerPark
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Near Edmonton, AB
I have the CZ 557 Range and I love everything about that rifle, except the weight. They are heavy but point and handle very well. Not a laser beam but mine still manages 3/4 MOA with handloads. I get the same performance with Federal Fusion 180 grains so I've been using those.
mastermind
CGN Regular
- Location
- SW Ontario
I love the look and the feel of my 557 Range. It will eventually be my deer gun, but still debating to add a scope. The factory irons are good like most CZ’s. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy one again. At the current sale prices don’t think twice, just decide on box mag vs floor plate magazine.
It’s much lighter than my Tikka T3x Arctic. I was supposed to get rid of one of them but I can’t do it!
It’s much lighter than my Tikka T3x Arctic. I was supposed to get rid of one of them but I can’t do it!
I have the cz 557 carbine in .308 with open sights. Excellent rifle. European quality, great looking, handy 20.5" barrel. Still has some heft to eat up recoil. I also like the integral rail on the receiver for a qd scope mount system. I got mine for a great price and it is every bit as good as a rifle twice the price.
I have the CZ ranger and carried it once on one day of the hunt last year....i have a love and dislike for this rifle
Love:
-Feels solid as my SKS, or old jungle carbijes that you could throw over a cliff and keep using, the beech stock is durable as well..
-Iron sights work well and have good visibility
-Magazines of 4 and 10 rds give options
-Nice action ( after break in, was rough before 5 shots made then smooth as glass.
Dislike
-The rifle is heavy and with the included rail and a scope i found it to be somewhat top heavy and unbalanced for long hikes....my K98 woth a scope is much more balanced and easier to carry
-The magazines are plastic and when the action cycles the front of the magazine moves ever so slightly on both the 4 and 10rd mags....this drives me nuts
-Its hard to use the iron sights with the top rail in place.
-Some ammunition does not chamber well and while it will load and fire some rounds prevent me from engaging the safety while loaded..Federal Lake city specifically
Overall id be happer at the current sale price of $1030ish thats on now that over $1160 that i paid.... i really like the rifle i just have not found a practical use for it as it is designed that i like more than the rest of my gear.
What i really wanted in the CZ ranger is a true scaled up version of the CZ527 which hands down qith its metal mags ligh qeight and surprising accuracy for 7.62x39 is my most prized rifle.....the polymer mags and unbalanced weight distribution have sidelined this rifle for me until i can figure out how to deck it out to a more usable set up for me.
Love:
-Feels solid as my SKS, or old jungle carbijes that you could throw over a cliff and keep using, the beech stock is durable as well..
-Iron sights work well and have good visibility
-Magazines of 4 and 10 rds give options
-Nice action ( after break in, was rough before 5 shots made then smooth as glass.
Dislike
-The rifle is heavy and with the included rail and a scope i found it to be somewhat top heavy and unbalanced for long hikes....my K98 woth a scope is much more balanced and easier to carry
-The magazines are plastic and when the action cycles the front of the magazine moves ever so slightly on both the 4 and 10rd mags....this drives me nuts
-Its hard to use the iron sights with the top rail in place.
-Some ammunition does not chamber well and while it will load and fire some rounds prevent me from engaging the safety while loaded..Federal Lake city specifically
Overall id be happer at the current sale price of $1030ish thats on now that over $1160 that i paid.... i really like the rifle i just have not found a practical use for it as it is designed that i like more than the rest of my gear.
What i really wanted in the CZ ranger is a true scaled up version of the CZ527 which hands down qith its metal mags ligh qeight and surprising accuracy for 7.62x39 is my most prized rifle.....the polymer mags and unbalanced weight distribution have sidelined this rifle for me until i can figure out how to deck it out to a more usable set up for me.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Okay, you'll have to explain that one. What difference does the loaded round in the chamber make to engaging the safety? Is it that the headspace is tight with Lake City ammo, and the safety won't come on when you have to force the bolt handle down?
RangerPark
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Near Edmonton, AB
That's what was going on with mine. The bolt wouldn't close on the go gauge. Some minor lug lapping took care of that and smoothed out the action too.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Rifle Chair has a pretty good video on the CZ 557, and points out the pros and cons of the rifle. The cons he mentions include the loose magazine which can result in misfeeds if the magazine tips due to pressure from the support hand, a rifle that is on the heavy side for a .308 carbine, the Picatinny rail is on the high side, although it does increase the clearance between the bolt handle and the ocular bell of a scope, the bolt needed some break in before it smoothed out, and the bolt release is inconvenient. He also mentions the tight headspace, which he equates with the fine accuracy his rifle demonstrated, 1 MOA at 200 yards with 180 gr Federal blue box, but acknowledges that chambering some ammo would be difficult as a result. If the bolt handle is not fully depressed, the safety won't engage since it locks the bolt in position. He bemoans the fact that the safety is not 3 position allowing the bolt handle to be raised without taking the gun off safe. He expressed concern that a novice might not be able to manipulate the magazine release safely since its inside the trigger guard; I think the location is good myself, one just needs to be cognizant of the fact that the mag release is inside the trigger bow. All in all, he said nothing that would prevent me from purchasing the rifle, and much that recommended it.
Is it a true short action in your .308? Im ready to buy one but am tossing the idea of .308 or 30-06. If its a true short action, I think I will get a .308
Cheers!!
Nope, not a short action. I think they use 1 size on the action to keep the cost down. Like a tikka. Mine is in .308, the extra inch or thereabouts on the action is no issue. That being said, I'd love it in 30-06, I think a carbine with the extra bit of weight would handle the 06 well.
The CZ557 Range rifle has a short action, the other versions of the CZ557 do not have a short action even when they are in 308
