Thoughts on the CZ 557 Ranger?

[Aabradsh]

Hey guys. I'm considering trading in a few things and shrinking my collection a little. Could use the spare funds for other projects and tbh I don't have room for everything in the current arsenal.

What are your thoughts/experience with the CZ 557 Ranger? What kindof accuracy are people getting out of these?

I'm considering one of these rifles as it would likely do well in both roles as a target/hunting rifle. The current offering is a 557 action, with a medium contour 20" barrel, in an oil finished walnut stock (similar to the Lux version). they come standard with a 10rnd mag and pic. rail. A little heavier than a typical deer rifle, but not near as hefty as most target guns. Also has a medium contour barrel and 10rnd mag that both lend themselves well to target shooting out to respectable distances.

much appreciated.

 

[The Kurgan]

Buy one, you won't be disappointed.
The barrel contour is medium? I didn't know that.
I own several 557's and I prefer them over my Tikka's. Smooth, accurate and with great wood. The Range stocks are Beech btw.

 

[doctor_meltdown]

The range model with the iron sights is great. I like that they went with an 1:10 twist (I'm guessing that's what the rangeR has as well.)

The oiled walnut stock is nicer than the range's beech rifle but I don't know how pertinent it was to go with a hogsback stock on a rifle with no irons. Maybe hold one to see if it fits well with a scope as the pic rail will result in a fairly high scope.

 

[The Kurgan]

I checked the Wolverine site, and they have 4-rounders in stock. Much better for field use. The CZ 557 has a great mag design, which also beats the T3 mags.

 

[The Kurgan]

Btw, Wolverine also has a Range rifle beech stock in their inventory... if you prefer that shape better.

 

[Marcos]

Scope eyepiece clearance is a known challenge with the 557 so a Picatinny rails makes it easier. I would also note the walnut stock has brass pillars in it for the action screws. The trigger is superb and fully adjustable, easy to remove excess creep. The machining and finish are superb. On mine the headspace is tight for some factory ammo (cannot close on my GO gauge). Definitely get a 4 rds magazine while you can. I ditched the 10 rds and got two 4 rds mags. Accuracy wise, easy MOA with factory match ammo. My hunting load with 180 accubond, optimized for fps, is still MOA. The barrel is not really a medium heavy, but heavier than most hunting rifles. Not a target rifle IMO.

I really like mine! It’s my all rounder scoped hunting rifle. Only fired 55 rds with it, but planning to do another load development for Hornady 165 CX.

Get one you won’t regret, it’s a dying breed.

 

[robab]

Few comments on mine. I have the 557 Ranger. The one submitted on the Ranger trial.

I use it for moose and a bit of target shooting. Definitely excellent quality , trigger very nice , accurate, took a moose this year 329 yards. Carrying with a 10 rounder fully loaded its a bit heavy and clunky. I should get a flush fitting 4 rounder. The hooded front site while nice on a working rifle , nuisance to carry in thick woods/brush - always hooking branches. Action is slick and cycles nicely. The beach wood stock is ok , little soft I find. Overall great rifle for what it’s intended for - a working rifle for the Rangers. Is it a great carry big game rifle, not the best but not terrible. I’m planning on changing up to something lighter and sleeker next season. However I won’t sell it bc of what it is.

 

[mastermind]

Apparently there's different variations to the 557 Range(r) now. I have the original with iron sights and beech wood, and it's definitely a keeper!

 

[The Kurgan]

Well, regardless of variation, the 557 and 527 has been completely replaced with the new 600. Keep what you have and enjoy them.

 

[doctor_meltdown]

Scope eyepiece clearance is a known challenge with the 557 so a Picatinny rails makes it easier. I would also note the walnut stock has brass pillars in it for the action screws. The trigger is superb and fully adjustable, easy to remove excess creep. The machining and finish are superb. On mine the headspace is tight for some factory ammo (cannot close on my GO gauge). Definitely get a 4 rds magazine while you can. I ditched the 10 rds and got two 4 rds mags. Accuracy wise, easy MOA with factory match ammo. My hunting load with 180 accubond, optimized for fps, is still MOA. The barrel is not really a medium heavy, but heavier than most hunting rifles. Not a target rifle IMO.

I really like mine! It’s my all rounder scoped hunting rifle. Only fired 55 rds with it, but planning to do another load development for Hornady 165 CX.

Get one you won’t regret, it’s a dying breed.

The ocular is large on this zp8 and the only part that doesn't clear is the massive throw lever.between 1 and 2 x I find this too high and would find it way too high with a euro stock with more drop. I think it's better to mount a scope with a smaller ocular lower then raise the scope for the bolt to clear the eyepiece, especially with the rangeR that doesn't have irons. Not sure if people are having issues with the 557, it's really not that bad. Nothing like the old gen cz527 before they changed the bolt handle curve.

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

Well, regardless of variation, the 557 and 527 has been completely replaced with the new 600. Keep what you have and enjoy them.

Yep, and the 600 be completely fooked compared to those models.

 

[Ribstaylor]

I'd say if your interested in the CZ557 Ranger just grab it. They aren't making them anymore, and if you find you don't like it you can just sell it for a similar price right away, or hold onto it and see if it appreciates. Can't really know till you get one.

Yep, and the 600 be completely fooked compared to those models.

Agreed. The 600 line while having some decent new features, is a far cry from what CZ 527, 550 or the 557 lines were. I do like the new checkering on the LUX model. The new top loading magazine design is cool, and would be cooler if it was made of metal. I also think using Remington 700 bases is a good idea. I even think the wood bolt knob is a unique touch. But that seems to be where the rifles start to lose me as they cheap out on things, and then waste money on features I don't need instead of putting in quality over quantity.

The bolt release button and the bolt shroud is made of a cheap flimsy plastic that has no place on a rifle in this price point. Some of them even have plastic bolt knobs. It's threaded something I won't use and just ads one more possible thing to go wrong when hunting and wastes money in manufacturing that could go to other areas of the gun. Most of the varieties outside the LUX and range all have cheap looking stocks. Their biggest new selling point the barrel swap feature has been taken away and they now epoxy the barrels 3 screws in place. A not so elegant solution, and once again another feature not being used that ads cost to the rifle while taking away from other areas.

While I do like how they are looking at ways to innovate with features. I would prefer if they just added a metal variety of their new magazine, as well as the new checkering to the older lines. While also taking out all the useless features and putting that saved manufacturing cost into some old school quality all steel rifles like they used to make.

 

[dgradinaru]

The CZ 557 is a good platform, smooth, accurate, traditional style but in my opinion on the heavy side. I wish they drilled and tapped them like the Cz 600 so one can take advantage of shedding some weight with Talley light weight scope ring mounts.

 

[time4t]

...........

 

[Koval]

People need to be aware that some places advertise range/ ranger models but they are actually not. Real ranger has iron sights and comes with a 10 round mag. Also has beech wood stock.

I havnt shot mine too much but the only thing I want to comment on is the magazine release is made out of plastic, and it rides up and down the notch on the magazine, not sure how long its meant to last before it wears out. Its suppose to be a do it all rifle.

 

[The Kurgan]

People need to be aware that some places advertise range/ ranger models but they are actually not. Real ranger has iron sights and comes with a 10 round mag. Also has beech wood stock.

I havnt shot mine too much but the only thing I want to comment on is the magazine release is made out of plastic, and it rides up and down the notch on the magazine, not sure how long its meant to last before it wears out. Its suppose to be a do it all rifle.

If it's good enough for the Canadian Ranger trials, it's good enough for me. Another forum member just purchased a sightless Ranger model in 308, but unfortunately his stock came warped. Luckily, he snagged an OEM beech Range stock from Wolverine, and he now has a Range rifle minus the sights (he didn't want sights on a scoped rifle anyway). I have a 243 Lux SA with sights. I bought a synthetic Ranger stock (Europe got the no sight Ranger in both beech and synthetic), I added an EGW 20 MOA picatinny rail and a 10-round magazine, and voila, I have a Range rifle in 243. In truth, the walnut Lux stock is much better for exclusive use of the sights. So I have the benefits of both. In the end, any 557 platform is great!