Blakeinator
New member
Sup PredatorMasters...
I finally got to shoot my new CZ American in .204 ruger yesterday. I was so impressed with the single shot NEF handi rifle that i bought in that caliber i immediately went out and got the CZ. Two reasons for the CZ, detach mag and faster follow up shots.
With the handi i did a quick field zero 1-1.5" high at 100 yrds in between calling sets, after another set where nothing came in i decided to range the opposite side of the valley we were calling on and see what the .204 would do. I ranged the other side at 329 yrds and we just had fresh 2" of snow. I was hitting little spots of interest in the snow(dark spots etc.) shot for shot. This was with a weaver k2.5x fixed scope!(only scope i had laying around so i threw it on so i could shoot the .204) At any rate i was impressed with how flat and accurate it was. I floated it from forend screw forward and cleaned it and it was shooting like that in a box and a half of shells. Now, on to the CZ...
Based on some things i read where the odd CZ has benefited from bedding...i didn't take the chance so i had it bedded by a local gunsmith with an outstanding reputation. I then cleaned it and mounted a Smith & Wesson 6-24x42 mil-dot scope on it. Bolt clears the eye piece okay fyi. Here is a pic of the gun after set up and ready to shoot...
I set up an impromptu range in a field yesterday, it was pretty windy but seemed steady and i tried to get my back to the wind so to be shooting with the wind...i didn't get it perfect but prolly close enough not to make to big a diff at 100 yrds. I shot from prone with bi-pod and gun case under rear of gun and then used my hand to handle the rear elevation chores etc. Not the ideal bench/range conditions i'll admit. I ranged 25 yrds, got it quick zeroed to there then moved to 100 yrds ranged and dialed in and started shooting 5 shot groups.
By the end of about 2 boxes of shells i shot this group at 6x with 32 grain factory ammo.
I don't measure groups but i'm gonna call that one about 1"? I shot several 5 shot groups about 1 1/4" and some had 3 shots cloverleafing etc. so i'm pretty sure with some more rounds into it to break it in and some better shooting conditions i can make it do better than that but i'm happy for first day out.
I also chronographed the gun averaging 3920 fps. I was a little disappointed with the velocity but a bench rest friend of mine says to give it a couple hundred rounds and i might pick up another 100-125 fps...at least its been his experience with rifles breaking in...and also groups getting better? Maybe some of you gun experts can confirm?
The action is a bit agricultural, its not very smooth(especially coming from a guy who's owned a Tikka) but the little bugger has some character and i think its gonna be an awesome 'calling' gun. I found a couple tips on how to smooth it up a bit i may look into...that or it will likely smooth up with more rounds etc.(break the rest of the gun in)
The trigger is great, it has two triggers, i shot both during the day but resided to the set trigger for the group shooting and its great for that. The regular trigger is excellent also and will be perfect for hunting situation.
Overall i'm happy with this gun for the money. I am likely going to change the scope out to something with less magnification. I'm eyeballing leupolds fixed 4x right now. I figure if i can shoot 329 yrds with 2.5x and hit what i'm aiming at then 4 will be plenty. The 6-24 is alot of scope, i'm just not used to it yet but it will likely retire to the handi-rifle and it may become my 'gopher' gun/lender for buddies coming coyote hunting etc.
If Tikka adds the .204 to the line up then that would have been a top choice for me also(detach mag again). However, this little gun i think is going to grow on me...its got some character and i think it will smooth up a bit as it wears in...other than the not so smooth action i love everything about the gun.
Hope you enjoyed the review.
Blake /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
I finally got to shoot my new CZ American in .204 ruger yesterday. I was so impressed with the single shot NEF handi rifle that i bought in that caliber i immediately went out and got the CZ. Two reasons for the CZ, detach mag and faster follow up shots.
With the handi i did a quick field zero 1-1.5" high at 100 yrds in between calling sets, after another set where nothing came in i decided to range the opposite side of the valley we were calling on and see what the .204 would do. I ranged the other side at 329 yrds and we just had fresh 2" of snow. I was hitting little spots of interest in the snow(dark spots etc.) shot for shot. This was with a weaver k2.5x fixed scope!(only scope i had laying around so i threw it on so i could shoot the .204) At any rate i was impressed with how flat and accurate it was. I floated it from forend screw forward and cleaned it and it was shooting like that in a box and a half of shells. Now, on to the CZ...
Based on some things i read where the odd CZ has benefited from bedding...i didn't take the chance so i had it bedded by a local gunsmith with an outstanding reputation. I then cleaned it and mounted a Smith & Wesson 6-24x42 mil-dot scope on it. Bolt clears the eye piece okay fyi. Here is a pic of the gun after set up and ready to shoot...
I set up an impromptu range in a field yesterday, it was pretty windy but seemed steady and i tried to get my back to the wind so to be shooting with the wind...i didn't get it perfect but prolly close enough not to make to big a diff at 100 yrds. I shot from prone with bi-pod and gun case under rear of gun and then used my hand to handle the rear elevation chores etc. Not the ideal bench/range conditions i'll admit. I ranged 25 yrds, got it quick zeroed to there then moved to 100 yrds ranged and dialed in and started shooting 5 shot groups.
By the end of about 2 boxes of shells i shot this group at 6x with 32 grain factory ammo.
I don't measure groups but i'm gonna call that one about 1"? I shot several 5 shot groups about 1 1/4" and some had 3 shots cloverleafing etc. so i'm pretty sure with some more rounds into it to break it in and some better shooting conditions i can make it do better than that but i'm happy for first day out.
I also chronographed the gun averaging 3920 fps. I was a little disappointed with the velocity but a bench rest friend of mine says to give it a couple hundred rounds and i might pick up another 100-125 fps...at least its been his experience with rifles breaking in...and also groups getting better? Maybe some of you gun experts can confirm?
The action is a bit agricultural, its not very smooth(especially coming from a guy who's owned a Tikka) but the little bugger has some character and i think its gonna be an awesome 'calling' gun. I found a couple tips on how to smooth it up a bit i may look into...that or it will likely smooth up with more rounds etc.(break the rest of the gun in)
The trigger is great, it has two triggers, i shot both during the day but resided to the set trigger for the group shooting and its great for that. The regular trigger is excellent also and will be perfect for hunting situation.
Overall i'm happy with this gun for the money. I am likely going to change the scope out to something with less magnification. I'm eyeballing leupolds fixed 4x right now. I figure if i can shoot 329 yrds with 2.5x and hit what i'm aiming at then 4 will be plenty. The 6-24 is alot of scope, i'm just not used to it yet but it will likely retire to the handi-rifle and it may become my 'gopher' gun/lender for buddies coming coyote hunting etc.
If Tikka adds the .204 to the line up then that would have been a top choice for me also(detach mag again). However, this little gun i think is going to grow on me...its got some character and i think it will smooth up a bit as it wears in...other than the not so smooth action i love everything about the gun.
Hope you enjoyed the review.
Blake /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif