CZ 557 RIFLE
Czech out CZ’S redesigned sporter
The magnum-length action can accommodate almost any large-bore cartridge, making it the ideal starting point for building a dangerous game rifle
CZ’S 0 SERIES rifles has been ve pular locally, a it represented e ent value for money and many lo hunters regard controlled-feed b ctions as the primary choice. Ma rofessional hunters buy CZS as a ma of course, as he design’s fulllength cl xtract nd blade ejector are reliable and strong enough for the most demanding hunting situations. Moreover, the magnum-length action can accommodate almost any largebore cartridge, making it the ideal starting point for building a dangerous game rifle.
With the introduction of the CZ557, the company offered a new design, the most notable difference being a pushfeed action – a departure from CZ’S traditional controlled-feed principle. The bolt has two opposing locking lugs, a plunger type ejector and a small spring loaded extractor, similar to most modern budget designs like the Remington 700 and the push-feed Winchester Model 70.
We opted to test a CZ557 in 6.5mm Creedmoor, presently one of the more popular calibres and a versatile contender for hunting, target shooting and long-range work. From the moment I opened the box and picked up the brand new rifle, it was clear that, while the feeding system is the same as that of many entry-level rifles, the
557 is not an entry-level product. The overall finish is far superior to most rifles in this price range.
With the 24-inch barrel, the overall length is 1 155mm, and with the laser-chequered walnut stock, the weight is 3.3kg – light enough for easy carry while heavy enough to absorb recoil. The stock has a classic-style cheek-piece and the chequering is aggressive enough to ensure a good hold.
The receiver is CNC machined from billet steel and has the same integral 19mm dovetail scope bases as the earlier model. CZ uses the short action for the 6.5mm Creedmoor. The barrel is cold hammer-forged and factory-lapped. Unlike other rifles in the series which have internal magazines and hinged floorplates, the 6.5 Creedmoor comes with a detachable box magazine – as does the Varmint Model. The steel magazine holds four rounds which, with a round in the chamber, should be enough for most hunting sit
uations. The magazine release is situated in the trigger guard, but contrary to convention, the release button on the CZ is overly large, grooved, and can be worked by simply pushing the trigger finger forward (away from the trigger).
AS IS NECESSARY for the double-column magazine, the
CZ has a broad feeding ramp which is smoothly polished. I was able to load the magazine through the ejection port, but only for the first two rounds. With an empty mag, you can load a round into the chamber simply by dropping it onto the magazine follower and closing the bolt.
The bolt locks into the receiver with a smallish blade right next to the boltshaft (see photo) which must be depressed to remove the bolt – not an easy task with my large hands, but I soon managed it using the blade of my pocket knife.
The single-stage adjustable trigger is a new design, factory-set at a release perfect for hunting. Even for precision work out to 500m, I found no need to make adjustments. It broke cleanly with very slight over-travel. The trigger has a pronounced curve and is smoothly polished. The large safety latch is a two-position design; in the SAFE position it also locks the bolt closed. When cocked, the firing pin protrudes from the rear of the bolt shroud by 5mm – easy to see and feel.
The lightweight barrel is threaded (M14x1) and came with a muzzlebrake. No open sights are fitted.
As this was a brand-new rifle, I decided to clean the factory-lapped bore by pulling a few patches through it until they came out clean. I did not plan to ‘shoot in’ the new barrel, but to immediately commence with accuracy testing after zeroing the scope.
I set up targets at 100m and used 140gr Federal Fusion ammunition to zero the scope – a Leupold VX-HD5 3-15x44. The muzzle-brake did a good job of reducing the 6.5 Creedmoor’s mild recoil, and it was immediately clear that this would make it easy for me to see hits through the scope on longer range steel targets.
In addition to the Federal ammunition I had three other brands on hand.
The single-stage adjustable trigger is a new design, factory-set at a release perfect for hunting
At 100m the ‘worst’ performer was the Winchester 140gr Match ammunition with a three-shot group measuring 31.89mm centre-to-centre (1.19MOA). Third place went to Norma’s 130gr Match ammo with 21.53mm c-c (0.8MOA). Federal’s 140gr Fusion ammo took second place with a 17.3mm c-c (0.64MOA) group, while Remington’s 140gr Core-lokt ammo led with a group measuring 10.74mm c-c. Encouraged by the excellent results from Remington’s hunting ammunition I took a break and then fired two shots at a springbuck target. They landed only 3mm apart.
AS I’D BEEN provided with plenty of Federal ammunition I drove to the 500m mark and set up a 300mm diameter gong next to a permanent 125cm diameter gong. I began by simply trying to hit the big gong, and the Leupold’s excellent glass made it possible to clearly see the first two shots landing just less than three inches apart.
I then fired ten shots at the smaller gong and scored eight hits, the last two having been pushed off the target by a 12mph crosswind which I’d failed to take into account. With the temperature now in the mid-30s the wind was gusting strongly.
Satisfied that the rifle was performing in a manner worthy of a quality target rifle, I reserved the last 18 rounds for two tests at 500m. First I fired four shots at the small gong as rapidly as I could, reloaded the magazine, immediately fired the next four shots, and repeated the process twice more. After the eighth shot, the barrel was scorching hot and became steadily hotter during the next eight shots. Interestingly, I missed two of the first shots, but none with the scorching hot barrel. I was suitably impressed. Keep in mind that these exercises were carried out using a 300mm gong at 500m. I allowed the barrel to cool down and then carefully fired the last two shots; they landed 2.5 inches apart.
Federal’s 140gr Fusion factory ammunition has a cartridge overall length (COL) of 69.26mm. Loaded in the magazine, the cartridges left a 3.9mm space between the bullet tips and the front wall of the magazine. Hand-loaders wanting to ‘chase the lands’ will have to keep the COL to a maximum of 73.1mm to fit the magazine.
During a range session that saw me firing more than 100 shots in extremely dusty conditions, and later in a thunderstorm, feeding, extraction and ejection were flawless. My first priority in a hunting rifle is reliability under field conditions, and the CZ, like its ultra-reliable 600 and 550 series predecessors, handled dust, dirt and mud with aplomb. It’s also accurate enough for competitions and has the familiar CZ ‘feel’ and characteristics. It is a quality product that should – even with a bit of abuse – last for generations.
The suggested retail price is R18 000, which is good value for money. For more information on stockists, contact Formalito on 012-664-7793.