Lousy Wood Stocks on Some CZ Rifles

[Dos]

Here's a Quote from an FFL posting on CZForum.com
 
"And after ordering several rifles straight from CZ, I have yet to get a decent piece of wood. The ads always show fiddleback, or figured wood in the stock, but I still have not received one. I want a nice American stock 452 with a little figure, but it will not happen. I wish I knew how to find one. When I ask to talk to Eagleshield , he says.. Are you back on that kick again ? I will pay extra, or whatever....but no relief... "

I must admit that I have only been into CZ pistols a few years, but reading and hearing about this has bothered me for quite a while.  While i have yet to purchase a CZ rifle, it's info like this that would deter me.  There are no dealers locally and therefore I would not be able to see a stock prior to purchasing.  I can't imagine why CZ would not take greater pride in the grading of wood stocks.  What a shoddy approach.  Beautiful stock here and an absolutely ugly one right next to it.  Doesn't make since.  I would definitely not order one unseen.  I read right here on the forum about another forum member who complained directly to CZUSA of the stocks quality.  He sent in the ugly stock and received one that was even uglier!  What a shame.

[Fred Flinstone]

Wood is'nt mfgr. it comes from trees thru years of growing in various climates, local enviroment(minerals in ground & mineral rich water) & sun. These conditions makes for higher or lower quality wood. The high pattered wood that we see in CZ litterature is a 2-5% bet(my estimate), CZ was using Turkish walnut(also known as Circassian walnut), this type of walnut is'nt extremely dense but has a bit of patterning to it once in a while.(This is the same type of wood used in Ruger's .416 Rigby and the same used in Mauser Sporter of yesteryear). Recently the U.S. market was very finicky about the quality of walnut used so as to have a more homogeneous type of walnut they decided to do certain of their rifles with American walnut which is plainer but straight grained.

A better way to get a tigerstripped Circassian rifle stock is thru Gunbroker or other fine e-auction sites which supply us with pictures of rifle beeing bought. Coincidently the Ruger stock that I've seen on a .416 Rigby was humdrum but do'nt foreget at what price tag.

[pmhayden]

Has anyone refinished their European (Lux, FS) stock?  If so, what did you use, and what results?  Recommendations wanted.

I bought a cz 550FS in .308.  I like short Mauser rifles, and I like wood.  The rifle seems fine, but the wood looks like a bad Savage stock.  The metal is OK, but I plan to refinish the wood.

It looks pretty porous, and needs to be filled.  Any other thoughts?  I was going to strip it with Citrustrip (sp?), and use tung oil.  I have had good luck with both Fornby's and an oil-based Verathane product.  

BTW, it would be better if CZ used an arctic birch or some other dense, strong wood that the stuff they are using.  Most American buyers are picky about wood.  Why else buy a Mannlicher stocked rifle?

I have 2 CZ75b's, and they are both good.  I figured the rifle would be as good.  Have not shot it yet, but have high expectations.

[betterluckytg]

pmhayden; It's been my experience that low expectations are preferable. That way one is seldom disappointed. BTW, the stock on my FS was wavy from a poor sanding job, the grain not filled, and had hit or miss contact w/ the barrel. The thing fit me so well I didn't notice for six months, then refinished it, more or less. Just sanded it level and put a couple coats of sealer on it. Of course, the first time I took it out I put a nice scratch in it. Looks fine the way it is, guess it'll stay that way.

[flashhole]

You are not alone!

[Dos]

I realize Wood grows in the Wild.  My point is that Wood Stock QC on a 5-6 hundred dollar Rifle should be paramount to Customer Satisfaction.

[Fred Flinstone]

Only problem is that other companies are doing the same thing even in higher priced markets. No high grade quality F.S. exist in the CZ line (as Ruger, Steyer, etc.). Hope they come up with something for you.

[JohnBT]

I looked for 5 years before finding this .22 WMR American on the used rack for $285. It was a week old - the guy came back and said he really needed a .223. After looking at all those CZs, I'll say this...the wood varies and so does the checkering.   But every one I've seen will certainly shoot.

John

[pmhayden]

OK.  I have stripped the front third of the rifle.  The wood is actually pretty good underneath.  The shellac type stain/varnish hides some OK walnut.  The wood looks like the walnut on old Turkish Mausers - that kind of grey-brown look, as opposed to the red-brown of American walnut.  But it has potential for an oil finish.  Surprisingly good, considering what it looked like covered up with that gunk.

Taking my time stripping it.  Probably a week just for that operation.  And the rubber butt-pad is glued on, and will be a bear to get off.  Already decided to replace it with either a metal old-Winchester style plate or 1/2 inch solid rubber pad.

Well, anyway, there is hope.  Maybe the checkering can be cleaned up, too.

Wrote to CZ about a peep sight.  Or an alternative rear sight.

[pmhayden]

FWIW, I wrote to the CZ USA company on their web-site about the stock wood, substitute stocks, and about a rear peep sight.  I never received a reply.  

[Fred Flinstone]

The simplest way out is buying a CZ ring mount and dismantling it. Once done mount a Weaver rail(available thru Brownell's) and tapping it to the CZ claw section. Now you can mount any Weaver peep-sight! What do you do for the front sight

[CZJedi]

I was reading an old issue of Gun Tests, and they mentioned that while the American Walnut is better looking (for the most part, of course this varies), the Turkish is stronger. Anybody hear this before?

[pmhayden]

I finally received a reply from CZ about the stock - they simply said that all the FS rifles had the same quality of stock, and all the replacement stocks were the same.  And they did not know of a peep sight.

Found a custom rifle maker who uses the CZ 550 Mag action, and build his own peep sight that slides over the base.  However, he does not market them to the public.  Only on his rifles....

[Paulinus]

You may wish to contact Chris Matthews in Kansas City.  He is a custom rifle maker who has done custom work for CZ-USA.  You can email him at: longshotrifles@yahoo.com.  He may know of a source for you.

[pmhayden]

Finally stripped and refinised the FS stock on my 550 .308.  It's not the best I have ever seen, but not the worst either.  It looks like walnut (it is walnut), and has some figure.  At least it no longer looks like an economy birch stock with walnut stain, etc.

I stripped it with Citrustrip, sealed it with benite, and used Fornsby's tung oil.  I did not stain it. The unstained wood has a lot of figure.  The oil finish was enough.  Will try to include a photo when I am home.