CZ-550 Varmint Stringing Shots

[KY-Larry]

My CZ-550 Varmint .22-250 shoots 1/2"  3-shot groups when the barrel is cold. However, after 5-6 rounds the groups begin to spread horizontally to about 3 inches. I've heard the barrel needs to be free floated. Has anyone seen this before? How did you solve the problem?
Thanks.

[Fred Flinstone]

Are we talking about the CZ Varmint made with H-S composite stock OR the Walnut version?

[KY-Larry]

The stock is laminated. AFAIK, the .22-250 is not available with walnut stock. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Fred Flinstone]

Yes, the walnut version is available. The stock is the same as the .308 Win. model.

[Fred Flinstone]

Idealy use a thickness of 2 business card(you'll see why later), pass it under the barrel between the stock. Usually you will have some bearing points which need to be sanded out.Pass the 2 cards again: O.K. or NOT(re-sand). Once everything is tip-top, the wood laminate needs to be sealed(or else it will swell-up with humidity) with urethane(varnish). If you have only left a business card as thickness gauge the varnish will start bearing against the barrel.

If the rifle is free-floated and still stray-targetting, then it should be time to look into bedding the receiver up(Accuraglass: available thru Brownell's) to the first 2 inches of the barrel.

If this seem extra work when buying a rifle take it easy since 98% of production rifles are NOT free-floated nor receiver bedded.

If all this sounds like mombo-jombo , you should bring your rifle to your local smith who will do this work for a minimal amount of money.

You have a fine rifle which should stop going hay-wire and start performing if brought a little tender loving care.
Fred

[VTUSP40]

A friend has a 550 Varmint in .308, that is not free-floated. The front slingstud contacts the barrel. This is an old trick used to Enfields and Mausers quite often. The contact point 'filters' out any unwanted vibrations, thus creating a harminoc frequency more condusive to consistant accuracy. My friend decided he wanted his 550 free-floated, so he backed out the stud and placed a washer under it. The rifle shot near single hole groups with stud contact and 1" groups free-floated. Depending on the ammo, they would string in different directions. After un-floating the barrel, it went back to .25" groups.