CZ 550FS Set Trigger Trouble

[steve4102]

  I have a new CZ 550FS in 6.5x55 that I am having problems with.    When I push the set trigger forward it will lock, as it should,  when pulled it will drop the sear and fire, "sometimes".  It will fail to fire and just "Click" the set trigger and not drop the sear about 20% of the time.  I cleaned it up good and gave it a light lube, no help.
  Any ideas short of sending it back to CZ?

Thanks

[Grumulkin]

I would get a gunsmith involved or send it back to CZ.

[7x57mm]

Steve: It sounds like you have a rough spot somewhere, but then you should be having problems more than just 20 percent of the time. Did it do this right from the box? Did it begin to do this after a cleaning? You might try to clean the trigger mechanism with spray carb cleaner, let that dry and don't put any lube on the mechanism. See if the problem continues. If it does not, you might think about switching to a more lite type of lube and give the mechanism a dusting with the light lube. If, on the other hand, the problem continues, I would recommend exactly what you did not want to hear ... send it back to CZ with a letter detailing the problem. If it is a fixable problem then the recommendation about taking it to a gunsmith is a good one. If it means you need a replacement trigger mechanism, taking it to a gunsmith would void the warranty, if you have any warranty left. Tom Purdom

[steve4102]

  Thanks Tom.  I did the carb cleaner thing, the lube I am using is just a few drops of CLR.   I did this my first time to the range when it was new.  I thought maybe the trigger was full of junk, so I spayed it with carb cleaner etc.  This seemed to help, but, it still occurs now and then.
  I contacted CZ and was told to adjust the set screw in or out 1/2 turn at a time and see if that helped.  I am working on that now,  hopefully this will help.  I really hate sending guns back to the manufacturer for repairs.  It takes forever and I feel naked without my toys.

Thanks

[7x57mm]

Steve, your trigger issue was bothering me somewhat, so I dragged my CZ 550 American in 7x57mm out of the gun closet to have a look-see with a magnifying glass. The recommendation to try turning the set screw in, or out, in half-turn increments, is a good one. One question, though, did you adjust the weight of the trigger pull on your rifle. If you did, and it is very, very light, your sear may not be contacting the trigger lever properly every time. Give your trigger pull weight screw a half turn clockwise just for grins and see what that does. On my rifle I had to hold the set nut with a little 7mm box wrench while adjusting because when I tried to re-tighten the nut it also turned the screw at the same time. I wasn't making any headway until I started to look a bit harder at what I was doing. Good luck. How does your rifle shoot when it is shooting? Just thought I'd ask. Tom Purdom

[steve4102]

  Tom, I have not adjusted the trigger pull yet.  It is set at factory settings.  I will take your advice and see what happens. 

"How does it shoot"?  There is only one word to describe the accuracy of my 550FS and 550 American, "WOW".

  My 550 American in 9.3x62 will shoot 286gr Partitions at 2450fps into sub 1/2 inch groups.  Last time I shot the 9.3, I had a three shot .309 inch group (center/center) at 100 yards.  My 550FS in 6.5x55 will shoot 5 shots just under one inch at 100 yards with 140gr Partitions.    I am still working up loads for the FS, I think it can do better.  If it can't, that's OK, it is always fun trying.

  I just ordered another CZ.  A 527 American in 221 Fireball.  Gotta love them CZ's.

[7x57mm]

Steve, my little brother has a CZ 527 American in .221 Fireball. He absolutely loves it. Duffy refuses to handload for some reason. The kid owns a safe-ful of rifles, shotguns and pistols but does not handload a one of them. I handloaded some for his CZ 550 Full Stock in 7x57mm with 160 grain Nosler Partitions and H414 powder. That rifle will put three slugs into a .75 inch circle with no sweat at all. He too, owns a CZ 550 American in 9.3x62, but continues to buy factory ammo at something like $40 a box. I got him some Graf & Sons Prvi Partizan ammo at $16 a box, but he'll still go down to his fav gun store and buy the more expensive stuff ... and then bitch about the price of ammo! Have never been able to figure hiim out. By the way, a fellow I knew in Grants, New Mexico, owned the CZ 9.3x62, but never once shot it, so it was new in box. His car broke down and he needed $250 in cash, fast. I gave him $350 for the rifle and Duffy, paid me for it. I wish I had kept it now. His .221 Fireball is one beautiful little rifle. The stock appears to be a fancy grade of American Walnut. He buys the Green Box ammunition, and is able to zap p-dogs out to 250 yards or so. Good luck on the 6.5x55mm. Tom Purdom