Some of you may recall a while back when I decided I needed something along the lines of a nice walnut and steel bolt rifle in a caliber larger than .223 or .22-.250. The ensuing discussion led me to decide the 6.5 x 55 Swede would be appropriate. Further discussion led to the idea of a CZ chambered in that venerable round.
So today I had a little time to kill before needing to be somewhere else and stopped in at the little LGS here in town. Lo and Behold, there in the rack sat a NOS CZ550 American chambered in 6.5 x 55!
The gun has a very nicely figured piece of European walnut on it, and is basically what I've been keeping my eye out for. It's been in the shop since November 2010, but I don't go in there much since the gun is generally a PITA to talk to. Today he was in a pretty good mood since he had recently acquired a number of guns from an estate and was spending his time cleaning them and making them look good for sale.
Bottom line - his price sticker is $695.95. He has never budged on a price before, and I didn't ask today about it. From the looks of his price tag, that's the same price he had on when it came in. I haven't checked online prices yet, but will. I'm just wondering what you guys think I should try for to sweeten the deal - ammo? rings? deal on a scope? lower price?
I'm not too worried about someone else buying it in the immediate future since he said I was the first one who looked at it who seemed to appreciate both the gun and the caliber. I just wonder how I can get more for my money or less money for the gun out of the guy.
__________________ Teach
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DaTeacha, from my local LGS I can buy that rifle new for $717.00 + tax and they come with the rings. The CZ rings are unique to their product and pretty expensive.
I judt did a little looking and the price is pretty much in the ballpark. A shop an hour away lists one for $725 in .270. Most prices on line are a little over $700, but there are one or two places at $684 and one guy showing $588 (!) but I never heard of them. Bud's is over $700. Gander Mountain is over $800.
It's good to know the rings are included, like a Ruger. This caliber uses a hinged floorplate instead of a removable mag. I think that is a nice plus as it gives cleaner lines to the gun.
I might be in trouble here. There is a show in Cleveland this weekend that I was considering going to. It's 75 miles one way, though it's a pretty big show. Time to do some pondering.
Any further advice from the rest of you guys is highly welcome. Should I be looking to acquire this or spend my money on that .300 blackout AR upper I'm messing with? If I get this I'll still finish the upper, but it might be a little longer in the doing. If I don't get this it might be a long time looking for one at a better price. Hmmmmm.
__________________ Teach
ALL who work for a living must vote to outvote those who vote for a living.
going to a big gun show is always a good idea. You never know what might show up.
I am just a little curious about your choice of caliber. Not that it is not a good choice. Just that it might be a little difficult in the ammo dept. unless you plan to buy brass and bullets for reloading.
There's a Virginia gun show dealer that usually sells 550's in the low/ mid-600's range.
Your dealer has a lot of markup on that rifle. Small dealers often do to make up for volume.
__________________ "Yeah I'm playing with a full deck, all Jokers of course"
I think you have found a great rifle for a fair price. No harm in asking him to throw in rings, ammo, sling or anything else you may want. If you reload, ask if he will throw in a set of dies. All he can say is "H*&L NO! you communist pig!" So, you might as well ask!
Now, go get your rifle!
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Dedicated to the memory of Ronald "Dad" Knutson Sr. 1936-2013
Seems like he is in the ball park. Don't know if you will find one at the gun show but you never know. I do know the last few shows I have been to have been a waste of money and time as the dealers were wanting way more than msrp on most new guns.
I've been looking quite a while at shows and stores, nothing serious, just when I was there. NO CZ centerfires to be seen and held. Rimfires, yes, but no one seems to have the centerfires in stock much.
It would cost about $24 in gas to drive to the show and back, plus $6 admission, so I'm giving it some serious thought.
The rifle and caliber were both highly recommended by several guys here. The round is one of those that shoots bigger than it is, likely due to the long bullets. The recoil is light, good for an injured shoulder. The accuracy is supposed to be very good, reloading free of problems with old standby powders like 4831, 4350, H-380 showing for a lot of loads.
The round was initially developed in the 19th century and has survived quite well, especially in Europe where it's a major hunting caliber, like the 30-06 is here. Ballistically similar to the .270, but better at 200 yards or more.
The gun has a great piece of Turkish walnut, lots of figure, nicely fitted. I guess I'm sold on it, but need to find a way to sweeten the deal.
__________________ Teach
ALL who work for a living must vote to outvote those who vote for a living.
drop by a local diner and pick up some sweet N low if you need to sweeten it. Seriously though you are right about the gas to and from the gun show, entrance fee, and possibility of not finding one or anything worthwhile. As for the caliber I don't have one so I can't say how great it is but it is certainly at the top of my wish list for many of the reasons you have listed. The cartridge has been around for a very long time and components are widely available locally or on the internet. There are several different boxes of loaded ammo around town here so I wouldn't worry about it if I needed loaded ammo. From a reloading standpoint I have read and heard that it is harder to find a load that the rifles don't like than it is to find one that they do like. It is to most Scandinavian country's as the 30-06 is to the US. Very versatile cartridge. On paper it doesn't look special but those who own them know how they perform and will stand by them.
Location: At the foot of the Green Mountains , Vermont
Posts: 194
Haggle
I never buy a gun or something with a motor on it without haggling over the price ! It's half the fun , and 90% of the time you get a better deal . I know I always mark stuff up , so I have some haggle room !
I was in last night having my oil changed. The gun store is about 100 yards from the car shop, so I went over. We talked a bit, haggled a bit, finally worked out a deal involving the rifle, 2 boxes of ammo, a set of dies, a shellholder, and a 4-12 x 50 Nikon scope he had. It helped when I offered him green paper instead of plastic.
Tonight I'll pick up everything but the dies, which he had to order in.
Started a different thread with the pics in it. The test target, at 50 meters, has 3 holes touching, the two extreme centers are no more than 7mm apart.
The ammo is 139 grain FMJ stuff made in Bosnia-Heregovina, marketed here by Century International. I strongly suspect Norma makes the brass, but don't know for sure. It's milsurp or something, with lacquered and crimped primers, but Boxer primed and enough to get me started. Something else to keep my eyes open for at the shows.
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Teach
