I have a cz 452 varmint and the barrel is rubbing the right side of the stock. Is it ok just to sand out the barrel channel to free float the barrel? Also is there anywhere I could get an aftermarket stock for it later on? I installed a Timney trigger in it and don't know how much of a problem that would cause with an aftermarket stock!

There should be no problem with free floating the barrel back to the recoil lug, assuming they still put it on the barrel. Between the lug and the action you can relieve the sides so they don't press on the barrel. If you ever bed the rifle, run the bedding up just past the recoil lug, pillar the lug, and leave a small gap between the lug and the bedding.

The only aftermarket stocks I've seen for the CZ were custom cut from flat top blanks, although several people have modified their factory stocks.

Is the barrel lug supposed to be loose on the barrel, because mine just falls out when I remove the stock

Steelbuster9 wrote:Is the barrel lug supposed to be loose on the barrel, because mine just falls out when I remove the stock

Yes.

Steelbuster9 wrote:Is the barrel lug supposed to be loose on the barrel, because mine just falls out when I remove the stock

A short 6mm set screw snugged through the lug can secure it to the barrel. You may need to use a shorter front screw in the lug through the stock, but not necessarily. Its not a Varmint' but I floated my CZ Ultra Lux from the lug forward. I glass bedded it from the lug to the tang. Works for me.

I experimented with locking it down, letting it float and leaving it out. Letting it float worked better.

Float it is. Thanks so much.

I just put my cz back together. It turned out very good. Will I need to sight it in again now that I altered the stock?

Are you saying it's better to leave the lug out since it is free floated?

Will I need to sight it in again now that I altered the stock?

Short answer. Yes.
Always at least check sight settings when removing barrel from stock, or scope from the rifle.

Mary

Steelbuster9 wrote:Are you saying it's better to leave the lug out since it is free floated?

No - leaving the lug in and mobile is better. It's there to dampen, not limit, barrel movement.

And yes, always sight a rifle in after any adjustment, and particularly after taking it out of the stock.

Cool. Thanks yall

Always welcome! Like I've said, the CZ Varmint is one of my favorite flavors.

The Varmint can be quite a temperamental gun when it comes to the stock/barrel/action relationship. Some shoot better with the lug, some without it. Some shoot better before sanding out the barrel channel than after. The single action screw and forward barrel lug design is unique and has its own challenges because of the excessively long triangulation of pressure/stress relationship of the stock, barrel and action.

If the gun shoots great I would just leave it alone as much as possible.

Mine shot best floated, without the lug. Tested it every way that I could. It was inconsistent with the lug in, suffering from a wandering zero in any sort of temperature change over the course of a match. I won a gift certificate for a pillar bedding job from Neil Johnson's Gunsmithing Inc. before it closed up shop and used that on the Varmint. I haven't had time to do any group testing work with it since then to see if it made it shoot any better. I'm not sure how I'd tell, anyway. It shot very well before, probably having groups open up more because of my wind judgement abilities more than inaccuracy in the CZ or the Eley Club Extra EPS ammo.