Big Bore Addiction Group

[sandman0921]

gizmo, I know what you mean regarding "peer" pressure regarding other's rifles. I'm often a victim of that as well.......like I said before, my wife knows I have an "affliction" when it comes to guns. For sickness AND in health....right?

Anyway, if I hadn't found a gently used New Haven Winchester M70 Safari Express in 375 H&H, the CZ 550 in that caliber was what I was going to buy. I'm by no means an expert, or aficionado, when it comes to CZ rifles, and I'm sure there are others on this forum and elsewhere that are better versed in the ins and outs of that particular rifle, but from all I've read and seen of the CZ 550, it's one of the best values in a medium or big bore out there. I think you will be very happy. As far as quirks, all rifles have them. CZ's are known to be built like tanks, but a little rough around the edges. I've heard that feeding can be an issue, and sometimes the rifles have to be sent back to the factory to have it corrected, but I've never known anyone personally that has had this done. The action can be "gritty", but nothing working the bolt repeatedly can't remedy. The wood can be hit or miss. I've seen some Cz 550's with pretty nice wood for a factory rifle, and some not so much. The factory trigger is good, but can be made better by a gunsmith, or by installing an aftermarket trigger like a Timney or AHR's CZ trigger.

I'm not sure what your budget is, but have you looked at Wayne Jacobson and American Hunting Rifles? He does ground-up builds based on CZ 550 actions, or has different CZ 550 upgrade packages for existing rifles depending on budget and desire. I had a rifle built by him, and I have been very pleased with the fit, finish, and function of the rifle so far. Anyway, just a thought and some more temptation to throw at you.......

Anyway, you've got a great rifle as is I think. Have fun shooting it....

 

[gizmo]

It's more cost effective for me to buy the rifle then upgrade it over time. I typically can't afford to have a custom rifle built. I've been tire kickin for a while and I just really like the look and feel of the CZ's.

 

[sandman0921]

Yeah I feel your pain. It was a hard pill to swallow for me as well, and I had to skimp and save for a while to get it, but I wanted a relatively obscure caliber in the 450 Rigby, and after talking to Wayne it was better to just start from scratch to make sure the feed geometries and angles, etc. were correct. Buy once, cry once right?...anyway that's what I kept telling myself........

Like I said, he does offer the upgrade packages as a later option. However, you've got a great gun as is, and it will only get better with use. Have fun shooting it.....

 

[matt85]

Matt will be along shortly to explain why you need a .458 Lott as the next logical step.

you know me well!

In big bores this will make a 375,416,45-70 that I have.

it does indeed sound like you need a 458 Lott! the proper order of things is .375", .416", .458", .505"/.510", .585", and then .620". anything bigger then a 600 NE becomes too heavy to really hunt with in my opinion.

-matt

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

you know me well!



it does indeed sound like you need a 458 Lott! the proper order of things is .375", .416", .458", .505"/.510", .585", and then .620". anything bigger then a 600 NE becomes too heavy to really hunt with in my opinion.

-matt

You're not wussin' out here are you matt?

 

[matt85]

haha, i handled a H&H 700 NE at the SCI show and the gun was simply too heavy! i believe it was 18 or 19 pounds and was difficult to even aim. i wuld have to take up some serious weight lifting to pack a monster like that around!

i handled a H&H 600 NE that i loved! it was easily the most perfect handling double ive ever put to my shoulder. that gun probably weighted around 13 pounds.

-matt

 

[gizmo]

Welllll. I've started a it backwards but I think I'll get there. After I get the 375 in my sweaty hands I'll start looking at 458's. So your saying the Lott over the Win then?

 

[matt85]

the 458 WM can be "ok" depending on what you want out of it, but i prefer the Lott. the WM suffers from a very low case capacity which means getting 500gr pills moving at a decent velocity can be a little difficult. the WM pretty much cant use heavy monometal bullts like the 500gr Barnes TSX because the bullet eats up all the case capacity.

some guys have taken up using lighter monometal bullets in the 458 WM such as the 400gr CEB Raptor. while i havent tried it, i imagine this would greatly improve its performance. however when it comes to DG i personally require a SD of .300 or better which these lighter bullets dont have.

the 458 Lott is simply a 375 H&H blown out and opened up to .458" (similar to the 416 RM). the Lott has plenty of case capacity to get any of the heavy .458" bullets up to speed. you can even use the 550gr bullets offered by North Fork.

-matt

 

[gizmo]

See I learn something new every time I talk to you. Dammit though as soon as you said that I noticed CZ makes the same rifle in 458 Lott so I guess once I get my 375 in and play with it for a while I'll be forced to buy the 458 cause I can't have a incomplete collection. Don't know if I'll wanna go bigger than that though. Your killing me

 

[ActionBob]

To fully confess my current big bore inventory, I do have a 454 Casull . A 375 H&H, 375 Ruger, 416 Rem Mag, 416 Rigby, and 505 Gibbs... Trying to not admit it but casually shopping for a 458 Lott after one called out to me as I passed her by in cyberspace. But by the time I circled back around to pick her up, she had been kidnapped by someone else!

 

[ActionBob]

Did get to go shoot my recently added Ruger RSM 416 Rigby today. Open sighted yet and went to the indoor range because of the cold. Ran 12 through total with 12 375 H&H in the middle. Nothing like the 505 Gibbs for recoil but shooting the 375 after a 416 is like it used to be to go back to a 30-06 when I started a couple years ago with the 375.

Anyone got advice on a better/thicker recoil pad that will fit nicely on this old RSM? I could use a little more LOP and a softer pad.

 

[IdaRam]

Hey Bob! Glad to hear you tried her out What were you shooting for ammo?
You might take a look at these recoil pads...
http://www.limbsaver.com/product/grind-to-fit-recoil-pad/
http://www.limbsaver.com/product/new-airtech-recoil-pad/
https://kickeezproducts.com/recoil-pads/all-purpose/
Let me know what you get and how you like. I'll be traveling the same road here very shortly

 

[ActionBob]

Shooting Hornady DGX for practice. Cheapest I found. Also bought some Barnes Vortex in banded solids, messed up and got round nose though.. and TSX.

Thanks for the links!

 

[matt85]

Nothing like the 505 Gibbs for recoil but shooting the 375 after a 416 is like it used to be to go back to a 30-06 when I started a couple years ago with the 375.

i know how you feel! i shot my 416 so much that my 375 became too small and i ended up selling it. now my 416 RM is my standard go-to rifle for shooting at the range or out in the woods for fun.

so far ive developed some decent 416 RM loads using a variety of bullets (use at your own risk):

- 350gr Speer Hot-Cor over 79gr of IMR 4064 (2500fps)
- 300gr Barnes TSX over 81.5gr of H4895 (2700fps)
- 400gr Swift A-frame over 74.5gr IMR 4064 (unknown)

the above loads shoot 1 MOA (or better) average groups from my Winchester M70. im currently working on a load using the 400gr Barnes TSX over H4895. the load using the Speer bullets isn't for hunting, i use it as a cheap practice load but its deadly accurate and will easily shoot clover leaf groups at 50 yards!

here is a group using the 350gr Speer Hot-Cor load off sticks at 50 yards:



here is a group using the 300gr Barnes TSX load at 100 yards off the bench:



-matt

 

[vette447]

To fully confess my current big bore inventory, I do have a 454 Casull . A 375 H&H, 375 Ruger, 416 Rem Mag, 416 Rigby, and 505 Gibbs... Trying to not admit it but casually shopping for a 458 Lott after one called out to me as I passed her by in cyberspace. But by the time I circled back around to pick her up, she had been kidnapped by someone else!

I feel your pain on this. I have had this happen to be a few times too. After the gun I was kinda interested in is snatched out from under me, I want it that much more and become almost intent on finding another, better example to buy ASAP..... I am pretty sure I am feeble minded and/or crazy.

 

[ActionBob]

I feel your pain on this. I have had this happen to be a few times too. After the gun I was kinda interested in is snatched out from under me, I want it that much more and become almost intent on finding another, better example to buy ASAP..... I am pretty sure I am feeble minded and/or crazy.

Thanks! Misery loves company and like minded people flock together.

 

[CAustin]

I'm looking forward to getting out to the range for some practice with my 416 Ruger. It's just too darn cold here right now to do much if anything outside.

 

[AKSloper71]

I'm looking forward to getting out to the range for some practice with my 416 Ruger. It's just too darn cold here right now to do much if anything outside.

I'm with you on that brother, way too cold to sit on a bench and sight a rifle in right now... Spring is around the corner so range season is open... I have a couple of new babies to take out to the range and run them through their paces.

Scott

 

[gizmo]

I'm with you on that brother, way too cold to sit on a bench and sight a rifle in right now... Spring is around the corner so range season is open... I have a couple of new babies to take out to the range and run them through their paces.

Scott

+1

 

[ActionBob]

The guys at the indoor range all think it is great when I come in and make the big booms! But I did get a few nasty and a few curious looks when I was in there on ladies night trying out the 416 Rigby... But it was warm and I got to shoot!