Big Bore Addiction Group

[matt85]

Matt I've really had my eye on the 458 Lott CZ 550 too, I'm having difficulty though because if I save for a while longer I may be able to swing a double in 450/400 or a 470 NE. Decisions, decisions.

its depends on which double your getting. if you get a 470 NE then you dont really need the Lott. but if your getting a 450/400 NE then the 458 Lott is a better stopping cartridge.

a CZ 550 in 458 Lott runs around $1100 and the work to get it to run properly will probably cost you another $500-$800.

You can round trip Africa and hunt for 10K?

easily! if you shop around properly you can do a hunt in SA for under $5000 (that includes airfare).

-matt

 

[gizmo]

a CZ 550 in 458 Lott runs around $1100 and the work to get it to run properly will probably cost you another $500-$800.

Matt I'm really curious about this. I've heard a lot about probs with the CZ's. I guess I'll find out when i finally get to shoot my new 375. I've had people tell me they have never had a problem and others say they had to get it worked on. ?????? I have ran rounds through it but haven't shot it yet. The feeding is flawless so far and the bolt is smooth as glass. that may change though soon as it goes bang?

 

[matt85]

it depends on a few things. type of ammo and bullet can make a huge difference with feeding. my CZ 550 375 H&H fed fine until you tried to use round nose bullets. the CZ 550 is well known to be rough when new and feeding issues arent uncommon. i have owned a number of their rifles and handguns and most of them needed work to some small degree.

the 458 Lott and 458 WM CZ's have a pretty nasty reputation for feed issues. also keep in mind what some people call "feeding fine" others would find unacceptable. i expect a DG rifle to run 100% regardless of how its operated or what ammunition is used.

-matt

 

[gizmo]

i expect a DG rifle to run 100% regardless of how its operated or what ammunition is used.

Absolutely, your life may very well depend upon it. Well I'll just have to see how she works. If the 458 Lotts are known for having problems that certainly changes my mind on wanting one. A new gun shouldn't have to be worked on to make it function properly. One would think CZ would fix this issue(s).

 

[matt85]

A new gun shouldn't have to be worked on to make it function properly. One would think CZ would fix this issue(s).

i couldnt agree more! however the CZ, even with the cost of the extra work is still much more affordable then the next least expensive rifle in the same cartridge. the CZ 550 can be made into a very good rifle with a little work.

id just pretend the price is $2000 and have it sent to AHR for their #1 upgrade package before it ever even gets to me.

-matt

 

[gizmo]

What do they do to it?

 

[matt85]

http://americanhuntingrifles.com/?page_id=221

check it out: for $700 you get a new trigger, a M70 style safety, and they get it to feed 100%. in my opinion this is an outstanding deal!

-matt

 

[sierraone]

Guys I feel like I hit the lottery today. I was in Academy Sports looking for some boots for my son to go to Africa in here in June. I naturally had to go by the ammo isles and they had 375 H&H for sale. 35$ a box! Its cheapo federal 270 grain loads but hey, least I got something to shoot now! I also ordered a Nikon 2-7 scope and some CZ scope rings this afternoon from amazon. I'll be lettin lead fly from the new 550 by next week! The ammo, I thought, was a smokin deal. I may go back and buy the rest they have at that price. I bought 100 rounds.

Down to $31.98 here, 270 and 300 gr.

 

[CAustin]

You have the 375 Gizmo which is perfect for Leopard so go for the extra hunt. You did hit a great deal on the ammo at $35 a box. What had they been charging for it? Five boxes is a great for all the practice you need to do fir the up coming hunt but you have to practice next time too so I would go get them all.
Looking forward to hearing your hunt report!

 

[matt85]

i forgot to mention, but if you need a good practice load i have one that worked very well in my CZ 550 375 H&H.

a 300gr Hornady BTSP over 75gr of W760 powder.

-matt

 

[gizmo]

You have the 375 Gizmo which is perfect for Leopard so go for the extra hunt. You did hit a great deal on the ammo at $35 a box. What had they been charging for it? Five boxes is a great for all the practice you need to do fir the up coming hunt but you have to practice next time too so I would go get them all.
Looking forward to hearing your hunt report!

57$/box

 

[sierraone]

You have the 375 Gizmo which is perfect for Leopard so go for the extra hunt. You did hit a great deal on the ammo at $35 a box. What had they been charging for it? Five boxes is a great for all the practice you need to do fir the up coming hunt but you have to practice next time too so I would go get them all.
Looking forward to hearing your hunt report!

CAustin, when I first started buying them nearly two years ago, they were $55.95 occasionally going down to $47. $35.95 since January. Now $31.98 here. A clerk told me in February that Academy was getting rid of all of this brand .375 and would restock another brand, but he didn't know what brand would replace them. I have been stocking up 1 or 2 boxes at a time, but my son will start reloading them for me in April, so I will wait and see what that will end up costing per box using "second" bullets from MidwayUSA. I thought as you suggested to Gizmo, when they hit a certain price, buy them all! I thought there were only 8 or 10 boxes left last week, but I looked into the dark recessed areas of the shelves, and they still have way too many for me to buy them all! In the end, What a Greeeeeaaat price!

 

[Royal27]

So I just did a quick search on ammoseek and the best price they had for anything in .375 H&H is $39.99 (before shipping) for some 300 grain PRVI. So yeah, buy them!

 

[gizmo]

I'm at the doctors office at the moment but will go do it soon as I finish up here.

 

[ActionBob]

Gizmo I burned though plenty of those cheap federal rounds practicing. Nothing wrong with them and I'm sure they would be fine on PG and even a lion if need be... I suspect they expand well and that is what you want on a lion, I think?

Only thing is I paid more for them. Now I have some Colorado Buck stuff I got for about $35 from cheaper than dirt.

 

[gizmo]

The 416 is up to bat for the trip this summer. I bought the 375 for a leopard I'm hoping to do in the next couple of years. I agree, I think on the cats a rapid expanding bullet is best.

 

[sierraone]

So I just did a quick search on ammoseek and the best price they had for anything in .375 H&H is $39.99 (before shipping) for some 300 grain PRVI. So yeah, buy them!

Speaking of PRVI....I bought some 300 gr SP back in November because of the cheap price. On my next range day, I shot both the Federal 270 gr. SP and the Prvi 300 gr. They both had the same point of impact within fractions of an inch at 100 yards. My thinking is that is long as you are not hunting DG, any of these rounds are plenty good enough for plains game, even though they don't have any of the assorted high end bullets. I say this knowing that I don't have the field experience to back this thinking up.

 

[Royal27]

Speaking of PRVI....I bought some 300 gr SP back in November because of the cheap price. On my next range day, I shot both the Federal 270 gr. SP and the Prvi 300 gr. They both had the same point of impact within fractions of an inch at 100 yards. My thinking is that is long as you are not hunting DG, any of these rounds are plenty good enough for plains game, even though they don't have any of the assorted high end bullets. I say this knowing that I don't have the field experience to back this thinking up.

I've found PRVI to be very accurate, if a little dirty. For PG you are probably right, although I'm still going to stick with premium ammunition for actual hunting.

FWIW, out of my rifle PRVI is actually more accurate than some major big dollar brands.

 

[ActionBob]

Speaking of PRVI....I bought some 300 gr SP back in November because of the cheap price. On my next range day, I shot both the Federal 270 gr. SP and the Prvi 300 gr. They both had the same point of impact within fractions of an inch at 100 yards. My thinking is that is long as you are not hunting DG, any of these rounds are plenty good enough for plains game, even though they don't have any of the assorted high end bullets. I say this knowing that I don't have the field experience to back this thinking up.

On one hand I fully agree, yet on the other hand if your spending a lot of money on a hunt, why not buy a few boxes of premium ammo? But sometimes there is the practical side of finding it, and then when you do, you need to get back out and re-sight in with it. I can understand how a guy might be pushed on both ends so that is where I would not fault anyone for hunting even up to Eland with these lower cost rounds in a 375.

But I sure as heck would not go on a buffalo hunt with anything less than the best!

 

[sierraone]

On one hand I fully agree, yet on the other hand if your spending a lot of money on a hunt, why not buy a few boxes of premium ammo? But sometimes there is the practical side of finding it, and then when you do, you need to get back out and re-sight in with it. I can understand how a guy might be pushed on both ends so that is where I would not fault anyone for hunting even up to Eland with these lower cost rounds in a 375.

But I sure as heck would not go on a buffalo hunt with anything less than the best!

Agreed, anything that might stomp me deserves the best...(most deadly).