CZ 550 Safari Classics II 458 Lott

[rigby 416]

I'd love one in 404 or 416 as well. I looked at the last 404 they have left for sale but its the high gloss finish, I really prefer the matte oiled finish on the stock.

My 416 rigby

 

[colorado]

Beautiful! Does it have an ebony forend? i'm assuming so. I really like the scrimshaw lion grip cap.

 

[rigby 416]

Yes.

 

[colorado]

Can I ask who did the scrimshaw grip cap for you? I would love a grizzly bear on my 500 Jeffery.

 

[Luvthunt]

Very nice but alas no more.

 

[rigby 416]

This is a factory rifle come out like this.

 

[RHUK]

I have just bought one of these in 375 H&H. Serial number 16.

Has anyone removed the kick stop from one of these?

I’d like mine to be a bit lighter and I don’t feel that the kick stop is needed in 375.

Is it a gunsmith job or could I easily do it myself?

Thanks

 

[spike.t]

I'd love one in 404 or 416 as well. I looked at the last 404 they have left for sale but its the high gloss finish, I really prefer the matte oiled finish on the stock.

Didn't know about these either....why don't you get the 416 and just have the stock refinished?

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

Didn't know about these either....why don't you get the 416 and just have the stock refinished?

I've decided that if I buy a 416 it will either be a Mauser M98 Diplomat or a Rigby Big Game

 

[Rule 303]

A PH I know in Zim use a 458Lott and swears by Woodleigh Hydro's for big DG.

When I was looking for a DG rifle I bought a CZ550 in 416 Rigby. I wanted a 404J but back then they were a special offer from CZ. The 416R was 1600AUD and the 404 was about 4500AUD.
Not game to check Claytons out, I am trying to cut down on the rifles I own but some how the number remains stagnant.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Not game to check Claytons out, I am trying to cut down on the rifles I own but some how the number remains stagnant.

Go on…..you know you want to…..
Gumpy

 

[Rule 303]

Go on…..you know you want to…..
Gumpy

With friends like you, who needs enemies.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

With friends like you, who needs enemies.

I am here to assist you in your endeavours.
Gumpy

 

[Riflecrank]

I have been buying and re-barreling, re-chambering, and fixing up CZ 550 Magnums since as soon as they showed up on this side of the pond through CZ-USA, about the turn of this century.
Sadly they are no more around here.

The initial issue .505 Gibbs and 404 Jeffery required a lot of work and it wasn't until about 2007 (like in catalog link above) that CZ-USA started getting their act together.
Guided by things like replacing my broken marble cake stock on the mild little 404 Jeffery,
they soon started putting the usual double cross bolts in them instead of none, or just the single one behind the tang.

Even after I had an expert gunsmith glass bed, and install pillars and crossbolts.

The pretty .458 Lott of OP has a glaring deficiency IMHO:
The Talley rings with the double hole drilled above the recoil tab on the rear ring.
I have busted them on hard kickers, and quit using Talley CZ rings altogether after stripping the main mounting screws on another set,
and googled up some images on the internet.

poor focus but the crack is there.
Some other images by other people:

I thought this version (no holes above recoil tab) was improved, but when I kept it tight, fearing loosening was what caused the other to fail ...

... levers pointed above bore axis when on right side so that recoil keeps them tight

... my puny fingers stripped the main mounting bolt, no cheater pipe involved:

No vertical split ring can be as strong as a horizontally split ring, where the scope-tube-holding function is independent of the ring-to-action-holding function.
The OEM CZ 550 Magnum rings are as strong as it gets, especially if you replace the main mounting screws with automotive socket head screw where the QD lever becomes QD itself, and is carried in your pants pocket.
Or Bubba your own QD levers onto the OEM CZ rings:

On the left side of rifle, levers point downward to have recoil keep them tight.
The .500 Jeffery above is waiting for Bubba to sand down the epoxy build on the fore arm edges.
Barrel was so fat the CZ laminate stock's barrel channel had to be enlarged.
Bubba plans to cover the entire mess of the stock with grey truck bed coat, rugged texture paint to cover the checkering and all.

 

[Riflecrank]

The way Bubba does it is to thread the inside of Leupold QRW levers to fit the metric main mounting socket cap screw that replaces the CZ slotted head screw,
then J-B Weld them to integral.
Use washers if levers do not line up to point correctly.

Or just forget about the silly QD levers and carry the QD-QD lever in your pocket.

Torque to 65 inch-pounds. Above was on a BRNO ZKK-602 .500 A-Square Improved aka .510 JAB.

 

[Riflecrank]

Yep, CZ finally got heir act together on the 550 Magnum.
Grain flow in OP stock is excellent.
I would do this to any questionable grain walnut and any laminate:

That is the stock on .500 Mbogo 3-Inch (No. 1) which is now getting a B&C replacement.
The laminate is on the .500 Jeffery toy now.
It was originally on a .416 Rigby.
I call it the Fat American style of stock.

 

[colorado]

I bought mine in Feb of 2008. Awesome rifle.

 

[Boris11]

Lovely rifle.
They are very fun to shoot.