CZ550 vs Ruger Hawkeye African in 416?

[CoElkHunter]

It is a dilemma you're pondering here. I have a CZ Rigby I bought several years ago and it wasn't 2X the price of a Ruger. But that was then. However, if the synthetic stock that comes with the CZ is a Bell and Carlson ($340 new) and with the Leupold scope, it MAY take some bite out of the 2X price difference? You would probably still want to scope the Ruger eventually anyway? The problem with the .416 Ruger is that the ammo and brass are only manufactured by Hornady as it's one of their proprietary cartridges. Unlike the Rigby for now, the ammo and brass will probably become more and more difficult to source for the Ruger as time goes on. Just my 2 centavos.

 

[Ruraldoc]

Ammo Availability

#1. 416 Remington
#2. 416 Rigby
#3. 416 Ruger

The Ruger is only made by Hornady and is a very distant third place and is only available with Hornady bullets in Hornady factory ammo.

Of your two choices, get the CZ and put the synthetic stock on it. Get quality ammo with Swift or Barnes bullets and you’re done.

Or find a M70 Winchester in 416 Remington and be happy. Very good dangerous game rifle for the money. The new Portugal guns are generally excellent.

 

[Safari Dave]

.416 Rigby in a used CZ is the most bang for the buck.

If you want a .416 caliber...

 

[Safari Dave]

I would like to hear from hunters who live in Africa about ammo availability in .416 caliber cartridges.

 

[Safari Dave]

My CZ .416 holds 4 in the magazine plus another in the chamber.

My .375 H&H CZ holds 5 in the magazine!

My PH carries a CZ in .458 Lott.


CZ's are very well respected and supported rifles around the world.

I really like Rugers, but I've had to send one back to the factory because of chambering issues.

I have 4 CZ's and I've never had a problem.

 

[Hunt anything]

Which rifle feels better and fits you better. I have several Ruger rifles including an African model but it is in .338 Win. Mag, I also have a CZ in .416 Rigby and there is something about it I just don’t like, it has the European style stock, a 24 inch barrel and the small CZ safety, that may be it but it’s just something I can’t put my finger on it.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Both are magnificent calibers in magnificent rifles. But my vote goes to the CZ-550 in .416 Rigby. Wider availability of factory loaded ammunition.

While I've never personally seen any issues with the Ruger Hawkeye action, Mr. Buzz Charlton (Zimbabwean white hunter) has experienced a few reliability issues with his Ruger Hawkeye (chambered in .416 Rigby). Which caused him to eventually switch to a Heym Model 88B in .500 Nitro Express. He wrote about the experiences in his autobiography "Tall Tales".

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

Undoubtably the CZ 550 in .416, if for no other reason the 550 will continue to go up in value. The real reason the .416 Rigby, 550 CZ is the best non custom rifle made for African dangerous game.

Lon

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

Of Ruger rifles, I like very much their Model #1 single shot, in common calibers.
And I somewhat like their now discontinued M77 Magnum in .375 H&H, .416 Rigby and .458 Lott.

That leaves today’s other Ruger rifles, chambered in their newer cartridges, inspiring no more than a shrug and a yawn from me.
Those new versions of old calibers really don’t do anything significantly different or better than the original versions of, name your bore diameter.

Pictures attached below, Left to Right:
1.
Upon reading about the new Ruger .416 cartridge, this fellow became very enthusiastic and went racing to the gun store to buy one.
2.
This other chap has a .416 Rigby.

Velo dog,

You said it all!

Lon

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

I would like to hear from hunters who live in Africa about ammo availability in .416 caliber cartridges.

Dave as you know is a continent with about 58 countries what is available in one country may not be the same in an adjoining country, I speak for Zimbabwe only.

Due to the arms embargo all ammunition is extremely hard to come by and damned expensive. In the .416 calibers

1. 416 Rigby
2. 416 Remington
3. .416 Ruger

Rigby and Remington almost the same
Ruger a distant 3rd

Keep in mind you are NOT going to the gun shop to buy ammo, your PH can if he has a license for that caliber and I do not think you will find many in Zim using .416, yes so & so will pipe up and great white hunter so &. so does thats great then hopefully you have him as your PH when the need arises.

We have 3 European hunters coming in next week. They decided they did not want to go to the trouble of bringing their own rifles and ammo. My price on .375 H&H $500.00 a box, my cost $400.00 a box 25% mark up.

Lon

 

[Safari Dave]

Which rifle feels better and fits you better. I have several Ruger rifles including an African model but it is in .338 Win. Mag, I also have a CZ in .416 Rigby and there is something about it I just don’t like, it has the European style stock, a 24 inch barrel and the small CZ safety, that may be it but it’s just something I can’t put my finger on it.

I, actually, prefer the European stock over the American stock, when using a scope.

I shot my .416 Rigby CZ and my Winchester Model 70 in .375 H&H at the same shooting session. I didn't perceive any difference in recoil. My CZ shot a tighter group with Hornady DG solids and expanding bullets.

My "lightweight" son experienced the same thing.

 

[Philip Glass]

Ive heard some of the earlier 550s were prone to cracking stocks in the larger calibers, don't know if that included 416 Rigby or just the 458 Lott and 505 Gibbs.

Didn't know the newer Rugers also had the same issue.

I had one Ruger crack but I think it was because I took a few shots from a lead sled. Bad idea.
Both of those rifles are fine but both have problems. If you want to hunt DG with it you must take it to a competent gunsmith And have it completely gone through. Then you must take it to the range and treat it badly and see how it performs. My .416 Ruger tended to flip the next shell out when the bolt was worked hard.

 

[Velo Dog]

I, actually, prefer the European stock over the American stock, when using a scope.

I shot my .416 Rigby CZ and my Winchester Model 70 in .375 H&H at the same shooting session. I didn't perceive any difference in recoil. My CZ shot a tighter group with Hornady DG solids and expanding bullets.

My "lightweight" son experienced the same thing.

I am +1 with you Safari Dave on the CZ “European” profile stock.
Over the years that the CZ 550 rifles were being made, I bought sold and traded several of them —> Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (underline Disorder) when it comes to firearms and fly fishing tackle.

Anyway, the best CZ 550 factory walnut stock shape for recoil that I tried, was the European one (Schnauble forend, “hog back” shaped butt stock).
At least it was for me anyway.

 

[Rule 303]

Not having a Ruger 416 or similar I wo der if the stock cracking can be fixed like the CZ's. That is create some space between the rear of the tang and the stock wood. Yes cross bolts and a good bedding job helps. Also my CZ550 came with a second recoil lug you place in the stock under the rear sight. I do not know if they kept supplying that or not.

 

[Ruraldoc]

I had a CZ 550 in 416 Rigby with the Euro Hogsback stock. It was unpleasant for me.

I have a CZ 550 with the American Classic and Brno 602 with a classic style stock. They are much easier for me to handle.

The hogsback hits my face much harder.

So it’s a good idea to shoot big guns before you buy them although that is often impossible.

The Model 70 Express has been good for me too. Another straight stock design.

 

[mauserhunter]

I do not like the hogsback stock, in looks or fell.

 

[Rule 303]

With all the talk of the Hogs back stock it has me wondering what purpose was it designed for. The Europeans (European hunters please correct me if I am wrong) tend to have their check weld lower on the cheek because of larger objective lens's for low light shooting from blinds. I wonder if the hogs back was developed so they could have a higher cheek weld.

I would also like to know if those that find it good have shorter necks/shorter length of pull so their cheeks are siting on top of the back so it slides out from under the cheek rather than belting them?

Just my idle curiosity at work here.

 

[Velo Dog]

I had a CZ 550 in 416 Rigby with the Euro Hogsback stock. It was unpleasant for me.

I have a CZ 550 with the American Classic and Brno 602 with a classic style stock. They are much easier for me to handle.

The hogsback hits my face much harder.

So it’s a good idea to shoot big guns before you buy them although that is often impossible.

The Model 70 Express has been good for me too. Another straight stock design.

I hear you Ruraldoc,
Others, perhaps even a Gun Wriiter here and there have said the “hog back” shaped rifle stock is not good for handling recoil.
Again, I found the opposite to be true.

So, the answer must be that it all depends on individual differences in each shooter’s physical characteristics, combined with individual shooting style.

On that topic, I have fired only one Weatherby production line made rifle.
It was a Japanese “Mk V”, caliber .300 Wby.
And after one shot, my cheek felt like someone had hit me in the face with a piece of framing lumber.
The fellow who owned that rifle said he never once experienced that discomfort, with hand loads or factory ammunition either one.

Evidently, “one man’s bread” truely “is another man’s poison”.

 

[CoElkHunter]

With all the talk of the Hogs back stock it has me wondering what purpose was it designed for. The Europeans (European hunters please correct me if I am wrong) tend to have their check weld lower on the cheek because of larger objective lens's for low light shooting from blinds. I wonder if the hogs back was developed so they could have a higher cheek weld.

I would also like to know if those that find it good have shorter necks/shorter length of pull so their cheeks are siting on top of the back so it slides out from under the cheek rather than belting them?

Just my idle curiosity at work here.

+1

 

[Axle2010]

Dave as you know is a continent with about 58 countries what is available in one country may not be the same in an adjoining country, I speak for Zimbabwe only.

Due to the arms embargo all ammunition is extremely hard to come by and damned expensive. In the .416 calibers

1. 416 Rigby
2. 416 Remington
3. .416 Ruger

Rigby and Remington almost the same
Ruger a distant 3rd

Keep in mind you are NOT going to the gun shop to buy ammo, your PH can if he has a license for that caliber and I do not think you will find many in Zim using .416, yes so & so will pipe up and great white hunter so &. so does thats great then hopefully you have him as your PH when the need arises.

We have 3 European hunters coming in next week. They decided they did not want to go to the trouble of bringing their own rifles and ammo. My price on .375 H&H $500.00 a box, my cost $400.00 a box 25% mark up.

Lon

Tokoloshe you mind if I ask an ignorant question? Why no 416's in Zimbabwe? My guy in SA has the 375H&H and 416Rigby, just curious.