Gunsmith Recommendation, Action Work, CZ550 Magnum 505 Gibbs

[JimmyJack54]

With Wayne at AHR and Matrix no longer accepting work, who else do you recommend to work on a CZ550 Magnum 505 Gibbs action? Smooth action, correct ejecting and feeding issues, install three position safety, trigger work.

Also, potentially some stock work if I don’t go with the Bell & Carson.

 

[WAB]

With Wayne at AHR and Matrix no longer accepting work, who else do you recommend to work on a CZ550 Magnum 505 Gibbs action? Smooth action, correct ejecting and feeding issues, install three position safety, trigger work.

Also, potentially some stock work if I don’t go with the Bell & Carson.

Give Roger Renner a call.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

So what's the story with CZ550? I seem to see a lot of posts and threads about this marvelous action requiring gunsmith tuneup to be serviceable. I shot both my buffalo with my PH's 375 CZ, presumably 550. I don't recall any issues ... but I only shot it five times including one shot at the range for each safari.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

With Wayne at AHR and Matrix no longer accepting work, who else do you recommend to work on a CZ550 Magnum 505 Gibbs action? Smooth action, correct ejecting and feeding issues, install three position safety, trigger work.

Also, potentially some stock work if I don’t go with the Bell & Carson.

Might also ask Matt at MNR. I had discussed with him at DSC and said they will do the work also.

 

[JimmyJack54]

So what's the story with CZ550? I seem to see a lot of posts and threads about this marvelous action requiring gunsmith tuneup to be serviceable. I shot both my buffalo with my PH's 375 CZ, presumably 550. I don't recall any issues ... but I only shot it five times including one shot at the range for each safari.

My, new to me, rifle’s serial # indicates it a 2004 vintage. However, it appears the 505 Gibbs wasn’t offered until 2005, only as special order. I suppose this was early in the evolutionary cycle as later versions offered through the custom shop seemed to be more refined. This is just my observation based off of some comments I’ve read regarding later Safari Classic rifles in 505 Gibbs. For example, my rifle doesn’t have cross bolts. Most of the later factory CZ550 Magnum rifles I’ve seen come standard with cross bolts.

Regardless, action is rough/gritty to cycle. This may smooth out over time after use. Otherwise, I’ll load three cartridges down and once first cartridge is cycled it won’t fully eject, second won’t cycle without assistance although it will eject, third no problems up and out.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Wow! No crossbolts? Is the action even glass bedded? Perhaps they put internal crossbolts like Weatherby rifles? I doubt it though. That would take too much effort. Marketing a DGR jumbo caliber that won't cycle properly. Double wow! How did CZ survive that. I seem to recall this was/is not the only jumbo caliber that had/has rough feeding issues. Too bad I'm not near at hand. I'd take a crack at fixing it for you. Last year I successfully transformed an 8mm 98 Mauser into 404 Jeffery. What you're describing indicates the factory artisans only shaped the rails with one cartridge in the magazine and quit. In fact, the procedure is to start modifications of rails with full mag, then two in the box, then modify the FOLLOWER only with just one down. I'm wondering if it can snap over on a cartridge dropped in the chamber? Don't try it without checking the face of claw first. I'm betting they also didn't take the time to do that right. My PH about swooned when I loaded his 375 CZ550 and snapped over on a round. "That gun isn't supposed to do that!" But it did. I guess he was having clients load a full magazine through open floorplate?
Ugh!

 

[ChrisG]

I think the big thing about CZs CRF rifles was that, with a little bit if work, they went from being a little rough and gritty to being about one of the best production magnum CRF rifles on the market and really the only company making a reasonably priced production rifle in old British big game cartridges. they were also the ONLY company as far as I see that produced, in any sort of quantity, a true magnum mauser action. Last I recall, winchester only made the M70 in 3 chamberings suitable for DG. So despite their shortcomings they seem to have been a diamond in the rough, and the only game in town short of buying custom.