Is there a sweet spot in the performance/cost spectrum for safari-grade rifles

[Matt_WY]

CZ has an option for the 550 with an Aramid stock. Anybody had any experience with that specific stock? I know AHR does a synthetic replacement stock as well, but I think significantly more expensive.

 

[BeeMaa]

And good for you. I have one or two others as well. I hunt them all. I offered my recommendation to the OP as a best value investment. It may or may not be right for him. I simply noted, were it me starting Africa all over again, I would buy an R8 and never look back.

If someone had clued me in 30 years ago about the Blaser...I may have just gone that way.
One action for the whole lot.

CZ has an option for the 550 with an Aramid stock. Anybody had any experience with that specific stock? I know AHR does a synthetic replacement stock as well, but I think significantly more expensive.

Look half-way down on page one, I have a pic of my CZ Aramid stock on my CZ550 in 375 after the AHR #2 upgrade.
The stock is a little thicker in the wrist than the one Wayne puts on, but I like the CZ stock.
I'm 5'10" and 150# and the rifle is comfortable for me to shoot off sticks.
PM me if you have specific questions.

 

[Matt_WY]

Look half-way down on page one, I have a pic of my CZ Aramid stock on my CZ550 in 375 after the AHR #2 upgrade.
The stock is a little thicker in the wrist than the one Wayne puts on, but I like the CZ stock.
I'm 5'10" and 150# and the rifle is comfortable for me to shoot off sticks.
PM me if you have specific questions.

Perfect. Thanks! I think I missed that because I hadn't seen the aramid as a factory option yet and I was thinking it was part of your AHR package. I get it now! A little slow, but I get there eventually.

 

[One Day...]

Rigby has had a few owners, some not quite so quality minded as others. I can think of one that comes to mind, (hum. . . I wonder who that could be.).

I read between the lines very clearly, and I would agree that the California episode of Rigby was, shall we say, less British LOL

But in truth (and this is why my original post specified "Rigby of London" ;-) the use of ZKK actions by Rigby long predated their California interlude. Beside, very rare and few in between are people in the know who find anything inherently wrong with the ZHH/CZ action. Yeah they are rough from the factory, but a diamond in the rough they are.

 

[One Day...]

CZ has an option for the 550 with an Aramid stock. Anybody had any experience with that specific stock? I know AHR does a synthetic replacement stock as well, but I think significantly more expensive.

Mine has a Bell & Carlson Kevlar & Aramid stock with full length aluminum bedding block and pillars. A steal at $272 (https://www.bellandcarlson.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=1099). And it can be ordered from Europe ;-)

Not sure what the $425 CZ stock offers that the B&C does not. I believe that the AHR stock may offer more flexibility (exposed cross-bolts, two cheek-piece styles, two bottom-metal styles) but the B&C stock as a long and flawless reputation as OEM for Weatherby, Remington, Winchester, etc. higher end offerings, and as drop-in after-market replacement. I have a numbers of them and they are ... perfect.

This is the other upgrade I would recommend (in addition to the firing pin-locking safety previously discussed), but since, arguably, CZ factory stocks rarely split, it is less critical, in my mind, than putting a true safety on the gun. I had not listed it for the cost-conscious sweet spot, because one can do without it (... until the wood stock splits, generally at the worse possible time, so put a B&C stock on your CZ if you can spare $275 ;-)

PS: rumors abound that Bell & Carlson actually produce the CZ "Aramid" stock ;-)

PS: Ooops ZHH in post above. Obviously meant ZKK

 

[BeeMaa]

View attachment 260278
PS: rumors abound that Bell & Carlson actually produces the CZ "Aramid" stock ;-)

I can see no difference between between the two stocks.
What I do see is a price difference between the three CZ stocks offered.
Hogback $1100, Aramid $1400 and American Safari $1600.
So you could get the Hogback stock and order a B&C stock to save about $30...which you would spend in shipping.

 

[One Day...]

If someone had clued me in 30 years ago about the Blaser...I may have just gone that way.
One action for the whole lot.

Yep, I remain tempted...

The other side of the coin is that there is zero backup in this option. If the action fails (unlikely but it happens even to Blaser -they have had a few horror stories about the lockup of their guns) or, if more prosaically the Toyota backs up on the gun (oh yes it happens!), you are 100% SOL...

I still like the two rifles option, because even if calibers are at the two opposite ends of the spectrum (e.g. my matched pair of plains game .257 Wby & .340 Wby) you still have a backup if one of the two gets out of commission for whatever reason... The PH will laugh when you shoot a Duiker with the .340, and everyone will be very focused when you shoot a Kudu with the .257, but in either case it is better than throwing rocks at them or defaulting to the PH's gun that you have never shot (IF he has one in the truck, which is unlikely on a plain games hunt).

 

[BeeMaa]

I still like the two rifles option, because even if calibers are at the two opposite ends of the spectrum (e.g. my matched pair of plains game .257 Wby & .340 Wby) you still have a backup if one of the two gets out of commission for whatever reason...

So...more rifles = good.
Got it.
I like this kind of math.

In all seriousness, I really do get it.

I think I want a Blaser as an excuse to have multiple caliber options, which is one of the reasons my wife doesn't want me to get one.

 

[One Day...]

I can see no difference between between the two stocks.
What I do see is a price difference between the three CZ stocks offered.
Hogback $1100, Aramid $1400 and American Safari $1600.
So you could get the Hogback stock and order a B&C stock to save about $30...which you would spend in shipping.

I would not buy a CZ new unless you can get it for $1,000. There are a number of as-new used one popping up regularly on GunBroker.com etc. Get the cheapest used one you can get (less than $1,000) as long as the steel is in good shape. Clean/smooth it up, spend $250 on a "three-position" safety, $280 on a B&C stock, and spend the leftover $3,000 (compared to a "custom shop" or "upgraded" CZ) to pay for your first five-day, five-animal, plains game non-trophy (i.e. so called "cull" which is generally a misnomer) safari...

If you can find one with the CZ Aramid stock for $1,300, that works perfectly too as BeeMaa suggests, but it seems that these are not listed as often.

So...more rifles = good.
Got it. I like this kind of math. In all seriousness, I really do get it. I think I want a Blaser as an excuse to have multiple caliber options, which is one of the reasons my wife doesn't want me to get one.

Wrong!
Tell your wife that it would be ridiculous to spend all that money to go to Africa without any backup.
You therefore need TWO Blasers. LOL.

 

[BeeMaa]

Wrong!
Tell your wife that it would be ridiculous to spend all that money to go to Africa without any backup.
You therefore need TWO Blasers. LOL.

LMAO.
Wife is making cookies right now as I type and saying "REALLY?" in that tone I love so much...you know the tone I'm sure.
Maybe just call it a day with my current battery until our Safari comes and goes...then worry about the next one.
FYI - We are taking two rifles, one for me and one for her.

 

[One Day...]

LMAO.
Wife is making cookies right now as I type and saying "REALLY?" in that tone I love so much...you know the tone I'm sure.
Maybe just call it a day with my current battery until our Safari comes and goes...then worry about the next one.
FYI - We are taking two rifles, one for me and one for her.

So not only does she have a backup for the rifle, but she also has a backup for herself. Super smart. Not to mention she can find other uses for you back at camp. Cleaver girl she is LOL

 

[leslie hetrick]

I used this CZ-550 in.375 H&H mag on five hunting trips to Africa and shot most of the 61 animals I shot with it and never had a problem with it, even with working the bolt when on the run. the leupold scope held zero thro out all of the hunts(was shot to conform zero from time to time), I,m 5 ft 11" and weight 212 and 75 years old.

 

[2L8]

You can't half load a Ruger? I thought you could load the mag, pull the bolt back far enough to get the round in the chamber but not release the round from the mag and the extractor was beveled to allow for the extractor to pop over the rim.

 

[Rum Runner]

CZ has an option for the 550 with an Aramid stock. Anybody had any experience with that specific stock? I know AHR does a synthetic replacement stock as well, but I think significantly more expensive.

I recently purchased a CZ 550 Safari, .416 Rigby, with and Aramid stock. The barrel is bedded in aluminum and the stock is extremely rugged.

The action is a little stiff, but getting better with use. It's heavy (9 1/2 lbs), but that's a good thing in the .416.

One selling point for me was the Mauser action. Its got a set trigger, which I haven't used, but its nice to have. Out of the box accuracy, and now that I'm getting my hand-loads down, that's getting even better.

Its hard to strike that balance between value and need, but I don't feel like I compromised.

This firearm is stout...in every way. I'm sure I could take it anywhere and it would perform. I look at it and it screams "AFRICA"!

 

[Paparock94]

Well guys I have zero knowledge about Africa or hunting there however I had a .375 H&H with a Bell & Carlson Kevlar & Aramid stock with full length aluminum bedding block and pillars which became my favorite rifle. So I give that stock two thumbs up!

 

[bpcr]

I'm less concerned about the specific cartridge choice at this point (though I'm leaning towards 375H&H) and more concerned about selecting a make of rifle to acquire. Need something that I can count on as a reliable hunting rifle, including for dangerous game (though I probably won't ever use it on an elephant).

After perusing this forum (including the experiences from Zimbabwe PH exams post), reading other places, receiving input from my PH, etc:

Win Model 70: not favorable review in the Zimbabwe PH exams; my PH recommended against it

Sako: seem like quality rifles, but not truly CRF from what I understand

CZ: seem widely recommended, though lots of people have work done on them

Rugers: seem to be mostly chambered for the various Ruger calibers; I'm never been particularly please with the accuracy of any of my (several) Ruger rifles

Montana: getting up there in price; not chambered in desired calibers

Kimber: having a hard time finding many reviews/experience with this one; I have no experience with their rifles, but I wouldn't rest my life on one of their 1911s

Dakota: way out of price range

Remington: Trying to stay away from push-feeds​

I can't justify spending 10k on a rifle. Was hoping to stay under 2k. I do realize that you get what you pay for and I am not expecting a masterpiece, but I think it's reasonable to expect a rifle that will not fail (even under stressful/adverse conditions) and is reasonably accurate.

Also, lots of us (myself included!) have experience with one or two rifles of our own for some of these models. That's helpful, but I'd hugely value input from PH's, gunsmiths, and other folks who have seen LOTS of EACH make of rifle, when and how they fail, etc.

What's a working stiff to do?

Friend,
Take out a loan and be ready to spend 10,000 or better to get yourself a DG rifle that's going to work right out of the box. If you think Africa may be in the future don't go below .458 Win Mag. Bigger is better, bring enough gun, one shot bust em' on the spot. All this holds true with dangerous game and in some cases really big game that may not be considered dangerous.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Friend,
Take out a loan and be ready to spend 10,000 or better to get yourself a DG rifle that's going to work right out of the box. If you think Africa may be in the future don't go below .458 Win Mag. Bigger is better, bring enough gun, one shot bust em' on the spot. All this holds true with dangerous game and in some cases really big game that may not be considered dangerous.

Please explain this interesting advice.

 

[One Day...]

Please explain this interesting advice.

+1

 

[bpcr]

Please explain this interesting advice.

Mr. Phil,
I have three bolt guns CZ, Portugal made M-70 and a Kimber Caprivi two in 458 Lott and the 70 in 458 Win Mag. I went into detail on some other posts of the problems that I had with these rifles. I'll be be brief here. CZ has feed issues. Some days it feeds and some days it doesn't with the same ammo. AHR had it and so did Triple River still no fix. The Kimber don't feed or eject good and it's been back to factory twice. Tried several different loads in the M70 but couldn't get close to accuracy of the other rifles. I have 5000.00 $ in these rifles and needless to say I'm not a happy camper. That being said after all the aggravation I found a used Merkel double in .500 Nitro for 9500.00$. I bought it, and man ,that sumbitch works. It is accurate, looks good, and so far no feed or ejection issues. It also came with claw scope mounts. Now I'm happy.

 

[Von S.]

Bpcr,

I don't know about 10k, but I will go along with you at the 458 minimum comment on DG.

A 98 with little work becomes one hell of a DG rifle especially if you can live without pretty lumber and mirror finish HB job for pretty cheap.