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Shooting & Reloading - Mausers, Big Bores and others >> Big Bore Rifles
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mcb
.224 member


Reged: 18/12/03
Posts: 24
Loc: Ohio, USA
Opinions on the CZ 550 Safari magnum
      #10893 - 05/03/04 01:43 AM

In my continuing search for my first big bore I have fallen upon CZ. I have handled there small bore stuff. 22LR, 223 Rem etc. And for the money I was very impress with the quality. But I have never handled any of their big bore firearms. I was wondering what you guys thought of the 550 Safari Magnum in 375 H&H or 458 Lott/Win and possibly in 416 Rigby so I could share reloading cost with a friend?

mcb

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475Guy
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Reged: 22/08/03
Posts: 1088
Loc: Kali, US
Re: Opinions on the CZ 550 Safari magnum [Re: mcb]
      #10905 - 05/03/04 06:53 AM

I can't tell you about CZ bigbores but can say a little something about reloading them. The 375 and 458 Lott are very easy to reload for. All components are easily available for reasonable prices and are sometimes cheap. When you go to reloading for the 416, the RemMag seems to have cheaper brass prices. As for the Rigby, the cheapest prices have been about $171/100 shipped. The Rem brass is about 1/4 that. 416 bullets are kind of expensive too, there are occasional close-outs on them but not often enough. My solution to shooting my 416 on my Ruger was to shoot cast bullets in order to get the range time to familiarize myself with the 416. I've shot about 250 factory rounds and about 1000 cast loads in my 416.

--------------------
Lo do they call to me,
They bid me take my place among
them in the Halls of Valhalla,
Where the brave may live forever.

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luv2safari
.400 member


Reged: 09/11/03
Posts: 1401
Loc: United States
Re: Opinions on the CZ 550 Safari magnum [Re: mcb]
      #10909 - 05/03/04 07:58 AM

I used a CZ550 in 416 Rigby for my first cape buffalo. The rifle performed flawlessly and was exceedingly accurate. The original stock cracked just below the bolt handle, however, but CZ USA replaced the stock and returned the rifle in less that 8 days...complete turn around time.

In looking the gun over after that, I determined that it is necessary to have the action glassed into the stock. The finish of the folding front sights is not exactly Bond Street, but they were right on, using Federal 410 Woodleigh loads.

I do like their set trigger. With 350 Speers in the Rigby, it made a great plains game rifle, also. The scope rings are about Ruger quality...read into that what you may.

For a heavy caliber rifle at around $650.00 the CZ can't be beat with their modified Mauser type action.

--------------------
Hunt with Class and Classics

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475Guy
.400 member


Reged: 22/08/03
Posts: 1088
Loc: Kali, US
Re: Opinions on the CZ 550 Safari magnum [Re: luv2safari]
      #10958 - 05/03/04 08:28 PM

As far as I am concerned, with all the gunsmithing costs, the total price equals the cost of a Ruger RSM. Get one and be done with it. They're heavier duty and don't need to be babied to shoot.

--------------------
Lo do they call to me,
They bid me take my place among
them in the Halls of Valhalla,
Where the brave may live forever.

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luv2safari
.400 member


Reged: 09/11/03
Posts: 1401
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Re: Opinions on the CZ 550 Safari magnum [Re: 475Guy]
      #10983 - 06/03/04 03:12 AM

Sam, Your point is well taken...but...the Ruger rings are throw away as is the Ruger trigger. You have the same "clean up" costs associated with the Ruger as with the CZ. The CZs can be found for around 1/2 the initial cost of the Rugers.

My former CZ550 was far more accurate than my present RSM...in my hands. The CZ wieghed a lot less and handled better IMHO.

Would I trade my RSM for a 550...not on your life! Did I feel ill at ease using the CZ for dangerous game...not on your life!

--------------------
Hunt with Class and Classics

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475Guy
.400 member


Reged: 22/08/03
Posts: 1088
Loc: Kali, US
Re: Opinions on the CZ 550 Safari magnum [Re: luv2safari]
      #10996 - 06/03/04 04:12 AM

I guess I'm pretty luck on my RSM's. I've had beautiful wood and nice trigger pulls on mine.

--------------------
Lo do they call to me,
They bid me take my place among
them in the Halls of Valhalla,
Where the brave may live forever.

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atkinson6
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Reged: 26/01/04
Posts: 678
Loc: Idaho
Re: Opinions on the CZ 550 Safari magnum [Re: 475Guy]
      #11011 - 06/03/04 06:13 AM

What is wrong with Ruger rings?, they are some of the strongest rings made, they are steel and not aluminum and they return to zero as well as any other ring if you line up the slot each time...Not particularly pretty but they sure do work, and then I don't see anything great about Warnes, they are poorly milled, have a ugly lever and several other problems IMO. If I am going to spend money it will be on Talleys hands down. As to the rumor that Ruger Rings are soft I would like to see some proof of that, but then hey rings need not be tungsten grade hard, mostly they should not be brittle.

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luv2safari
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Reged: 09/11/03
Posts: 1401
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Re: Opinions on the CZ 550 Safari magnum [Re: atkinson6]
      #11026 - 06/03/04 12:35 PM

Ray,

Granted, the Warnes are no things of beauty, but I've had my share of lousey fits and broken soft screws with the Rugers. I tried like hell to find Talleys for my RSM and needed a set ASAP. Warne had some, and Talley didn't...so Warnes got on the gun. They work great, but are about as ugly as old Texas cowboys...

I've had several sets of Ruger rings that were so far off that I couldn't adjust the windage with Leupold scopes...not noted for wide lattitudes... The rings were the problems, not the milling of the receivers.

By the way...anybody have opinions on Controls...???

--------------------
Hunt with Class and Classics

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ThomasEdwards
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Reged: 04/01/04
Posts: 246
Loc: Newport Beach, CA
Re: Opinions on the CZ 550 Safari magnum [Re: luv2safari]
      #11027 - 06/03/04 12:44 PM

...if you are looking for high quality scope rings for the ruger safari magnum, you may wish to consider eaw rings (fitted for the rsm)...you can check necg's website...

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luv2safari
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Reged: 09/11/03
Posts: 1401
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Re: Opinions on the CZ 550 Safari magnum [Re: ThomasEdwards]
      #11029 - 06/03/04 12:55 PM

Tom,

Are they QDs? For the RSM I won't have permanent mount type rings. I use the scope off as much as on. I know they are of good quality, however. All their products seem to be IMHO.

--------------------
Hunt with Class and Classics

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ThomasEdwards
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Reged: 04/01/04
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Re: Opinions on the CZ 550 Safari magnum [Re: luv2safari]
      #11032 - 06/03/04 01:38 PM

...can't tell...have never purchased...tho i think the eaw's would be a high grade alternative to ruger supplied rings or talleys...

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mikeh416Rigby
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Reged: 24/02/03
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Loc: The beautiful Oley Valley, PA....
Re: Opinions on the CZ 550 Safari magnum [Re: 475Guy]
      #11033 - 06/03/04 01:57 PM

My RSM in 416 Rigby has nice wood as well. The trigger as it came from the factory broke crisply at 3 1/4 lbs. It's not a tack driver, but it does keep all shots inside 1 1/4" at 100 yards. I'd say that's better than minute of Mbogo.

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475Guy
.400 member


Reged: 22/08/03
Posts: 1088
Loc: Kali, US
Re: Opinions on the CZ 550 Safari magnum [Re: mikeh416Rigby]
      #11044 - 06/03/04 04:49 PM

Mike, how can you tell whether the RSM is a tack driver or not when it is getting your attention every time you light one off? I know I couldn't when I started shooting mine. I was getting tenderized in the beginning until everything settled in and I was getting used to it. I actually got 1", 5 shot groups with Federal ammo when I finally made up my mind that all that pounding was fun. I know now that it don't hurt that bad at all, the Lott is now the king of hurt for the moment.

--------------------
Lo do they call to me,
They bid me take my place among
them in the Halls of Valhalla,
Where the brave may live forever.

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luv2safari
.400 member


Reged: 09/11/03
Posts: 1401
Loc: United States
Re: Opinions on the CZ 550 Safari magnum [Re: mikeh416Rigby]
      #11050 - 06/03/04 05:03 PM

mikeh416,

My RSM trigger feels more like a ratchet than a trigger. I put a Timney in my 338 MKII and now love it. I have one on hand for the RSM, also.

I may not need it, however. I got all sideways the other day while shooting a 'yote out my bedroom window with the 416 and called Ruger. A very nice, calm lady informed me that Ruger has a free program where a MKII owner can send the rifle in, and they will do a trigger job to a crisp 3 1/2 pounds + or -...Think I'll give it a try.

--------------------
Hunt with Class and Classics

Edited by luv2safari (29/03/04 12:06 AM)

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mikeh416Rigby
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Reged: 24/02/03
Posts: 6051
Loc: The beautiful Oley Valley, PA....
Re: Opinions on the CZ 550 Safari magnum [Re: 475Guy]
      #11069 - 07/03/04 01:19 AM

I was comparing the accuracy to my .375 Ackley which has yet to shoot a group larger than .8" at 100 yards. I don't much mind the recoil from the .416 Rigby, so I don't think getting "kissed" by it is an issue-just haven't found the right loading yet.

Edited by mikeh416Rigby (07/03/04 01:20 AM)

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atkinson6
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Reged: 26/01/04
Posts: 678
Loc: Idaho
Re: Opinions on the CZ 550 Safari magnum [Re: mikeh416Rigby]
      #11216 - 09/03/04 04:27 AM

Luv2Safari,
When did Talley start making triggers??

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475Guy
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Reged: 22/08/03
Posts: 1088
Loc: Kali, US
Re: Opinions on the CZ 550 Safari magnum [Re: luv2safari]
      #11233 - 09/03/04 09:50 AM

L2S, just curious, is your RSM an early one? Almost all of the new run of RSM's that I've seen and handled are as I described.

Mike, didn't mean that you couldn't take it. I know I couldn't take it in the beginning.

--------------------
Lo do they call to me,
They bid me take my place among
them in the Halls of Valhalla,
Where the brave may live forever.

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AdamTayler
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Reged: 22/03/04
Posts: 688
Loc: B.C.
Re: Opinions on the CZ 550 Safari magnum [Re: mcb]
      #12691 - 28/03/04 02:47 PM

I have a Brno 602 in 375 H&H and it is outstanding. If you go to gun shows, you can usually find a few 602s amongst all the American rifles, and the vast majority of them are nice and clean. Not a lot of people take the big boys out plinking. The one I picked up already had some custom work done to it, so that was an added bonus.

--------------------
It's the journey, not the destination.

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luv2safari
.400 member


Reged: 09/11/03
Posts: 1401
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Re: Opinions on the CZ 550 Safari magnum [Re: atkinson6]
      #12714 - 29/03/04 12:04 AM

I meant Timney...That's what I told my fingers, but they rite watt thay wunt too sum tyms...

--------------------
Hunt with Class and Classics

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