Hi all, I'm planning to rebarrel my CZ 550 Safari Classic in 375 H&H to either 470 Capstick or 495 A-Square this coming December. I'm probably going to order the barrel later this summer. Right now I'm leaning towards the 470 Capstick. I don't really want a 458 Lott, 500 Jeffery or 505 Gibbs, because if I wanted one of those (which maybe I should've bought in the first place) I could have started with a CZ 500 chambered in those calibers and started from there. So I kinda want something different, but that I can buy factory ammo and correctly stamped cases for even though I plan to only shoot handloads.

470 Capstick:

1) Easy conversion from 375 H&H
2) Less recoil than a 495 A-Square or 500 Jeffery and I can load it down to 470 NE velocities (500g at 2150 fps) and still be a powerful enough round for anything I'm likely to hunt.
3) Cheaper brass and I form from 416 Rem Brass
4) Hornady XTP Pistol bullets (350g and 400g) available for plinking loads
5) It's under 50 caliber so the Customs and ATF things don't kick in.
6) Krieger barrels and factory ammo and brass available from A-Square
7) Has that nice classic African cartridge look with a ghost shoulder and straight (not conical throat)

Of course the 495 A-Square has a lot going for it as well:

1) Still a pretty easy conversion, though bolt face and magazine work will be needed
2) Less recoil than a 500 Jeffery or 505 Gibbs can be loaded "down" to shoot a 600g Woodleigh at 2150 fps or 535g at 2300 fps (mule deer and elk round)
3) Brass can be made from 460 Weatherby, not cheap but a lot cheaper than Jeffery or Gibbs
4) Great selection of Dangerous Game bullets
5) Even though it shoots .510 caliber bullets the brass and barrel come stamped .495 A-Square
6) Krieger barrels and factory ammo and brass available from A-Square
7) It's a big 50 and it's significantly more powerful than a 470 Capstick
8) Has that nice classic African cartridge look with a ghost shoulder and straight (not conical throat)

So if I'm doing something stupid, or not considering something I should, please let me know.

Regards as always,

Chuck