Back to Tony Smalls (AFRO408) playpen/workshop today to finally pick up TYB's original VZ24 8x57.

Quite a few Forum names were spotted attached to various projects. I hope you are all as happy with Tony's work as I am. Also saw a CZ 550 Safari Classic action being fitted with a 450 Rigby barrel and a A$350-A$400 ERA three position side safety. That's too expensive for this little black duck.

My .416 Rigby CZ550 Safari Magnum had turned up from the local gun shop so Tony and I opened it up. We checked the bedding against the stock and all surfaces were bearing so no need to bed the stock. Some stock sealer had beaded in the barrel channel so Tony quickly removed this for a very close fit of barrel to forend channel. The quality of wood was quite good with very straight grain. Two cross-bolts were present and deeply inletted into the wood and all a bit off centre. The pins are quite thin but Tony assures me they are fine.

I'm still waiting for the Permit so left the rifle with Tony for a Trigger Job, a Nickel (white) 3/8" dot to be placed on the anaemic front sight and the bolt handle to be straightened 90 deg to the bore and then bent outward away from the stock for a better grip when cycling the action.

Despite being new, the action cycled beautifully and a .416 Rigby round (which looks absolutely massive in the palm of ones hand) was dwarfed by the action.

I picked up some Rigby .416 Woodleigh 450 grain RNSP's at Tamworth Firearms. With an S.D. of .371 they will handle anything.