I can't comment on other makes, but I'm over the moon with my CZ550. It has a hogsback stock and in 375 H&H it did smart after 20 rounds or so. So... last week I got it back from the Pine River Gun Shop out of Brisbane.. very happy. It had one of those recoil reducers put into the butt. Now, after shooting all afternoon at the range in a Big Game Rifle Club event, there was no aches at all, even after 8 full factory load shots in 35 seconds!

The other thing done was to get the action bedded; it seems all in the know suggest this, as well as the last modication done by the gunsmith, which was a second cross bolt to help protect the stock from splitting.

I also use a Leupold scope in Warne QD mounts. Very handy for the longer ranges, and for my eyesight. For the "Special Snap" event I removed the scope this time. Makes short range sight acquisition that little bit faster.

If any one is interested, here is the hyperlink to the Big Game Rifle Club, with details of matches, why, and so on:

http://www.biggamerifleclub.com.au/intro.htm