CZ 550 American safari

[sumpnz]

Then end is not rounded, looks like it was squared off, bolt drilled to reduce weight then that hole was reamed with what must have been a countersink type reamer leaving a fairly sharp edge around the end, that irritates the palm of my hand when I cycle the bolt.

Odd. I have 2 550's and both have nicely rounded bolt knobs. Granted neither are Safari magnums (American in 6.5x55 and a Medium Magnum in 9.3x62mm).

As to why I wouldn't have a set trigger on a DGR... Instead of looking at it with the view of "what is the downside?" What is the upside? None that I can think of, and there are downsides. More complexity, more parts, and no advantage whatsoever. What possible reason does a set trigger serve? Is it more reliable? Saying I wouldn't use it under those circumstances is a naive approach that has a possibility of unnecessarily endangering life and limb, and not just yours but everyone on the ground with you.

I think there's quite a number of hunters in Africa that might not agree with your assesment. The Brno 602 (essentially a 550 Safari Magnum) has been one of the most popular rifle platforms in Africa for DG hunting for decades. If the set trigger was such a risk to life and limb I don't think they'd have used that rifle so much no matter the cost advantages.

 

[H&Hhunter]

THE TRUTH>>>>>YOU CAN"T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!

I owned as CZ 550 once in .458Lott. Here are my honest observations. The factory sights suck. They are pretty much unusable unless you are in high light. The stock needs to be bedded. If you don't bed it, it will crack at some point. Mine had a severe feeding issue as in it wouldn't feed reliably. I had a PH in Tanzania one time who's had the exact same problem. Some do some don't pay your money take your chances. The fit and finish is somewhere between horrible and atrocious. The barrel is too thin and too long. The safety had a bad habit of bouncing to the on (safe) position in recoil. That is the kind of thing that will get you KILLED when hunting DG.

That's the bad. Here's the good.

The CZ action is a bomb proof tough action. It is a true magnum sized Mauser action. This rifle has tons of potential and with a little proper gunsmithing can be made ubber cool with very little time and relativity little money. Check out AHR rifles for a look at what a CZ can become with a bit of time and money.

http://www.hunting-rifles.com/

 

[Uncle Mike]

the .45s are great for Buff on up, but they are gross overkill for anything in NA.

This from a man that just bought a 375H&H to hunt squirrels with....

 

[Maverick223]

Maverick
I'm curious why you seem to prefer the 416 rigby to the 458 winchester? It's my understanding that for hunting dangerous game, one doesn't want to shoot past 100 yards or so due to energy loss, so the superior trajectory doesn't seem to mean much. I'm also curious about how you feel about the 458 lott.

I am by no means an expert (Post No. 27 is your man), but I prefer the .416Rigby for general purpose because it can handle the largest game at close range and still have a very good trajectory at distance for lighter game. The problem with the .45s is trajectory, they just fall out of the sky...that said I am working on building a second DG rifle in .45 (my own .45cal...the .45-120NE ). I really think the .375H&H is the ticket for big, bad, mean game in NA, but I understand the call of the bigger rifles. I really like the .458Lott and very nearly bought one, they are everything that the .458WM promised to be (though it nearly delivers on its promises with the new powders available, but they were 50yrs late getting there). I also nearly purchased a .460Wby, but only because it was a good deal. If you reload I wouldn't shy away from this beast, but would load it to mimic the good 'nuff .458Lott (no reason to go any faster, and may not perform as well as slower).

This from a man that just bought a 375H&H to hunt squirrels with...

What can I say...I have a BAD rodent problem...ever seen a 6', 450lb tree rat with 8" fangs? I was worried about not having enough gun.

 

[H&Hhunter]

The problem with the .458 Lott is that it tends to be a to much of a good thing. Many folks find that it just isn't that fun to shoot and it takes discipline and practice to get proficient with.

A .416 Rigby offers tons of power with more manageable shootability.

But don't kid yourself the .458 is a step above the .416 in power and stopping ability no two ways about it.

 

[Action_Can_Do]

H&Hhunter
Those ahr rifles sure are nice, but out of my price range. How much am I looking at, having the rifle bedded (I've never had custom work done to a gun before). Also, is the bedding required for light shooting or heavy shooting? How long do you think the stock will hold out? Do you think the Winchester m70 would require any work? Oh, and since I didn't say it before, I would like to thank everyone for all of the information you've provided. I'm really more of a handgun guy, so I'm kinda in the deep end here.

 

[Maverick223]

Do you think the Winchester m70 would require any work?

Can't speak for H&H, but these aren't available yet (that I know of anyway), however they appear to be very similar to the M-70 Classic of old (well not really that old), so I would say that they will be fine out of the box. That said bedding hardly ever hurts.

I would like to thank everyone for all of the information you've provided. I'm really more of a handgun guy, so I'm kinda in the deep end here.

Glad I could provide a little morsel of hopefully useful information. I feel the same way every time I head on over to the handgun (or shotgun) forum...rifles are my "thing".

 

[Silent Sam]

sumpnz - How many of those Brno/CZ rifles have set triggers? If you want to use a set trigger on a DGR that is your choice. I won't and that is my choice. An essentially target type trigger has no business on a rifle for this purpose. I'll ask again - what possible purpose does it serve? The reason they are popular is because the basic action is a relatively inexpensive Mauser 98 and can be made up into a suitable rifle. True Mausers are quite popular also but I really doubt they are changing original style triggers out for set triggers on those rifles. Ask a PH what his recommendation is.

 

[Maverick223]

...what possible purpose does [a set trigger] serve?

It allows you a better trigger pull if time permits. This could be useful for longer range shots, and can be completely ignored for close range.

 

[Silent Sam]

A "longer range" shot is by definition not dangerous game hunting. How many PHs are going to let you take a 200+ yd first shot on DG? How many 200+ yd shots are taken w/ a 458? Why would you want to?

It can be completely ignored, until something breaks or it is accidently set and goes off unexpectedly. I ignore it by not having it because it provides no advantage on a DGR and it does have disadvantages. If you want to discount or ignore/deny the disadvantages, go right ahead. Additional risk (however slight the perception) w/o any gain is not how I choose to play.

 

[Maverick223]

A "longer range" shot is by definition not dangerous game hunting. How many PHs are going to let you take a 200+ yd first shot on DG? How many 200+ yd shots are taken w/ a 458? Why would you want to?

Are DG rifles unsuitable for non-dangerous game species (antelope species, et al). What about big bear? Polar bear in particular is often taken at long range due to the environment in which it lives. Per the OPs own statement the rifle is unlikely to be employed in service in Africa, nor is my own DG rifle (but a big bear hunt is planned, so long shots are a good possibility).

 

[H&Hhunter]

A bedding job should cost you around $100-$150. Now you guys did notice that the first thing AHR does with these rifle is get rid of that set trigger right? There is a reason for that.

Set triggers are not desirable on a DG rifle. yeah they make a longer shot easier Blah Blah Blah. BUT a well done single stage trigger that breaks clean at about 3 lbs is what you want on a DG rifle and that trigger is perfectly capable at longer ranges without having to set it.

Set triggers are nothing but continental Euro trash IMHO. You will not find a proper British DG rifle with such riff raff included on it. there is a reason for that.

Listen I know some of you guys don't like what I've got to say and I understand why. But I've developed some pretty hard and fast opinions on DG rifles and I like to use what's proven and what works for me and I'll tell it as I see it. I am not going to soft ball my observations on rifles simply so that some dude who has one doesn't get his feelings hurt. The CZ 550 has some majopr problems out of the box and so does just about every other mass built DG rifles out there. I haven't seen one of the new M-70's in a big caliber yet but I'd bett dollars to donoughts that they are going to need some work just like the older M-70's including Pre-64's do to make them DG reliable. The M-70 in .458 was known as a stock splitter and it requires bedding to make it reliable and safe to use on DG.

As far as how long can you shoot one before it splits the stock? Well there is no telling on any rifle it might split in the first 5 rounds it might go 1,000 it may never split. I won't take the chance and will simply have them properly bedded.

But I can tell you this there is a guy over on Accurate reloading who just had his CZ 550 in .404 split within 100 rounds and a .404 is a very mild cartridge compared to a .458 lott. Whats cheaper $150 now on a bedding job or buying a new stock and waiting for months for it to show up later? seems pretty simple to me.

This one report that every big bore CZ owner should read. the pictures are gone but you'll get the gist of it.

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/4711043/m/8161040611?r=7031055611#7031055611

 

[Maverick223]

Set triggers are not desirable on a DG rifle. yeah they make a longer shot easier Blah Blah Blah. BUT a well done single stage trigger that breaks clean at about 3 lbs is what you want on a DG rifle and that trigger is perfectly capable at longer ranges without having to set it.

That said, I think I'll leave mine be. I have it set down to about 3lbs (as low as it would go) with no creep.

 

[Silent Sam]

H&Hhunter-I think we are on the same page although you are a bit more eloquent on the topic. On polar bears being taken at longer range, I don't know about that. Is there anywhere you can legally hunt them now? If the expected range was over a hundred yds, which I doubt, then a 458 would probably not be a good choice for hunting them. I certainly would not have a set trigger on any hunting rifle in that environment (or any other for that matter). There can be a difference between a DG hunting rifle and a DG stopping rifle. A PH's job is a different one from the hunter he is guiding. A properly set up 458 makes a very good stopping rifle but there are better choices for an all round hunting rifle. And as I said on my original post...
"If you are not planning to use it on dangerous game then that is a different matter."

 

[Maverick223]

On polar bears being taken at longer range, I don't know about that. Is there anywhere you can legally hunt them now? If the expected range was over a hundred yds, which I doubt, then a 458 would probably not be a good choice for hunting them.

Sure, Canada still allows a limited number of polar bears to be hunted. I really want to give it a shot if I get the chance. I plan to use my .375H&H, and I honestly think this (or something else in the 9.3mm-416cal. range) would suit the OP best as well, but I can really understand his desire to have a big thumper (I am working on one of those as well, and don't really have a good reason for owning one). I just recently went through the same process when I decided to buy a DG rifle. I started looking at .458s, then went down to .416s, and finally settled on the .375...and now I have been affectionately looking at 9.3x64Brennekes, for what reason I don't know.