How to Modify a Large Bore Rifle?

[Zeke Menuar]

Hello All

While I was at Sportsman's Warehouse today drooling over guns I can't afford, I had a chance to take a good long look at the new CZ 550 American Safari. Very nice gun. Good fit, finish and the trigger is pretty good for a OEM trigger. The sights were open express sights calibrated from 100-300 yards. Caliber is 375 H&H. The stock is pretty big especially through the forearm. Not too big, just bigger than I am used to.

So as I try to figure out how to divert money from the budget to put into the secret slush fund, I went around the 'net to the usual sites and found several posts about large Bore/DGR rifles and what kind of mods the owners do to them. Everything from modifcations of the recoil lug, installing crossbolts (the CZ550 doesn't have them on this model) and heavy duty steel composite bedding and other stuff I haven't heard of.

So what is the real story on what kind of mods can or should be done to a boomer such as a 375 H&H? The only mods I can think of doing are a recoil pad and a stout scope. Anything else to consider?

FWIW. I have absolutely no real use for a big piece of field artillery like this one. I want one. That is reason enough to stop buying milsurps for awhile and get a nice new gun for a change.

ZM

 

[artech]

First off, get some ammo and shoot the frickin' thing! How will you know what if anything you might want without actually using it?

I also have a 375 H&H, mine is a Ruger #1. Single shot, but you really only need one of these bullets! Turns out all I wanted to change was a better rear iron sight, like an express ramp or open aperture type sight(still looking). The rest of the gun is perfect as is, wouldn't change a thing.

I got into reloading for this rifle and find it very consistent with many different loads. Unlike many large bores, the 375 H&H is also good at longer ranges, I find mine will shoot as well and as flat as most 30-06 220 grain loads. You might want a little bigger scope than you think. Try it!

 

[schromf]

First off, get some ammo and shoot the frickin' thing! How will you know what if anything you might want without actually using it?

Not good advise. The CZ 550's are known for cracking the stocks, some of the guys using the 416 Rigby are getting less than 10 shots off before it happens. The 375 H&H won't be this bad, but a little caution beforehand is a good thing.

Look over at accuratereloading.com, look in the big bore section there is a wealth of information from guys that have worked with these. This has almost become the rifle du jour for big bore rifles as of late.

I got to add give the Winchester Model 70 a look in this caliber, many are saying it is cheaper in the long run, it has the crossbolt, there are two models one is are $750 and the other is $950. Yeah there are customs that spiral up beyond that too.

The bedding and steel reinforcement is the standard upgrade on the CZ550. I just bought a CZ in a smaller caliber, and they are a good gun for the price, but the big ones out of the box need a little help.

 

[HankB]

On my last safari, my PH had a couple of BRNO rifles, one a .375, the other a .458. (Older, plainer versions of the CZ550). BOTH of them were showing evidence of stock cracking because of no crossbolts.

So crossbolts and bedding should be SOP for purchasers of one of these rifles.

Beyond that, I haven't made up my mind about the purpose of a single set trigger on a big rifle like this, and I don't like the multi-bladed "Express" sights, especially with the deep "V." Nor do I like the teeny-tiny front bead. And the barrel is a bit on the long side.

On the other hand, the CZ action has a good reputation, so assuming the stock fits you, IMHO the rifle forms the basis of a good DGR, with some relatively inexpensive modifications . . . it's just not quite ready to go out of the box.