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Silk Purse out of a Sow's Ear (Kinda)

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10 May 2004, 15:31
Mike Birdwell
Silk Purse out of a Sow's Ear (Kinda)
I ordered a Cz 458 Lott a while back (8 1/2 week wait) with the upgraded wood. I customized it to my liking. Which was to add a forend tip & grip cap, fill the hollow in the bolt handle all with dark walnut. Put a shadow line on the cheek piece, fill the front stud hole, install a barrel band, file of the XXX's on top of barrel, tone down the stampings on receiver & barrel, reblue, & apply a nice satin tung oil finish. I also fabricated a hi-viz front sight out of a shotgun sight. ( for my old eyes!) I smoothed the action & did a trigger job. Now It's ready to go to Africa with a little load development. Pic's below if interested.
Regards Mike






10 May 2004, 15:42
500grains
That is quite an improvement!

Maybe someone from CZ will view this thread and get some ideas.
10 May 2004, 15:52
T.Carr
Mike,

Wow, you did a great job. Really gave it a classic look.

Regards,

Terry
10 May 2004, 15:48
Aspen Hill Adventures
It's beautiful, too pretty for a man to carry though so send it to me.
10 May 2004, 16:03
RSEK
It really turned out well.



How did you go about filling the bolt handle?
10 May 2004, 16:09
M1Tanker
You did a great job. I really like the figure in the stock. You made a very nice rifle out of the CZ. I hope it shoots as good as it looks.
10 May 2004, 16:17
Mike Birdwell
I cut a thin piece of walnut & used the appropriate size gasket punch & used a dremel tool to bevel it, then lastly epoxied it in. Regards Mike
10 May 2004, 17:13
Gringo Cazador
Mike, that is really nice. I take it thats upgraded wood from CZ, not a custom you did. Thats a really nice piece of wood.

I like the front sight also, you did very good.

I'm having a stock for my 416 turned, I'd be tickled if mine came out half that good.

Hope you didn't get oil on your wifes white couch......
10 May 2004, 17:38
vapodog
excellent work.....It's good enough for the kind of girls I go out with.
10 May 2004, 18:19
Frank Beller
Mike ..... you did a great job. One question - why didn't you install one or two crossbolts while doing the project ? The reason I'm asking is that I just bought a CZ American 550 in .416 Rigby, and was told by CZ-USA that crossbolts weren't needed with the new American stock, but I'm a little skeptical. What's your thoughts ?
10 May 2004, 18:28
Mike Birdwell
Quote:

Mike ..... you did a great job. One question - why didn't you install one or two crossbolts while doing the project ? The reason I'm asking is that I just bought a CZ American 550 in .416 Rigby, and was told by CZ-USA that crossbolts weren't needed with the new American stock, but I'm a little skeptical. What's your thoughts ?





My gun has 3 recoil lugs & has a very generous clearance around rear of action & trigger guard. I used brownells steel-bed to bed the recoil lugs & feel that it will endure, of course only time will tell. Regards Mike
10 May 2004, 18:34
prof242
Looks very very good. Just wondering though...the white socks up on the chair?!?
10 May 2004, 18:41
Mike Birdwell
Quote:

Looks very very good. Just wondering though...the white socks up on the chair?!?



Actually those are bleached sow ears!
Regards Mike
10 May 2004, 18:54
prof242
Great, Mike. And now you have the rifle to shoot those sows and get more sows ears.
Max
10 May 2004, 18:57
Kyler Hamann
I'm impressed! You did a great job. You should offer that as a package for other CZ owners.

Kyler
10 May 2004, 22:38
boha
You have got the touch. Congratulations!

Boha, still working on one
11 May 2004, 01:12
TGetzen
Nice looking, great job! I like the American stock style much better than the hogback.

What is the upgraded wood option? How much? That looks better than the wood I have seen on some high-priced semicustoms.

And BTW, it is still easy to add crossbolts. You would have to re-bed, of course. The B-square jig works great, and Roger Kehr does a very handsome engraving job on them.

Todd
11 May 2004, 01:38
Rich Elliott
Mike,
I LIKE it!
Rich Elliott
11 May 2004, 02:44
475Guy
Mike, that was well done! You've turned an ordinary rifle into a work of art. You know that talent like that shouldn't be wasted on only hobbies and maybe you should try it commercially. You make me want to go get a CZ even though I haven't seen a one in a bigbore that I've ever liked.
11 May 2004, 03:59
Atkinson
Good job and it looks really nice...Why not add a steel grip cap?, that would top it off...
11 May 2004, 04:02
Michael Robinson
That is a very nice piece of work. I love the stock.

I think I'd have to double cross-bolt it, though, if it were mine. I'd hate to see such a beautiful piece of wood split at the tang.

Nice job.
11 May 2004, 04:49
500grains
The only thing that I would consider is cutting off the ugly OEM CZ bolt handle and replacing it with a straight drop Obendorf style handle. That change would give the gun a lot of class.
11 May 2004, 07:14
Arts
Nice. I have a question that does not relate to your very nice work: I know why a sling stud on the forend is undesirable in a heavy recoiling rifle, and thus know why the barrel band approach is used, but, it seems to me that if one uses the sling while shooting (military style), as I nearly always do, that the barrel stress would effect point of impact. I have contemplated putting the swivel stud on the end of the forend (cap) at about a 45 degree angle, thus getting it out of the way of your hand, but not pulling on the barrel. Your (or anyone's) thoughts on this?
11 May 2004, 07:48
pow
Add my, "Good job!" to the many already.
11 May 2004, 10:19
Redlander
Quote:

Nice. I have a question that does not relate to your very nice work: I know why a sling stud on the forend is undesirable in a heavy recoiling rifle, and thus know why the barrel band approach is used, but, it seems to me that if one uses the sling while shooting (military style), as I nearly always do, that the barrel stress would effect point of impact. I have contemplated putting the swivel stud on the end of the forend (cap) at about a 45 degree angle, thus getting it out of the way of your hand, but not pulling on the barrel. Your (or anyone's) thoughts on this?



Arts,

Check out Brockman's Magnum Sling Swivel Stud for just such an application. Looks classy and isn't that expensive. Don't know how it holds up if there is a forend tip.
11 May 2004, 10:36
Arts
That's along the lines of what I have in mind. I don't see why a regular stud couldn't be used, just a different location, and a properly attached forend tip should make no difference, as it should be as solid as the original forend.
11 May 2004, 10:53
Mike Birdwell
Quote:

Nice. I have a question that does not relate to your very nice work: I know why a sling stud on the forend is undesirable in a heavy recoiling rifle, and thus know why the barrel band approach is used, but, it seems to me that if one uses the sling while shooting (military style), as I nearly always do, that the barrel stress would effect point of impact. I have contemplated putting the swivel stud on the end of the forend (cap) at about a 45 degree angle, thus getting it out of the way of your hand, but not pulling on the barrel. Your (or anyone's) thoughts on this?





I just like the way the barrel band looks, it looks more like a african rifle with the band, plus it hangs lower on your shoulder & makes it easier to navigate through brush & trees. I am not going to scope this rifle, it is going to be for up close & personal work. So what ever difference the strap hanging down makes on accuracy will be minimal for its intended use.

Regards Mike
11 May 2004, 11:09
Mike Birdwell
Quote:

Nice looking, great job! I like the American stock style much better than the hogback.

What is the upgraded wood option? How much? That looks better than the wood I have seen on some high-priced semicustoms.

And BTW, it is still easy to add crossbolts. You would have to re-bed, of course. The B-square jig works great, and Roger Kehr does a very handsome engraving job on them.

Todd



The wood upgrade cost approx. $400 extra.
Regards Mike
11 May 2004, 11:28
Arts
Indeed, it looks nice. I was not suggesting for even a moment that you do it differently, only inquiring for opinions for my use.
11 May 2004, 11:37
Kev
HI,

That is nice and a very good cal,,Kev