All the discussion has turned my mind toward the big Rigby round. When I am done with my .35 Wheelen A.I. I will turn my efforts to a dangerous game rifle.

So...can anyone tell me what type of action is best for this beast. I have access to some nice Mauser 98's and one Remington Express from the 40's.

Any input is appreciated, preferebly with experience behind it!

Reverend,
Just my opine, but I'd go for the Mauser 98, if'n you are going to build a DGR. However I suggest you do as you feel led! let me know if you have 2 of them!

Rusty
We band of brothers!

Rev,

You need an action that is big enough for the cartridge. The easiest & most economical way to do that now is to buy a CZ in .416 Rigby for about $600, then spend your extra bucks on the upgrades you fancy.

I have been buying them for our SCI Chapter's fund raiser. This year I ordered two rifles because people are asking for more chances to win one.

jim dodd

Rev,
I'll second the CZ.. but if you are determined, the rem mod 30 can't be beat for the conversion, once you get a gunsmith willing, able, and ready to do it, if you don't do your own work.

But, here's a quick run down on the costs for mdoel 30

barrel, contoured pacnor
$150

threaded and chambered at pacnor
$75 ( think)
or

Gages and reamer rental
$50

sights
$190

bluing
$85-10,000 (we'll ue 85)

gunsmith mouting barrel and sights
$150 or so

700, so far, just to it to chamber one round

feed alterations
gunsmith $$$$$

or
cz550 416
$635

best season's wishs
jeffe

The thing I really love about the CZ .416 is that it allows blokes with not much cash such as myself to enjoy classic big bore rounds. The CZ is not a compromise in my eyes, you buy it and do the bits and pieces you want as you can afford it. I have added a stock & just recently got my bolt jewelled. It shoots better than I can, and looks sweet to boot.

Thanks for all the great input. I have seen the CZ ads and was wondering if they were really as good as they looked. I bought one of their inexpensive .22 rimfires and the darn thing shoots as good as can be.

Another question. What about brass and bullets? What is the availability? I usually go through Midway for everything. Any experience with cast bullets.

From the persuasive discussion I will probably buy the nice Remington action for a future project and pick up the CZ when I can. A custom rifle on a pastor's salary isn't an easy proposition, even if my very nice gunsmith Alan Dees is giving me a tremendous break.

Reverendan,

the CZ's IMHO are as good as thye look. Square Bridges, mag mauser, CRF, express sights, all steel nice blueing. I just picked my newest CZ up yesterday in .375 H&H.

Get that .416 you will love it. Just have the stock releived & bedded in the appropriate places. I shoot woodleigh 410 gr and get good results with those. Recoil with the 410 woodleigh's at 2600 fps gets your attention but nothing to harsh. Try the stock first before canning it you may like it. The two main complaints with the CZ 550 magnums is the stock and safety, but you save so much on the iniital cost that these can be added at your leisure and your still infront. Some people however like the stock, I will be keeping mine on my .375 for a while until I can afford a McMillan.

Let us know how you go.

Happy Xmas.

Rev,

Brass, bullets and loaded ammunition are available for order online, just a "one click" away.

You can shoot lead bulleys too.

Good shooting and Merry Christmas!

jim dodd

And keep the velocity down to around 2400. All you get with a faster load is a slightly longer point blank range. DGR's are, after all, used at close range because dangerous game isn't dangerous at 250 yards. Your expensive brass will last longer and you will enjoy shooting it more and it will still kill anything on the planet.

A very cool thing to do with the CZ action is to carefully grind the grooves off the square bridge action. As scope mount bases they aren't very good anyway and the rifle looks so much better without them. Should you decide to go with irons, my experience with the Tally peep rear sight has only been good and it mills nicely into the rear bridge.

Great American Gunstocks (on the web) used to have a whole bunch of 90% inletted stocks for the old Brno 602. Any difference between it and the current CZ is purely imaginary as far as stocking goes. I think you might get a deal from them. Nice people!