Ive just come back from a visit to a custom gunmaker to sort out details of a custom stock and metal work,work over for a 602 in 458(also being converted to a Lott). He said he didnt want to let his realy good bits of wood go to an other wise standard boring rifle. His point was that he wanted to keep his best bits for his bigger jobs in more expensive rifles ,which sounds fair enough for me. We then started talking about custom magazines, different trigger gaurds etc.
I thought that if I was going to get different bottom metal work, does anyone out there make anything to increase the magazine capacity. I know they hold 5 all ready which is plenty if the shooter does his part, but if we are going custom anyway, then an extra round or two would be good.

?~?~?~

huh?

You look at the 550 bottom metal? the next step up is at least 400 bucks, and won't gain you a whole lot(t)

I, myself, would be on the edge of being insulted by the smith, and unless I knew him to be pulling my leg, I would be sorely tempted to remind him that I am paying for high quaility work, and if he didn't wish to do it, that would be fine.

In fact, I would suggest that he find the bottom metal, and explain the price to me. When I get over the 400 uplift for the metal, I would explain to him that I would prefer MY bottom metal, and $400 better wood.

gtrrrrr, just getting under my skin this time
jeffe

I think ,the gunmakers point was that he didnt want to use his rare top quality wood for an otherwise standard rifle.He said he would prefer to save his exhibition quality wood for his "Best" guns ,which he would put his name too, which seems reasonable to me. He didnt single out the bottom metal , but also mentioned the work which needs to be done to the action,bolt handle trigger etc to make the gun a top quality cutom gun.
I was thinking that with all the labour needed to get the get the bottom metal the right finish and profile for a perfect fit, it might save money by getting an after market one in the first place anyway. If aftermarket ones can increase the magazine capacity, then even more so.

I agree with Jeffe on this. What your saying is that because he considers it to be a boring job he won't do his best work? You asked for a good job with a nice peice of wood, wouldn't the price of the wood be the same as if he was building one of his "best" guns? I'd go somewere else. Thats my 2 bobs worths.

I think I worded it different to how he said it.(Hey my father is a newspaper journalist, honest). I dont think he meant it in a snobby way, he was just trying to keep his better wood for his"signiture guns". He did give me other good info on how to get hold of other good wood,(which he would work on) which I will probably do anyway as his stock of exhibition quality wood in the strength I will need is pretty low. He did say that if I was after a top quality gun ,that the bottom metal would need reshaping to make it more perfect. He showed me some examples of stock metal and some aftermarket actions to show me what needed to be done. The thing I was trying to find out is, are any magazines/bottom metal available to increase the mag capacity, with a stock to suit. If not then I will get him to work over the standard parts.

CR,
As far as I know, there is not a maker of cz 550 custom bottom metal... I'll restate, if he doesn't want to do the gun the way you want to PAY for it, find another fella... signature, fine, I understand that.... and get a WRITTEN warrenty on the stock not breaking, since his work is "so good"

sorry, sticks in my craw

jeffe

I'd supply my own stock blank if I were you. You can probably save some money that way too. Look on eBay, some of the wood suppliers on the net or the ads in Rifle Magazine. I've gotten some great sticks off eBay cheap. I'd be happy with the factory bottom metal and 5 rounds. Otherwise, Jim Wisner or Ted Blackburn or someone like them can supply a magazine that will add a round for another $350-$400US or so.

I was thinking of getting some wood from Roger Vardy. The gunmaker told me of another site www.hunterbid.com .They have lots of wood, photographed on 4 sides up for sale,auction. The reason for wanting a deeper magazine was that there is a slight possibility I might want to turn it into a 505 Gibbs. Maybe a switch barrel/bolt 458 Lott/505 Gibbs, not sure of the practicality though.

Its a ZKK 602 action ,NOT a 550 action. It is the older action with the push button pop up rear sight.It is still missing a bolt as well ,so I will be needing one of these.

CR,

That is a very desireable action. I also have a BRNO M602 in .375 H&H, and I can load six cartridges in the rifle. I usually run with five, and think that is plenty.

I also don't know where you would get a deeper magazine.

I would get a laminated blank from Rod at Acra Glass and hand that to the stocker bloke.

http://www.acrabondlaminates.com/

jim dodd

CR.
it's a 602? Then there aint no custom metal...

and a bolt might be impossible to come by. I don't think the 550 fits it, and the 602 hasn't been in production in years

jeffe

CR500,
I think Jeffe is correct about no custom bottom metal but you could re-shape and take the edges off the exsisting floor plate. With a custom bolt knob make sure you get one that is big enough so it looks right on your action.
This is the one I used


I re-shaped the floorplate some also to take the edges off and to smooth the front contour to ward the hinge area.


I also had a magazine box made that was .200 deeper than the original which gave me one extra round but I really don't think it neccessary with the 458 Lott. You have to be carefull with the trigger engagement when you start to make things deeper with the 602
Hope this helped a bit.
Take care,
Dave

470 Mbogo
Thats a nice looking stock you have there, nice bolt as well. The gunmaker canmake his own bolt handles ,so he will make one to suit. I will probably get him to clean up the original bottom metal like yours ,since there is no problem with it.If I stick with a 458 Lott I wont want any extra capacity, though if I go for a 505 Gibbs, I will get one .200" loger as you did.
As for getting some wood. I spoke to Roger Vardy about some select exhibition quality wood. He will be emailing me pictures of different samples when it comes closer to being started.

cr500,
My last gunsmith does this sort of thing and will even make detatchable magazines for bigbores if you wanted to go that far...expensive though.
I'm in Innisfail for a couple of weeks so give me an email or PM and I will dig up his details if you want.

Karl.

PS.How F%%#$@&# hot is it up here at the moment!?

How hot is it. Freinds who just came back from Brisbane ,complained it was to hot down there. It is a tad humid but not as hot as Brisbane, good beach weather.
Detachable mag! sounds intereting.
My email is cr500dude@yahoo.com

cr500

Who is the custm guy? His initials aren't GG are they? If so the guy does brilliant work but you will pay for it and wait an eternity.

GG

To get another round in it might just mean making a thinner follower or takin a tad of metal off. My cz 550 .375 is only a whisker of being able to close the bolt over 6 rounds !!

GG375 Right on 4 counts. His initials are GG. He does great work ,some say the best in the world. Yes he certainly isnt cheap. Some of the prices in his catalogue blew me away, but then he still gets customers so maybe this says something about the end result. And waiting an eternity, jeeze I wish my boss was so understanding about jobs taking a while to get done. He told me it should be ready in about 3 years (not a missprint). The 3 year wait will be OK, so that I cab make payments as the work progresses.

cr500

I have a lovely single shot rifle that Gabe stocked and I have seen a lot of his work over the years. He started out just doing stock work but when no one in Australia could do metalwork to his satisfaction he taught himself how to use a mill and lathe and now does some of the best metalwork himself including complete mag/floorplate assemblies machined from a block of steel etc. I believe his stocks are perfection - no one anywhere would do better work!

Email me if you want any more info - I am in Weipa.

Cheers

GG

okay... I am now going to be the "bestests" gunsmith in the US...

Take whatever your local smiths quote you for something, triple that, and the leadtimes, quadruple that, and be prepared to give me a 50% deposit.....

the bit about best work and custom, I'll just let go, as if you pay me enough, I'll even customize a turk mauser to 7.5 swiss, if you like... and even put a plastic stock on it... that's extra, of course (wink)

jeffe