And actually was satisfied with it right off the bat? It seems like nobody on this fourm who bought one has been happy: won't feed, won't chamber, won't shoot, etc.

They sure are purty, but for two grand, a rifle had ought to work!

Specifically regarding the Safari Classic:
I own two of them, .404 Jeffery and .505 Gibbs.

The .404 Jeffery was perfect out of the box other than needing cross bolts and glass bedding. It was of the first batch produced and had nice wood, but not the recent crossbolts from the factory. Holds 5 down in the box and feeds and functions perfectly. Mine is accurate. It has a McGowen 10" twist barrel that slugs .423" to .424" ball park. I can't measure in .0001" increments. It is not loose. It is not tight. It is just right all around. The box dimensions, other than length, are Mauser-Perfect for the .404 Jeffery, and a little extra box length works fine in this case. Boxers not briefs, thank you.

The .505 Gibbs stutters with FN solids from the left side, but it is mainly just for load development, a shop mule. 10" twist McGowen barrel too, it will handle any .505 bullet made, I am sure.

sure...
pay $250 for bedding and crossbolts, and be happy!

I dunno, mine feeds everything I shove in the magazine, including RN and RFN cast bullets and Macifej's new Solids, as well as some A2 Lion Tough and Woodleigh's. Some talk about the heft, but at five-foot-fourteen and two-forty-five with a 35" sleeve shirt it fits me just about perfect. My only complaint with CZ is that they do not offer the 300H&H in a standard grade like they do the 375H&H, 416 Rigby, 458 WM & Lott. I am going to have to buy another 375H&H and have it rebarrelled!

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

I agree with Idaho Sharpshooter ... I think CZ should offer the 300 H&H in the 550 American, or even European style stock the, Safari Magnum. I would love to have a pair of rifles in 300 & 375 H&H calibers. More nostalgic than anything, but now that Nosler is making 300 H&H brass, this would be a great set to have.

My first CZ 416 was a basic and shot 1/2 a foot off on elevation. Sent it back.

Bought recently a 416 with the Fancy Wood option and it's terrific inevery way. CZ USA sez the way to go on big bores is the 500 Jeffery.

I guess! I can always load my 505 Gibbs down to Jeffery power levels.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

Yes I bought one of the CZ550 American Safari 458 lotts. It is beautiful and it shoots like a dream. Three shots touching 500 gr bullets.

Well, I have two: a 416 Rigby and a 375H&H. I have not touched either in terms of bedding, crossbolts or anything else for that matter. Both shoot extremely well and both feed GC FN's as well as regular Woodleighs and Partitions. Both are also easy to shoot in terms of recoil. I suspect you will find that many here are "tinkerers" and believe whatever comes out of a factory can be improved. Which is almost certainly a true statement. When I get a gun, I clean it, and then take it to the range!
Peter.

I have a Safari Magnum (hogsback stock) in .357 H&H. I've had no negative issues whatsoever with it, nor have I had to do anything with it (crossbolts, bedding, polishing, etc) to "make it shoot".

I have a .416 Rigby. I had the lugs steel bedded just as insurance against a cracked stock. It is a little rough on feeding but is getting better. I've only shot about 120 rounds through it in the two months I've had it.
Killed two whitetails with it the first week of our gun-season.