Anyone shooting one of these? The Custom Safari Express and Custom African Express sure do look nice, and come in a nice variety of calibers. I'm particularly interested in the African in .375 H&H. Any thoughts?

I have a Custom Shop Safari in a 458 Lott. I had to send it back for a feeding problem and the cheek piece was too high. The bolt would gouge into the cheek piece when you pulled it back all the way.

It is a great shooter, but I have to send it back because of a suspected bedding problem. It has a crack forming behind one of the front cross bolts. Oh, and the front sight protector will not stay on. They promised that their fix would keep it on. It didn't.

For the money I think you could have someone build you the same style gun that would be "done" when you get it.

Hrm. And Brockman has those customized CZ 550's...

For the price I think you would do better customizing a CZ. Here is an estimate on doing so using a rough quote I received from John Lewis. The price of the gun would be buying the 550 through that guy in Atlanta.

$650 CZ550 in .416
$500 Bastogne wood stock exhibition grade
$5-600 To have it bed and stock finished
$150-350 Checkering depending on what you want
$75 Barrel band installed
$125 Re-blue
$225 M-70 style safety installed
$50 Any action smoothing required
$75 Addition of cross bolt

So, one would be looking at about $2250 to doll up a CZ550.

You'd get a nicer rifle then the $4500 M70 African Express for over 2k less!

I took Ray Atkinson's advice and bought a Ruger M77 Magnum in .416Rigby, which for the price is a great option.

My next project will be to send off a CZ550 in .458 to John Lewis to have the above done and maybe even have it converted to the .458LOTT

Gene

[ 03-28-2003, 01:31: Message edited by: GMaxson ]

I have a .338 Stainless Classic from the custom shop. It does function better than the std M70. Supposed to have a higher grade barrel & action trued etc. All it had was trigger adjusted to 3lbs. Shoots factory 200gn Ballistic Silvertips 3 shots stringing but touching even with that goop thermoplastic bedding. Nice wood on stock, good but not great inletting & chequering.

Got it after the guy that ordered it cancelled it(one of 4, ie. .300Win, .300 Wea, .300 H&H & .338 Win). Not surprising really since it came 5 years late. Anyway would not pay full price for one but at 1/2 price which is what I paid for it new it was OK.

NB. Its not a true custom just a semi custom. Since you are in US I'd try to get a second hand Dakota 76.

I love my Custom Shop Short Action M70 in .450 Marlin. Smooth, slick and accurate. Worked great in Alaska this last fall. Moose, Caribou and Bear, all one shot kills. Has taken over as my favorite bear rifle. Lawdog