Just picked it up today. CZ 550 action, McGowan 22 "barrel, 14" twist, NECG Universal front sight, NECG rear peep sight, Pachmayr sporting clays Decelerator pad, Talley barrel band swivel stud, pillar bedded, and a McMillan AHR stock. 1 up and 3 down. 7.38 lbs.

Eat your heart out RIP.

Very nice. I have lost track of how many large bores you have built and sold in the last couple of years!

What happened, Bill? I see some shiny parts.

Did you run out of Rustoleum before you could paint the bolt, extractor and trigger in that lovely shade of BBQ grill black?

As for the weight, to paraphrase Muhammad Ali: "She may float like a butterfly, but she stings like a bee!"

Looks SWEET....Congrats

Does this mean the 450/400 DR project is on hold?

The 450/400 is still in the works, but I may be a lot grayer by the time it gets done!

Is that a 550 Medium action?

That is a darn fine looking working rifle. I like functional big bore rifles.

Well, it is just matte blued. It did turn out pretty dark for some reason. I'll have to ask if they did anything special.

It is just a using rifle. Not pretty to some maybe, but a good carrying rifle that should be good for all comers.

Yes, a CZ 550 Medium action.

What Surestrike said!

Surestrike, PWS, + 1,

Sure love those 4x4 looking DR rifles.

Will,
That is outstanding, and I believe your stated weight.

Is that the purpose-made-for-CZ NECG peep?
If so, I have not seen one and would surely appreciate a closeup of that or a link to info on it.

Get your retinas prophylactically spot welded before 50 rounds with that one.

Ripper,

NECG is now selling peeps for the CZ. It's on their web site. It is a little over-engineered I think but works.

I weighed the thing on a postage scale at the gun shop and it read 7.2 lbs. When I got it home where I have a REAL scale, it weighed 7.19 lbs. After I added the steel floorplate to replace the plastic one and the peep sight it weighed 7.38 lbs. So yeah, I'm not lying.

Of course that is at a thousand feet elevation, so your results might vary.

It will kick a bit more than the 7 and 1/2 lb. Taylors, but it should be quite tolerable.

If I could do the ele thing all over again, I think a good pair would be this 458 WM and a lightweight 470/450/etc. double. My (single trigger) 9.7 lb. Krieghoff 470 is actually a good pick. The tracker can carry it uncocked and no one has to worry about getting shot by accident.

You should see the smile on a tracker's face when he discovers your double is a lot lighter than the typical 11 or 12 pounder he usually has to lug around.

RIP,

I lied I guess. I don't see the peep sight on the NECG web site. I'll try to remember to take a couple pics today and post them.

Will,
There is usually enough steel on those NECG peeps that you might be able to remove another 2oz, get the file out.

Dirk

I actually had another one trimmed down. I don't know the difference in weight, though probably very minor, but I'll try weighing one against the other. I need to get it blued before I post any pics.

A very nice rifle Will.

For squirrels eating out of your bird feeder, or are you going elephant hunting again?

Dear Will,
You have provided the inspiration for my next wildcat, the one no one else dares do so far: .458/.375 Ruger.

I was trying to swear off wildcats but you corrupted me again.

I plan to get my rifle weight below 7 pounds.

This will be done in the same conformation as your rifle, but with a Ruger Hawkeye 7mmRM rebarreled and stocked in a Brown Pounder.

A 1-pound stock will balance better with the pencil-thin barrel of 22" length. Does your stock weigh 2 pounds?

The NECG-Ruger peep is indeed compact and needs no "filing down" to shave an ounce.

Looks like I might make 6.25 pounds for the .458 Ruger.

rip... will you add some to the shoulder by taking out some taper or just K.I.S.S. and just do a neck up?

Or you could do a 6.25 lb 458 AR, save time and money and exceed the lott...I am sure Jeffeosso will lend you the reamer

There is something to be said for going where no man has gone before though...

That rifle is a PIG! Way too heavy for a pipsqueak round like the .458WM. Flute the barrel and lose some weight. Skeletonize the CZ action. NO Carbon fibre stock? That gun should weigh no more than 6.2 lbs max. Will- your an old fart and need a lighter gun in your old age anyway! Super glue your retinas in place and put a mercury recoil devise in your Depends. Insertion technique is critical and I can provide advise on the procedure.! then you'll be ready to hunt again! Just pulling your leg. Glad to see you are an advocate of my lighter then Most philosophy!-Rob

Get Lone Wolf,MPI or Brown Precision to build you a "One Pounder" and then your in the ball park! I had a Lott weighing 6pds,but sold it and built a 4.75 pd .416 Rem Mag and a 6.4 pd 500 Jeffery...I may rebarrel the 416 to 458 Lott and have a Under 5pd Lott!Hmmmmmm?!.... They carry well and dont kick so bad unless you pull the trigger !

quote:

Originally posted by boom stick:
rip... will you add some to the shoulder by taking out some taper or just K.I.S.S. and just do a neck up?

The challenge here is to do a straight neck-up of .375 Ruger to .458 bullet. It will still have a better shoulder than the 10.75x68mm Mauser and the 400 Whelen.

That is the first "black gun" that made my tongue hard. Everything was done right from stem to stern.