Winks rifle has inspired me, I'm really diggig it!! Looks like it would work for both Alaska and Africa, plus would fit my budget.


So heres what I got in mind get a CZ 550 in 375. Drop it into a McMillan CZ Express stock, have the stock magnum filled and a Pachmayr decelerator pad added. Have the front swivel stud deleted and a barrel band added to the barrel, use a Winchester supergrade stlye stud on the rear of the stock. Have the stock glass bedded.

I do have a few questions. Can I buy a CZ 550 375 H&H barreled action? If so where?

Does anyone know what the barreled action would weigh?

The McMillan stock, is the grip area smaller than the factory wood stock? Any idea what the McMillan would weigh, magnum filled, with Pachmayr decelerator pad?

NICE! While you're at it, why not have a winchester 3 pos safety installed, and upgrade the front and rear sights to Recknagel.

JMHO,

John

Add the AHR trigger and 3 position safety. I've done similar stuff and it works well with the mcmillan stock. make sure to steel bed it though.-Rob

Robgunbuilder, I am in Las Vegas and would like to see some of your work if possiable. Where are you located?

Rob,

What is the AHR trigger? I've played with a 550 at a local shop and didn't find the trigger to be that bad. What would it cost to add the barrel band and glass bedded the stock? What would the safety cost? Whats the turn around time? Do you know if I can buy a barreled action? Sounds like you've done one or two of these, an idea what it would weigh? Is the grip area smaller on the McMillan stock?

BLACK RIFLES are

quote:

Originally posted by mark65x55:
Rob,

What is the AHR trigger?

American Hunting Rifles. The only thing I don't like about that trigger is that I believe it does away with the set trigger, plus with my long fingers the CZ trigger is perfect as is. I would love to have AHR at least put on a straight bolt handle, and the three position safety.

Mark,

You might find that the CZ is a little heavy for a .375 H&H. The McMillan stock can be ordered in a lighter weight fill, but then you have the muzzle heavy thing going on.

I have a CZ in .416 Rigby in a McMillan stock. That actually weighs less than a .375 H&H would.

For a go anywhere rifle in .375 H&H I would recommend the Winchester in a D'Arcy Echols "Legend" stock (made by McMillan). If you decide to go with a CZ, your best bet is to buy a used one. That will likely be $100.00 cheaper than buying a new barreled action.

You can slick up the CZ action yourself. Ed LaPour makes the three position safeties for the CZ. He would do a great job of fitting a safety and putting a new bolt handle on for you.

The front sight base can be milled out to accept the NECG front sight blades.

LD

PS McMillan will install flush mount quick detachable sling swivels for a nominal charge if you wish.

The rig will weigh enough that your front hand will not get barked by any type of swivel that you have. The barrel band option won't cost too much. It is good for: A) Looks & B) having the rifle ride lower in the thick stuff.

I will weigh my set-up and post a picture tonight or tomorrow.

Bedding Details:

I know I've seen barreled actions for sale somewhere, I'll look more into it today. Have you tried Numrich's? They might have some.

I think this is a great idea. I think I could build a pretty cheap .375 back-up to my .416Rigby this way.

Lawndart,

I'm not looking to put much more than 1k into a 375, so even though a winchester in a D'Arcy Echols stock would be nice I can't see spending that much. Also I've played with a CZ 550 American at a local shop and yes it is sorta heavy, which isn't all bad. I'm pretty new to big bore rifles and at this point don't want a light 375. I'm looking for one rilfe that I can use from Africa to Alaska, brown bear to cow elephant. More or less a tool nothing too fancy.
Based on what little I know, in order to help manage recoil, I'd be happy with 9.5 pound +/- rilfe. Say around 10.5 pounds or so all up with scope, ammo amd sling. I like the looks of the barrel band and the winchester supergrade style stud, so while I'm spending money why not live a little. I haven't seen a used CZ, and I've been looking at 375s pretty hard for the last couple of weeks, any leads on one? Can I get the local shop to order a barreled action? Anyone you'd recommend to do the work? The stock in the photos is that a McMillan? Do you find the grip area to feel smaller than the factory wood stock? Thanks for all the help.

Does this sound about right for project costs?

Used CZ .375H&H $700.00
Mcmillan stock $400.00
Bedding (installed) $ 75.00
Recoil pad $ 75.00
Teflon coated (Brl& action) $150.00

estimated costs $1390.00

quote:

Originally posted by The Metalsmith:
I know I've seen barreled actions for sale somewhere, I'll look more into it today. Have you tried Numrich's? They might have some.

No.... I've never heard of them. Do they have a web page?

Mark,
I'm sure you can buy just the action from CZ. I am not sure about barreled action. That would be nice. I like the barrel band swing swivel, but that entails taking off the front sight...more costs.

I think you could cut some costs if you could buy the action, and then buy a barrel...but then you have smithing costs if you don't do it yourself.

quote:

Originally posted by GDOG:
Does this sound about right for project costs?

Used CZ .375H&H $700.00
Mcmillan stock $400.00
Bedding (installed) $ 75.00
Recoil pad $ 75.00
Teflon coated (Brl& action) $150.00

estimated costs $1390.00

I would hope you can get a used 375 cheaper than that. The local shop has a NIB one for $760 plus tax. I know the guy pretty well, I'm guessing I could get it for close to $775 out the door.

I ordered a McMillan stock a couple of weeks ago and it was $435 including a Pachmayr Decelerator pad.

The McMillan stock grip feels very good for that sized rifle.

The CZ "Hogback" stock feels even better.

The CZ "American" style stock grip is very clunky feeling.

Forget the Supergrade style swivels and barrel band if you want to stay under $1,000.00 USD.

For that amount you get the CZ and the stock.

Smooth the action and bed the stock.

Then go hunting.

Having marched over a fair chunk of Alaska, I believe you will be cursing a heavy rifle after one afternoon.

The 375 really doesn't recoil badly at all. 9.5# max.

I went to Numrichs and Brownells looking for barreled actions--no luck.
Yes, I think you could do better on the used CZ rifle.

I will use the $ saved by finding a cheaper rifle to lop a few inches off the barrel to make it handle better too. I think 21" or 22" max.

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart,
I would recommend the Winchester in a D'Arcy Echols "Legend" stock (made by McMillan).

lawndart,

Is the "Legend" stock suitable for express sights, or is it a scope only deal? Where can I find a pic of this stock?

Thanks

GDOG - did you buy that Whitworth? Sorry to hi-jack this thread!

quote:

Originally posted by lawndart:
The McMillan stock grip feels very good for that sized rifle.

The CZ "Hogback" stock feels even better.

The CZ "American" style stock grip is very clunky feeling.

Forget the Supergrade style swivels and barrel band if you want to stay under $1,000.00 USD.

For that amount you get the CZ and the stock.

Smooth the action and bed the stock.

Then go hunting.

Having marched over a fair chunk of Alaska, I believe you will be cursing a heavy rifle after one afternoon.

The 375 really doesn't recoil badly at all. 9.5# max.

While all good advise, this time around I'm thinking of living a little and to me a barrel band just says big bore! I'll see what the cost is and go from there.

As to weight, for a short time last summer I owned a Winchester SS 375. After a few weeks and a 100 or so rounds I found I had started to flinch. This time around I want a better stock and recoil pad, a little more gun weight and will start with lighter loads. I know your right carrying a lighter rifle is easier but I want a 375 I can shoot also. If I can shoot it I'll deal with weight.

Try to find a M70 bolt body and replace the factory bolt handle with the M70. It is a perfect fit. I did it on my CZ 416 Rigby and it feels a lot better.

quote:

lawndart,

Is the "Legend" stock suitable for express sights, or is it a scope only deal? Where can I find a pic of this stock?

Thanks

Here is a quote from DougH9, who recently buit a rifle using the Legend stock:

Free-miner-The Legend's comb is high. I had to really scrunch my head down to sight it in, but I got a couple decent groups that way (a lot better than you could do with a bare barrel). I know I could hit a deer with them. I may install a higher front sight in the future, to help alleviate that.

I will post some pictures from Doug tomorrow. Mr. Echols has made some of his rifles for heavy cartridges on that same stock, but the sights are pretty high.

I have handled, but not shot Winchester Safari Classics. With that stock they handle the iron sights very well. I was pleasantly surprised, and recently bought one of those stocks from Mark Stratton (He had it as a take off from a custom rifle project).

The McMillan Safari stock for the CZ Magnum rifles is a bit high in the comb for comfortable use with the factory issued sights. It is great with a low powered scope.

I haven't handled the Winchester version of the McMillan express rifle stock, but IIRC a few other posters have.

The only stock that I have used that does well with both a scope and iron sights is the Sako Hunter style. McMillan does inlet that for Winchester actions. It would be great for a 375 or 416. For use with a 458 Win or 458 Lott I would recommend getting a solid fill to bump the weight up as much as possible.

Again, I'l post some illustrative pictures on the morrow. First priority is shipping some stuff that fellow posters were kind enough to buy from me .

Hope this helps.

LD