I have posted before about a CZ 550 I bought in 458 Lott. My ownership of this rifle has been entertaining.

First, my gun guys could not zero the gun even after maxing out the adjustments. Upon contacting CZ, they learned that they had a batch with bent barrels. Off it goes back to the factory for a while. After several weeks, it was returned.

The scope was mounted and zeroed. It shot well. REAL well actually. Unfortunately, the scope mounts sheared. This caused the scope to be sent back to Swarovski. A search was started for mounts that would work.

The scope and the mounts were delivered last week. I was very happy as I leave next Wednesday for Zim. I wanted to shoot elephant with it and perhaps a bait animal or two. My gun guys call again this morning. Guess what? The exact same zeroing issue exists again. It bore sights perfectly yet at 25 yards the closest they can get it is 2 feet. Not comforting at all.

At this point, there is no chance in hell that I am taking it with me. I have exactly zero confidence in the gun.

So, now, I have a useless gun along with:

5 boxes of Hornady factory ammo.
10 boxes of Federal factory ammo
a 1.7 X 10 Swarovski scope
2 sets of rings, one of which is sheared
A Murry ammo best custom built for me.

I am really wondering why I bought this thing to begin with.

Sorry to hear that.

Sounds like the old guns (I think Winchester) where the scope holes were not aligned straight.

I know of one person who actually kept it.

.

It's terrible and I'm sorry to hear of your problems.

I know there are plenty of folks here that are "brand" type of people but you can get a bad one with any of them.

I hate that it happened to you.

.

They offered to either give me a new gun or refund my money. After this, I want no part of this rifle.

I see a custom gun in my future.

I am disappointed.

you said that after you got the gun back, it shot "real well"... and that the scope mounts sheared off.... how did it shoot with irons???... i don't see how mounting/remounting a scope causes a gun to not shoot well...have you tried a differnt scope???.... not trying to play devils' advocate, but i dont see how it show well, then changed to terrible after that... maybe something is loose or the wrong mounts are being used.... have you shot the gun yourself??... i don't rely on "gun guys"... no offence is intended, just not understanding your post...

The mounts used were the ones recommend by CZ's people.

I shot it with iron sight before the scope was sheared off. The problem was not with the group but the inability to have the group where it was aimed. When you max out the adjustment and it is off 2 feet at 25 yards, there is a problem.

These gun guys are outstanding. God only knows how many times they have mounted new scopes for me and/or resighted after taking the rifle apart to clean all the grit and dust out of a rifle. There has never been an issue like this before.

I don't understand it and I do not care to. I have zero confidence in the gun. I am done with it.

Larry,

Or should we just call you 416Larry or maybe Larry416 guess there was no book of Larry or we could go with Larry 4:16.

Go flatten the place with the 416 like you always do, and then figure out just what you want.

Have a great time!!

Many Thanks

HBH

What a PITA. I feel for you, I really do. Fretting over a gun on the eve of a trip is not what anyone wants to do.

Damn it was a disappointment. I really liked the big caliber for elephant.

I do have to say that my 416 feels MUCH better in my hands than the CZ ever will. It isn't all bad.

That is hysterical Brett. Get that computer fixed! I have to see those pictures!

If you lived nearby I would've sent you my Ruger Lott.I also have five pairs of Ruger scope mounts that are still in their original packaging.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
They offered to either give me a new gun or refund my money. After this, I want no part of this rifle.

I see a custom gun in my future.

I am disappointed.

Larry,

Find yourself a Sauer 202, a Steyr, or Mauser 66 in .375 H&H or bigger and you won't be disappointed. My personal preference in a bolt gun is the Sauer 202. I really like the guns imported by Sigarms. The slickest actions on the market.

Secondly would be a new Steyr Mannlicher Classic.

You get what you pay for.

Mike

Larry, as odd as this sounds, I had a very similar situation with my CZ in 416 Rigby. The rifle was originally fine. I had 2 inches cut from the barrel by Match Grade Arms. After receiving it back, I put the same scope with the same mounts back on it. Maxed out the adjustment and it was about 3 feet low at 100 yards. Iron sights were dead on.

Took the scope and mounted it (in different rings of course) on my M-70, 375 H&H. No problem whatsoever getting it sighted in.

Put the scope back on the CZ. Same problem. Maxed out adjustment and 3 feet low at 100. Had 2 gunsmiths look at it. Both bore sighted the rifle as dead on. Took it back to the range and shot it at 25 yards. Off the target low at 25. Bore sighted again with kit that I purchased. Showed dead on. Removing the bolt and sighting down the bore, compared to the scope adjustment, showed the rifle should be dead on.

Using the same rings, I switched to a Trijicon 1.25X4. Had been using a Leupold Vari-X III in 1.75X6. No problem getting the Trijicon to sight in out to 200 yards. Backed off to be dead on at 100 yards. Put the Leupold back on the M-70. No problems with it either. Both rifles with their respective scopes shoot with good accuracy. There does not appear to be an accuracy problem with the CZ or either scope.

For the life of me and the 2 gunsmiths that worked on the rifle, we cannot figure out what the hell is up with the rifle / scope combo. All throughout this process, the iron sights shot dead on. The interesting part to me is that the iron sights were dead on prior to and after having the barrel shortened. Since the bases are integral to the receiver on the CZ, how can this be?

The rifle shoots fine now but this rifle had a trigger issue as well early on. Both issues are fixed and have not reappeared in any form. But there is just something nagging in the back of my mind that keeps me from taking this rifle on Safari again. Don't know if I'll ever sell it as I like to shoot it. I just don't trust it!

TW:

That is interesting.

I have zero confidence in the gun now. I am getting my money back. I am going to have Rifles, Inc build me one to my liking. I have two of their rifles now and have never had a problem. They shoot very well.

Personally, I would never have bought a CZ on my own. However, a certain PH I know has one in 450 Ackley. He loves it. I shot it and loved it. I decided what the heck.

I do have to admit that I liked shooting it. It packed a lot of punch. I liked having 6 rounds in the magazine. Unfortunately, when the confidence is gone, it is gone.

Some people want to blame my gun guys. I do not see it that way. These guys are the best I have ever seen. People drive for hundreds of miles to have them work on their guns.

In the last 20 years, I have probably purchased 60 rifles through these guys. There has never been a problem like this before. Further, every time I take a trip or just before deer season, I send the guns I intend to use to have then gone over. They are taken apart and cleaned as well as lubricated. They make sure everything is tight. They put them back together and initially re-zero them before I take them to the range. I am guessing that has to be at least another 100 guns (considering mine and my kids). In all of these services, I have had one issue. A screw broke on my 7MM while I was in NZ. Hard to fault them for that.

There is clearly something bizarre going one with the gun. I have no interest in pursuing it further.

Larry: That Rifles Inc 416 will work just fine. Always has, always will. The last thing you want going through your head when you're 20 yards from jumbo is where your rifle will shoot when you pull the trigger.

Or if the scope is going to come off.....again!

Larry, A VC in 450 3.25inch. Enough of this horsing around.

Mike

Or I could happily give you what you paid for your double!