Hello all,

This is my first post to Accuratereloading, though I've been a longtime lurker here.

I'm attempting to post some pics of my CZ 550 in .416 Rigby, which is being customized at the moment. Bear with me if it doesn't work...







Any comments are appreciated

Best,
Joe

Welcome NextJoe. This must be the rifle living with uncle Jack for a while now? It looks great.

Nice stock, by the way. Laminate seems like a very good choice for big rifles, and that looks very nice. Good lines. I have a hard time getting used to the CZ 'humpback,' every time I see one I get this mental image of me with a jack plane, cutting it down. If they ever come through with the CZ 550 in 500 Jeffery, I'll be doing just that.

When you get it back, let me know if you want to sling lead at Island Lake...

Best,
Todd

Glad you joined us Joe!

Your rifle looks fantastic. Are you doing the work or a custom 'smith?

The CZ 550 and the 416 Rigby seem to be perfectly matched. Good project. I'm sure you'll be very pround of this rifle for years to come.

Buliwyf

Very cool Joe! I like that 3-position safety. The stock is nice but it looks a little heavy. I like that small cheek piece. Is that the factory barrel you got there? Who made the stock? Please post more pictures when it's done. Thanks for sharing the picture of your new toy! Have fun!

Nice rifle. With the laminate, it looks classic, yet relatively impervious to bad weather. Who made the stock and bolt handle?
Thanks,
MD

Joe,
That looks great, and I have a soft spot in my head.. err heart for grey lam... I would still put in a crossbolt upfront...

that a stainles barrel on the cz action?

9# is light for a 416.. and 11 is heavy..

are you going to checker it?

jeffe

Wow, 4 replies within a half-hour!

I'll fill in some details and answer questions. Here's the basic specs:

- Factory CZ 550 .416 Rigby barrelled action, surface ground and hand-polished
- Precise Metalsmithing 3-position Model 70 style safety
- Brockman laminated English-style stock
- Talley barrel band
- Talley rear sling swivel base
- Jerry Fisher grip cap
- Talley QD scope rings
- Leupold 2.5x compact with duplex reticle
- Talley (?) bolt handle
- 3.5 lb trigger
- feeding slicked up

Not yet done:
- Rust blue
- bolt, extractor, and follower jewelled in a "worm track" pattern
- satin urethane finish on stock

All work is being done by Jack Belk. Most posters here are already probably familiar with Jack, since he posts here and on HuntAmerica. He's an absolute prince of a man. Generous, immensely talented, patient with nagging customers , and very very funny.

The barrelled action will be at the ACGG show with Jack at the end of the month; then it's off for rust bluing and final finishing.

The stock is the one Jim Brockman uses on his "Working Rifle;" he's a friend and neighbor of Jack's. It's steelglass bedded and has been slightly reshaped to open up the grip.

Custom rifles are good daydream material

Best,
Joe

Joe,

Nice rifle. Please post some pictures when it's finsihed.

Regards,

Terry

Nextjoe welcome to the forum and you've got one very nice looking 416 happening there. Have you given any thoughts to an ebony forend cap on that stock. With the recoil pad to off set it, it would look real nice. I really like the PME safety. Be sure to post more pictures after the rust bluing.
Take care,
470 Mbogo

Nextjoe,

Congratulations on your lovely rifle - yes, please post pictures of it when it is completed.

Good shooting!

Joe,
man, that looks like a great gun.. have a ball with it...

jeffe

Excellent Joe. Great stock, I like the opened grip very much. Please keep us updated. Welcome to AR.

[ 01-20-2003, 18:10: Message edited by: Bear Claw ]

I'd be a lot better off without people like you. I put a 416 Rigby project out of my mind for a while telling myself my 375 was all I needed at this time. And then you come along. Just kidding, looks very nice. I contacted CZ the other day and asked them about a classic stocked 550 magnum and they said they were working on it and it would be available "soon". I am holding out to see what the factory stock looks like. If it looks OK, fine, if not I will be following your lead. Nice rifle.
Doug

Thanks all for the kind words. Of course, the credit really goes to Jack; I just sign checks and ask, "Is it done yet?"

I've noticed a lot of people seem to really like the stock. Unfortunately, last I heard, the guy who was making them for Brockman disappeared with the pattern. Mine was one of the last two he had on hand. I don't know if more will be available

I'll post more pics when it's done. It's gonna be a lot of fun!

nextjoe,
Nice project in progress! Great ideas for the rest of us with CZ 416 Rigby's. Thanks for sharing.

nextjoe - as a fellow cz550 / 416 rigby owner, you sure have a dandy set up there! please keep us informed on this project - KMule

Thanks again for the compliments. I knew *I* liked it, but I didn't know everyone else would, too

I shot a box of ammo through it when it was stock and fell in love with it. Originally, it was just going to Jack for a trigger and bedding job. Then I saw the PME safety and, well, one thing led to another... Next thing I knew, it was getting a total transformation and I was broke. How did that happen?

Best,
Joe

nextjoe,

Daydream material is right. What a beauty. I am thinking of doing the same thing in 375.

What are you using for bottom metal? I didn't notice it on your list.

Congrats,
Dave

Sweet rifle. Welcome to the forums and best of luck to ya.
-Andy

DavidC,

The bottom metal is the stock CZ setup. It's all-steel and well made, so I saw no need to change it.

Actually, I don't even know of anyone making aftermarket bottom metal for this action. Ted Blackburn makes it for just about everything else, so he might do a CZ assembly...

Best,
Joe

Fantastic !!!,

you have fine taste in rifles, obviously your intelligent and good looking.....must be as your a CZ owner

I am a proud cz .416 owner but mine does not look as great as yours !!

anyone have a website for blackburn? or contact info?
jeffe