hi all,

i'm thinking about building up a .458 lott or .470 capstick and was wondering what the best starting point would be?

a new winchester M70 in .458win?

a CZ550 (one with the .375 boltface)?

a ruger mkII?

pros and cons of each? don't mind paying more, but i want to do it right the first time.... don't care if i have to work on the durability and tweak things as i go (that's half the fun right , but i want to choose the most appropriate action from the outset.

thanks for any input!

cheers,
patrick

Patrick,

Sheer $ would choose the CZ; it is much cheaper that either the Winchester or the Ruger, but it is a terrific rifle. You can put the money you save into the features you would like in a rifle.

I have a BRNO M602 in .375 H&H, but I am planning to re-barrel it to .465 H&H. The CZ 550 is the same rifle with some cosmetic changes.

jim dodd

Patrick,
I have done a 470 Capstick on a WinM70, and it is sweet. Rebarrel a 375 H&H and tweak the box and feeding and you have 3 in the box and 1 in the chamber with an M70 safety and trigger and a stock that most like better than the CZ.

I have done a 458 Lott on a CZ 550, and all you have to do is rechamber and get a different front sight bead. A taller one wil be required. Then you have 5 in the box and 1 in the chamber. But, getting a 3 position safety is about as expensive as rebarreling. And then there is the stock.

But if you want a drop box on the Winchester, there goes another great expense in bottom metal and restocking.

It is a wash either way you go to get a comparable rifle.

El Cheapo Magnifico Rapido is to get a CZ 550 in 458 WinMag, rechamber to 458 Lott, replace the front sight bead with a taller one, apply a 16 guage shotgun barrel band from Uncle Mike's and go hunting. Finer points of function and aesthetics can follow at your leisure. This is the DaggaRifle from a previous thread.

If you ever get tired of the 458 Lott, you can easily turn it into a 450 Ackley, 450 Dakota or Rigby, or even 460 Weatherby, if it is made on a CZ 550. It could become an ongoing experiment in morphing the big bore. Or just get one of each.

guys thanks a ton! dagga, did you have to reinforce the stock of your M70 to handle the additional recoil?

I would skip the Lott and go with the 450 Ackley or 450 Rigby. I just got done with a 450 Ackley CZ 550 and couldn't be more happier. A CZ 450 Rigby is also in the work but the 450 Ackley is keeping me occupied now. You gotta have to love those 458 calibers. Have fun.

[ 10-12-2002, 16:56: Message edited by: Mingo ]

mingo, sounds suhweet! did you do the wing safety conversion on the 550s? if so how difficult/expensive was it?

thanks!

ppk1911,
The Winchester was a Super Express factory 375 H&H that was rebarreled to 470 Capstick. It had the two factory crossbolts, plus two solid aluminum pillars were added with the perfectomundo Steel-Bed bedding job throughout the interior of the stock. The new barrel got a better recoil lug on it than the factory version in 375, plus a hidden crossbolt was added to the forearm, as well as a barrel band sling base on the barrel.

A 470 Capstick means a new barrel. Then there is the 470 Mbogo for the next one. You will need a CZ 550 for that one, but the Model 70 sure is SUHWEET for a 470 Capstick. Mine is better than any "custom shop" job and will never be altered. It is perfected.

I did not install an axial steel rod through the grip section of the stock. This could be done, but I do not think it is necessary for a pussycat like the 470 Capstick. If it ever cracks the stock anywhere, I will probably be long since gone to the happy hunting ground in the sky. It is classic matte blue and walnut, understated elegance.

Patrick,

If this to be more than just a gun to shoot a buffalo with, in other words a "toy" I would look strongly at the CZ 550 in 416 Rigby as the kick off point. That has to be just the easiest and most trouble free way to a 450 Rigby or 450 Dakota.

I agree with Ming on the 450 Ackley being a better choice than the 458 Lott. However I would prefer the bigger 45 to either the Lott, Ackley or 470 Capstick.

A good friend of mine had a 450 Ackley (rechambed BRNO 458) and I have owned two 460 Wbys, which of course are the same as the 450 Rigby/Dakota.

The 460 does 2350 with 500 grain bullets all so easy. Just like a big 454 with manual transmission idling along. The 2300 or there abouts is real top end for the Ackley or the Lott.

The 45 Rigby/Dakota/Wby also simply have far more pizzaz.

Mike

How difficult would it be to convert the cz 550 in .416 Rigby to .500 jeffery and how many would the mag hold in this caliber ??. It might not be that much more work to go to a .500 jeff as a .450 rigby. Obviously a bit of feeding work but how much ??

ppk1911,

No, my 450 Ackley CZ 550 does not have a three-position safety. The safety unit would have cost another $200 just for parts alone so I did not do it. The difficulty of the conversion is depended on your gunsmith's experience. The CZ 550 conversion looks straight forward but it also can be tricky. It should not cost more than a couple hundred bucks if just for the rechambering job and feed work. Be prepare for some difficulty in removing the barrel from the receiver. Ask Rob and he can tell you all about the CZ conversion. Good luck.

Cheers!
Ming

[ 10-13-2002, 05:40: Message edited by: Mingo ]

guys thanks for all the input! this board is a truely valuable resource to those just getting started in this game. i'm still not decided on what i want to do yet, but i'll post updates and photos as the project evolves. hopefully someday i'll be able to contribute some advice when the next beginner needs some input.

cheers,
patrick

[ 10-15-2002, 03:37: Message edited by: ppk1911 ]