What do the more informed with the CZ's make of this rifle?
The Safari Classic.
Looks to me, at least in the CZ catalog, to be very "questionable". I mean, the stocks alone, look like they were simply sprayed with gloss polyurethane.
Are there any good qualities about this model in the .505, or is it a waste of money which could be better spent on another model?

You'd have a barreled action with magazine box. You may even have a workable stock. What's the price tag on that, $2300? And still have to take it in to a really talented smith for a look-see?

Yep, pretty much what I was thinking.
For goodness sakes, they don't even have an ebony tip, or a grip cap. Not to mention no quarter-rib. Even the Ruger RSM has all of these at a lower price,-albeit, not in .505 which would be nice.
They are $2500 msrp in the catalog, and thats without the barrel band which is $200 extra I think, with all of the other add-ons available which are just basic glass bedding(which should be done anyway to start) and other things-still none of the things mentioned above are available.
The entire thing seems bad.
Although, I agree, that at least a person could come out with a fairly good action and barrel-but then would have to just start with that and pay more for finishing as a custom.
But, after some thought on them tonight, it seems not worth it to me. A person might as well start a full-custom gun, by the time all is said and done.
However, someone here may have a different opinion than mine.

My favorite PH uses one of those rifles in 375 and while, to my eyes, it is pretty plain, I suppose that it is a matter of what you are buying the rifle to do.

No quarter-rib; no ebony tip? Who cares? I don't think this is meant to be a gentleman's rifle, but more of a working rifle. For a 505, this is a bargain basement price. Don't be shocked when it doesn't come in a Huey case. I am impressed with CZ for bringing a production 505 to market. I think we should be satisfied with a working, dependable rifle (although some posters on this board have indicated problems in this regard) for just over $2000. If you want something nicer in a 505, be prepared to pay a hell of a lot more than $2300. I certainly would not choose one as the base for a nice custom, but that doesn't mean that it couldn't be a dependable rifle as is. In the long run, you would be much happier with a nicer custom. If your not happy with what you buy, it was never a bargain.
Lets cut CZ some slack and applaud them for bringing this to market. CZ's only crime was to sell exactly what the market asked of them: an affordable 505 Gibbs. I for one am impressed that they bothered with it. Just my .02

Wes

Thank you Wes,
I agree. Thank you CZ for making a rifle in these wonderful calibers.

I hear a bunch of people crying how bad the CZ rifles are. I have had and handled a bunch of them. I have never had the problems of not feeding that I hear about. I allso have never had some one bring me one that didn't work. The rifles that I have owned or had the chance to shoot shot very well. Yes it isn’t a Hyme or a H&H or some other “MAKER†of best quality rifle. Yes I have done some tuning on them but I have done it on Sakos, Rugers can you say major work on Remington and Winchesters and nearly any other rifle. That is part of the fun in making it what you want the way you want it.
You can badmouth the CZs but you cant get any more rifle for the money. You don’t have to by a CZ I know several top custom makers that will build you what ever your pockets can afford.
Bill

I own a CZ in .505 Gibbs. I have never had any issues. It feeds great and shoots very accurate. You will be find!

Buy a CZ 550 action or have AHR purchase one and have Ed Plummer built the rifle the way you want and still be price sensitive.

Also looked at the 505 Gibbs by CZ at a show and the salesperson was very apologetic for the cracked stock??? Why did he ever bring it as a demo???

Dak

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Cooley:
I hear a bunch of people crying how bad the CZ rifles are. I have had and handled a bunch of them. I have never had the problems of not feeding that I hear about. I allso have never had some one bring me one that didn't work. The rifles that I have owned or had the chance to shoot shot very well. Yes it isn’t a Hyme or a H&H or some other “MAKER†of best quality rifle. Yes I have done some tuning on them but I have done it on Sakos, Rugers can you say major work on Remington and Winchesters and nearly any other rifle. That is part of the fun in making it what you want the way you want it.
You can badmouth the CZs but you cant get any more rifle for the money. You don’t have to by a CZ I know several top custom makers that will build you what ever your pockets can afford.
Bill

I will respond to the feeding issue. I bought a .458WM and it didn't feed well. The magazine length versus the cartridge length meant the feed angle was not quite right. I had heard that converting to .458 Lott gets rid of the problem. I always wanted the Lott anyway so I had mine rechambered.
The extra .3" does make a difference and my rifle feeds great now. Thats' the CZ-550.
I've also got a ZKK-602 in .416 Remingotn and it feeds flawlessly.

I completely agree that you cannot get this quality of Magnum Mauser action anywhere else for what is surely a bargain.

I nearly blew coffee out my nostrils when I read this comment; "For goodness sakes, they don't even have an ebony tip, or a grip cap. Not to mention no quarter-rib..."

It's a gun! It's meant for hunting.

Ever try and build a .505 Gibbs? $2300 for the metal work alone is a bargain! I think I put about $10,000 into mine and I had to do all the feeding/ blueing, action work myself. Feeding- Ah grasshoper you obviously have never owned a .505 Gibbs. Minor work for any competent gunsmith ( unfortunately I can name but two I'd trust). Oh yes, you will wait and wait and wait! Nevertheless, this is a bargain.-Rob

Here's a couple of working guns. I warn you not to look if you are squeamish...



CZ-550 .458 Lott.


ZKK-602 .416 Remington Mag with a Leopold 1.5-6X Vari-X III.


Barrel band sling swivel. Functional; eventually I will get the proper thing. Hunted moose last fall for 10 days with it like this.
Dumped a 50" bull at just a hair over 200 yards with 2 nicely placed shots.


Look I have nothing against fancy rifles but I would go anywhere and hunt anything with these 2 rifles. I have nothing to hide and no ego to stroke and I will not part with hard earned money just to make 'em look pretty.

I apologize to anyone offended by these pics.

Demonial- Great point! There are plenty of ugly guns that shoot and feed straight and just a few "magnificent" guns that do the same.which would you prefer?-Rob

Rob if I had Jay Leno's money I would be on Safari right now with my CZ-550, as-is, and the ZKK-602 along as back-up. I would get a proper sling swivel installed on the 602 to travel to Africa.

I'm kinda rough around the edges and even if I could afford a custom rifle I'm not sure I'd ever use one.

I just received a new book, Terry Wieland's Dangerous Game Rifles and some of the rifles in there are breathtaking. I can only imagine the cost. Just one of those would buy every gun in my safe...

I apologize again for those pics...

Demonical,
I think Terry Wieland's Dangerous Game Rifles is a interesting read. I see nothing in your pictures to be ashamed of or to apologize to anyone for. I would think those who profess to be offended by these pics need to be some where else.
Robgunbuilder,
Yes if I wanted to spend $10,000-$30,000 on a custom rifle BUT this thread is about buying a 505 for under $2,500 and I don’t think you can do any better at that price point than the CZ.
Bill

I don't know, the fact that the CZs are cheap, solid and work is part of what I like about them. I'm taking a .375 and .416 to Africa in a couple weeks, one has been there already.They don't inspire coddling, and if the airlines lose them I won't slit my wrists.I've bedded and bolted them, slicked the actions myself and set the triggers.One got a Gentry M70 type safety but that's just what I like.That's about it.
As much as I like the look of the RSM it's a club as far as I'm concerned.They have all the handling characteristics of my heavy barrel varmint rifles. By comparison the CZs are nimble.
Oddly enough, with the last price increase there just isn't that much price difference here anymore.I'll still take the CZ.

the following is a list of all of the 505 Gibbs under $5000.

1. CZ 550 Magnum

2. ................nobody

Rich
DRSS

I have to disagree with the comment about the wood of the CZ 505's having a polyurethane finish.



Also mine was one of the early ones which came with glass bedding barrel band and recoil reducer included for $1900. It was also nice to have a rifle that had a 14 3/4" LOP that fits me perfectly.

The rear sight ramp was an abomination though and is gone for an XS peep sight.


I did have feeding problems with the factory mag spring but a change to a heavier magazine spring cured that.

Cheers,
Canuck32

Sometimes you get lucky with a CZ.
My .505 Gibbs feeds roundnose bullets fine but balks with the second cartridge down of the three when Bridger FN 550-grain solids are used. A simple polish of the ramp and rails, and rough edge on the extractor claw took care of that. The stronger magazine spring is a good idea too.

.404 Jeffery on the left, .505 Gibbs on the right, still in need of crossbolts, both have 10" TWIST McGowen barrels that work fine:


5 down in the box with .404 Jeffery, and 3 down with .505 Gibbs (I am not an ex-con but I did make the "custom" knife sheath myself, for the Ruana pigsticker.):

Canuck32 & RIP, I'm just looking at your rifles and I was wondering how old they are? Are they from CZ-USA cuz they sure have a different grade of wood from mine Czech built rifle(s)...

My ZKK-602 still needs work. I want to change the recoil and the angle of the pad, so that it fits the same as the CZ-550. Also it still needs to be glass bedded.

CZ announced the .505 Gibbs in 2004, showed it at the 2005 Shot Show. Mine would be from that first batch they put out to dealers in early 2005.

The Kansas City, KS (CZ USA) made Safari Classic rifles use American black walnut out of a shop in Missourii, IIRC. The standard CZ Lux rifles use walnut from the factory in Czechoslovakia. Some of that is nice too. The American made ones with the higher price are just gussied up wood in a fatter and clubbier stock. I still prefer the handling of the Hogback Lux.

All of my experience has shown that the Lux models have MUCH better wood for big bores. The American models use wood that will work for lighter calibers, but are really not too spiffy for the boomers.

Oh god, I am so jelous of the gentlemen with the safari classics in 404,505 and the rest of these fine caliber. My I ask what was the pricing I can expect to find on these so I know what to expect. Thanks so much!

Walksfar, I don't agree!

I have a CZ Safari Classic in .404 Jeffery and it has a nice piece of wood on it, it is finished very well, feeds like butter, and shoots 400 grain Woodleighs into nice tiny clusters. I also have the Safari Classic in .500 Jeffery. I had CZ put the Jeffery in a brown laminate stock for the added strengh. None of these rifles are "svelte" but Robgunbuilder is right. If you are looking for a .404, .500, or a .505, I think the CZ's are a real bargain. Just price a Granite Mountain action, an Empire or Heym rifle and you will see.

Dave

RIP.
You should sell off that CZ 404 it's not good enough for you.
Me?
If the price were right, I think I could live with it.

msorenso and oldun,
www.whittakerguns.com has a traded-in/unfired/as-new-in-box .450 Rigby with matte finish and the pretty wood for $1699.

There are also one each of the matte blue and glossy blue finished rifles with pretty wood languishing on the new-gun rack in the following calibers:

.404 Jeffery and .450 Rigby: $2080.99
.505 Gibbs with glass bedding and muzzle brakes: $2263.99

My .404 Jeffery is a slick feeder and accurate like Dave's.

The .505 Gibbs has a magazine box that is too small for intended purpose.

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:
msorenso and oldun,
www.whittakerguns.com has a traded-in/unfired/as-new-in-box .450 Rigby with matte finish and the pretty wood for $1699.

There are also one each of the matte blue and glossy blue finished rifles with pretty wood languishing on the new-gun rack in the following calibers:

.404 Jeffery and .450 Rigby: $2080.99
.505 Gibbs with glass bedding and muzzle brakes: $2263.99

My .404 Jeffery is a slick feeder and accurate like Dave's.

The .505 Gibbs has a magazine box that is too small for intended purpose.

Rip when I was at whittakers a couple weeks ago the ones he had on the shelf were actually a few hundred dollars on the price tag cheaper than what the website says. They were priced between 18 something and 19 something and the only one with a tag over 2k was the one with the muzzle break on it.

Jarrod,
You are right. I have seen a bunch more there than what is showing on the web site. They were new in box for the .404 and .450 for $1800 to $1900, last time I looked at them, which was a while ago. His web site should be considered a sample of what is available in the store. I am sure he has more stacked up in the stocking shelves/warehouse. Stacks and stacks of CZ's.
You have to pump them a bit to find out what they have out back, in person works better than telephone.