Well, I picked up my new CZ 550 Safari Magnum in 375 H&H this morning. It has the European style stock and it has a lot more figure in the wood than I was expecting ... it's tinged a reddish in color with some dark brown/black streaking, actually quite pretty. I was expecting it to be more on the blonde side since it's Turkish walnut, but was delightfully surprised ... I like it.

The only thing that perplexed me was the recoil pad. According to the CZ-USA website and the owner's manual that came with the rifle, it should have a Pachmayer Decelerator recoil pad ... but it doesn't. Instead, it has the ventilated ribbed recoil pad. I'll see how this feels before I go replacing it. I can always replace it with a Limbsaver or Decelerator later.

I do have a question regarding the Express sights that maybe someone could answer for me. I haven't used open sights on a rifle since I stopped using my BB gun at age 12 ... I've used peep sights and scopes exclusively on rifles. Where do you place the bead in the "V"? Do you place it at the bottom of the "V" or keep it level with the top of the "V"? I have no idea. Any help would be most appreciative. Thanks.

Put the bead in the valley of the "V" and then put the bullseye (or whatever your target is) sitting right on top of the bead (as opposed to the bead being on the target) -- sort of like ":". Sort of hard to explain when you type it out but hopefully you get the drift.

Grove,
Mjines has given good instructions for target mode accuracy, "fine bead" holding. The bead is nestled in the bottom of the V. The bullet is supposed to hit at the top edge of the bead. This is best for long range accuracy and good for close up too.

The factory beads are so tiny that the combat mode is not much different in effect, but you could replace the front bead with a larger one if desired.

Combat mode is to nestle the bead in the bottom of the V and cover the target to be hit with the bead. In this mode the rifle shoots to the center of the bead. Best for close range and fast sighting.

Decide what you like best and get the load you want to set your sights for.

BTW, the ventilated recoil pad is what the CZ's had early on, early models. Later models were switched to the Decelerator by the factory. I have had them both ways. I replaced my ventilated pads with the decelerator.

This is good that your gun is an early model with nice wood. It will most likely not have the C-clip firing pin support retainer, but rather have the superior double nut.

The Lux stock suits me fine.

You have done well getting a hogsback over the American IMHO, it is a ver lively feel to it and feels like an English Bird Gun. I have that ventilated pad on my 9.3x62 lux cz, yes you may want to swap iy out but the .375 H&H in the cz platform is not that much of a kicker so suck and see first.......................get it bedded before shooting it.

MJines & RIP ... thank you for your help with the express sight issue. Like I said earlier, it's been over 40 years since I last used open sights. This helps immensely.

Thanks guys.

Grove,

I have a Pachmayr 990 decelerator on my 458 Lott and it has like you said ventalated ribs type of but it is very thick..and when installed I was given a nipple to put on the bottom so it won't get crushed standing up in a vault of standing gun case...
I tried the limbsaver and the Pachmayr was better IMOP..

Mike

Congratulations on your new rifle!

I have the exact same rifle except for the recoil pad (I have a Decelerator). The recoil sensation of the 375 Hoot & Holler is a "large push" rather than a "sharp slap" in this rifle. Hogsback stocks (Lux) are fine for mitigating recoil of this cartridge. The express sights are as RIP described, put the target on top of the bead, bead resting at the bottom of the valley.

RIP,
I'm still looking for some drop-in replacement front sights for the CZ 550 Magnum rifles. Is anybody making them?

Mike told me, which allows one to get the image
"pumkin on a post".. your sight should be the post.. for a "6 o'clock hold" ... generally this will put you smack on at 50 and then cover it at 100


the necg front blades can be modified to fit
jeffe

I also took delivery of an identical rifle two days ago but mine did have the decelerator pad. Which seems to be glued on because i cant find the screw holes in the pad.
Anyway, i think I may have found one reason people have had problems with the factory stocks cracking on these rifles. When I bedded the rifle I found there is a lot of space under the barrel in the stock inletting, especially in the area from the rear sight to the receiver.
I put the bedding compound on thick, over 1/4 inch, and yesterday when I pulled the action out of the stock found areas where the barrel never disturbed the bedding. It bedded well in the critical areas like the recoil lugs though.

Check out the thread, Big Bore Range Trip for some pics of my targets from the first trip to the range yesterday with my CZ550 in .416 Rigby. Very pleased with the rifle. Enjoy yours.

quote:

Originally posted by Wink:
RIP,
I'm still looking for some drop-in replacement front sights for the CZ 550 Magnum rifles. Is anybody making them?

Like Jeffeosso said, NECG replacement front beads, for the Ruger RSM IIRC, and some hand filing, that even I am capable of and have done several, to get a good fit. Not quite drop in though, but close. Needs some fitting with the file.

I am no expert but have heard that the front sights on CZ handguns are interchangeable with the rifle front sights.