A slight diversion. Why do so many people on the forums and in gun books knock the CZ action/rifles? I know they come rough out of the factory, but for $70 CZ will do an action job before they send it to you. Some folks don't like the hollow bolt, Remington 700-like safety or set trigger, I understand that. I'm having those corrected by Ed Plummer (though the bolt and safety didn't bother me, the trigger wasn't bad, but could've been better). The standard Safari Magnum rifles come with better looking walnut than most of their competitors will handle most of the truly big magnum cartridges and that's hard to find anywhere near their price range. They should all come glassbedded and with dual cross-bolts (I think they're all going to come with the dual crossbolts soon).

So I'm probably getting my CZ Safari Magnum rechambered to 470 Capstick, so Terry W (Dangerous Game Rifles) will get no sleep lol

Chuck

If the price of admission was $3,000.00, I would complain about the rough condition of a new CZ, but because they can be had for $850.00, I don't see any problems. Yes, they are rough, but they make a great foundation IMHO.

Here is a list of all the big bore rifles you can buy for under $4000:

CZ
Ruger

Here is a list of all the big bore rifles you can buy for under $2400:

CZ

Here is a list of the reasonably priced 505 Gibbs you can buy:

CZ

I own four, so I am prejudiced in favor of a solid, dependalble big bores at a working man's budget.

Rich
DRSS
Khowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

is anyone foolish enough to complain that a 900$ rifle is not the same quality as a $6,500 rifle?

Maybe my standards are low. I have three of them and I like them like they are. I have the trigger adjusted and the LOP changed and just shoot them. They get smoother with a few cyclings and the mounting system is solid as a rock. I don't like winchester sytle safeties anyway so I'm OK with them as they are. Incidentially, my FS has a three position safety but the other two only have two positions. The 9.3 and the .416 are both dual cross bolted at the factory. Accurate too. Great guns at great prices. Before I spent a lot more money on a custom bolt action rifle, I would just buy a double rifle instead.

Like Rich, I own four as well (9.3X62, .404 Jeffery, .416 Rigby, and .500 Jeffery) I think they are great! I am going to send the .416 Rigby off to Ed Plummer and have him do an "option No. 2" on it but I am not going to change the trigger, safety, or bolt handle. I like it just the way it is. I think they are an incredible value.

Dave

quote:

Here is a list of the reasonably priced 505 Gibbs you can buy:

CZ

Rich, I think the .505 Gibbs dynamic is about to change a bit with the Montana PH action set to hit the street in the next three to four months. It will have a .805 diameter bolt and, as I understand it, they will be providing barreled actions in .505 Gibbs. If you get in right now, you can buy a PH action in stainless of chrome moly for $625. That is a super bargain.

Dave

I have never picked on them or even commented on them, but I don't like them, they are too bulky and thick by design and not much can be done for them in that respect..I have customized a couple of them and made myself a .404, but sold them all..

I still prefer the sleek, thin, lines of a custom Mauser or M-70 pre 64..Perhaps that answers your question as I know others who feel the same about the CZ's...Others do not like the unfinished roughness of the gun and its ability to feed properly or so I have been told.

Not trying to rain on anybodys parade, just trying to address the question, which in many cases that is the last thing one wants to hear!

Since when can you not purchase a Ruger for under $2400? I paid less than half that for mine 3-4 years ago in .416 Rigby. The CZ is a bit on the rough side and is a little heavy. So is the Ruger too heavy in the smaller calibers. Both are a good value and shouldn't be held to the same standards as a $5000 or $10000 custom rifle. In the larger calibers, the AHR modified CZ rifles look like a bargain top flight big game rifle to me.

quote:

Originally posted by BEGNO:
Maybe my standards are low. I have three of them and I like them like they are. I have the trigger adjusted and the LOP changed and just shoot them. They get smoother with a few cyclings and the mounting system is solid as a rock. I don't like winchester sytle safeties anyway so I'm OK with them as they are. Incidentially, my FS has a three position safety but the other two only have two positions. The 9.3 and the .416 are both dual cross bolted at the factory. Accurate too. Great guns at great prices. Before I spent a lot more money on a custom bolt action rifle, I would just buy a double rifle instead.

Ditto. If CZ was giving them away, there would still be whiners.

Dave,

I have two ordered, since December of 2006.
I am guessing that you will not be able to buy a complete rifle with express-style sights for $3000. Even AHR can't offer that, and they are the equivalent of the Shelby Mustang conversions.

Ray,

I keep looking in the classifieds for a Model 70 in the following calibers: 416 Rigby, 450 Dakota, 460 Wbee, 505 Gibbs, 500 Jefferys, 404 Jefferys, or the RUM series. Only CZ offers very many of the above listed calibers.

WE ARE TALKING FACTORY RIFLES HERE! There is zero competition for the CZ big bores in other factory offerings unless you are Bill Gates.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

I've got bolt action sporting rifles (smaller than 50BMG-size) based on these actions, the current dozen:

Mauser 98 (standards from various: Oberndorf, FN, and Yugoslavia)
Mauser 98 Magnum (Prechtl)
Win M70 Pre-64 (long)
Win M70 Classic (long)
Ruger M77 (standard and magnum/RSM)
Wby MkV (ultralight and magnum)
Remington M700 (long)
Armalite (magnum)
Dakota M76 (magnum)
BBK-02 (magnum)
BRNO ZKK 602 (magnum)
CZ 550 (standard and magnum)

My conclusion is that the CZ will make as good a rifle as any of the above, at less cost, and will handle things that the 8-ounces-lighter-in the-loafers M70's cannot handle.

Until someone makes a Magnum Mauser action in stainless steel, the CZ 550 Magnum will do it all as well as any action can.

The hordes clamoring for Granite Mountain actions must have fallen off a bit since CZ's became so affordably available.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
WE ARE TALKING FACTORY RIFLES HERE! There is zero competition for the CZ big bores in other factory offerings unless you are Bill Gates.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

Continuing the list of big bore rifles that can be had for less than $4000:

Kimber Caprivi
Kimber Talkeetna
Remington 798
Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan/African

Continuing the list of big bore rifles that can be had for less than $2400

Kimber Talkeetna
Remington 798
Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan/African

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
I have never picked on them or even commented on them, but I don't like them, they are too bulky and thick by design and not much can be done for them in that respect..I have customized a couple of them and made myself a .404, but sold them all..

Agreed.

I'll comment on the rifles I've owned in 375 which are BRNO x2 and Sako x2.
The BRNO are fat, ergo heavy, and ugly, but they shoot well enough.
Sako are slimmer, better looking and shoot a litle better.
The Sako, despite it's push feed, is a better rifle, but both do the job required of them.
At the end of a day bashing about in the bush, one is less fatigued after carrying a lighter rifle.

They are excellent actions, among the best for the big cartridges.

Sure, they can stand some work, but name me an action - that is anywhere near as affordable - that wouldn't benefit from some work?

Thanks for all of the feedback, not trolling here ... and Ray thanks for your honest opinion.

Guess I'm not a conniesseur (spelling? that says it all lol). I've owned Rem 700s (like them and done very well with them for 30 years). Owned a Ruger M77 (I didn't like it and sold it, might have been a rare lemon, but it put me off on Rugers), shot a bunch of M70s including a lovely pre-64 375 H&H and liked them Ok. The CZ feels like a "heavy rifle" but then that's what I want in DGR as long as the stock fits and the balance is right. If the rifle doesn't feel right to you, it's not good regardless of accuracy, but anyone who can't make an accurate rifle with today's technology should go out of the business.

Just was wondering if I was missing something, thanks to you all for all of the feedback.

Regards,
Chuck

The action alone is worth the cost. Where else would you find a magnum length action with a drop magazine that will handle the Lott, 375, etc., for the money?

Good luck Ray.

Throw a few hundred bucks at it and a 8.7 lb. 416 Rem with 5 down and 1 up.

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:
If the price of admission was $3,000.00, I would complain about the rough condition of a new CZ, but because they can be had for $850.00, I don't see any problems. Yes, they are rough, but they make a great foundation IMHO.

When compared in terms of fit n finish to my brace of ZKKs from early 90s the new CZ550s are true gems.

I don't understand fat, bulky, and heavy remarks. How svelte and light do you want something chambered for .458Lott to be.
My fav bird gun is Remi 31L 12br with 30" tube that comes in at <6lbs, but that's designed for small fluffy things that fly and can be downed with 1 or 1&1/6oz of round pellets starting out at 1100 to 1200fps!

quote:

Originally posted by Paolo9,5x73:
I don't understand fat, bulky, and heavy remarks. How svelte and light do you want something chambered for .458Lott to be.

You might understand them better if you read the ones I made in the context in which they were used, ie in calibre 375. Nothing was said about the heavier calibres. In 458 Lott they are acceptable.

All the good handling .375s I have examined were made on std. long action.
There are only two BIG meat heads Ruger and CZ.

"...bulky and thick..." can be fixed much easier (and a lot cheaper!) than spindly. My gunsmith tells me he can put one on the slimfast diet in an hour. The growth hormones work very slowly at this stage of tree life.

Rich
DRSS
Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:

Here is a list of all the big bore rifles you can buy for under $2400:

CZ


Rich
DRSS
Khowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

Rich,

How much is a Ruger RSM now days? I though they were still under $2,000. Am I wrong?

At a published weight of 9.9 lbs, without scope, the CZ 375 H&H certainly needs to be put on a diet. With a scope it would be about 11lbs

I used to (mellowing now) run down Brno/CZ's at any opertunity. Two main reasons. The average Joe praises them religiously even when they're giving trouble.

The average Joe (not AR members) buys them on reputation and gets let down often enough. Comes from No.1 above.

For the price, and if you are aware of the possible problems, and can afford to fix them, well OK. But with Shootaway changing barrels, and others changing stocks etc. are you still shooting a Brno/CZ.

P.S. Proves nothing of course, but last week a fella with a CZ had the front mount slide off the dovetail. Now would you believe, this week a different fella with a Brno had the same thing happen. Would you also believe neither had an allen key to fit. Jeese. These are the Joes of which I speek.

My only complaint is they do not build a left hand model. I would buy one in a second and gladly pay for a few upgrades. Maybe one day.

Surestrike
I paid $1800 for my RSM that was "upgraded" with some fugly gold elephant on the floorplate

quote:

When compared in terms of fit n finish to my brace of ZKKs from early 90s the new CZ550s are true gems.

I would diasgree on that! The wood on my early - 1972 BRNO ZKK600 and ZKK601 is much better quality than that on the latest crop of CZ 550s that I have seen.

RSM's retail price at 2300.00, but street price in mid to high teens as a rule. Some rumors that the RSM's will cease to be offered in not too distant future??

There have been rumors that they will be discontinued, but Ruger says no.

quote:

Originally posted by surestrike:

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:

Here is a list of all the big bore rifles you can buy for under $2400:

CZ


Rich
DRSS
Khowledge not shared is knowledge lost...

Rich,

How much is a Ruger RSM now days? I though they were still under $2,000. Am I wrong?

When Ruger stops making them they will be worth >2x on 2nd-hand market.