I was thinking about starting a new project based on a CZ-550 and wanted to hear folks opinions on whether I should start with an just action or a complete rifle.

The end goal:
1. CZ-550 with 23" #5 barrel, new recoil lug, barrel lug as well
2. Duane's bottom metal that allows 6+1
3. 3 position safety and new bolt handle
4. Barrel band
5. Front banded NECG site, no rear sight. NECG peep sight on rear bridge
6. Matte finish
7. Custom stock, probably mesquite

AHR has one available on their website - you might want to give it serious consideration or perhaps contact them to build you one to your specifications...

Saw that. My LOP is 15" plus I like doing my own stock. They make nice rifles though. If I remember, they used to be price a little more competively than they are now. I figure I'll have $4K into it plus my labor on the stock.

Sounds like sweet rifle to be.
Would love to see the rifle blanks you are choosing from.
What rifle weight is your goal?

6+1 ! Sha ZAM !!!

I have some mesquite slabs I had cut from a big log in my garage drying. I need to cut some blanks soon as I have three other rifles I need to stock. I'll post some pics when I do that. I have three 6'x2'x3" slabs. I hope to get a few good blanks from them.

I'd like to be 9-10 lbs, but think the mesquite will put me over.

quote:

6+1 ! Sha ZAM !!!

Just remember, it's the first shot that counts.
Following a wounded buffalo into thick brush may only give you one or two shots. I would trade two of those rounds for a 450 Rigby in 1+4 custom, or just a simple 1+3. 6+1 is for elephant culling.

Have you considered building one on a Ruger RSM action or another action?
I think I would prefer a 24 inch barrel with a tapering a slightly heavy contour unlike the original.I would try and get most of the weight of the rifle just in front of the action.
I say this because both my CZ,a 458wm a 458 lott are unshootable with their original barrels.

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
Have you considered building one on a Ruger RSM action or another action?
I think I would prefer a 24 inch barrel with a tapering a slightly heavy contour unlike the original.I would try and get most of the weight of the rifle just in front of the action.
I say this because both my CZ,a 458wm a 458 lott are unshootable with their original barrels.

I have a RSM in 375, so I could just start with 458 Lott RSM, but want a greater mag capacity. Even thought about trying to reborn the 375.

quote:

Originally posted by G.Hansen:

quote:

Originally posted by Austin Hunter:
I was thinking about starting a new project based on a CZ-550 and wanted to hear folks opinions on whether I should start with an just action or a complete rifle.

The end goal:
1. CZ-550 with 23" #5 barrel, new recoil lug, barrel lug as well
2. Duane's bottom metal that allows 6+1
3. 3 position safety and new bolt handle
4. Barrel band
5. Front banded NECG site, no rear sight. NECG peep sight on rear bridge
6. Matte finish
7. Custom stock, probably mesquite

A CZ550M (complete rifle) can provide a great platform to customize:

Talley bolt handle, Ed Lapour safety, AHR trigger, Duane's bottom metal, CZ 'bill board lettering' milled off and square bridges machined for Talley's rings and peep sight.







We kept the CZ barrel, cut it back to ~23" and added barrel band and NECG banded front sight. First three (3) rounds with factory Hornandy 400 GRN solids printed 1.25"



Made a few changes as we went along and reworked the block into a 're-sized' recoil lug (no photo.)



Wayne's Bottom Metal with a 416 Rigby (4+1)



We made our own Laminate stock blank and with scope and five (5) rounds, it comes in at exactly 10.5 pounds. Points and handles beautifully.

Good luck!

That's really nice. I guess I could do the same on the factory barrel. I like the idea of getting rid of the 72 pt CZ font on the receiver.

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
Have you considered building one on a Ruger RSM action or another action?
I think I would prefer a 24 inch barrel with a tapering a slightly heavy contour unlike the original.I would try and get most of the weight of the rifle just in front of the action.
I say this because both my CZ,a 458wm a 458 lott are unshootable with their original barrels.

Is the factory barrel too long or too heavy or both?

The factory barrel is too long and too light,IMO.Could be that the action is also too long and too light but I am not that sure about it.The whole factory rifle feels light but it is suprisingle the same weight as my Ruger RSM Lott.The CZ however does not feel like the Ruger when you shoulder it.

Bob the CZ barrel to 23. If you like remove the rear island. However the rear sight is far more useful than a peep sight if shtf

Remove front sight to new location on barrel

Use full rifle and stock. Then install the new bottom metal and bondo the stock to make a pattern stock. Or maybe use the "better" bondo and paint over it, as you will want a longer LOP. Btw I made my stock machine due to LOP

Bolt handle and safety are your call. Matters of your own Taste

On billboard - tig and machine over.

Beadblast and blue it.

How about giving the barrel a straight taper from the receiver to about where the band for the rear sight would go then using the barrel itself to mill a slot for the sights.I think I`ve seen Rigby do something like this-they probably did it for the same reason-to get a well balanced rifle.
I would also consider going with three down and one in the chamber instead of a deep magazine.It is easier to hold the rifle closer to the body with your left arm and align the sights with your eye instead of having a big magazine there to deal with.

On billboard - tig and machine over.


It seems to me I remember a post about grinding off the makers name on a Mauser and many said that this would make it an illegal firearm. I realize that if you grind the serial number that is true, but I remember that it only had to do with the makers name in this previous post. So, why then is is all right to alter the makers name on a CZ and not a 98 Mauser?

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
I would also consider going with three down and one in the chamber instead of a deep magazine.It is easier to hold the rifle closer to the body with your left arm and align the sights with your eye instead of having a big magazine there to deal with.

Is George's belly getting in the way of the the rifle's belly?

The standard 25"-long CZ .458 Lott barrel is closest to a No. 4 sporter, plus integral dognut rear sight base.
Same contour for .375, .416 and .458, per bean counting requirements.

You will need a heavier barrel to balance the heavier mesquite stock, jawohl,
but the Wiebe bank vault box will certainly help in that regard.
Yep, No. 5 should be good.
And a solid build like that will be over 10 pounds.

Thanks for all the feedback!

I picked up a 458 Win Mag from Ray today as the basis for the project. It might stay win mag for a while due to other projects, but it was a good deal and a good start of the project. I'll post more as it progresses.

quote:

Originally posted by D R Hunter:
6+1 ! Sha ZAM !!!

DOUBLE RIFE SHOOTERS EAT YOUR HEART OUT

>DOUBLE RIFE SHOOTERS EAT YOUR HEART OUT


If a buffalo charges from 25 yards you only have time for two shots.

And they best be fast and ACCURATE!

Dont listen to all this bullshit.Whatever the rifle you need to learn how to use it.Another tip for building a lott or any DG open sight rifle would be to get those iron sights down low.The eye should make alignment or acquire a sight picture as quick as possible.Extending the neck to align the sights is not a good thing,IMO.-this is not a scope.

Phil,

as the man said, boom-boom is better than boom, work the bolt, boom, work the bolt, boom work the bolt...
If you need more than two fast shots, consider taking up golf.

It is beautiful though.

That's one reason I went with the Whitworth... To save money for a double. I'm going to look at Bradshaw's double rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Phil,

as the man said, boom-boom is better than boom, work the bolt, boom, work the bolt, boom work the bolt...
If you need more than two fast shots, consider taking up golf.

It is beautiful though.

how far where your shots at your buffalo?

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Phil,

as the man said, boom-boom is better than boom, work the bolt, boom, work the bolt, boom work the bolt...
If you need more than two fast shots, consider taking up golf.

It is beautiful though.

Rich, If I could shoot as well as you I wouldn't need more that two shots either. Unfortunately many of the bears I have had to stop needed quite a few more, and so do most of the wounded ones that are getting away across the open tundra. Heck, I even remember a cape buffalo in Mozambique that took quite a few more than two.

I'm having Dennis Olson add a coffin box magazine to a 404 I'm building on an Enfield action, that I will stock..

Like Phil, I also have seen cape buffalo take a lot of killing, on one ocassion 15 shots, and on another it took 9, and all on the same hunt..I have this on film from a client from Boise, Id., they were using a 500 N.E. and a 470 N.E., I have had one instance wherein we had to shoot a wounded Cape buffalo about 5 or 6 times, another wounded one 4 times, and thats not all that uncommon..If the first shot is off, then you can expect a hard kill as the adrenaline pumps.

I'm not sure how much of a coffin box I'm going to use on this gun, the last one was 4 down and one up and I liked it and the guy that bought it really likes it, maybe I'll go one more on this one, 5 down and one up..

Bottom line is you may go a lifetime without needing more than a standard magazine full of big bore rounds, but when you need'em they sure are handy...I recall Harold Wolfe expounding on how he really liked extended magazines, and thats pretty good experience talking.