just picked up a CZ550 in 458 Lott,looks to have only a few shots fired thru it so my question is:should I have a gunsmith install cross bolts in the stock behind the recoil lug and mag box or not worry about it. any thoughts would be appreciated thanks Jim

If you are worried about it then you should; you can't take a piece of equipment into the field with which you are not confident.
I would....

if you want this, plus bedding, i recommend
https://americanhuntingrifles.com/upgrade-your-cz/

It’s not something you’ll regret doing. If anything it will make you feel better.

I have two CZ's one Lott and one 458 Win Mag.I have left them as they came from the factory but bedded the action.You might as well put a cross bolt in and have it bedded at the same time.I had a cross bolt added on each of the three Rugers I had rebuilt.Here is a pic of one with a cross bolt underneath the webbing that had cracked.
[URL= ]Ruger Lott[/URL]

You will spend a lot of money on safari, best to go prepared, I wouldl glass bed the rifle, add two cross bolts and a second recoil lug in front of the chamber...Ive seen so many factory and custom guns come apart on safari that I wouldn't consider not doing these things..Even a boy scout motto is "be prepared" and discard that old gunsmith advise about if a gun is inletted properly it won't split the stock, that's just sales pitch..proper inletting is required, but needs a little help in many cases as wood moves and recoil moves wood in time and can create a gap, and that's all it needs to start a split..and yes many properly inletted guns survive years of use, but do you want to risk it is the question..

thanks everyone for your input,the Lott sale fell thru so today I purchased a CZ in 458 win mag and it has cross bolts installed at the factory and is brand new never fired,so I will start loading the cartridge long and see how it works out

The most important thing to do is to use red loctite on the guard screws and really tighten them down.

quote:

Originally posted by hydehunter:
thanks everyone for your input,the Lott sale fell thru so today I purchased a CZ in 458 win mag and it has cross bolts installed at the factory and is brand new never fired,so I will start loading the cartridge long and see how it works out

Good decision.

Use a torque wrench like the "Fat" screwdriver from Wheeler Engineering.
Torque the action screws to 65 inch-pounds.
Check frequently as with any rifle.
Do not use red LocTite on the action screws.
That is another crappy idea from shootaway.

The SAAMI/CIP .458 Win.Mag. (there can be only one such chamber)
beats the SAAMI/CIP .458 Lott (variable chamber specs over the years)
in a CZ 550 Magnum.

However, CIP allows the .458 Win.Mag. the same higher MAP as the .458 Lott, 4300 bar, ~62,350 psi.
SAAMI limits the .458 Win.Mag. to MAP of 60,000 psi
while allowing the red-faced .458 Lott a MAP of 62,500 psi.

See the never-ending "458 winchester magnum" thread for some .458 Win.Mag. loads,
and loads of fun.
It is whack-a-mole for .458 Win.Mag. deniers.

Rip ...

Shootaway, has some good advise, and I would add to that on a DG rifle drill out the 6/40 screws and use 8/40s on a big bore, and it doesn't hurt a damn thing on a 22 Hornet for instance..I glass bed scope base screws and locktite the scope rings..IF I need to remove the bases I use a small propane kitchen torch with a tiny flame on the srews and unscrew them or a soldering iron if the flame bothers you, its tiny and easil directed.

Recknagel makes a banded base for a rear sight which also incorporates a recoil lug. The base can be silver soldered to the barrel (they come in a wide range of internal diameters) and/or secured with screws. They are illustrated on page 13 of the Recknagel catalog https://www.recknagel.de/en/info-service/catalog/).
I believe NECG is the importer for Recknagel products.

Also any good gunsmith can make a banded rear sight with a recoil lug underneath, some argue the position, but Ive never seen that to be a problem..we tend to create problems in our endevors to expound on our knowledge perhaps.