New tool just arrived: a CZ 550 in .458 Lott, with a 20" barrel and a complement of CEB solids loaded in Norma brass.



Yes, these are six rounds of .458 Lott, and yes, they fit in the magazine without forcing the last one!

Wow, is THAT some firepower!!! Congrats on your new rifle! Who did you have do the work for you, or did you purchase it that way?

-John

SEVEN rounds in a hunting rifle is very impressive!

If yours shoots as well as mine, you will be impressed...mine will put three 450 grain Barnes TSX into about 3/4". I would post a picture from yesterday if I could get photobucket to work...

Karl

Very Excellent Philip......... I think this will serve your needs well........

Michael

Like the peep sight

Who did the mods for you and is Norma now loading CEB?

The mods and fine-tuning were done by Nathan Heineke in Laramie (if you want to see some outstanding rifle building work, as close as you can get to British craftsmanship without actually being in the UK, check his site...). He mostly worked on the barrel and feeding, and built a front sight - not installed yet. He added a few touches, but the rest of the rifle is pretty much stock: that's a working tool, not an exhibition piece.

The brass is Norma, the rounds loaded by Nate. The initial load data were very kindly supplied by Michael, who is known for occasionally indulging in big bores and short barrels ( Thanks again!)

The peep is a ERA/Recknagel, supplied by NECG. I have a similar setup on other rifles, with front fiber optics: it's only marginally slower than a Docter or Trijicon, and you can hammer 6" nails with it.

Nathan Heineke's site: www.nlheineke.com

Hi Phil,

Please, did Nathan Heineke have to do work to
make your rifle hold six in the mag without
forcing the last round, or did it come from the
factory that way?

That fellow is a true artisan! Wish I had that kind of scratch to plunk down on one of their masterpieces...

-John

That looks mad. I'm actually doing the same thing to my CZ550 .458WM thanks to Michael and his sick looking mini-barrelled B&M rifles.
Thanks for posting the pic... now I'll know what mine will look like!

To All,

I PMed Phil with the above question too. Below in green is his answer:

"Hi D R,

Thanks! Nate did work on the feed rails and ramp, but not on the magazine
box. It holds six down due to the generous dimensions of the stock: the
wood between bottom metal and action is about 1.5 to 2mm higher than the
magazine box, this gives just enough room for the sixth round to fit in
comfortably. When I tried the action on another stock that I have, I could
squeeze six in, but could nod close the bolt over the last round. The stock is a
CZ USA Safari Classic, action is marked 07 (for 2007), barrel is marked .458
WIN MAG from the factory, and quite crudely stamped .458 LOTT / above that.
One of the early rifles rechambered to Lott by CZ USA, I'd guess. Taking it to
the bush tomorrow, with CEB bullets, for a two weeks Safari. I'll let you know
how it goes...

Cheers

Philip"