Hello,
Have oppportunity to purchase subject rifle, New in box for very little and have stayed away from them in the past due to so many negative reports on overall quality. Well, since I can own the rifle very reasonable, what would you have done to it to make it top drawer in all respects. I would prefer synthetic stock for it will see hard service over time. Exhibition walnut is not for the bush as they say, or at least for me and if desired that can come later. Looking for mechanical improvments, feeding, trigger, bedding, etc. Got any steps one should take?? Thanks.

I've had one of the CZ American 416Rigbys for two weeks. Brand new, closing the bolt was VERY stiff but its smoothed out a bit with some use. I think a 'smith will be called in at some stage to smooth it further. I've had one failure to eject clear of the receiver but I think it was my fault for opening the bolt gently whilst shooting over the ute bonnet. Feeds smooth, no problems there ... so far. Trigger is a bit draggy, but its not anything I'd personally worry about. Weight is perfect as an open sighted rifle, bit too heavy for me personaly with mounts ands scope so she'll be staying as an open sighted rifle UNLESS I can find a commercial peep that fit sthe rear receiver. I'll be waxing the stock this week inside and out in anticipation of some hunting.
Cheers...
Con

Bedding is the most important issue. Mine is bedded, internal cross bolts added, has rod in the wrist, has been slicked up and has a trigger job. It was done by someone who knows what he's doing ... and the result is a great rifle. Powerful and accurate ... 5700 lb of muzzle energy and 1 1/2" groups at 200 yards.

If you would like to replace the current saftey with a nicer one {IMHO} then order one from
Ed Lapour. He makes a damn nice and beautiful 3 position wing type saftey. Plus he's a mighty fine guy to do buisness with.

Here is my CZ550 in 416Rigby. It has a Brockman stock and has been fully bedded. Barrel is cut to 21". No other work done to any extent. Pad is a Decellerator. Front ramp is a NECG that has a red fiber bead and is adjustable for elevation.

I have a brand new one for my 500 AS project ,for the money iam very happy with it has a nice stock on it ,only its a bit short for me ,iam happy with the factory sights.It feeds well, even though i have umm only one round for it, considering every other CZ i have owned would not feed properly ! I dont know why it says made in czechoslovakia and then has CZUSA KANSAS CITY KS on the side of it .I think its very good value for money big game rifle, if it came with a black fore end tip [which mine is gonna get] it would look a whole lot better

Jim Brockman did mine too. It looks very much like the one pictured by Zim above except it has one of the Thick laminates that Mel Smart used to do. It is very pretty. The stock fits me very well. The CZ has only failed to feed if I was too slow with the bolt. Once when it mattered, I failed to get the bolt all the way closed. It will not fire in that position. My fault, not the CZ's. It happens to the best of us. The CZ is a good starting point. Mine is plenty accurate too. Good hunting. "D"

slick them up and bed them, add cross bolts, and if you like, a timney trigger and a 3 position safety., change the recoil pad.. and it's now 100%, altered to fit you, and you are in less than the cost of a stock ruger (next closest in price for a DGR CRF).. bob the barrel to 23", add a talley barrel band, NECG front sight, and a reblue.. well, for under 2K you now have it perfectly reliable, correct length, well balanced, and rugged DGR...

of course, you could always buy a remington in 416 rem and just go hunting.... no joke, the things feed like a hungry coon dog.

How many times do we have to read that d'arcy or dennis needs to clean up a factory win70?

I do wish people would point their same level of criticism to the CZ that they might place on a winchester or ruger. Should they do so, the RSM comes out far and away for most people. Those are WAY too heavy for me

We are talking about $900 rifle NEW, not $3,500 customized m70.,,,

jeffe

Hello Jeffeoso,
Own and shoot RSM's and the weight is OK with me and consider them the best value on the market today, period. Would not even look at a CZ if it were not for the low entry price on this one and the caliber. Are you saying that for something under $2,000.00 one can convert the rifle to something reliable and accurate and plus fits the shooter?? If so, that makes a lot of sense to me.

Yep..
Take a $900 cz, have it bedded, X bolted, wrist pin, recoil pad, bobbed, couple add ons, and for under 2k you have a great rifle, as long as you don't need a MUCH longer LOP...

I like "light" rifles... 11# is too heavy for me, even to the .550 bore... not that I have a problem hefting one around, I just find them annoying after a couple miles walking with them.

a 416 rigby has no reason to be much over 9.00#, and you would have to throw the ruger's barrel in the garden to get near that weight.

the RSM would benefit, from a looks POV, with a less square stock (to me, one that matches to the loading port), but DANG they are nice look metal and shoot good

jeffe

Of corse you can't get one yet.
, but when Ruger necks thal little .375 up to .416 or .458, And sell them for 800,00. It will be a very competitive alternitive.
I would add a better pad and be ready to hunt...tj3006

WEll I have a CZ in 416 Rigby and a CZ in 375H&H. I have done absolutely nothing to either. The stock has not broken and the sky hasn't fallen. Look at the list of modifications and see what is required and what is cosmetic preference. Meanwhile, they are both incredibly accurate. When I get the time and money I will probably have crossbolts fitted on the 416, and might have the stock modified to the correct LOP. However I would not hesitate to take either to Africa.
Peter.

I had 2 416 Rigbys the CZ above and a Ruger RSM that had the stock slimmed down and a longer straight bot handle installed. It was also MagNaPorted. Both shot equally as well and I far preferred the CZ. I sold the Ruger to someone on the forum and he used it succcessfully this year in Zim. My CZ is one of the first Rigbys and was less than $700. The Brockman stock was a dropin when he first started to build them (no cheek piece)and was around $325. The front ramp and sight and barrel band were less than $150 the Decellerator was around $30.Labor on the barrel was around $100. That comes to a total of $1305 for an absolutely reliable rifle that fits me and is impeccably accurate. Short of a full custom I don't know what more you could ask for in a working gun fo that price.Had I not farmed out the barrel work it would have been even less expensive. My favorite 375H&H( I currently have 4) is an old ZKK 602 That has had the barrel cut to 21" and new front ramp and swivel installed. It is Jon Speeds last rifle he used as a Warden. Stock is original except for Decellerator and I prefer it to the CZ550. It has been fully glassed. I feel the CZ/Brno is probably the best basis for a big game rifle out there today. If you want to go all out and replace the bolt handle (I merely straightened the CZ) and replace the trigger with a Timney and the safety with a 3 position you will have an absolutely first class gun, I actually LIKE the trigger on the BRNO but would like the 550 replaced and may get around to it. I don't mind the safeties as they are and before anyone yells I KNOW they are reversed from each other but I have no problem with that at all. They both have adequate magazine capacity as they come from the factory.I have 375's on ALL the actions,Heym Double,Ruger No.1,Mdl 70,Brno,Single Square bridge Mauser so have experience with all of them and still prefer the CZ/Brno. Definitely the most cost effective by any measurement.

I have one which I have moved into a corp trading composite stock, love the gun so much I will get a cz 550 safari the new model with cross bolts and American stock oneday.

As Con said it may be a tad heavy but really when your shooting off hand that can be a help not a hinderance and is definitely a help regarding the recoil.

I think your .416 will smooth up as you use it more.

I know Con bought his to make a .500 A2 but I think he will be soon chainsg another action as the .416 in my eyes is the perfect combo of flat trajectory, huge power and manageable recoil......................when it comes to the big bores. I own bigger rifles but I have to say I am begginning to think that for me at least the .416 represents the barrier where I can shoot and not think about the rifle while I am shooting, does not mean I will get rid of my bigger guns but .416 and above are very specialised in my eyes.

The cz 550 .416 Rigby allows the average "man of straw" access to the most wonderful cartridge on the market and as time goes buy you can add little bits and pieces to make it better.

While I like the Ruger as a better looking .416 I do not like there lug set up on the action....................I know it works I just don't like it.

I think you will be happy with the cz in .416 Rigby.

Bullet weights 300 gr to 450 gr, Trajectory similar to a 30/06, manageable recoil, in a mauser styled action whats not to love

PC,
You said to me the 416Rigby is your favourite and I now understand why. I was lucky that the American I got has the dual crossbolts. Compared to the 602's hogsback stock this one fits me like a glove. Thicker through the pistol grip (which I like) and a straight stock that aligns my eye perfectly behind the sights. Mild recoil compared to the 458Lott and Capstick ... what's not to like! The weight is appropriate for a 416Rigby. I'll be bringing it down to Little River late July for the BGRC Nationals ... any chance of seeing you there?
Cheers...
Con

Con, I may come down for a look I'll see how I am going, got a trip plannned in July for pigs and hopefully feral horses so my .416 will be getting a work out on them. I handled one of the cz 550 .416's with crossbolts etc. the otherday and agree with you it has awsome fit. So secretely between you and I (we are never to speak of it in e-mails or I will be skun ) I have placed an order for one, I need a rough one(one I have with synthetic stock and I need one with the nice wood stock which I will add a few bits and pices to as time goes on). I think it is great value in a big bore, I neally purchased a second .416 a while back if you re-call and it would not have had the crossbolts etc so I am glad I waited !!

Con if your getting an order for Taipan 400 gr .416's at any point I will get some to with you.

I think the .416 Rigby might be the ideal sambar gun for me.

PC,
We both are living a dangerous life I feel! I'm supposed to have 5 in the safe ... now I'm dreading the call from the boys in blue to organise checking the alarm system. Luckily I'm putting up dog runs for the Brittany's this week.
These coming school holidays I'll be visiting Bertram to pick up some of his 410gr projectiles and some 416Rigby cases to try. I haven't forgotten you and will send some projectiles over for you to try. Likewise if I find any Taipan's I'll pick you up some. Also looking for a commercial supplier of hard cast 0.416" projectiles.
Cheers...
Con

Con,

don't stuff around around with Bertram .416 cases get Norma's a bit dearer but a lot better.

I can only go to 99 gr of AR2209 wit ha 400 gr pill and not get bolt sticking, thats 9 gr of max load in N Harvey's book, practicall a strating load !! in a Norma Case I can go to 106 gr no drama's.

I will keep my eye out for HC .416 although I imagine there scarce like rocking horse shit !!

I bought a new CZ 550 416 with lam stock about 3 years ago. All I had was trouble. Could not put a scope on it without the rifle shooting 2 feet low at 50 yds (multiple rings etc and two gunsmiths). Headspace was not correct. Would not chamber all federal rounds. Customer service in Kansa City was DEPLORABLE. They have a gunsmith there that is the most caustic know it all that I have ever talked to. The damn rifle sure shot accurate!! I ended up using a 1-5 Leupold on it for the buff hunt. I finally got in contactt with an engineer on the assembly line in the Czech Republic. I guess that is what got Alice ( the vp in the U.S.) to allow me to return the rifle for a refund. Bought a Ruger 416. Much happier! I heard that CZ was having the barrels put on to the receivers in the U.S. (hearsay). I also understand that the quality issues have been addressed. I hope so. It is a lot of gun for the money if it works right. Sure wish they would fire that gunsmith in Kansaa , or at least not let him talk to other human beings.
Good Luck

I bought a CZ 375 and love it. Installed Brockman stock, the gun will shoot 9 shot group, 3 NF softs 3 NF solids and 3 NF cup points into one ragged hole at 100 yards.

After 100 or so rounds the action is nice.

The 416 CZ is my next project.