I am wanting to get a real big bore rifle bad!! I noticed on gunsamerica a nib cz-550 in 416 rigby for 700.00 How well made are thw cz guns? I dont have alot of money to spend on one, but I want one. I doubt I will ever get to hunt in Africa with it, so it will be a "fun gun". What is recoil like, how hard to reload for? I have a 450 marlin that i love, but its just not a real big bore to me. Any thoughts? Thanks

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Originally posted by Josh Tharpe:
I am wanting to get a real big bore rifle bad!! I noticed on gunsamerica a nib cz-550 in 416 rigby for 700.00 How well made are thw cz guns? I dont have alot of money to spend on one, but I want one. I doubt I will ever get to hunt in Africa with it, so it will be a "fun gun". What is recoil like, how hard to reload for? I have a 450 marlin that i love, but its just not a real big bore to me. Any thoughts? Thanks

I feel that I can step up to the plate and answer this one rather easily.

The CZ550 Safari in .416 Rigby was my first Big Bore. I bought it for myself as my own Christmas present to myself three years ago. The factory stock has since split (after over 100 full powered rounds ), and now it wears a McMillian stock, a Vari-X III 4.5x14-50, and no sights......and loaded with 325 gr. X bullets, it is my primary elk rifle since my dad always wants to use my Whelen. If you bed the stock, you should have no problems. The only other problem is with the bluing, and that is only in the extreme cases. My CZ rusted severely after being subjected to a Rocky Mountain snow storm, AND being wiped off with a loaded silicon cloth after returning to camp. The American rifles in attendance didn't rust, so the CZ bluing must be a bit substandard. Just a bit of info.

As for the caliber, I LOVE IT!!! I also own a Ruger RSM in .416 as well. It's easy to load for. Reloader 22 is my favorite powder. For cheap thrills, the Speer 350 Mag Tip can be had for less than $25 a box of 50. Great practice bullets and they pack plenty of punch. The Barnes X is the way to go for hunting IMHO. Recoil, while brisk, is nothing that you can't handle like some of the bigger big bores. My brother told me that he ABSOLUTELY WOULD NOT shoot it........until he watched a 350 gr. Mag Tip at 2700 fps COMPLETELY EXPLODE a 10x10x16" ICE BLOCK that I froze for several days (in two stages too, btw). At the shot, which was MY FIRST SHOT with the Rigby (CZ), the block turned into a huge mushroom cloud that towered above our heads with the biggest piece of "hail" about the size of a dime. My brother then said "ALLLLLLLLRIGHT!!!!! Let me shoot that thing!!!!!" It really is fun.

thanks. if my funds work out i will get it. The blueing shouldnt be a prob. for me as its not likely to leave Tn. I thought that 350 Speer would be great on deer and the occasional pig. But mostly i just want it.

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Originally posted by Josh Tharpe:
thanks. if my funds work out i will get it. The blueing shouldnt be a prob. for me as its not likely to leave Tn. I thought that 350 Speer would be great on deer and the occasional pig. But mostly i just want it.

That 350 Speer would put a hurting on ANYTHING on our continent!!!

I would have a cross bolt put in the stock !!! tj3006

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Originally posted by Thomas Jones:
I would have a cross bolt put in the stock !!! tj3006

Don't you mean a second cross bolt??? My original Hogbacked CZ had one cross bolt already.

While it's a medium bore a .375H&H is a less costly propositon.

If it is the "American style" it is not cross-bolted from the factory. I have three CZ 550...375H&H, 416Rigby, and 458 Lott...I had a bit of work done to mine but at a min....If I were you, I would bed and cross-bolt any 416 or 458 Lott....Good luck

If you're looking more for a fun big bore on a budget, I'd highly, highly recomend choosing a 458 win mag or lott over the Rigby. Brass is less expensive and easier to come by, and there is a much larger selection of componet bullets, including cast. You can load down to 45-70 levels, or on up.

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Originally posted by Paul H:
If you're looking more for a fun big bore on a budget, I'd highly, highly recomend choosing a 458 win mag or lott over the Rigby. Brass is less expensive and easier to come by, and there is a much larger selection of componet bullets, including cast. You can load down to 45-70 levels, or on up.

That is definitely true.....and you could shoot bullets for your 450 Marlin (if you reload that caliber) as well.

Personally, I just like the LEGACY of the .416 Rigby, and that's one of the main things that drew me in the first place.
Maybe I need a .505 Gibbs next?!?

Both my friend and I have cz 550 .416's and they where our first true big bores after Marlin 45/70's.

he .416 hits hard and has a trajectory like a 30/06, ensure you get your .416 bedded and a cross bolt added and you will be fine, I have a cutsom Kevlar compoiste on my cz but it was not due to the stock splitting although my mates split in 8 shots, he just had the stock replaced under warranty and had it bedded and has not had a problem since.

I like the cz's feel and the way they point, I also like the hogsback stock.

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and you could shoot bullets for your 450 Marlin (if you reload that caliber) as well.

And I consider a 450 gr. TSX with a muzzle velocity of just over 2,100 fps. out of a .450 Marlin a real big bore. Lawdog

How would you like to shoulder a CZ 550 in 600 overkill? I will be at my mothers house near Somerville,TN after Christmas which is within an hour of Milan. Drop me a PM if interested. I have plenty of ammo for all to enjoy!!

After I got my .416 Rigby a friend pointed out that it´s a medium bore and that big bores start at +45 cal...

It´s still a big bore to me though!

I second the recommendation for a 458. Ammo and components are much cheaper than the Rigby if you're on a close budget. They are a hoot to shoot cast bullets for deer.

If you reload, why would you purchase a 458 win. mag. over a 458 Lott all else being equal such as price and quality of the rifle?

Lott brass can be had at a reasonable cost, bullets are both 458 caliber, powder and primers are no issue. I have no problem with the 458 win. mag. it can be loaded to 2150 fps or possibly a bit better with 500 grain bullets, however, the Lott can be loaded to 2300+ fps. If recoil is a problem can load either of them down with lighter weight bullets. Further, you should be able to chamber and shoot 458 win. mag. in the Lott.

So why a win. mag.? Given a choice between a Lott and win. mag... not much of a choice the way I see it...but if I came across a nice 458 win. mag, at a good price, I would not hesitate to purchase it...