I'm new to this forum and have yet to get to Africa...but am saving my nickels and dimes -- actually an auto pay each month from my paycheck.

Any advantage of finding an older BRNO vs a newer CZ 550 in .375 H&H?

I'm considering the Leupold VXIII 1.5-5x20mm as a DG scope with the ability to use on plains game until I get to the DG. Any thoughts? What mounts would you suggest?

Most of the older guns I've seen have the backwards safety. (forward is safe and rearward is fire) Not for me. Buy a new one, have it glassed with a quality bedding material. Have the tang area relieved slightly and get a set of Talley rings.

I think the CZ is a fine rifle and inexpensive, a good buy for the money. Good luck finding a BRNO. They mnay be around but I haven't seen any lately.
Talley mounts are my first choice but there are others made for the CZ that have worked but on a DG rifle you simply need the best.
I would be very careful buying a scope before buying the rifle. The CZ in magnum calibers is a big action and it may be too big for the VXIII at least in 1.5X5. Get the gun and then see if the scope can be mounted.

Welcome Matt. I have a cz 550 in .375 with a leupold 1.5-5. Iam using the warne QD rings and they are great, no complaints. I think you would be really happy with one of these rifles.

Welcome Badger!

Believe it or not, the following pictures are of a formerly CZ Lux in .375 H&H. I had the hogback removed, a shadow cheek piece contured from the extra wood on the formerly "fat" stock, recheckered to 22 lines/inch, grip cap installed, a contrasting forend added, a barrel band swivel, glass bedded it, a recoil lug added to the barrel, a three position safety installed (a CZ option), the gross CZ lettering ground out, cold blued it and a few other things. Roger Ferrell was the gunsmith.

It holds 5 down and one in the chamber for lots of immediately ready follow-ups. It has a 1.5x5 Leupold on top with Warne QD mounts.

It shoots North Fork, CS and Barnes solids and softs (both the old and the new) to the same point of aim with the same powder charge as long as the velocity is about 2550 fps.

So... that's what you can make of one...

Yet, my good friend and African hunting buddy, 1115, has the same rifle with no alterations except glass bedding.. and he has never missed with it yet. In fact, I can't remember him ever needing a follow up except on one tough old buffalo.

The CZ is a great action. Get a rifle, bed it, smooth the action and make sure it feeds with the ammo of your choice. I don't think you'll be sorry.

One thing about the little Leopold. Make sure you don't tighten the front ring over the front lens (note my picture). The pressure on the lens will cause it to loosen and it will probably fail. However, if you are careful not to do so, it will take all the recoil you wish, or that has been my experience, anyway.

Have at it and go kill a 45" buffalo!

I endorse what JudgeG has written - I have done almost the same with a CZ 550 2000 edition and it is embarrassingly good.
Charlie.

quote:

Originally posted by thornell:
Welcome Matt. I have a cz 550 in .375 with a leupold 1.5-5. Iam using the warne QD rings and they are great, no complaints. I think you would be really happy with one of these rifles.

thornell has said it all. So much baloney is made of what rings, should the bullet be going 2154 or 2155 fps, but for what bullet, how about the moon phase, etc.

Shooting the game is the whole point, which seems to get lost in many of the discussions around here.

I have Talley QD rings on my CZ 550 in 458 Lott and really like them. I got a Leupold VX-I 2-7X scope economically on eBay that thus far hasn't broken (if it does, I guess Leupold will fix it). The dimensions of this scope are such that it barely fits but is does fit. A Leupold VX-IIc is a little longer between the bells and would fit a little better.

The only good reason to favor the BRNO ZKK 602 over the CZ 550 Magnum is finding a 602 with a pop-up peep. Then you could happily replace the bassackward 602 safety and not feel put upon.

The CZ 550 Magnum is fine. As long as I can keep a dozen or so on hand, I doubt I would go looking for any more rifles or actions like the BRNO ZKK 602, Dakota African 76, Prechtl Magnum Mauser 98, BBK-02, Ruger Magnum RSM, or opened-up Mauser 98 (whether milsurp or commercial), or Enfield. Been there and done all of that.

Reasons to use actions or rifles other than the CZ 550 Magnum:

1) You want a smaller or a stainless action:
Ruger Mark II M77
Winchester M70 Classic (if you can find one)

2) You want to build a .505 Gibbs or .577 Tyrannosaur (heaven forbid):
I refuse to encourage such nonsense, but if you must, look for a bigger bolt diameter than all the actions mentioned above.

Rings for the CZ 550 Magnum?

I've got Warne, Talley, original BRNO, a Zeiss Jenna integral-mounted scope, and lots of the standard CZ 550 Magnum rings.

I am happiest with the standard CZ rings. I replace the slotted head screws with automotive metric machine screws of proper thread and carry a hex key/Allen wrench in my kit for QD, or even replace the main mounting screws with QD levers of my own make, for brush snagging purposes.

There is a CZ ring without the recoil tab on the rear ring, used for the CZ rimfire rifles. You don't want that.

Warne used to make a really low set for the CZ, but it was so low that the only scope I have that it works with is the Leupold 2.5X which has a really small occular bell. All other scopes with bigger bells block the bolt handle.

here is a pic of a CZ .416 I just finished for a lcient that has a 1.5-5 Leu. in Talley's. I did a .375 CZ recently that had a Schmidt & Bender 1.5-6 in Warne rings. FWIW, I MUUUUUUCH prefer the Talley's. But both scope and ring combos worked just fine. I did not like the powder coat finish on the Warnes and it was a bear to get off so I could rust blue them. Also, they just did not seem as nice and high quality like the Talley's.

As for the rifle, It is easier and cheaper to get a new CZ 550 and modify it to fit your tastes. The 602's are out there, but they cost more and you have to look around for them. Both rifles need a lot of work as they come from the factory.

forgot to attach the other pics showing the scope on the 550 Magnum action:

I have a CZ 550 in 375. It is wonderfully accurate. I was going to put a Leupold 1.5 X 5 on mine, but instead I went with a KAHLES 1.5 X 6 with the 42 mm objective, and 30mm tube. The larger objective and tube give me a more versatile scope, yet still allows the large field of view for close shots. The best of both worlds.

Marc, what kind of finish is it on the stock, it looks super!!!!

I have the cz 550 .375 H&H and I just had it bedded it shoots 300 gr Hornady RN's well. I did have a 1-4 leupold on it but thats on my .416 so it's scopeless at the moment but I am thinking 2-7 or there abouts as I think it will suit my applications for this rifle. Buy the cz with confidence they shoot well and hold a lot of ammo.

Guys,
You have no idea how much the advice is appreciated -- thanks !!! Movers come tomorrow and we're off to Carlisle, PA for a year. I'll order the CZ 550 when I get there.
Badger

I've got a few more questions guys. Please bear with me.

- Are there any restrictions on lighted reticles in Namibia, Zim, SA? It would seem an advantage in low light and quick follow ups.

- I looked at the trajectories of .375 H&H and .416 Rigby and within my effective range limits there seems to be little difference. Any chance there's someone within a couple hours of Carlisle, PA who's got a CZ550 in .416 Rigby they'd let me take a few shots with at a range? I'd pay for ammo, of course...and bring a bottle of Amarula for the rifleman to take home. I'm just not sure about the recoil so I'd like to try one before laying out the cash.

LJS - I'm halfway through a book by Peter Flack and he talks about pushing the safety on his BRNO to the rear to fire just as you described.

Matt,

I owned a CZ 550 in 375 and replaced it with a CZ in 416 Rigby. Both with Lux style stocks.

I really liked the rifle. It shot great. Except it was a little too heavy for general N. America hunting. The minimum for DG in most African countries is the 375. So, I went with the 416 because I am planning on Africa in 2010 or 2011.

Taking the same a approach as you, saving a little at a time and picking up some extra work here and there.

I know a 375 will take care of a buffalo, but I just think a 416 is better, and I didn't want a 458 caliber. That's all my personal preference.

My 416 is currently at Marc Stokeld's getting a similar treatment to the pics he has above except I am going to have a Black-T finish applied instead of rust blueing because this rifle is going to make a SE Alaska trip next spring.

I wish you lived closer, I would be more than happy to let you shoot my 416 when I get it back.