Just wanted your opinions. I'm about to order a CZ 550 in .500 Jeffey,with the gloss oil finish on the stock. I'm on the fence about the ebony forend tip.

One more question, I'm going with a detatchable muzzle break, 22" , 23" or 24" barrel? Will the shorter barrels increased muzzle blast and velocity loss be worth the slightly better balance?

This will be a range gun for the most part,(not a safe queen) it will be putting several hundred rounds a year down range, i am a shooter.

This is my first CZ rifle looking for advice before I take the plunge on Monday. Thanks

Ebony fore end: yes. Muzzle brake: No. Barrel length: 24"

BRAKE not 'break'!!

Jeez!

quote:

Will the shorter barrels increased muzzle blast and velocity loss be worth the slightly better balance?

You are joking right!!! You add a brake and worry about blast!! I value my hearing a lot more than my shoulder. Not to mention consideration for others around me. I would skip the brake, shoot it like a man. You might request more mercury in the stock. And, you can practice with a past shoulder pad.

I have a 24 inch bbl, no brake on my fifty. I like it that way. I am thinking of adding a scope on my CZ to add weight and dampen the recoil. Do you plan to try a scope? That can add 1 pound easy.

I guess you know the 500 schuler/jeff is a rebated, short neck, standard length ctg, designed as a compromise, too fit a standard length action. The cz550 magnum action can accommodate the low pressure larger case of the 505 gibbs. The gibbs is a lot a better looking ctg. A more appropriate, big 50 for the CZ - IMHO.

My suggestion is to inquire about the 3 position bolt safety. I saw that pictured in my new CZ 2010 catalog.

IMHO, as one who wears hearing aids due to a lifetime of flying large piston and turboprop aircraft and having started my shooting career well over 50 years ago, forget the brake..

Have a mercury recoil reducer installed. Two, if you need them.

I shoot a 22" barrel on a .458 Win and a 24" barrel on my .375 H&H, and with excellent hearing protection, (Peltor cans) I am not concerned about the noise.

Ebony forend caps look cool. I have one on a Dakota.

I shoot way too much not to use the brake. (did you see chuck 375's shoulder pic ) It is threaded so I can take it off if I ever find myself on a hunt. With a brake i need to figure out what barrel length.

fourbore that new safty is a $400 option. Is it worth it?

The brake punishes everyone around you so you will not be a popular guy at the range..... I would put on a 1.25 thick kickeeze pad and add a mercury recoil reducer or a simple weight in the buttstock. Leave the barrel at 24". I like the ebony myself but, some don't.
Have Fun!

Let me give some backround, I belong to three Private ranges with low membership count, I also have Mondays off to ensure I shoot alone, I shoot well over a thousand rounds a month in various calibers, my Dillon 1050 loads an honest 1000 rounds of .308 for my two M-14's an hour, same for .45 acp.

My .50 Kyser takes 280 grains of VV 20N29 to push a 750 A-max 3200+fps. That brake is curved back at me, THATS MUZZLE BLAST.

I lost most hearing in my right ear in Beirut Lebanon back in 83.

I feel that without a brake I lose my concentration to make a good shot sooner then with a brake. After 20 full house .458 Lott 500 grain loads my accuracy starts to slip (no brake)
I know the Jeffery will be a big step up and would like to be able to shoot at least that many rounds accurately.

In my opinion shooting after recoil/fatigue has set in is a waste of expensive ammo.

Sounds like a perfect setup for a muzzle break. My limit without one is 20 rounds.
Cheers,

quote:

ourbore that new safty is a $400 option. Is it worth it?

That sound high.

I guess you might do better at AHR. I forget the numbers, but I think $400 will cover a full Level I upgrade. AHR can also do the ebony tip. You might want to check thier site and/or make a call. heck AHR can do muzzle brakes too, so I think some comparison shopping is in order.

Good luck.

quote:

Originally posted by doubledown:
Let me give some backround, I belong to three Private ranges with low membership count, I also have Mondays off to ensure I shoot alone, I shoot well over a thousand rounds a month in various calibers, my Dillon 1050 loads an honest 1000 rounds of .308 for my two M-14's an hour, same for .45 acp.

My .50 Kyser takes 280 grains of VV 20N29 to push a 750 A-max 3200+fps. That brake is curved back at me, THATS MUZZLE BLAST.

I lost most hearing in my right ear in Beirut Lebanon back in 83.

I feel that without a brake I lose my concentration to make a good shot sooner then with a brake. After 20 full house .458 Lott 500 grain loads my accuracy starts to slip (no brake)
I know the Jeffery will be a big step up and would like to be able to shoot at least that many rounds accurately.

In my opinion shooting after recoil/fatigue has set in is a waste of expensive ammo.

DD,

I would go for box stock.

Then send it to AHR for a good going over.

They will put a proper, 24 or 25 inch, heavy profiled barrel on it, with a banded sling swivel and Recknagel irons.

They will also straighten out and fill that crooked, hollow bolt handle.

And fit a good stick of English walnut for a handle.

Yes, with an ebony fore end tip, a great, straight back buttstock, excellent checkering, with a steel grip cap, an oval, shadowlined cheekpiece, mercury tubes (if you want them) and a Decelerator pad.

And a great Winchester Model 70 styled, three position winged safety.

You will get exactly what is needed.

Plus, a removable X-brake.

Mr Lex

Are you suggesting starting with plain $1000 rifle in some caliber with a bolt face just under size for one of the 50's? Or a $3000 rifle in 500Schuler or 505 Gibbs from CZ then rework everything at AHR?

If you suggest replacement of bbl and stock at AHR. Then, I think it makes more sense to buy a complete gun from AHR built on the 550 action.

If buying from CZ custom shop, I think its enough money and choices too get a good result.

My 505 has a reasonable wt 24 inch bbl as delivered from CZ St Louis. I am generally happy with my 505, but at 11 pounds it kicks hard. Then it 'IS' a 50 caliber rifle shooting 600 grain loads. I plan to beef it up to 12 pounds. A stronger person or serious hunter might find it perfect.

A buyer from CZ St Louis can specify the barrel contour and length. CZ Should be able to build a gun anywhere from 10 to 13 pounds, by varying bbl, mercury and scope options. Apparently they now provide many of the options developed by AHR.

I agree, it i s worth consideration to get quotes from both. I have an AHR rework and unaltered CZ St Louis gun. Both are nice. I also have a CZ in 458Lott right off the boat with feeding problems. You get what you pay for.

To answer the bbl length question, in my personal opinion I would not want to exceed 24 inch barrel on a gun I might ever hunt with. And the 50 kicks hard enough, I would not want a carbine length either, in a 50. So; I have 24 now (no brake)and I will stick with that if I ever get another 50 or over. If; I saw a used gun for sale with a brake, I would like too have 24" with the brake removed and cap installed. Perhaps trying a brake at the range and capped in the field. Or leave the brake in my desk.

I would got with the ebony tip.

24" barrel or better yet 25" if you can get it.

Muzzle brake, yes particularly one that can be removed. The Jeffery can push those big slugs mighty fast if you want it to (2500fps with a 570gr slug is NO PROBLEM) and the recoil for that load definitely warrants a brake.

Enjoy your new rifle.

I little background/history. My 500 AHR has a 26" barrel and a brake. My standard load is a 600gr pill at 2450fps, with the brake it still kicks considerably harder than a 458WM doing 2230 fps with 450gr A frames! The 500 weighs over 2 pounds more than the 458 also. My unbraked 500 A2 does kick a bit more than the 500 AHR, but it is also going 120 fps slower (23" barrel and equivalent chamber pressure to the 500 AHR).

In case you don't know, the 500 AHR is an improved 500 Jeffery. The 500 AHR has a case capacity of ~ 162gr of H2O, the Jeffery is ~ 152gr and the 500A2 is ~ 141gr.

fourbore, Ammoloader, mrlexma, thank you for the replies. I will one day have an AHR built 600 Overkill, the work AHR does is very impressive.

I personally feel the need to support those that support us. CZ USA is offering true African calibers that only a small hardcore group of hunters will ever use. That takes balls. In my mind the way to say thankyou is to buy one, and thats what I am doing.

The same with Hornady DG ammo line. Its a good time to be a big bore shooter!

quote:

Originally posted by doubledown:
.......... After 20 full house .458 Lott 500 grain loads my accuracy starts to slip ..........

I can fully appreciate that, doubledown - mine starts to slip after ten.

quote:

Originally posted by doubledown:
.......... I personally feel the need to support those that support us. CZ USA is offering true African calibers that only a small hardcore group of hunters will ever use ..........

There was some of that rationale in my own purchase of a CZ Lott.

fourbore,

What I meant to say is that I would go with the cheapest alternative there is, which may be a ground up build by AHR, or may be some box stock variant of what CZ is now offering, and then add the desired AHR upgrades.

JMHO.

There is some merit to just getting an action with magazine box and bottom metal from Brownells. Just send it with a little note and a few $1,000.00 bills to AHR.

I have been pleased with the parts I have bought from them.


AHR also knows how to build the stock up so it will stay attached, and in one piece.

LD