hello everybody,

I need some advice on cz 550 magnum. I've noticed that this particular rifle is the only one who does not have additional crossbolts. Does this affect the reliability/strenght of the rifle??
On the other hand, money is not the issue here, would be better to buy a winchester safari express in left hand version (knowing that I am lefthanded??).

thank you for your help

HunterB:

I have a CZ550 Magnum in 416 Rigby and it does have a cross bolt, located just above and behind the trigger. It also has a recoil lug in the forearm. So, I don't exactly understand your comment about it not having a crossbolt. Unless, of course, it has been eliminated since I purchased my rifle.

I am very happy with my rifle, I have no complaints whatsoever.

If you are left handed, then it is a matter of choice to buy a RH or a LF rifle. I know of lefties who are quite comfortable shooting RH, my daughter being one of them. This was a choice she made, not one imposed upon her. This is a choice only you can make.

If you consider the Winchester M70, you might also look at the new Ruger Safari Magnum. I friend of mine just purchased one and it really is one very nice piece of work. However, I don't know if it is available in a LH version yet.

RobertD

There is a long history of CZ550's in .416 Rigby cracking their stocks. The fix is to have a separate barrel mounted recoil lug fitted and a new foreward crossbolt added. End of problem period! I'd expect this would cost about $150. IMHO the CZ550 is a better gun than the Winchester anyday!-Rob

Well, as soon as I get an ammo problem worked out,I will start trying to crack mine. How many rounds on average does it take before it will fail? I plan to bed it and like the idea of an additional cross bolt (can I just shoot it until I need glasses?)and will do so as soon as discretionary funds are availiable.
I need ya'lls help - Chistmass is coming & a stock is a terrrible thing to waste-send $

Seriously, I do need some advice. I bought A box of 416 Rigbys from a custom loader in Houston to sight it in (1.5-5 leo on Talley QD rings). As I was waiting for my friend at a Hondo river crossing near Pearsall Tx., A real nice black 150 lb sow came out of the brush 30 yards from my truck. The pig was eating corn and oblivious to me so I got the Cz out of the back, loaded a round and watched it for a while finally deciding not to shoot her. As I removed the shell I was showered with a case full of powder with the bullet stuck in the lands. I measured the other rounds and they were under the max lenght for the 416 Rigby.
My question is there no freebore at all in Cz rifles? It looks as if the rifling starts at the end of the chamber. Would some additional freebore be good for my gun to control pressure?
It makes me wonder about the crimp and what will happen to shells in the mag. as they are slammed back and forth during a shoot. The stripe arround the 400gr. Hornady bullets is above the top of the case. Should I get the loader to recrimp or just buy the dies and do it.
Thanking you for your advice in advance,
Capmed

Camped what bullets where you using ?? I can seat 410 gr woodleigh's in my .416 to the cannlure and they feed fine and shoot fine. i did have to seat the Taipans deep however as I had a simlar proble to you. Love my cz however !!

sorry for the delay folks but I had a problem with my web connection.
Regarding the cross bolt for cz 550 magnum, I will buy it in Europe from Frankonia distributor and does not have crossbolts.
Regarding the left hand versus right hand, the issue is: when you face a DG (such the brown bears) does really matter how quick you have to shoot the second round ? Because if doesn't, then I will be confortable with shooting right hand rifle even if I am left handed. To put in otherwise, when a bear charge you after the first non-letal or letal but non-dropping dead shot, do you still have time to reload in RH rifle beeing right handed?

thanks,

hunterb

hunterb,
Harry Selby made the .416 Rigby famous, and he was a leftie shooting a righthand Mauser .416 Rigby as backup for clients on dangerous game.

CAPMED,
The Rigby chamber by SAAMI specs has no free bore. It just has a leade that is about 0.3" long until it chokes down to the land diameter at a rate of only "0 degree 54' 16.5" BASIC."

This as tight a target throat as anyone could need.

I cannot seat the Swift A-Frame and crimp on the cannelure, as it has a full diameter shank beyond the cannelure. This is true in both my 1998 model year Ruger RSM and my 2001 model year CZ 550.

Most other bullets can be seated and crimped on the cannelure and work fine, including the 400 grain Hornady soft and solids.

I assume that the loaded ammo you have had the 400 grain Hornady seated without crimp and too long.

You just need to get the loading dies and seat the bullets deeper and crimp on the cannelure.

I have to seat Swifts a little deeper than the cannelure and do not crimp these. Every other .416 bullet I have run into works fine when crimped on the existing cannelure, including the GSC FN crimped between the first two driving bands on the nose end of the bullet.

All Hornady bullets are fine crimped on the cannelure.

Ditto Woodleighs.

Ditto Speer AGS.

Ditto Barnes.