If you wanted a factory rifle in 458 Lott caliber, which would you choose? Which is more reliable,accurate,etc...?

Ruger RSM!
Mine is in 375HH and it is huge value for what you get and superbly accurate. I looked hard and long at the CZ vs Ruger but for an out of the box rifle the Ruger wins hands down!

If I got the Ruger RSM, the only thing I would change is the factory recoil pad.

Keith

I've got a 416 Rigby in the Ruger and have never had a problem with feeding or accuracy. I'm looking into a Lott in the same rifle.
Good-Luck

Steve

I have a RSM in the Lott. I love it.Shoots good
and even the pad is ok. Not great but ok..

Ruger RSM!!!

out the box, the RSM wins hands down from what I've seen.

But then I bought a CZ and had it tweaked just the way I like for a little more money.

My RSM in .458 Lott has served me well. I did replace the pad with a limbsaver - big improvement.

i've got an RSM Lott, put a decelerator on it and couldn,t be happier. handled a couple CZ's and i couldn't warm-up to them as far as looks. they seem to be well made, especially for the money. if you can save up for the Ruger, get it!
james

I have a CZ 550 Safari Magnum in 458 Lott. I really like it but I did take the precaution of having it glass bedded. The weight, recoil pad & stock design make it quite comfortable to shoot off the bench.

I've owned both the CZ 550 and the RSM in .458 Lott.

The Ruger is far and away the better rifle in every respect.

The CZ is the cheaper rifle, in every respect.

I have a 375 RSM and put both a Decelerator and a Timney trigger on it. VERY nice rifle and shoots most everything like a dream....even the 300 gr NF Flat Points feed flawlessly. I AM going to bed it, though, just because I feel it could use it over the long run.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI

I've owned both CZ550's and Ruger RSM's. I still have the Rugers. Best bet is to handle both rifles and determine which one looks and balances best for you.

quote:

Originally posted by SDhunter:
out the box, the RSM wins hands down from what I've seen.

But then I bought a CZ and had it tweaked just the way I like for a little more money.

WHAT exactly did you do and/or feel necessary?

1 1/2 Years ago I had an opportunity to handle both ( in .416 Rigby ) side by side.

The Ruger was H E A V Y!!! The CZ loooong!

The price of the CZ with Standard stock is so cheap, I think about getting one "just-in-case". ( in .375 H & H )

I would then later bed it, eventually ( not sure on standard stock ) have a cross bolt. Are there good and light Syntethic stocks out there for the 550 Magnum?

A trigger job, 100+ times cycling the action with a generous dose of good gun oil ( and cleaning in between ), and I shoukld have a fine gun!

635 mm Barrel length is a little more than I want, but I think I live with that ...

H

I have owned both in 416 Rigby. My RSM, maybe a fluke, wouldn't feed more than one shell from the magazine without jamming. Since I altered the stock (added recoil pad) and new ebony forend tip, Ruger refused to work on it without replacing the the stock at a cost of close to $500.
I sold it bought a CZ. My CZ feeds flawlessly, solids, soft points, any bullet I have tried. Replaced the trigger with a Timney, glass bed, AHR safety, Wisner "deep belly" floor plate.
I might shorten the barrel, but that is a personal preference.
All told, with all the modifications I have made, I am in the CZ for about 2/3 the cost of the base RSM.
And the biggest point, I have complete faith in my CZ....even after spending another $200+ to get the Ruger to feed, I never felt comfortable with it.
By the way, the person who bought it has said it has functioned flawlessly since I sold it to him. On the other hand, the approximately $700 you would save by buying a CZ would more than pay for the work you want done and a bunch of components for loading!

I suggest doing a search for more info. Several posters have had major problems with CZ's.

Please do a search. Lots of comment on the board over the years. Standard model CZ 550 Magnums in calibers above .375 H&H are widely regarded as a great place to start ... completion can include a trigger job, bedding, and strengthening of the wrist. When that is done, many of us are very happy with the CZ 550 Magnums and have saved a lot of money over buying a Ruger.

I do and have trusted my life to mine.

I recently picked up a cz 550 safari classics in 458 Lott and I have to complement cz for the improvements they have made in this model such as a nice walnut stock, duel crossbolts and the decelerator pad. Have not removed the stock to check for bedding. This particular rifle is far nicer than an earlier model in 458win which I also have. No feeding problems with either, none. This is a tough rifle to beet for only $869- at a gandermountian store in Houston. The Rugers are very nice and I'm eyeballing one in 416 Rigby. R.

Save money Rodney, buy one of my CZ 416 Rigbys instead... You'll have the same weight and balance to it.

Rich
DRSS

One thing, if you have a good FFL holder friend, and pay up front...you can have a CZ in 375 (six-shot box) and one in 458 Lott for the cost of the Ruger. Or the CZ, a little "tweaking", a couple hundred rounds of brass, ditto bullets, and a double cavity mould to make cheap cast bullets for practice.

Rich
DRSS

What ever you choose they are both reliable choices. I liked the Ruger because it was almost turn key. With the CZ the money saved you will probably spend to tweak it to the level of the out of the box ruger. Either way you will have fun in the process.

CZ550 balance is the worst on the market. Heavey and thick butt stock with light barrel.

I have the CZ550 Safari Classic 458 Lott. That rifle is ballanced so well with open sights I shot a three shot group that was 1.5" at 100 yds

Anybody knows where to get good, light syntethic stocks for a CZ 550 Magnum ( Safari )?

H

Surstrike's comments says it all!! Even with the price differential, Ruger's sell in the area of 2 to 1 over the CZ's. Buying a rifle and having to re do the damn thing is somewhat of an insult to the purchaser. That sort of thing happens to all mfg's but it would appear that almost all of the CZ's need some "slight tweeking..." as some would say. Nope, do it right the first time, buy the Ruger RSM. To get any better you would have to go several times more in price. Good luck in any event.

quote:

Originally posted by Arminius:
Anybody knows where to get good, light syntethic stocks for a CZ 550 Magnum ( Safari )?

H

McMillan in the USA makes stocks for the CZ 550. Here is mine, in 416 Rigby:

Get a CZ! The Rugers balance like crap and the stocks have the portions of your typical fence post!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Wink:

quote:

Originally posted by Arminius:
Anybody knows where to get good, light syntethic stocks for a CZ 550 Magnum ( Safari )?

H

McMillan in the USA makes stocks for the CZ 550. Here is mine, in 416 Rigby:

THANKS!!

Is that drop in, is it lighter than the factory, wood, one?

H

Since I left on the factory barrel, and to keep the costs and logistics reasonable for someone residing in Europe, I ordered directly from McMillan a drop-in stock. The stock was shipped directly to my home. It is quite easy to do with McMillan but assume a wait as they produce them in batches and don't always have them in stock. I waited two months. I chose grey color paint and a Pachmayr Decelerator pad. I did not ask for bedding pillars to be included but I should have. As for weight, I asked that the butt be filled to add a little weight to the rear of the stock. I don't know what my finished weight is because I have never weighed it. It is not a light rifle however. I added Talley rings and a Leupold 1.5 to 5 scope, which has good eye relief and is compact.

Wink,

with the distances in europe, you could have driven over to the CZ factory and picked it up.

The rifle looks very nice.

Rich
DRSS

Arminius,

In a nutshell.

1. three pos safety
2. three crossbolts
3. removed the front underlug
4. removed the rear sight island
5. added a peep
6. replaced the front sight
7. shortened the barrel
8. reshaped and trimmed down the whole stock
9. new trigger
10. went through the action.
11. bedding
12. replace front swing swivel with barrel band

I will try and get some pics downloaded this weekend.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Wink,

with the distances in europe, you could have driven over to the CZ factory and picked it up.

The rifle looks very nice.

Rich
DRSS

Rich, I didn't order a CZ from the USA, just the McMillan stock. I bought a barrelled action from a gun dealer in Paris, saving a little money on a complete rifle, since I knew I was going to restock it anyway. In fact, for people who know they are going to restock, why do they buy a complete rifle? Aren't CZ barrelled actions available in the USA?

I have a CZ .416 Rigby. It is "satisfactory", but I am sure the Ruger would be much better!

I purchased a Ruger .416 Rigby one year ago and I like it very much. I had the following alterations done:
Kickeez pad - 1 3/8"
Glass bedded
Trigger job
Polish rails and feed ramp

The rifle weighs 10 lbs. 13 oz. including a Leu 1.5 - 5X scope. Plan on gym time to prepare yourself for carrying it.

Of course, now that I've violated the terms of my "lease", Ruger would not work on it.

Oldcoyote,what work did you want Ruger to do on it after you did the work above?

I did not actually send it to them. My gunsmith said there was a rough spot in the bore and I called and asked them to check it out. They said I had to send the entire rifle in, which would have disclosed my unauthorized modifications to the stock. Based on what many others have said, I did not send it.

The rifle turned out to shoot OK and I do like it. If doing it again, I would have put more rounds through it before doing any modifications - just to be safe.

Started a new thread "Marc Stokeld CZ" with pics of my rifle.

In my earlier post I mentioned that I was checking out the Ruger in 416 Rigby, I think this is a good rifle/caliber combo that I'm very interested in. My CZ safari classics rifle is also very nice and in my opinion does not need any modifications, compared to my older CZ the barred actions are the same with only differance being the quality of the blueing. On the other hand the stock on the newer one is much nicer being of walnut, crossbolted and with a decelerater kick pad. The sights are fine and seem to be true to at least 100 yards. The barrel may seem a little long- I believe 25 and a 1/4 inches which I don't mind because it is a good shooter and that was what I wanted. Eventually I will aquire the Ruger also. R. Rich shoot me a PM about those CZ 416 Rigbys.

I love the looks of my RSM Lott and it shoots great. But I have now cracked two stocks. The customer service provided by Ruger was out right rude. I am sending to Montana to have a custome stock put on it. I have no experianc with the CZ. But it is hell finding stocks for the RSM with any one other than Ruger or a custom stock maker.

To me the Ruger African models with that intregral quarter rib, barrel band sights and swivel, good wood, represent the ultimate in todays factory rifles for the value paid...A quarter rib alone on a custom rifle today will run you about $700 to a $1000 with most quality smiths.

The CZs are a little rough, have poor lines, and they are bulky and ugly IMO. I made one up in .404 Jefferys and never was quit satisfied with it..Not to say that properly tuned they are not good serviceable rifles, they are, I just don't care for them.