My rifle, a CZ550 classic safari in 458 lott with the straight stock is at the gunsmiths, I am supposed to be having duel crossbolts put in it and having it glass bedded. They rang me today and said that they can only put in one cross bolt because there isn't room for 2.

Will 1 crossbolt and glass bedding be enough to stop it from cracking?

Is it true that there isn't enough room for two?

If it is a necessity to have 2, what should I tell the gunsmith in order to get the other one put in as he's the only gunsmith in the area?

Yes it will, but, barely room to fit full sized crossbolt thru the webbing.

I have one on my workbench now that has two crossbolts I just installed. I installed two Talley magnum crossbolts, one behind the recoil lug and one thru the webbing between the mag box and trigger. I have access to a jig that holds the CZ stock square in a lathe. Measurements of the webbing were transferred to the outside of the stock and it was drilled for the crossbolt sleeve then counterbored on each side for the bolt heads. What I do is sink the heads below the wood surface then cover the heads w/ marine-tex. This looks exactly like ebony plugs when finished.

GVA

To your second question. Some report having no issues in not having any reinforcement thru the webbing if properly bedded. I disagree as every bigbore CZ stock I've inspected that was regularly used had a crack in the webbing area. This also applies to Rugers which have even less material in the webbing than the CZ.

Something as simple as a hidden internal threaded rod or a thru and thru brass threaded rod (similar to a Remington style) that is epoxied into the stock should work as long as the stock is properly bedding into the stock.

GVA

Whether the stock cracks is a function of the unknown stength of the wood. Some will crack and some won't.

You should be able to buy the small diameter crossbolts from CZ that will fit behind the magazine box.

You can always put in internal crossbolts then steel-bed. If I can do it anybody can.

Come on guys, I need more opinions/answers. There's got to be alot of guys on here with experience with these cz's........

joughin:

I am not sure I understand the problem. I have a CZ550 in 9.3X62 that came from the factory with two crossbolts. So did my CZ .500 Jeffery. As I understand it, all the new CZ Safari Classics now COME FROM THE FACTORY with two crossbolts. Perhaps your best bet would be to retrieve the rifle from your local guys and send it back to CZ to bed it and put the crossbolts in?

Dave

quote:

Originally posted by joughin:
Come on guys, I need more opinions/answers. There's got to be alot of guys on here with experience with these cz's........

There are a lot of guys on here with a lot of experience with the CZ rifles; most of them have a lot more experience than me. But since you’re asking for opinions I’ll give you mine. I just recently purchased a 550 chambered in 505 Gibbs. I bought it before cross bolts and dual mercury reducers were standard (just before, I have lousy luck). I am going to send the rifle back to CZ to have them do it. I’d recommend the same course of action for you.

Since you’re in Australia this may be easier said than done. If this is not a viable option I’d at least give CZ a call and see what they think about what your smith said.

Good luck,

Matt V.

I have put 2 B-Square recoil bolts in CZ stocks with no problems.

Personally, I hate the CZ bolts and would take them out if i had a rifle with them installed. Even more so, I would not have CZ add another one. The CZ bolts are very small and like th erest of the CZ rifle-kinda crude. The rfiles can be made into very nice rifles with a little work, but they need some help as they come from the factory.

Did the shop tell you why it would not work? WHen they say there is not enoguh room, did they elaborate?

As for do you need it? Well, there are probably hundreds of thousands of rifles from .270 on up out there shooting with splits through the web between the trigger and magazine. I would say there are more rifles with split webs than even rifles that only have one recoil lug (oh sure-they have 2 lugs on the front of the bolt, but only one touches). That being said, I do put 2 recoil bolts in heavy kickers and bed them accordingly, and advise you to do the same.

My smith put two cross bolts through my cz .458 (converted to .458 lott) but mine has the lux stock, but I would bet the internal dimensions of the two stocks would be the same so I am betting that it can be done just find or make a smaller bolt.

Thanks guys, I had to write something to get some more opinions and it worked.

The rifle I purchased didn't come with any crossbolts. The gunsmith said there just wasn't enough wood between the trigger and the magazine.
He reakons with the one crossbolt in front of the magazine and the bedding the stock shouldn't crack. I've sent an email to cz and am waiting for there recommendation, but anyone please feel free to write what you think as I value your answers/opinions. Thank you...

Has anyone got a picture of where CZ or yourself has put the crossbolt or pin through the webbing are? If so could you please post it and I'll show the gunsmith.

They probably realized they need a special Jig to drill the hole and didn't have one. Thus, the old lets make do story. You'll be oK, Your stock won't crack. NOT! Find someone who knows what they are doing and install two crossbolts. Then steelbed the action and you'll be ok!-Rob

One of the things I've done is buy the threaded screw material available at Home Depot or Lowes for about 98cents/ft. This comes in various diameters, one of which will fit between the magazine and trigger housing. Since its already threaded, it will bed exceptionally well. I put the stock in my drill press, and using a machinist's vice, mill straight across, but not through the wood on either side. This hides the rear crossbolt. Bedding is usually done with Brownell's Acra-Gell mixed with their steel additive. Haven't had a break in a stock yet. Also, I do the same thing through thin stock wrists using the same screw material and bedding.

I think you need a different gunsmith, sounds like they lack gumption.

I've done my own cross bolts on a pair of 550's one in 416 Rigby and one in 458 Lott. I used two internal cross bolts (at the F-Block and behind the main recoil lug) and also three external cross bolts one each fore and aft of the magazine and one through the wrist.

Steel Bed the action thru to and including the F-Block area.

I also reinforce the front of the magazine box so the Barnes TSX bullets don't make dimples in the metal.

Here is a pic of where Bob De'Vries placed the crossbolts for my cz 550 .458 lott.

quote:

Originally posted by GaryVA:
Yes it will, but, barely room to fit full sized crossbolt thru the webbing.

I have one on my workbench now that has two crossbolts I just installed. I installed two Talley magnum crossbolts, one behind the recoil lug and one thru the webbing between the mag box and trigger. I have access to a jig that holds the CZ stock square in a lathe. Measurements of the webbing were transferred to the outside of the stock and it was drilled for the crossbolt sleeve then counterbored on each side for the bolt heads. What I do is sink the heads below the wood surface then cover the heads w/ marine-tex. This looks exactly like ebony plugs when finished.

GVA

How much more or less in their country put the two the crossbolt and bedding to the rifle?. I wonder what accounts for how I can cost in Spain, given that prices here are more expensive than your country.

Thank you,

Oscar.

joughin. PM sent.

Another question I want to do is: in what area is broken the overhead of these rifles?, thank you.

Regards,

Oscar.

i can, and have, put in xbolts on the cz 550 .. its not hard .. however, should your gunsmith not be able to do so, here's a hint

on bedded xbolts, the HEAD is unimportant. use .250 brass or stainless pins, and ebony caps

Who's they? Here's my 500 Jeffery, two crossbolts, CZ Custom Shop installed ... I believe all the Classics come with two crossbolts installed, so I'm puzzled as to why your gunsmith can't do it.



Chuck

My CZ .505 looks just like chuck375's so I have to ask the same question he did.

My box stock CZ .375 H&H has 2 crossbolts.

I guess I bought one of the first CZ Lott rifles. It is the American stock with no cross bolts and Win mag xxx out and Lott engraved under it. I know I will have to install cross bolts, but what is the difference between glass bedding and steel bedding?

I guess I bought one of the early CZ Lott rifles. It has the American style stock with no cross bolts and Win Mag XXX out and Lott engraved under it. I know I have to install cross bolts, but what is the difference between glass bedding and steel bedding?

Sorry, computer problem.

they are both the same, and both slang
steel bedding is epoxy bedding with powdered metals included

glass bedding isn't, as its "straight" epoxy bedding, there's no glass fibers

marinetex GREY, and most other VERY durable epoxies, tend to have powdered stone included ..

i strongly suggest marinetex grey

Hello, again I'm going to give you the can, it's a simple question. I've seen that with powerful calibers like 458 Lott (which I hope to have soon) the butts are breaking up and put the crossbolts and make the bedding. But I have a rifle Ceska's 375 H & H Magnum and I ask you this caliber breaks the butts? Is it necessary to make the bedding and put the crossbolts?. You already know that I'm always sick and in Spain it costs money to do both jobs 250 euros ($ 350) and I can not spend 500 euros ($ 700) since my wife is killing me.

Best regards,

Oscar

Get a new Gunsmith for starters.

Thanks, Jeff.

Hello, I just wanted to comment that I wrote an e-mail to responsible for Cz asking about the crossbolts in their rifles and they replied me that all their rifles Ceska 550 Magnum and Ceska 550 Safari has crossbolts on their butts . Is this true?. I have read in forums that the stock of Ceska rifles are crack by the recoil that generate powerful cartridges.

Thank you and sorry for the inconvenience