Hello guys. I've been a lurker for a long time and need some advice. I posted this over at nitroexpress and didn't get a response, but figured I'd get a little more traffic over here. (you guys have an opinion on everything )

Anyhow, I had a winchester .375 h&h until about 6 months ago when I traded it in a deal for a Beretta SxS 12ga. So.... I am needing a new .375. But, I am thinking of getting a 458 Lott as something new to play with. I really like the Ruger rifles and one of the new guns will be an RSM for sure. The wife has even signed off on the purchase for my Christmas present. However, for budget constraints only one of the new rifles can be a Ruger. So, do I get the Ruger in .375, since it is nicer out of the box and will get used more? Then the CZ Lott would be kinda a "toy" to tinker with (which I like doing anyhow?) since I know it would require some work to get it up to snuff. I love that quarter rib and sights on the ruger though, and that would mostly be unused, since the .375 would wear my 1.5x5 vxIII leo. The Lott I would leave open sighted... how are the CZ sights? Well... thanks for any comments guys!

Well I have neither but have been in the market for my own as well as a friends 375. I like the look and feel a lot more on the Ruger. If I knew the 375 was going to get used and the lott played with I would get the Ruger in 375.

RUGER RSM. Out of the box is the best factory
Lott out there. The CZ needs to be bedded, crossbolted, mabey a wrist pin etc. I got a RSM
in Lott put a Tasco Titan 1.5-5--30mm on it and went on. I love that rifle.
Gene

if one counts the 375 as a big bore (not an opinion, just a qualification.. btw, i DO with modern bullets)

the 458 lotts wins hands down, the end.
cheap practice bullets (these things DO kick)
excellent premium bullets (so does the 375)
cheap to feed

and if you have cheap bullets, you'll shoot more.

as I understand it, CZ will be xbolting the 550 actions by request. I think the bedding is a nominal fee ... I have talked with those guys quite a bit, and brought my first hand, and other guys experiences... and basically told them that it's total BS to buy a 458 lott on a stock that won't live through 10 full house loads

jeffe

quote:

one counts the 375 as a big bore (not an opinion, just a qualification.. btw, i DO with modern bullets)

I believe the Ruger RSM is one of the best values available. Caliber is your choice. The Lott is an order above the 375 H&H, which should be considered. Either way a fine rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by Mighty Joe:

quote:

one counts the 375 as a big bore (not an opinion, just a qualification.. btw, i DO with modern bullets)

I believe the Ruger RSM is one of the best values available. Caliber is your choice. The Lott is an order above the 375 H&H, which should be considered. Either way a fine rifle.

Guys, I'm getting two rifles here.... I was just curious if you thought I should go with teh RSM in the Lott, or the 375. The other one will be a CZ.... just can't swing two Rugers right now. I know the CZ stock needs some work. That's no biggie. But it sounds like I might be best served getthing the Ruger Lott and a CZ 375.

I think everyone agrees the Lott is a step above the 375 as a cartridge in both stopping power and recoil. The 375 would have some advantage at longer ranges. I think we all agree the Ruger is a step above the CZ as a rifle.

So get the Ruger in the Cartridge you plan to use the most.

According to my gunsmith (Roger Ferrell in Fayetteville, GA) the CZ in .458 Lott needs a MAJOR overhaul before it can be used as a dangerous game rifle. This includes cross bolting and bedding the stock (or else it will crack after very few shots), slicking up the action AND altering the feed rails in order to get one to feed. He says this needs to be done to every single rifle.

On the other hand, the CZ .375 has fewer intrinsic problems. Still needs to be cross bolted over the long haul, but usually feeds OK right out of the box.

Just something to think about.

GA,
you might have got that mixed around.. might not have...

the cz MUST be bedded and xbolt, as the "tie down" on the barrel slides.

Have only seen one cracked ruger stock, and it was here on AR.. and the gentleman clearly stated he hadn't put the screws in tight.


However, the RSM has gone through at least 3 major variants for improvements, so we might be talking apples to blue on this.

I've handled 3, shot one (not a big sampling) in 458 lott and own one in 416 rigby (yes, it needs all of 90 seconds work to fix the last round feeding issue)...

the lotts all feed perfectly, out of the box, the end.

jeffe

Rosco,

I have the RSM, the CZ as well as the Winchester. I cannot speak for anything but the rifles that I purchased new.

Out of the box, the two RSM rifles I purchased were darn near perfect. The best way I can describe them is that it appears Ruger spent a lot of time hand fitting the parts during assembly. I'm not a machinist/gunsmith, but a close friend of mine is and is a guild member to boot. He has all the fancy electronic center devices and digital machining equipment that measures to 1/2 of 1/000th of an inch. Both of my rifles are machined straight and square w/ all the parts fitting correctly. Hunting accuracy is excellent and neither are finicky. BUT, THE RUGER RSM IS WAY HEAVY! If you are going out on safari or doing short day hunts, I don't think it matters much. If you are hunting big bears and such hunting for days out of your backpack, you would find that there are better choices available over the RSM.

My CZ rifles are all European Lux versions of the Safari Mag. They are fairly well made and accurate out of the box but needed hand fitting, polishing, bedding etc. to function reliably and hold up. I have one in 375H&H that is chopped down short w/ NECG sights. It is full length bedded w/ Xbolts. The rifle was broken down and the parts were polished and hand fitted. This rifle is not too bad on weight and I've used it on weeklong backpack hunts. Its drawbacks are it will easily rust unless given a good finish (Cerekote/Microslic as example) and you need to stay on top of the internal springs (the magnum sear spring is very weak and could easily fail w/ hard use in an AK environment).

My Winchester rifles of late were all poorly fitted from the factory. My opinion is their quality control is low but their designs are good and everything I have was fixable. For a do all big bore rifle that is packable and should hold up well to abuse, I see nothing wrong w/ a tuned stainless classic 375H&H in a good stock. They have a pretty good track record and are fairly cheap.

That said; out of the box for African dangerous game I'd lean towards the 458Lott RSM. For an all around/knock around rifle that you can tinker with, I'd lean towards the CZ 375H&H. Probably for the least amount of money to have a reliable rifle to handle the worst conditions, be easy to fix/maintain and not be too heavy to carry, M70 stainless 375H&H.

my long winded opinion is based only on my personal ewxperience w/ my own rifles,
Gary

Rosco,

I just did a check on availability of the Winchester stainless classic 375H&H. It is no longer made sad to say. I just checked a major wholesaler I normally use and they cannot find one. It was going for under $700 BTW.

So if you want one and can find it, I'd jump on it.

Gary

Why don't you get a Ruger in 416 Rigby? Then you won't need those other calibers.

quote:

Originally posted by Wink:
Why don't you get a Ruger in 416 Rigby? Then you won't need those other calibers.

I'm thinking the same thing. 400gr bullets at 2400fps is nothing to sneeze at.

Rosco,

Go for the Ruger RSM in 458 Lott. I REALLY like my RSM Lott. The wood is very nice and the quarter rib is cool. The accuracy with my RSM has put away many ground squirrels and some rock chucks. The factory pad NEEDS to be replaced pronto, preferably before you shoot it! I like the Limbsaver pad and yes it makes a huge difference. Check and snug the action screws often, especially when the rifle is new.

For a 375 I think that both the RSM and the CZ are a little chubby. In 375 I have a Win pre 64 and a Classic SS/Syn that I prefer. The 375 just doesn't need the heft and bulk of the RSM or the CZ IMHO. Depending on your needs, I think the Win 70 in either SS or blue is a "better" 375. With my Win 375s, I have a rifle that feels like my other big game rifles...a little lighter and trimmer package. I like my CZ in 375, it is very accurate and carries many rounds down, but it IS a big and fairly heavy rifle (which on the plus side makes it super soft to shoot).

In my situation, I am sending my RSM Lott off to Roger Ferrell for a full tune and my Win 375 SS/Syn to Hill Country Rifles for the same. With these two rifles brought up to perfection I feel I have chosen the best rifles for MY needs and preferences. YMMV.

John