Lately have been looking at another magazine rifle build and have been considering the 470 Mbogo, 500 A-sq, 577, and 585. All interesting, but I got the 450 to 500 cals covered and then the top of the line (at least for me) is the 600 OK. What really makes sense is the 550 Magnum, sort of a souped up 500 A-sq.

What concerns me is that with all the support, brass, bullets, dies, etc. no one on the forum seems to be building one and yet it appears to be a great idea as it has straight brass as the 600 OK, easy to load and cycle in the box, etc.
A few folks like it,e.g. Ed Hubel, etc. but there doesn't seem to be a rush to get one.

Anyone want to comment as to experience or why they don't like it.

Dak

Dakota,
Brass is easy.. jamison int'l is making headstamped brass, and from a different supplier, quality cart is offering the same

bullets
cast - custom cast bullets.com
jacketed
hawk
alaska bullet works
taipan (sooner or later)
woodleigh has not said NO, they have said "order 5000"
PA bullets
and anyone that has the swag dies

barrels
bauska
pacnor
badger
pederson

Dies are
ch4d

reamers can be had from
manson
clymer


Custom rifles? You want to just order one?
Jim Brockman
CZ custom shop

There's several to many of these things floating out there.. i'll finish my magnum, to go with my express, during xmas break, i think

jeffe

Brockman has built three and is finishing mine too. I think there are at least 4 Forum members with a 550 either in process or finished and CZ has indicated they would build them as a custom order. Frankly I would order one from Jim Brockman first as you know beyond a shadow of a doubt it will feed and function flawlessly. That's been hit-or-miss on some of the CZ special order calibers.

If you want the big hole in a smaller action talk to Jeffe about the 550 Express; same caliber and basic case but short enough to go into a normal action. 665-700 grains at 2150 is still mucho bango for the buck.

The 550 is cool in both the FL and express versions ( I just shot both and found them very controlable and kinda neat). A major advantage is the availability of decent brass. I suggest you avoid the 585 NYATI unless you enjoy problems. The .600OK was invented specifically to solve the problems inherent in the NYATI.-Rob

At present the only problem I see with the 550 Magnum or 550 Express is getting solid bullets for it on a regular and predictable basis. If I built one, I would purchase a lifetime supply of solids (500 rounds) from Bridger and use cast for practice.

If Jeffe would agree to start building them on the vz-24 action like his or better yet make a video of him building one that he could sell, I would love to have one.
How about it Jeffe?
Frank

Barnes has a solid bullet designed and I should be working on finishing the details with them and test firing some shortly. Once that is done there will be 3 companies producing soilds.

RNS

At the hunt last weekend we were shooting the 700gr bullets at 2330-2350fps and I think most everyone shot it and no one had a problem with it most wanted to shoot it again.

RNS

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
Dakota,
Brass is easy.. jamison int'l is making headstamped brass, and from a different supplier, quality cart is offering the same

bullets
cast - custom cast bullets.com
jacketed
hawk
alaska bullet works
taipan (sooner or later)
woodleigh has not said NO, they have said "order 5000"
PA bullets
and anyone that has the swag dies

barrels
bauska
pacnor
badger
pederson

Dies are
ch4d

reamers can be had from
manson
clymer


Custom rifles? You want to just order one?
Jim Brockman
CZ custom shop

There's several to many of these things floating out there.. i'll finish my magnum, to go with my express, during xmas break, i think

jeffe

Same bullet design as Alaska Bullet Works.

Aval/ in bullet weights from 350 Grains to over 700 grains contact RNS For shipping and delivery times


Martin

Frank,
recall that in a mauser, the express requires a singlestack. I do not think it can be done staggered... unless someone has a 495 asquare in a mauser that works another way...

in the vz-24, i go through the standard activities of making monsterss in mauser.. barrel lug, action trimming, feeding...

I would like to find a ruger 77 mkII with a mag bolt face to try another one.


From an experienced 458 shooter, the 550 mag and 550 exp are in the same recoil class (WOW!) and to me, having spent a couple hours with the express, the mag is very much like the recoil between a stiff rigby and a stiff lott... yep, you have to know it's different....

Neal has made amazing whomper stompers in the 550s... my hat is still off to him on this.

jeffe

Hi Gents
I'm just waiting for my Son to send me some links to some of the video I took at Camp Cooley. I should have them by the end of the weekend. You will see the 550 Express and the 550 Magnum being shot. I would say the 550 Magnum is more like a stiff 500 A-Square but controllable. Once your up in the 100 to 130 ft.lbs. of recoil range you have lots and it's kind of hard to tell the real difference. They just have lots to go around. It would be interesting to do 3 or 4 rapid fore shots to see how it turns out. That 550 sure leaves a noticable hole. Neal has done a fine job with his Magnum.
Take care,
Dave

Thanks guys for all the input. It is a slam dunk fron here on. Just wanted to check the forum and get your opinions. Brass and bullets will be available Rob, the Nyati was on my mind, although briefly, but your right, there are feeding problems here and why take it on--when the 600 OK is available.

Dak