I finally go the chance to take my new CZ 550 Safari Magnum in 375 H&H to the range on Sunday. Wasn't looking for accuracy right now ... just getting aquainted with rifle and recoil. This is my first big bore rifle and it has the European style stock. Haven't mounted a scope on it yet, so was just using the express sights. I was using Remington 270 grain loads to break in the barrel.

Not knowing what to expect and having read here on the forum about recoil, I had a healthy death grip on the rifle when I touched it off for the first time. After the third round I was palming the forend just like a 243 ... and it just hung there while I fired 10 more rounds. This weapon is a shooter for sure. Ok, the recoil was there and it let me know it, but it wasn't any worse than say a Featherweight in 30-06 with 180 grain bullets.

To put it mildly ... I'm loving it.

Grove,
there ya go... big bore shooters repeatedly tell people that a 375 "don't kick"... and they never believe you until they touch one off...

when you scope it, you probably want to hold onto the forearm

jeffe

quote:

when you scope it, you probably want to hold onto the forearm

Now Jeffe the edge of that scope just hurts a little.

quote:

Now Jeffe the edge of that scope just hurts a little.

ramrod340 --- you know, I suspect you're right, the edge of that scope probably only does hurt just a little ... but then I'm a thinkin' you're slightly distracted from noticeing the pain because the blood is oozing down accross your shootin' eye.

The CZ 550 .375 is a great rifle for the money. I got one last year and have really grown to like it. I even killed a deer with it this year using a 300gr Hornady round nose and the express sights. Take a look at Talley detachable rings when you scope it. They are the lowest I know of and they do go back to zero. I mounted a Leupold 1.5x5 with German #4 reticle and it works just fine. I did glass bed my action and replaced the magazine spring with a stronger one as well as slick up the bolt with fine grit paste I got from Brownell's. I really like the trigger but some don't seem to like the set feature. I would also like a 3/32 front bead but can't seem to find one. Finally, I upgraded the stock on my rifle to fancy walnut because the original stock was butt ugly. In my opinion, the CZ is a heck of a rifle for the money but it does take some tuning.