Which should I buy, and what is a "fair price" for each? The local shop has a CZ 375 for $749 I think...

Thanks.

Give the RSM a good look, it's a helluva a package for what you get. They average NIB around $1200 but they have virtually all the features most insist on for a big game rifle. Just shoot it and check for reliable function and you're good to go. I've been very impressed with the RSM.

I gotta side with 458 as to getting a Ruger. You don't have to do anything to get it to shoot out of the box. There have been a few RSM's for sale and they all went pretty well. With the CZ in the bigger stuff, you HAVE to glass the stock and/or put in cross bolts if they don't have any. I've got a few of them and have been satisfied with each and every one of them. The wood was superb and had triggers from 3# to 3 1/2#. If you figure in a new stock that looked as good as the Ruger stock in a CZ, I figure you have basically reached the Ruger price.

What 458 said. I just purchased a Ruger m77 RSM MKII in 458 Lott, and I am extremely impressed with the quality, fit, finish, etc. It is a great deal of rifle for the money. If I didn't want to spend that kind of money, I would go with the CZ. They are a great value for the money.

Best regards,
Starcharvski

i don't know that the cz's "have" to be glass bedded. the only large bore's i've had were an old zkk 375 (bedded same way) and a 550 in 416. neither split their stock and the 375 was fired several hundred times. have not wrung the 416 out that far yet but certainly seems as if is going to do just as well. as to accuracy, i still have a 10 shot 3" 100 yard group from the 375. which doesn't sound impressive i'll admit but was
a) the last 10 shots of 20 w/ no cooling (probably 20-30 min at most for all 20) so bbl was blistering
b) the scope was adjusted twice in the last 10 rds and inside the 3" 10 shot group are 3 distinct little groups, 3 shots high touching, 3 low touching and 4 centered touching.

i'd advise leaving the bedding completely alone till testing showed a need otherwise.

the rugers i've handled - while looking much nicer and having some nice features all felt awfully muzzle heavy and the butt area seemed smaller. also rugers cheek piece-less combs just don't support my head all that well on heavier recoiling rifles.

I own two of the Ruger Magnums. One in .375 H&H and the other in .416 Rigby. I do NOT own one of the CZ's in .375 H&H. I have handled them at the store. I do own a CZ 550 in 9.3x62.

That said, here are my impressions / thoughts:


The Rugers are a hell of a lot of rifle for the money. Finished nicer than the CZs. Very nice rifles overall. The integral quarter rib is a very nice touch / feature (though not really needed).

Ruger cons:
(1) I think the Rugers are about a pound too heavy for their caliber. The CZ felt more responsive when I handled one.
(2) The recoil pads that come from the factory suck. I recently had mine replaced with Pachmayrs. When we pulled the factory pads off, we found that they were stamped GOODYEAR! I'm not making that up!
(3) Some have complained that the safety lever "handle/button" is a little small for positive thumb contact. I have not expercinced that as a problem.
(4) Some also have complained that the front sight bead is little small. I don't use the iron sights much. (I've never hunted dangerous game with either rifle. I have hunted plains game with the .375 H&H but I used a scope.)

Now, the recoil pad and front sight bead issues are easily solved with some replacements. Not a big deal.

As I said, I do not own one of the CZs in .375 H&H but I do own a CZ 550 in 9.3x62. I do like my CZ 550 very much. On the CZ, I think you will probably want to spend a little money getting the action slicked up and probably do a bedding job. (I had my Rugers bedded too.) Maybe some trigger work. But, these are not big expenses.

Summary: I think either rifle will serve you well. Pick which one you like best and enjoy!

-Bob F.

The name Goodyear is not a negative. They spend millions in rubber/synthetic R & D every year. They don't just make tires! If any company has the resources to develop rubber or synthetic products which fill needed applications, they are in an excellent position to provide break throughs in technology.

I personally prefer the Limb Saver products and five of my most recent nine purchases have been converted with LS recoil pads.

Joe,

I wasn't really trying to make a snide remark about Goodyear. My father used to own a Goodyear tire distributorship so I know a little about the company. I've even ridden in one of their blimps when it was once based here in Houston. I was just making the connotation that Ruger's recoil pads feel like old tire rubber (because they are hard) and I just thought it was funny that they were actually made by Goodyear and were stamped as such.

-Bob F.

Edited to add:
My Ruger Magnums date from 1994 and 1997 so I don't know if the pads Ruger is currently using are still stamped Goodyear or not. But, mine sure were. My gunsmith and I both had a good chuckle when he showed them to me.

Interesting! I never knew it was a Goodyear recoil pad, hehe. In fact I've heard guys on here comment the Ruger pads are like a tire tread, and by-gosh I guess they were closer to the fact than they realized!

I like that Ruger pad - it's trim and non-obtrusive and looks good, but then again my RSM is a .375 and at 10 lbs it's a pussycat to shoot. I suppose some of the Lott fans aren't so fond of it?

I put the limbsaver pad on my RSM .416 Rigby, I think it works better than the Pachmayer pads on the big bores.

I love the cz's there just an awsome rifle IMHO, but jee those Ruger magnums are also great. The cz's are just great value for what you get.

I have a Brno 602ZKK in 375 that was originally Jon Speeds rifle in Tanzania and its in excellant condition and has been well used. No stock problems. I have a 550 in 416 Rigby that has now been customized extensively but had no problems with the original stock except the horrible looks of the euro cheekpiece and hump. It shot and shoots wonderfully. I also have a Ruger in 416 Rigby. I peersonally hate the feel of the Ruger stocks especially in the grip area. They are just plain uncomfortable to me. The barrel is extremely fat to me and the quarter rib is not as well defined as the integral rib on my 375 with a David Miller barrel. The Ruger shoots like a house afire though. I also don't like the Ruger bolt handle so I put a longer straight one on. The original was killing my trigger finger. The trigger guard with the new style is not as attractive as the old one with the Mauser style release in my opinion. You have probably gathered by now I don't particularly like the Ruger.

quote:

Originally posted by PC:
I love the cz's there just an awsome rifle IMHO, but jee those Ruger magnums are also great. The cz's are just great value for what you get.

Check out the latest Australian Shooter mag
article by Allan Taylor, Brnos in 458 Lotts
etc. were spliting stocks and jamming left right
and centre.
Anyone found them wanting, or were these misused.
John L.

Maybe they did who knows But my lott is fine I have had Bob De"Vries work it over.....bedding and two extra cross bolts and it feeds and ejects fine. Lots of shit written in Aussie gun rags and not many people up to date with big bores.

quote:

Originally posted by PC:
Lots of shit written in Aussie gun rags and not many people up to date with big bores.

Sure, and a correction, it was Alan Turner
who was attending the 2003 Zimbabwe Professional Hunters training course.
The average Aussie doesn't know much, and I'm very average.
JL

Another random rant.
Ad in same mag current edition.
Brno ZKK602 in .458 Win Safari Mod,lovely wood
porting Very Good Cond. $950 Aust.
I've always had a dislike of CZ's/Brno, else I'd
grab it. Looking to improve my jaded image.
Also sounds too cheap? I'ts probably gone now anyway. Keep my eye out for a Similar Ruger.
Don't know what excuse I'd give the Registration people. . . Keeping rogue elephants at bay??
JL