One of these days I am going to have a 577 Nitro.

Not seeing myself falling into a small fortune it will have to be a budget project. So, I am thinking about a Ruger #1 rifle.

I am assuming it would be advantageous to begin with a rifle chambered for a rimmed cartridge like the 45/70, hmm?

This is just something to have in case the local prarie dog population rises up in revolt. I don't see the single shot as a handicap as I will probably never get to Africa to really put it to work.

Anyway, just looking for suggestions and insight. It would also be nice to have some gunsmith recommendations.

Reverenddan,

If I understand No 1's correctly, what you start with doesn't matter. You will have to have a new barrel anyway and the extractor/ejector will need a little work. You will want to get the weight up over 11 pounds unless you love pain!

if your looking at a 577 nitro project i could help you plan it out you also might wanna try

www.sskindustries.com

of course, if you are willing to not have a double gun, you can match the 577 nitro in a bolt gun

http://www.weaponsmith.com/550-exp.html

jeffe

I have thought about the weight issue with the Ruger. I enjoy a good belt in the shoulder as much as the next fellow but I am not into torture.

I am not against a double gun but I can't ever see myself having a double rifle. I would die for a Searcy, and they have very reasonable prices but ain't nobody getting rich in the clergy. (At least not me)

The 550 in a CZ action is fantastic! I don't necessarily have to have a 577 I just want a really really big bore rifle. I have thought about the CZ in a 505 Gibbs. That would certainly be a low cost alternative.

Again though, the repeating rifle isn't necessary as this would be more for fun than anything else. I haven't seen any marauding elephants in Wyoming lately.

If you just want a "Big bore" rifle for fun, and you like the Ruger No1, take a hard look at a 458 Lott.
It will give you all the recoil you desire and as a bonus it is the cheapest of the big bores to shoot.
Much, much, cheaper to shoot than a 577 or a 505.

Talk with Ed Hubel about a 12GaFH if you want a big bore for fun! The Encore can take his 12GaFH short round and I guarantee you'll love it.

A prebuilt .577 Nitro Express BOLT ACTION.

Contact new_guy on this board for more info!

The 550 magnum or express can be bought from CZ custom shop for about $2500 done!

a heym starts at what, 5k?

I think brockman will do one for about the same

Honestly, I don't think I'd be going any bigger than .500 NE on a #1 and would likely choose a .450 #2 over that. Another option to scratch that big bore itch is a black powder front stuffer by Jim Gerfroh in Fort Collins Colorado. He will build eight or four bore rifles in either German or English configurations. Price tag will be a bit over $3K and it's worth every dime. Hope this helps.

Best,

John

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
The 550 magnum or express can be bought from CZ custom shop for about $2500 done!

a heym starts at what, 5k?

I think brockman will do one for about the same

Jeffe, guess again the bolt heym chambered for 577NE, or 600NE starts and ends at $15,000 US, before tax, as per Heym's add in Safari magazine.

There is a problem with cartridges larger than the 500NE in a Ruger No1 rifle. The action has to be opened up quite a bit to handle the 577NE round. One other thing is the rifle chambered for 577NE needs to be in the 13, to 15 pound weight range to be usable. The Ruger No1 can only be brought to that weight by a very thick walled barrel, and to ballance it, the stock must be weighted considerably as well. The barrel will make the rifle very muzzle heavy if it is too long, so the extra weight must be in the wall thickness. Anything under 13 pounds will make the rifle very uncomfortable to shoot! IMO, this type rifle looks bad with a Howitzer type muzzle brake, or in fact, any muzzle brake, but it may be necassary in this case.

There are a couple guys who post here that have No1s re-barreled to 500NE, and this seems to be about the senceble limit for this action. I haven't checked with SSK, but i'm not sure they will do a 577NE on a Ruger No1! You furnish the Ruger No1 action and stock, and their wrok starts at around $1500, to $2000 to complete the rifle.

Rev,

me I would take the budget (read cheap!) route. Buy a 1917 Enfield, a P14 bolt, and a 50 caliber Bauska barrel.
Get a competent gunsmith to open up the boltface, fit, chamber and headspace the barrel and play with the feedrails. Find somebody that has a 510 Wells, 500 A-square, etc reamer and be happy for not-too-many dollars.
You will want verrrrrrrrrrry straight grained walnut for this stock, crossbolt it, and go!
Rich

Single Shots Check out the C-97. I am seriously considering one in stainless. A very serious company.

While $2,500 to $3,000 is a good price for a quality custom rifle it defeats the purpose of a budget project (at least by my wallet).

I am keenly interested in the 550 Magnum. I do have a P14 action waiting for something to be done to it.

Doesn't CZ sell a 505? Perhaps this would be the most economical route to go.

What about the CZ big bores? Any feedback?

they do sell a 505 but cant really be loaded to extreams for example a 600 grainer at 2400 plus

if i bought the cz i would stick to the traditional 525 grain pill at 2350 or 2400.

SAw a CZ 505 gibbs in the gun library at Cabela's Hamburg, Penna last week..Even held it and it pointed very nicely...

RD it definately is a big bore....

Mike

Dan,
the 550 magnum requires a 3.8" capable action. The p14 can be done that way. It appears price is a core part of your balancing act (and should be)... the 550 can use weatherby brass, at about a 1.20 each, rather than gibbs brass.

If you are doing the work yourself, then the p14 will work.. if you are paying for it to be done, then the cz550 ACTION in 416 rigby is the correct starting place, considering price. It requires the least modifications to become a 550 magnum. Sooner or later I will do another 550 express, but this time on a ruger 77.

cz action ~600
barrel ~200
install barrel and recoil lug ~150
sights ~200
install sights and blue ~200
stock and weighting of stock - whatever you want to spend.

$1350... if you pay a smith to modify your enfeild, you may save a couple dollars.

jeffe

Jeffe is absolutely right about the starting place a P14 will work but is a bit of work. The CZ is a much better place to start IMO and you can go all the way to a 600 OK on it.

Where in WY are you?

I get down to Cody now and again to shoot PDs and have a few big boomers I would let you try out.

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
The 550 magnum or express can be bought from CZ custom shop for about $2500 done!

a heym starts at what, 5k?

I think brockman will do one for about the same

Jeffe, guess again the bolt heym chambered for 577NE, or 600NE starts and ends at $15,000 US, before tax, as per Heym's add in Safari magazine.

HOLY CRAP!!! For $15K, I'd just add another $3K and have a REAL .577 NITRO!!!

I definitely wouldn't get a CZ 505. From what I have heard about it (paper thin bolt rim and no crossbolts are just a couple of the things wrong with it) I would much rather have a 458 Lott.

quote:

Originally posted by bulldog563:
I definitely wouldn't get a CZ 505. From what I have heard about it (paper thin bolt rim and no crossbolts are just a couple of the things wrong with it) I would much rather have a 458 Lott.

Besides all that, they now cost about $2300 instead of the $1850 they cost a year ago. And they feed like crap. A 550 Magnum is a much easier conversion, feeds easy and has way more horsepower. A 550 Express matches the 505 Gibbs (actually beats the original Gibbs ballistics by a reasonable margin) in an even more affordable package.

I have heard from some (some on these forums) that the CZ rifles have issues with crossbolts (or lack therof).

I can appreciate the need for crossbolts as I have personally seen a poorly fitted 30/06 split a cheap walnut stock.

Of everything I have seen and heard thus far it seems that the 550 magnum is the front runner. I have a good supply of Weatherby brass and a suitable action.

So now for a couple more questions:

What "bore" is the 550 Magnum?

Who makes barrels at a reasonable cost? (Seems to me we're not looking for varmint accuracy)

Will the CZ action in a Rigby caliber go "as is" without any modifications?

I would call Jim Brockman and ask him those questions as he has about the most currrent experience with them. The caliber is .550. The "standard" bullet is 700 grains, velocity is 2350 but the designer (RNS here at AR) and jeffe think it'll go higher with some additional development. Barrels can be had from Bauska (sp?) pretty reasonably; others as well but that is probably the lowest cost.

RNS has brass and bonded Alaska Bullet Works bullets, Bridger solids. Hawk makes a bullet as well but very soft. Wayne Doudna sells a nice cast bullet that is gas-checked and weighs 715 grains or a plain base weighing in at 665 grains for the 550 Express. CH4D has die sets on the shelf, Quality Ctg will sell loaded ammo.

bore is .540, groove is .550
liek Haryr said,
mag is 700 at 2350, express is 700 at 2130 .. both will go more, but how much of a beating do you really want...

John,
Glad to see you back posting!!


Bauska, Badger, and Pacnor all make barrels, the first and last are reasonable in price.

heck, even a 550 express on a p14 would be a hoot

you will have some feeding, but not much, to work out on the cz 550 416 rigby action
jeffe