I was in a local gunshop last week. In the used rifle rack they had a CZ550 Safari, beautiful carved stock, in .416 Rigby.
Since I live in North Central Texas, and our deer average 125lbs it is probably more gun than I need.
Is this an unusual rifle/caliber? The salesman said it was rare, but he may have meant around here.
This is just for big, dangerous game, right? Is this caliber used on any other game? I wonder what it would do to a deer?
I'm just bored and would love to hear about this cartridge. Isn't it one of the traditional African safari calibers?
Jim

Jim
the cz 550 magnum goes for 650+ shipping to your ffl on gunbroker...

the 416 is awesome for deer, pigs and jackrabits... unlike "magnums" that destory meat on the animals, big bores tend to just slay em.

416 bullets are fairly cheap

the dies can be had for 30 bucks

the brass is a little spendy, compared to 30-06


Rare? There's only a couple thousand made a year.

carved stock? that tends to be like hor rod cars, as only the only thinks it perfect.

Scope it, shoot 300-350 grain bullets, and just grin ear to ear

jeffe

I've shot two 140lb deer with a 416. Both were quartering shots. Except for the 1" hole, there was no meat damage at all. The moderate velocity (2400fps) combined with a bullet that expands but doesn't fragment makes for very little lost meat. The doe ran about 70 yards, the buck about 35. Both were easy to track.

The Rigby is a good cartridge that has been around for a long time. There are not many firearms chambered for it mostly because it requires a larger than standard action. The 375 H&H has it beat by a long shot as for as rifles produced. As far as big game rifles go, it has an impeccable reputation.

It sounds like what some friends say about the 45-70, moderate velocity+big bullet=dinner.
This rifle had a scope, but the price was around $1200.00.
Most of the game I can go after, including the elusive Texas Jackalope, will fall to my Swede 6.5x55.
One day I may buy a big bore, if for no other reason than to have the biggest rifle in my club.
Actually I have a Turk Mauser that I will be sporterizing. Maybe a 35 Whelen?
Jim

Your gun store is way too proud of that rifle. Look around on the web; they turn up for sale pretty often - only fired three times . They are easy to learn how to shoot; you just have to roll with it. You can load hard cast (try Beartooth brand) lead bullets over XMR 5744 powder at 2000 fps. Perfect for deer, hogs and javelina!
lawndart

If you do decide one day to go after Grizzly, Moose, Cape Buffalo or Elephant, you will already have a rifle capable of handling that category of game as well. Pressures are similar to the 30-30 so you can plan on a long life for the rifle.

Lawndart I think it is on consignment. I wouldn't pay that much if it wasn't a custom Weaherby with a Swarovski scope, and then I might have to think about it.
Jim

A 35 Whelen would be nice. Even nicer would be a 9.3x62. The bullets are .366" diameter and weigh 286 grains. Best hog gun going. No blood shot meat on the deer either. Imagine the looks on the other guy's faces when they say "Whatinthehellisthat?"

lawndart

The .416 Rigby is an absoulute beauty of a round.........I love it so much that I really want to add a second one to my kit

PC, you are unstoppable mate.

Karl.

there actually are higher grades that cz has out altho not seen very much. note: " beautiful carved stock" . the standard safari magnum 550 models, yeah $600-700 or so all day long if you look but these have (at least in my 416 and most cz's i've seen) horribly bland wood and conventional checkering on teh grip and f/e w/ no adornment.

if this one has "carving" then is either a more expensive factory grade or one somebody's screwed around with.

i second the opinions on the 416 - for reasons i don't understand, romance, nostalgia, whatever and i've never been w/in 10k miles of africa that round is just a hoot to load for and shoot. and the ctg itself just looks so cool.

I have used the 416s on all manor of antelope in Africa and even on elk and deer locally. it works like a charm and doesn't destroy as much meat as say a 243 or 270...I have even used solids and cup points and they kill fine also, but don't use them where penitration can be a hazard to others like in North Texas

willmckee, it has to be a factory or custom stock. Noone did this in their garage. The stock looks like the ones I see on really high end rifles. I am no expert on them, but this is almost too pretty to shoot.
Jim

Check the action, if you can, check the feeding.

Depending on the gun's make, it could have been a custom job that someone just used a CZ action for, and it's handmade around the serial # ...

If so, it could well be a great deal at 1200.

Could this just be the CZ 550 American Safari Magnum with the upgraded wood? CZ MSRP new is $1563. Conceivably, it could also have some work done re-shaping one of the factory stocks, some of which have real nice wood. Hard to tell for sure without more info or pictures.

Here is a picture of a CZ stock that has been beautifully "carved" upon. It is the upgraded wood, btw.

what kind of scope is on it? THat can add a lot to the the price. A good scope will cost more than $1200, so that much for a rifle and scope may not be high at all. If you can, post a pic of the stock.

As for you buying this thing, I just have to ask if you have checked on the rpice of ammo. It goes for about $120/box of 20. Just throwing that out there, as a lot of oflks don't realize how much it costs to feed a rifle that they have no real use for.

I am not buying it. I saw it and thought it was interesting.
The stock on this rifle was intricately carved from one end to the other, not checkered. It had wildlife in relief (raised), a schnabel forend, and the carving looked like an artist had made it not just a stock maker.
If I get back over there this weekend I will get more info, even if just for conversation fodder.
I really have no use for a large bore rifle. A 30-06 is more than I need, but the big bores are really cool, aren't they?
Jim

Pepper,
If you get a big bore, get a 416. You won't be disappointed. I use my RugerRigby as a backup for my buddies hunting jackrabbits with their pistols. Never know when a wounded one will turn on you and you want to have plenty of gun if they do.
Seriously, I use mine for lots of whimsical stuff and enjoy it immensly. It's way cool when my clients show up with an ultraboomen- schutzen rifle in some new fangled gun writer's calibre and want to show it off. Invariably they'll ask what I carry and then I can really strut my stuff. Shoots about like an '06 but packs a lot more punch when it gets there.

Hey judge, nice stock wood. Hard to believe that came from a "big gun company" custom shop.

This rifle stock had pics of aanimals and scenes carved on it. I don't know exactly how to describe it, but it had carvings from butt to forend.
It had to be a custom stock.
Jim