Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa CZ 550 Magnum Rifle

I have owned 3 CZ 500 Magnum rifles. I am drawn to them because of the double square bridge Mauser variant action and it's drop box magazine.
My first one was a .375H&H made in 07.The finish was so poor,a sprayed on opaque reddish brown lacquer, that I could not bear to look at it and stripped it to replace it with tung oil.The wood was of utilitarian grade. I did however love the metal even if the finish was sub par.I equipped the rifle with Talley QD rings and a Leupold VXIII 1.5-5.The feeding of 300gr ammo was so ridiculous, deep gouges on the cases and binding at normal cycling rates that I sold the gun.
My second CZ, an 08 was in the same caliber but with a much nicer stock with cheek-piece and dual cross-bolts (both missing in the first rifle).Unreliable feeding, rails need polishing.
Not one to give up easily. I purchased another 08, this one a .416 Rigby with fancy American black walnut stock. Dual cross-bolts nicely shaped stock with much cleaner checkering.
I brought this one to a gunsmith to have it honed and polished.
With an oil finish, rust blue, pistol grip cap, beveled loading ramp and beaded cheek-piece it will probably be a keeper.It would be cool if someone made a Mauser type shroud for this model.

I'm not sure if AHR's 3 position safety is going to change the shroud the way you want it done, but they have a good reputation for CZ work.

http://www.hunting-rifles.com/Accessories/accessories.htm

I had the same issue with the scratched brass. Wayne at AHR (mentioned above) solved that issue as well as cleaned up a whole bunch of other things (like the hole in the bolt handle). It's a beautiful rifle now in both looks and function.

I have an Ed LaPour model 70 type safety and shroud on my CZ 416. He also slicked up te action and added Weisner bottom metal and a few other nice upgrades. Bending the bolt handle out some made it a better one for getting ahold of quickly as well. Great rifles for the money for sure, excellent rifles once tweaked a bit, IMO.

Funny I also like the hollowed out bolt handle reminiscent of pre war H&H.

It is an improvement cosmetically but a costly one.

I haven't heard of bottom metal for the 550. Is it the Ribgy type with the floor-plate release in the trigger bow? If it is where can I get one, I was unable to find any reference on the net.

I'll stay with the model 70 Winchesters!

i was visiting a fiend this afternoon and he showed me a few of his rifles. one was a cz, in 458 lott. beautiful rifle! he just wanted one, so he bought two, the 458 lott and an identical one in 375 h and h. he's ready for africa, although he told me he'll never make the trip.