CZ 550 American .416 Rigby

[nvhunter]

Does anyone have the CZ550 American in .416 Rigby?
I'm considering getting one.  I'll likely order it with glass bedding and a barrel band.
I contacted CZ and all large bores now have cross bolts installed.

How do you like it?   Is the recoil as bad as many claim,  or is this merely hype?
I'm not recoil sensitive,  I've shot my fair share of 10 ga. and 12 ga with magnum loads.

Any input would be greatly appreciated

[Aussie steve]

G'day nvhunter, I have a .416 Rigby  CZ 550 safari classic and I like it, its well designed and the open sights are very good. Are you going to hand load for it? Out here in Australia ammo runs at about 150-200 bucks for 20 rounds, so I hand load to save costs. The .416 case is pretty big and so it has a lot of flexibility in that you can load down to where the original loads were which is a 410 grain bullet at between 2300-2400 fps, or you can load it right up to near match the .416 Weatherby.

In my rifle I am able to push a 410 grain bullet at 2650 with no pressure signs, and a 340 grain bullet to 2850, obviously with these loads recoil is pretty stiff (about 80 ftlbs), but its manageable with practice, however if you shoot the slower factory loads or if you   handnd load to those speeds recoill should not be an issue for anybody who has shot bigger rifles before. My rifle is stock standard and weighs in at just over 10lbs with a Leuplod VXII 2-7 and full mag. If you find recoil is too much perhaps a muzzel brake could be added, or a mercury recoil reducer.

Cheers
Steve

 

[nvhunter]

G'Day Aussie Steve,

Thanks for the input.  I currently do not reload,  but will be learning to do so soon.  The price of ALL ammo seems to be increasing here in USA so it's time
to invest some time and effort and begin reloading my own ammo.  I enjoy shooting various handguns and rifles,  so reloading is the way to go.

In USA,  .416 ammo varies in cost,  but yes,  it is VERY expensive. 

Did your open sights require any modification?  I'll be installing a Leupold also, but I enjoy shooting open sights.  .30-30 is a rifle fun to fire with open sights.

I have no experience in large bore rifles,  so this Rigby will be my first venture into this realm.   I want to go hunt Africa and now I'm finally in a position to
go,  but first I must become skilled with a larger bore.  Practice,  practice,  practice. 

The largest rifle I've fired thus far is a .300 magnum,  Many say it's recoil is fierce,  but I did not think it was all that bad.

Have a good one,
nvhunter

[Aussie steve]

Hey nvhunter, no problems mate, happy to help. How do you mean did I have to have my sights modified?  You will find the recoil of a factory .416 will push more than anything else, you will like it

Steve

[Redhawk1]

I had a CZ 550 416 Rigby but with the Euro stock. I had it glass bedded, I also had a mercury recoil reducer installed. The gun was a tack driver. At 100 yards I got 1 inch groups.  I reloaded for it, the price of factory ammo is over 140 a box of 20. It is worth putting ut the money and reloading the 416 Rigby.

[jro45]

Whats the fastest the Rigby 416 pushes the 400 or 410 bullet? I have a friend that is thinking about getting one.

[nvhunter]

Aussie Steve,

"How do you mean did I have to have my sights modified?"

To clarify,  I was curious if you fired the .416 open-sighted initially after purchase. 
If so,  were the sights accurate?? Or,  did they require adjustment.

CZ's reputation is excellent.  I have a .270 CZ550.  TO call it a "tack driver", would actually be an understatement.
No open sights though on my .270,....

nvhunter

[Dixie Dude]

Does the CZ 550 have a three position safety like the Winchester Classic 70 or Ruger?  I know it has a CRF bolt.  I haven't seen one lately. 

[Aussie steve]

nvhunter, my irons were reasonable when first used, I gave them a little adjustment and they were pretty right and haven't touched them since. Dixie Dude, mate the safety is a two position job, and with it engaged the bolt is also locked. Jro45, I neck size only and use nickel plated federal brass which is TOUGH, and was able to break 2700 fps with a 410 grain soft nose, but I have since loaded back to 2650 with no signs of excessive pressure. With the Woodleigh 340 grain protected point I can get 2850. The one thing everybody seems to forget about the .416 Rigby  is that it's pretty close to the .416 Weatherby if loaded to normal pressures and not the 40K psi or so that factory ammo is loaded to. Hand loading is the best option for this round as you can load softer bullets for animals like elk and deer, rather than the tough 410 grain factorys which might not expand properly on these more lightly built animals.

Steve

[kevthebassman]

Just an aside, but if you do not like having the bolt locked by the safety, it's an easy fix.

[Redhawk1]

Whats the fastest the Rigby 416 pushes the 400 or 410 bullet? I have a friend that is thinking about getting one.

It is not all about speed, but more accuracy. You have a fascination with pushing your guns to the max. In my opinion it is not needed.

[jro45]

How you doing Redhawk1?  Fil is thinking about getting one and I was just courious what the Max is with the Rigby .416.   I have the CZ 550  American Safari 458 Lott. And the Remington .416.  I've heard an afull lot about
The Rem .416 over in Africa being used. Thats hear or not makes no difference. Some people like fast bullets with accuratacy some people like slower bullets that are accurate. Have a nice day!!!

[Redhawk1]

jro45,
The good thing about the 416 Rigby is, it works under less pressure than the 416 Remington Mag. The case capacity is a lot more then the 416 Remington mag. My CZ 416 Rigby was a tack driver, I had Paul do the glass bedding for me. The gun shot like a dream and was actually a lot of fun to shoot.

[jro45]

Redhawk1,  Paul Retired, His son Paul Jr. runs the shop now.

[jro45]

I have the American Safri CZ 550  458 lott. That rifle has 74 Ft Lbs of recoil but it not a bad rifle to shoot because standing it just gives you a push.

[Redhawk1]

Redhawk1,  Paul Retired, His son Paul Jr. runs the shop now.

I am well aware of that, but Paul JR did most of the gunsmith work when Paul SR was running it.

[jro45]

Paul Jr. put a lot of barrels on for me from being shot out.

[rmatt]

I have a CZ American in 416 Rigby. I've had it for a couple years. Mine does not have the cross bolts in the stock-so far so good. It shoots very well. Clover leaf groups at 100 yds. Its topped with a Leupold 1x5 scope. I do load for it using hornady's 400 gr bullet and a charge of IMR 4831 and std win LR primers. The recoil is not bad at all. The only thing I have to compare it to is  my Win Mdl 70 in 458 Win Mag. The 458 kicks the snot out of me compared to the 416,and the rifles are of similar design.
Bob

[woodsman44]

Does anyone have the CZ550 American in .416 Rigby?
I'm considering getting one.  I'll likely order it with glass bedding and a barrel band.
I contacted CZ and all large bores now have cross bolts installed.

How do you like it?   Is the recoil as bad as many claim,  or is this merely hype?
I'm not recoil sensitive,  I've shot my fair share of 10 ga. and 12 ga with magnum loads.

Any input would be greatly appreciated

I had the 550 american safari in .416 rigby...very accurate shot well. The action was a little ruff, not smooth like my rem.

Recoil is pretty hard with scope off or on, wish they would have made them a little heavier to soak up some recoil.