550 American Magnum Stock

[ericbullseye]

I have just received my new 500 American Magnum (375 H&H).  I am very impressed with the quality of the rifle and look forward to trying it out.  The gun fits me very well -- the sights line up perfectly without any effort.

I have a couple questions about the stock.  The checkering pattern is different than displayed in the recent Guns and Ammo article (it does not match the web-site picture either).  Additionally, the stock does not have a recoil bolt behind the receiver.  Why is there this variation?

Thanks for you help.

[Fred Flinstone]

Simple curiosity on my part: where did they install the recoil reinforcing bolt(s), or did they omit to install any?

[ericbullseye]

There are not any recoil reinforcing bolts.

[Fred Flinstone]

Whatever you do never leave out the front stock forearm/barrel screw while shooting, this will crack the stock after a few shots. If this was my rifle I'd put reinforcing cross-bolt, but since CZ designed this concept shoot this rifle all you can since the rifle stock is under warranty for one year(if I'm not mistaking), if the stock fails then CZ will correct their little screw-up. Notice that CZ's own V.P. CZ-550 Magnum has a least a rear (near stock juntion to barrelled action) which is already unconventional for Mauser based rifles but at least it reinforces the stock adequately.

[Mballistic]

I have a .416 Rigby withthe reinforcing bolt in the rear.  Stock broke in the forend after 30 shots.  It was replaced by CZ.   CZ also said that to prevent this in the future I should get the rifle glass bedded and add reinforcing bolts at the receiver.  Of course this will void the warrantee.  Seems to me like this is a design flaw.
Jeff

[ericbullseye]

I would prefer to have the bolts installed as a standard feature by the manufacturer.  I guess time will tell if this is a design flaw.

Since my rifle is a 375 H&H it should generate about 4000 foot pounds of energy.  This is comparable with a 338 Win. Mag.  I would not be alarmed to see a 338 Win. Mag. without the reinforcing bolts.  Thus the stock might be just fine for a 375 H&H too.

The energy from a 416 or any of the 458s might be past the threshold for a stock without the bolts.

[powderburnt4life]

I too just received a new  American Safari Magnum in .375. I am extremely pleased with it, as I purchased it online without seeing it first. The wood is top notch for a field grade rifle. It appears to be American black walnut, as opposed to the darker European variety. It has some nice streaking and a bit of figure on the butt. I will have it glass bedded and will also have the recoil reinforcing bolts added too. I'm not sure either why the factory would elect to eliminate reinforcement on a wood stocked rifle in the hard kicking calibers. My guess is cost. The tooling costs for this new stock profile may have required cuts somewhere. Anyway, bravo CZ, you have the best value on the market, by a long shot. I will try to post photos so some of you who may be teetering on the edge can decide. By the way, the Guns and Ammo article pictures don't appear to be a production rifle, it doesn't even have swivel studs.

[heidecraig]

Just got mine today.  Question I have is this.  The finish on the stock is nice BUT it looks as if they added the checkering AFTER stain and lacquer.  It doesn't seem like the checkering has any lacquer over it.  Looks kind of bare.  Is that what everyone else's looks like?

Also, the bolt seems to want to bind up when there is much counterclockwise pressure on it when racking it backwards.  Thoughts?