CZ 550 Magnum + McMillan stock

[Bill]

So my CZ 550 got a 2nd hand McMillan stock for Xmas

I still need to remove a tiny bit of old bedding material from the barrel recoil lug area as the previous owner had a slimmer profile 450 Rigby barrel, anyway its close to fitting but I don't have enough bedding material on hand to finish the job today so it will have to wait til next week.

A little bit shocked by the weight loss compared to the factory Walnut stock

[mchughcb]

85 ftlb of recoil with the squib loads. Should be quite enjoyable to sight in off the bench. You getting a nice 1-4x24 scope for it?

[cracker]

85 ftlb of recoil with the squib loads. Should be quite enjoyable to sight in off the bench. You getting a nice 1-4x24 scope for it?

whats a squib load....?

[SCJ429]

Is your CZ in 450 Rigby also?

[mchughcb]

whats a squib load....?

Not a full power load.

[cracker]

Not a full power load.[/quote]
ah okay fair enough sounded like you wanted a load that would lodge a projectile in the barrel lol
i hate to think what bench resting any magnum action cz would be like... punishing enough off the shoulder, 375handh might be okay....

[Bill]

Is your CZ in 450 Rigby also?

Nah 500 A Square, it was already light at 10.25 lbs, now its 9.4 lbs

[Bill]

85 ftlb of recoil with the squib loads. Should be quite enjoyable to sight in off the bench. You getting a nice 1-4x24 scope for it?

I think the full loads are 93 ftlb of recoil with the 500, original stock is a 375 H&H and even thou it has 3 recoil lugs, a Mercury recoil reducer and a muzzle brake the stock is light walnut for the magnum CZ and I have no faith in it lasting, the McMillan will get used and the Walnut put in bubble wrap

[mchughcb]

Yes full loads will belt you. So what load and power combo are you actually loading?

[Bill]

Unable to reload mchughcb at this stage as I dont have a large press, Ive got a mate a few hrs away whos going to give me hand when I get round to doing some load development as Sydney is a bit unfriendly to 50 cals.

The rifle came with a heap of loaded cast 570gr and Labradar has em doing 2050fps, so not that heavy.

I grabbed some 600gr Woodleighs recently and the plan is to load em up to 2200fps, I weigh 110kg and dont find the recoil an issue at all, must be all those rugby scrums I packed into as a front rower that helps.

[mchughcb]

Will be interesting with the 600gr woodleighs at 2200 fps. Should be around 118 ftlb of energy. Should be okay on the shoulder, neck and face.

[SCJ429]

Will be interesting with the 600gr woodleighs at 2200 fps. Should be around 118 ftlb of energy. Should be okay on the shoulder, neck and face.

It's the poor old retinas that cop the punishment.

[mchughcb]

Yep definitely needs a scope on it.

[cracker]

Will be interesting with the 600gr woodleighs at 2200 fps. Should be around 118 ftlb of energy. Should be okay on the shoulder, neck and face.

i found the muzzle blast/concussion effect to be worse then the recoil its self...after 5/6 shots your brain feels like uv been punched or fallen and hit your head...
thats with 500-600grain projectiles with around 2100-2200fps.

[marksman]

looks like a quality setup Bill

[Bill]

thanks marksman, wouldnt normally stick a CZ in the safe but this ones a keeper

[Bill]

So 1 of the 2 difference between the 2 stocks is the McMillan is running an aluminium chassis, the original 375 H&H was reinforced with 2 cross bolts and was bedded around the main lug.



The Original stock is running a mercury reducer and has dual lug installed which takes load from the barrel band the express sights are set upon, an additional screw keeps everything snug in the barrel channel.



The forend of the barrel channel has also been fire hardened which I hadnt seen before. Apparently all of the stock work was done by the CZ custom shop back in 2007 when the rifle was converted from 375 H&H to 500 A Square. With the muzzle brake and recoil reducer its a manageable beast. Unfortunately the new stock is 350gr light than the walnut, length of pull seem identical but the forend is a little shorter. Stock feels a little thicker in the wrist which I like and overall I give the stock the thumbs up

[mchughcb]

I didn't realise you had a muzzle break and a mercury reducer.

Well I guess it won't be 118 ftlb of recoil energy then.

[Bill]

mchughcb Ive fired a few rounds with and without the brake and there doesnt seem to be a lot of recoil reduction, maybe 10% and a little bit more noise when its on.

Not sure they work that well with such a big hole at such low speeds, and I the suspect mercury recoil reducers add more weight rather than softening the felt recoil.

Hey the gun came with it so Im going to use em

[SCJ429]

Unable to reload mchughcb at this stage as I dont have a large press, Ive got a mate a few hrs away whos going to give me hand when I get round to doing some load development as Sydney is a bit unfriendly to 50 cals.

The rifle came with a heap of loaded cast 570gr and Labradar has em doing 2050fps, so not that heavy.

I grabbed some 600gr Woodleighs recently and the plan is to load em up to 2200fps, I weigh 110kg and dont find the recoil an issue at all, must be all those rugby scrums I packed into as a front rower that helps.

Why is your press too small? I use a standard sized press to load a number of calibers based on the 378 Watherby Magnum case.

[Baz460]

Looks great, and love the calibre.