Montana rifle or cz?

[Johnny reb]

Looking for left handed 458 lott been looking at Montana ananda cz. Opinions welcome on both good the bad and the ugly the Montana is attractive at a pound lighter but don't have any experience with them

 

[Scott CWO]

Hi,

Sorry that I cannot give you a direct comparison as I only own the CZ in .458 Lott. That said, I do really like the CZ for several reasons. I like the large magazine capacity and the ease of cleaning the best. It is so easy to remove and disassemble the bolt for cleaning. Unlike others on this site, I have had no problems with the set trigger and I like the option, especially for longer shots where you need the most accuracy.

The only problem I have had is that my CZ does not like blunt or flatter nosed bullets when I am cycling the rifle very fast. This is a problem when guiding Brown Bear hunters! The blunt nosed bullets will occasionally get hung up on the barrel chamber opening, which is quite sharp. I have eliminated the problem by using bullets in more of a spitzer shape such as the 500 gr. Barnes TSX softs and the 500 gr. Hornady Solids. I had problems with the 460 gr. A-Square softs that I tried when I first got the rifle. They are too blunt.

The CZ is a fine looking rifle but not a high grade finished rifle so I got rid of the wood stock and went with a composite stock. This reduced the weight. I am more into function than beauty anyway. For AK, I also had the rifle completely coated so as to retard any rust issues so that I am not having to constantly clean the rifle every time it gets wet in AK. Wood stocks are also not the best for a lot of rain and moisture. Rain is rarely an issue in Africa.

Good luck with whatever you decide,

Scott Limmer

 

[Johnny reb]

Appreciate the info did you have too go thru the custom shop for you're cz or did you just get a stock model? I can get the Montana for a little over a $1000 less which leaves more money for more toys and using them for there intended purposes but I don't want too save money and sacrifice quality and dependability first and foremost.

 

[Mike70560]

Johnny,

I own both in left hand, the MRC in a Lott, the CZ in a 375.

The CZ is heavier as you said but you can get 5 down in it. That is a lot of ammo, no pun intended. The drawback is CZ overprices the LH guns. I also sent mine to Wayne at American Hunting rifles for his #2 upgrade which includes the following:

3-postion safety
crisp single-stage trigger
straighten and fill the bolt handle
Re-crown barrel
Install barrel band sling mount
Install custom banded front sight with hood
Install fixed / 1 folding rear sight blade
Change factory recoil lug on barrel to AHR lug
Glass bed action
Gunkote all metal

He also shortened the barrel.

That work alone is $1400.00 My CZ feeds everytime. Never a problem included BBW solids, Non-Cons, and Barnes Flatnose solids. It is accurate also.

Also I believe CZ only offers the Left Hand in 375 H&H, but could be mistaken.

You can also turm the CZ in to just about any cartridge around up to the 600 Overkill.

My MRC was purchased as a SS barreled action. I bought a Mcmillan Supergrade stock and American Hunting Rifles GunKoted the steel and installed the sights and barrel band.

It also shoots very well, is a good weight, felt recoil is not bad at all. The down side is I can close the bolt over only three rounds and it will not reliably feed flatnose solids. A little work could correct both of those issues. I feel the magazine is a tad short also.

The factory trigger is quite nice.

If I did it again knowing what I know now the 458 Lott would be in a lightened CZ (and probably a 458 Ackley which can shoot the Ackley, Watts, Lott, or in a pinch Win Mag.) and the 375 would be built on the lighter MRC action.

 

[DOC-404]

The CZ is heavier as you said but you can get 5 down in it.

..mine loads six in the mag, Mike..have you tried ?

 

[KWALATA SAFARIS]

Mine aswell Doc, but I have the Zkk Model maybe it changed with the newer ones?? not sure..

My best always

 

[Scott CWO]

I have heard that the feeding problem is only with the CZ in .458 Lott but like I said, it can be avoided. I bought a stock model and had a gunsmith friend tune it up a bit and send it away for the coating.

As far as felt recoil, it feels like more of a shove than a sharp kick against the shoulder like with some other calibers/rifles.

As for cost, can you find a friend with an FFL to save you some money?

 

[DOC-404]

Mine aswell Doc, but I have the Zkk Model maybe it changed with the newer ones?? not sure..

..mine is an '09 model, Jaco..so I think they should all feed six..

 

[Mike70560]

I can get six down, but do not have room to pickup the seventh under the extractor and will not snap the extractor over the case head. With the MRC I can put four in the mag but cannot close the bolt but can pickup the fourth one with the bolt with no issues.

In regards to the price, suggested retail for the LH is $1944.00 . A comparable RH model is $1180.00. That is a stiff premium for a LH model. In a right hand it is one of the better bargains out there. In a left hand if your have to rebarrel and plan on changing the stock you may look at the Granite Mountain Arms. They charge the same for a left hand and right hand action. Montana also charges the same for a left and right hand action.

 

[Johnny reb]

Thanks for the replies in order for me too get a cz since I'm left handed I have too go thru the custom shop and I am around $4500. The Montana out the door is almost half the cost. I'm not going too be a tightass and buy junk over quality

 

[colorado]

As far as felt recoil, it feels like more of a shove than a sharp kick against the shoulder like with some other calibers/rifles.

I've heard that before, as the happy owner of a 7 lb 375 Weatherby and 11 lb 500 Jeffery, I'm sorry but I put that in the category of:

1. The check's in the mail

2. It will only hurt a little ...

and we won't go into the rest

 

[bebo]

I have heard that the feeding problem is only with the CZ in .458 Lott but like I said, it can be avoided. [..]
As for cost, can you find a friend with an FFL to save you some money?

The feeding problem is a CZ problem ... with all calibers !!!!
Need a gunsmith to polish enterely the action , after all is right ... Now my CZ 550 9.3x62 Mauser is smooth ...

 

[James.Grage]

The Montana rifle is a tad on the light side.


solution is to have a mercury reducer added to the stock. problem solved. plus i change the recoil pad. I like gooey pad.

Trigger is very nice and crisp and adjustable. no feeding issues that i am aware of and i have used different brands of ammo in mine and both soft and solids.

Stock is glass bedded and all you have to do is find the scope of your choice to add, plus it is a shooter right out of the box with open sights.

 

[Royal27]

Johnny,

I'm curious as to what you decided. I'm trying to make the same left handed decision and am leaning towards the Montana. I have the CZ IN .375, but can't justify paying $4K for another one IF the Montana is similar quality, which it seems to be?

 

[Johnny reb]

I have a Montana in 458 lott on the way I should have it at the end of the month. Ill let you know the good and bad I would of went with the cz but if you're a lefty and want anything above 375 you have too go thru there custom shop and I was going too be right at 5000 for left handed lott. The Montana is the same price whether you're right handed or a lefty

 

[Royal27]

I have a Montana in 458 lott on the way I should have it at the end of the month. Ill let you know the good and bad I would of went with the cz but if you're a lefty and want anything above 375 you have too go thru there custom shop and I was going too be right at 5000 for left handed lott. The Montana is the same price whether you're right handed or a lefty

I can't wait to hear your review. I LOVE my CZ in .375. I just realized that the Montana only weighs 8lb 2oz, as opposed to 9.5lb for the CZ. It sounds as if a mercury recoil reduced may be in order, or a muzzle brake, or both.... I have no issue personally with a brake, but would only use it for sighting and training. Screw on thread cap come hunting time.

 

[Royal27]

The Montana rifle is a tad on the light side.


solution is to have a mercury reducer added to the stock. problem solved. plus i change the recoil pad. I like gooey pad.

Trigger is very nice and crisp and adjustable. no feeding issues that i am aware of and i have used different brands of ammo in mine and both soft and solids.

Stock is glass bedded and all you have to do is find the scope of your choice to add, plus it is a shooter right out of the box with open sights.

Or, i could have just read this!!!!

 

[Johnny reb]

The Montana is light I already have plans on scrapping the stock and I may go with a laminated stock which will add a little weight. Will let you k ow as soon as I receive it what I think about the gun

 

[rnovi]

The Montana is light I already have plans on scrapping the stock and I may go with a laminated stock which will add a little weight. Will let you k ow as soon as I receive it what I think about the gun

You know, it's kinda funny. I have a stainless Montana 1999 (RH action) in .375 H&H in a Lam Stock. Bedded, bolted and topped with a 2.5-10x42 Leica scope. Damn thing weighs 9.5#...It's just too darn heavy. I'm trying to get down to about 8# empty. I'd be happy at 8.25 scoped.

My Montana is an early, built action, 20" bbl. It was rough as heck when I got it and I had to spend a whole lot of time smoothing it out with Flitz on the Rails. It feeds like a dream, ejects brass 40 FEET right and holds a roughly 1-1.25 group at 100 yards.

I have no complaints about the Montana except for the weight. I bring it up only to mention that you should think twice about how heavy you want a .375 H&H.

 

[Johnny reb]

Thanks for the info but this gun I ordered is in 458 lott and it will weigh right at 8 pounds my 375 weighs around 8 which I think is about right weight