Another just for fun, what caliber to build thread

Backyardsniper

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Thinking about building another rifle and I've got a few unique specs so I thought I'd throw it out here for everyone to weigh in with thier 2 cents. On gunbroker right now there are a couple of CZ 550 actions for sale. It looks to me like they come complete with mag box bottom metal , trigger, and screws. Now I'm a big CZ fan and I already have a 550 safari in 458 Lott and I love it. I'm planning to do a safari in the next few years hopefully. Buffalo and Kudu and hopefully some other plains game if I can fund it..so I've got the buffalo covered with the 458 but I was thinking about grabbing one of these actions and building a hot rod plains game/elk/brown bear type rifle. The interesting thing is these are 416 rigby actions so that means they have a .585 bolt face, so we're in the 338 lapua, 30/378 weatherby, 30/338 lapua realm. I'm a big fan of the lapua, but with the heavy 30 cal bullets available now something in the 30 cal could be very tempting. The CZ action allows for a mag capacity of 4 or 5 I believe with these diameter rounds plus CRF which is a bonus and I love the CZ triggers so no need to change any of that. I've seen the CZ Kevlar stocks for sale in the $350 range and McMillan also makes one for this action which only leaves to to chose a caliber and purchase a barrel and find a Smith that works on CZ rifles. If you all have any suggestions in that arena please let me know. Also, just for curiosity sake I'm going to post this same thread on longrangehunting.com and we can compare the different suggestions and perhaps the different ideas on what each group feels would be the best use of these components. Let me know what you think!
 
I know what you mean. There is a guy on snipershide with a 550 lux in 7mm mag for sale right now. If itnwas a 300 win I would have already bought it and I'm still seriously considering it. Is the 7 mag plenty for any plains game you might run into. I mean I can only assume it is but I've just always been a big 30 cal fan because of the range of bullet weights available. I should probably scoop it up though just because they're getting harder to find
 
I know what you mean. There is a guy on snipershide with a 550 lux in 7mm mag for sale right now. If itnwas a 300 win I would have already bought it and I'm still seriously considering it. Is the 7 mag plenty for any plains game you might run into. I mean I can only assume it is but I've just always been a big 30 cal fan because of the range of bullet weights available. I should probably scoop it up though just because they're getting harder to find
I've owned both anything one can kill the other can do equally well. Bullet choice isn't as extensive with 7mm on the heavier end but it's a popular sambar round and they're a heavily built animal.
 
I think I can snag that Rifle for $650 and they want $600 just for those actions I'm looking at. Guess I could get the 7 mag and just spend the rest of the money I would have spent practicing and I could still probably get a 375 too for what it would cost to buy the action and build a custom, but custom rifles are a lot of fun, and often times a lotmof headache too
 
Thinking about building another rifle and I've got a few unique specs so I thought I'd throw it out here for everyone to weigh in with thier 2 cents. On gunbroker right now there are a couple of CZ 550 actions for sale. It looks to me like they come complete with mag box bottom metal , trigger, and screws. Now I'm a big CZ fan and I already have a 550 safari in 458 Lott and I love it. I'm planning to do a safari in the next few years hopefully. Buffalo and Kudu and hopefully some other plains game if I can fund it..so I've got the buffalo covered with the 458 but I was thinking about grabbing one of these actions and building a hot rod plains game/elk/brown bear type rifle. The interesting thing is these are 416 rigby actions so that means they have a .585 bolt face, so we're in the 338 lapua, 30/378 weatherby, 30/338 lapua realm. I'm a big fan of the lapua, but with the heavy 30 cal bullets available now something in the 30 cal could be very tempting. The CZ action allows for a mag capacity of 4 or 5 I believe with these diameter rounds plus CRF which is a bonus and I love the CZ triggers so no need to change any of that. I've seen the CZ Kevlar stocks for sale in the $350 range and McMillan also makes one for this action which only leaves to to chose a caliber and purchase a barrel and find a Smith that works on CZ rifles. If you all have any suggestions in that arena please let me know. Also, just for curiosity sake I'm going to post this same thread on longrangehunting.com and we can compare the different suggestions and perhaps the different ideas on what each group feels would be the best use of these components. Let me know what you think!

There is something very balanced and appealing about the 308 Norma Mag. If you are looking for a match for your Lott I would consider this. Both belted magnums. The Norma will allow for extended range shots. I believe it would be an easy conversion from the 7mm. Brass is easy to get. So, it is unique but not rare. These projects are a lot of fun! Keep us posted.
 
The .300WM would cover you for PG.
 
The .585 bolt face takes most of the standard magnums off the table. I looked at the 300 Remington ultra magnum and it has a .534.

The 30-338 Lapland would be a good candidate but is there any 30-338 head stamped brass available or is it all necked down 338 Lapua.

Isn’t there a requirement that the headstamp on the brass must match the rifle to enter some African countries?
 
Something I hadn't considered was just buying the 7 mag Rifle and simply rebarreling it to a 300 win or 300 rum
 
I wish I could run across one of those CZ ultimate hunting rifles for sale. However I Guess I could just get another 550 safari in 375. I could shoot plains game with that but inwas really wanting to get into a fast flat hard hitting long range cartridge. Perhaps just a plain old 338 lapua would be the way to go
 
Darned spell check. I meant lapua not lapland
The .585 bolt face takes most of the standard magnums off the table. I looked at the 300 Remington ultra magnum and it has a .534.

The 30-338 Lapland would be a good candidate but is there any 30-338 head stamped brass available or is it all necked down 338 Lapua.

Isn’t there a requirement that the headstamp on the brass must match the rifle to enter some African countries?
 
I'll check that out. I've never used those sights, usually just gunbroker or long range hunting and snipershideThanks.
 
Personally I think the two rifle Africa Safari is best done with 375 H&H and the 458 Lott. Then you’re prepared for DG even if you’re out hunting PG. JMO.

Good luck in your decision! It will be fun watching what you decide on.
 
That thought had crossed my mind as well. I haven't owned a 375 yet and wasnt sure about its performance in the 300-400yd realm
 
That thought had crossed my mind as well. I haven't owned a 375 yet and wasnt sure about its performance in the 300-400yd realm
If you are planning to use the 375 as a PG rifle, it would be an excellent choice.
Finding a PH who would sign off on you taking a 300-400 yard shot (regardless of caliber) could be another story.

This is not a slight to your abilities, just what a PH may or may not be comfortable with.
I would bet that most of them would choose to get closer.
 
I wondered about that. I'm an avid long range hunter, however that being said, I always prefer to get closer if possible. I was curious as to what the kind of "standard" plains game shots were like as far as normal distance. If it is not the norm to shoot past 250-300 yds then I'm thinking the 375 with a hot loaded 250gr bullet is probably the way to go. I have a local range about 10 min from the house with berms from 100 to 400yds. Perhaps I'll just get a 375 and a bunch of brass and practice away at more standard ranges from varied field positions.
Anybody have any idea on barrel life on a 375. I would assume it is a lot
 
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That guy was a 620yd shot seated off shooting sticks. One shot DRT. Ha ha. I thought the poor guide was gonna have a heart attack before it was over. He said he had never even considered letting some one shoot that far. Long range shooting isn't always the answer but it is a handy tool to have in the tool box in some situations. In this particular one that was as close as we could get so it was that or go home empty handed. We could have shot prone from 830yds but he wanted to get closer which we did but ended up with a tougher shooting position. It was a great hunt though and a very memorable shot.

20161028_082154.jpg
 
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Anybody have any idea on barrel life on a 375. I would assume it is a lot
I've heard varying estimates for barrel life for the 375 ranging from 2,000 to in excess of 6,000.
Like anything the conditions are the biggest factor.
What loads you shoot, with what bullet, letting the barrel cool, cleaning the barrel properly...etc all play into barrel life.
Also the material the barrel is made of, how it was made and how it was rifled.
Lots of variables to consider.

From the looks of it, I'm not telling you anything you don't already know.
I would say take a close look with a bore scope when new, then again at around the 1500-2000 round mark and go from there.
Maybe even snap some pictures and save them on your computer for future reference.
 

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