Theres one at my local gun shop for sale:
CZ-550 Magnum 375 H&H
$936.99
Thats right in your budget I'd say.
w w w.battleriversports.com/specials.html
Edit:
And heres the ruger, Ruger 77 MKII Magnum Safari 375 H&H
$2398.00
Personally I don't think its worth the extra money, but I've never shot one, nice looking guns but for that extra cash you can get the CZ scoped, and have some money for ammo, or reloading supplies.
I have to agree that the difference in price between the CZ and the Ruger 77 RSM is pretty harsh -- although I did manage to pay about $250 less than the price you quoted, the Ruger still cost the equivalent of two CZs.
I won't even try to argue that the Ruger is twice the gun, but I do thing it's the superior firearm for a number of reasons:
1) Whether it's due to a longer length of pull or a shorter action, I find that I can cycle the Ruger bolt with the rifle mounted *without* driving the rear of the bolt into my nose. I simply can't seem to cycle a CZ without running into this problem.
2) All the CZs I've looked at (admittedly just those of current manufacture on dealer shelves) have shown a fair bit of flex in the forend area of the wood stock. While I can't say that this is really a problem, I just love the much more solid and unyielding feeling of the Ruger stock. I've got a lot more faith in its relative stability given a variety of holds, rests, sling tensions, etc.
3) The Ruger is a considerably heavier gun. There are many who argue that the Ruger is simply too heavy for a .375 -- and they're probably right. But speaking only for myself, I know that the extra pound or so helps me deal with the recoil. Likewise the very wide butt area of the Ruger stock. This has translated into being able to shoot a box or two of ammo every time I take the rifle to range, keeping enough focus that every round shot is a good one that helps build confidence with the rifle. In the end, when that cape buffalo hunt finally materializes, I'll just have to deal with packing an extra pound of rifle -- but at least it will be one I know I shoot well.
4) The quarter rib rear sight machined as part of the barrel from bar stock is, quite frankly, an amazing touch on a factory rifle. A lot of the custom gunmakers seem to charge as much as $1500 for this feature alone.
5) The Turkish walnut on the Ruger, while certainly not AAA French walnut, is still head and shoulders above the standard grade CZs.
Don't get me wrong -- I do agree that the Ruger costs too much. But after getting to know one intimately, I'm certain that I made the right choice, at least for me.