Thoughts on the CZ550

[Creatineboy]

I’m very happy with my CZ550 in 500!Jeffrey. I bought it new from CZ Custom shop. I was lucky to have Wayne at AHR add his CZ upgrade #1 For $500. It’s a great rifle.

Wow, what a beautiful rifle. I like the stock. I want a new one, and to get one I'd be forced to order it from CZ, and they only offer the 550 Safari Magnum with the low stock for iron sights in .458 win mag. They have American Safari magnums in .458 Lott with a synthetic stock,and a wood .416 Rigby. I want a wood stock. Was your wood stock like that part of the upgrade,or did it come from CZ like that?
Thats a beautiful rifle.

 

[revturbo9967]

I must be one of the few who isn’t a fan of my 550. The action is HARD on brass compared to my m70. It is far from smooth and over all, the rifle is not accurate. I’ll build on an m70 action way before I looked at a 550.

 

[ldmay375]

I have a CZ 550 Safari Classics in 458 Lott / 458 Win Mag. It had quite a bit of AHR work before I bought it, and apparently very little use. With the synthetic stock, different trigger, 3 position safety, bolt handle mod, different sights, 22" barrel, and metal coating- I like it.

Unless I was looking for the off the shelf extra magazine capacity, I would go with a Winchester M70 Classic type or an original design MRC 1999, or an Interarms Whitworth type.

For my Alaska type hunting, the 20" Ruger Alaskans in 375 and 416 Ruger. Stock and ring change, with sometimes trigger work or replacement, and at times a little polishing of the action, I think they are nearly ideal for more than Alaskan type hunting. I like both cartridges, but the 416 version has been my most used for several years. I cannot say they are pretty, but things have a tendency to loss their prettiness here on extended tent camp hunts.

 

[Creatineboy]

That's some nice looking wood on that rifle.

Cool

 

[Creatineboy]

I must be one of the few who isn’t a fan of my 550. The action is HARD on brass compared to my m70. It is far from smooth and over all, the rifle is not accurate. I’ll build on an m70 action way before I looked at a 550.

Thanks for the input. I appreciate it.

 

[Creatineboy]

I have a CZ 550 Safari Classics in 458 Lott / 458 Win Mag. It had quite a bit of AHR work before I bought it, and apparently very little use. With the synthetic stock, different trigger, 3 position safety, bolt handle mod, different sights, 22" barrel, and metal coating- I like it.

Unless I was looking for the off the shelf extra magazine capacity, I would go with a Winchester M70 Classic type or an original design MRC 1999, or an Interarms Whitworth type.

For my Alaska type hunting, the 20" Ruger Alaskans in 375 and 416 Ruger. Stock and ring change, with sometimes trigger work or replacement, and at times a little polishing of the action, I think they are nearly ideal for more than Alaskan type hunting. I like both cartridges, but the 416 version has been my most used for several years. I cannot say they are pretty, but things have a tendency to loss their prettiness here on extended tent camp hunts.

What do you think of the 375 Ruger using 400 grain FMJs or SPs @2150 for your big bears? Would you go lighter and faster?

 

[CBH Australia]

Have cz in 458 lott, and 416 rigby for sale in australia

PM sent

 

[ldmay375]

What do you think of the 375 Ruger using 400 grain FMJs or SPs @2150 for your big bears? Would you go lighter and faster?

I have not shot any bears with my 375 Ruger. I have shot a couple of moose with it, and was with another when a moose was shot with a 375 Ruger. All were shot using the 270 grain Barnes TSX with distances being approximately 25, 60-70'ish, and about 180 yards. No complaints with bullet performance.
The 270 grain TSX was actually pretty impressive. I have started loading Barnes 270 LRX, though have shot only paper with them.

I am sold on the 270 grain copper expanding bullets for the .375's for my use. The 300 grain is as heavy as I would even consider. I am more comfortable with the 270 grain's expansion potential. Penetration has been more than plenty with the 270 TSX.

 

[camperx]

I looked at both and I like my CZ 550 Premium over the Model 70.

Nicer trigger (includes single set trigger)

25.5" Bbl

Jeweled bolt

Bore is lapped from the factory (looks like a mirror)

Mine has proven to be very accurate

I like the scope mounting set up

Didn't see anything "rough" on it.

IMO...great rifle for a great price!

 

[skydiver386]

I looked at both and I like my CZ 550 Premium over the Model 70.

Nicer trigger (includes single set trigger)

25.5" Bbl

Jeweled bolt

Bore is lapped from the factory (looks like a mirror)

Mine has proven to be very accurate

I like the scope mounting set up

Didn't see anything "rough" on it.

IMO...great rifle for a great price!

Anything from the Factory Custom Shop, or CZ Custom, or Three Rivers is going to be a completely different gun than a standard off the line firearm.

 

[colorado]

Wow, what a beautiful rifle. I like the stock. I want a new one, and to get one I'd be forced to order it from CZ, and they only offer the 550 Safari Magnum with the low stock for iron sights in .458 win mag. They have American Safari magnums in .458 Lott with a synthetic stock,and a wood .416 Rigby. I want a wood stock. Was your wood stock like that part of the upgrade,or did it come from CZ like that?
Thats a beautiful rifle.

Thank you so much. I bought mine from the CZ Custom Shop 15 years ago ?

 

[C.W. Richter]

Okay I'm down to picking a gun out. I'm going to either go with a CZ 550 American Magnum in 458 lott and get a new safari stock for it that is more my style, or I'm going to go with a CZ 550 Safari Magnum in .458 Win mag with the true Safari stock and iron sights.
The way I understand it the CZ 550 is the standard for Safari bolt guns? Are there any other guns you would recommend? I don't like the blaser straight pull. What about the Ruger Hawkeye African in .416 Ruger? I already have a 375 Ruger. Would you go with the CZ American 458 lot of the CZ 550 Safari in 458 win mag? And is there anything bad anybody has to say about a CZ rifle?

Read up on what Kevin Robertson says about the (Safari) either in the perfect shot or africa's most dangerous-i forget which. It's similar to a Rem 700 in that it needs some "hot-rodding" prior to going into battle with it. It's an entry level factory gun. Get GOOD mounts for those buttes (if going with a scope), as there have been some accidents in the past...Talley, Alaskan, etc.

 

[spike.t]

Wow, what a beautiful rifle. I like the stock. I want a new one, and to get one I'd be forced to order it from CZ, and they only offer the 550 Safari Magnum with the low stock for iron sights in .458 win mag. They have American Safari magnums in .458 Lott with a synthetic stock,and a wood .416 Rigby. I want a wood stock. Was your wood stock like that part of the upgrade,or did it come from CZ like that?
Thats a beautiful rifle.

Bit confused by your post.....cz stopped making the 550 years ago.....

 

[Beck]

Okay I'm down to picking a gun out. I'm going to either go with a CZ 550 American Magnum in 458 lott and get a new safari stock for it that is more my style, or I'm going to go with a CZ 550 Safari Magnum in .458 Win mag with the true Safari stock and iron sights.
The way I understand it the CZ 550 is the standard for Safari bolt guns? Are there any other guns you would recommend? I don't like the blaser straight pull. What about the Ruger Hawkeye African in .416 Ruger? I already have a 375 Ruger. Would you go with the CZ American 458 lot of the CZ 550 Safari in 458 win mag? And is there anything bad anybody has to say about a CZ rifle?

I would definitely go with the Lott over the Win mag. The Ruger African in .416 ruger is a great gun, I killed a buffalo and a hippo with one. You could also look at Sakos.