Next Safari Rifle

[MSTJEAN]

All,
Looking for some insight and opinion. I am returning to Africa next year for my second Buffalo/PG hunt as well as Australia for WaterBuffalo. I have a O/U 9.3X74r I used on my first safari and am looking to upgrade to something bigger .375 +. I have been looking at BRNO ZK602(.375)/Sako Brown Bear/Kodiak(.375) and CZ 550 Safari or Express in .375-.404-416 range. Primary use will be Africa & Australia and big bears. My main concerns are reliability and strength. Barrel length and cosmetics are secondary. I would appreciate pros and cons on these models. Kind regards, Mike

 

[enysse]

I don't know to much about the Sako, but your other choices are wonderful. The .375 or .404 are nice! Anything in the .416 and up is a lot of power and the gun better fit you like a glove...especially with hot loads.
But you probably should move up to something more since you own the 9.3x74. 458 Win.,416 Rem., 416 Rigby are pretty easy to find.

 

[desertloper]

I just handled (drooled) on the Wincheter Model 70 safari express today, albeit it was the cabelas anniversary addition-fancy wood. Super smooth, will be ordering one soon-trigger is nice, only wish would be more than 3 cartridge capacity...advantage CZ.

 

[greyfox]

I have an older model SAKO AV 375 H&H, Love it, but I HAVE NOT TAKEN NOT TO AFRICA yet!!!

So I cannot comment on how it feels and performs in Africa!

On another forum someone made the analogy that closing the SAKO action is like closing the drivers door on a Mercedes... solid, firm, and you know your into something before you start the engine...

375 H&H's over 100 years old, still considered to be the best all around Africa cartridge by many, still getting th e job done.

Howver, I've heard alot of good things about the 416 family too.

 

[Nyati]

Sako s are great guns, I have owned several.

The .375HH will do the job and it s recoil is very manageable. Bigger is better, however, you will pay for it with increased recoil which might be uncomfortable, so I suggest you try them before.

 

[Fredsteyn]

Sako s are great guns, I have owned several.

The .375HH will do the job and it s recoil is very manageable. Bigger is better, however, you will pay for it with increased recoil which might be uncomfortable, so I suggest you try them before.

Posting on an old thread...
I am looking at buying a 375 H&H, both the Sako 85 Hunter and Brown bear are rifles that interest me. Difference between the two? Which would be better for hunting Africa, or no difference in terms of field performance?

Other options are CZ550 of Winchester Mod 70

 

[Nyati]

Posting on an old thread...
I am looking at buying a 375 H&H, both the Sako 85 Hunter and Brown bear are rifles that interest me. Difference between the two? Which would be better for hunting Africa, or no difference in terms of field performance?

Other options are CZ550 of Winchester Mod 70

The largest Sako I own is a .338WM, so I cannot help you there.

Gun shown in my avatar is a Heym.

 

[Andrew Short]

The Sako is a nice rifle. There are several threads on the forum regarding function and reliability. @TOBY458 had an issue with his on a Buffalo hunt.

The CZ is reliable (perhaps with a little work) if necessary.

The Winchester I cannot comment on.

I will mention that the Ruger RSM is a lot of rifle for the $. I have one in 416 Rigby and love it.

You didn’t list MRC but having owned a Montana 404, I wasnt a fan. The rifle functioned flawlessly but I didn’t Like the feel compared to my RSM.

 

[Fredsteyn]

The Sako is a nice rifle. There are several threads on the forum regarding function and reliability. @TOBY458 had an issue with his on a Buffalo hunt.

The CZ is reliable (perhaps with a little work) if necessary.

The Winchester I cannot comment on.

I will mention that the Ruger RSM is a lot of rifle for the $. I have one in 416 Rigby and love it.

You didn’t list MRC but having owned a Montana 404, I wasnt a fan. The rifle functioned flawlessly but I didn’t Like the feel compared to my RSM.

Thanks

I am in South Africa and those are the rifles readily available in the caliber over here.

 

[mark-hunter]

@MSTJEAN
there is no flaw, in your way of thinking. You will do alright whatever you choose.

I have zkk in 375, and sako in 3006. Both are good guns. With zkk, I havent yet hunted africa, but intend to do as soon as possible.
Which ever you take from your choices, it will be ok.

From "investment for the future" perspective, if that matters to you, give priority to cz 550 or zkk 602, for following reason: magnum action mauser 98 is not anymore factory produced. magnum mauser 98 action is today at least semi custom rifle, or full custom rifle, and priced accordingly.
Get one of those two, and in time the price will just be higher (old colt python syndrome)

 

[IvW]

From what you list only one makes sense ZKK602 375 H&H.....even better if you can find the pop up peepsight version....

 

[ve7poi]

Sako 85 in 500 Jeffery good sights I lengthened stock with thicker pad and added mercury tube to balance now comes up with natural point of aim with sights

 

[Andrew Short]

Guys this is old post and the message being responded to is post number 6 @Fredsteyn

From what you list only one makes sense ZKK602 375 H&H.....even better if you can find the pop up peepsight version....

 

[IvW]

Stay away from the Sako, often ZKK602 come up, just be patient.....

 

[Rare Breed]

All,
Looking for some insight and opinion. I am returning to Africa next year for my second Buffalo/PG hunt as well as Australia for WaterBuffalo. I have a O/U 9.3X74r I used on my first safari and am looking to upgrade to something bigger .375 +. I have been looking at BRNO ZK602(.375)/Sako Brown Bear/Kodiak(.375) and CZ 550 Safari or Express in .375-.404-416 range. Primary use will be Africa & Australia and big bears. My main concerns are reliability and strength. Barrel length and cosmetics are secondary. I would appreciate pros and cons on these models. Kind regards, Mike

450-400 DR

 

[CBH Australia]

It seems that even the CZ550 is going up in price.
I have one, so I will keep it.
Mine is a .375H&H.
I had one in .458wm. sold it to fund the .375, just a couple of years ago. If I had seen the future I would have kept both but didn't need 2.
I would like to have one in a Brno 602, seems to be more desirable and valuable.

 

[BeeMaa]

Posting on an old thread...
I am looking at buying a 375 H&H, both the Sako 85 Hunter and Brown bear are rifles that interest me. Difference between the two? Which would be better for hunting Africa, or no difference in terms of field performance?

Other options are CZ550 of Winchester Mod 70

There are some nice 375H&H Sako 85's on GB for sale. The only caution I'd have on these is make sure the ejecting casing doesn't come in contact with the scope turret and get knocked back into the chamber. This has the potential to cause a jam and happened to a member here (@TOBY458) with a Buffalo coming at him. The only other down side I've seen is that the recoil pad is a bit thin (side to side), making it a little more uncomfortable to hunt with. Other than those items, the 85 is a great rifle right out of the box and will serve you well. I especially like the looks of the laminate wood stocks but stainless and synthetic are good too. Expect to pay around $2K for a good used one.

The CZ550 is a great rifle at a low cost, or at least it was before they went out of production. However the money you save may end up being reinvested into some of the minor (but very necessary) action work that plague these rifles. Some also call the stock too chunky/clunky/blocky. What I found is that it fit me well and the butt pad was soft & wide. This made for easy shooting of a 375. Finding a good used one isn't easy. Look for models that have been to American Hunting Rifles as Wayne smoothed out many actions to make them perfect. A used AHR CZ500 with upgrade 1 or 2 will fetch about $4K, a full custom AHR starts around $5K and a stock NIB one is about half that.

The WIN M70 is another great option and I'd also throw in the Kimber 8400 Talkeetna with this because they are similar. Stocks on these rifles are considered more svelte than the CZ550, but retain a good butt stock for recoil absorption. What they don't have is the double square bridge of the CZ550 so mounting a QR scopes requires you to install bases on the action. Not a big deal for some, but something to consider. The M70 and 8400 typically do not require any action work to feed or eject properly, but the rifle should still be fully tested before going into the field. The WIN M70 price vary greatly based on where and when it was made. Pre-64, Portugal, New Haven...you are going to have to do a little deep dive to figure out exactly what you want. The Kimber Talkeetna are drawing prices above $3K when you can find them, and I just saw one on GB with a scope for $3500.

Personally, I'd jump on that Kimber Talkeetna on GB before someone else here wises up and does it.

 

[Luvthunt]

I also vote for the Brno 602 or a CZ 550. Both will Probabely need time at a smith. The stocks on the CZs need some work. RJ Renner did my 416 Rigby and it is now my go to. Try to shoot some of the calibers you mentioned and then pick what you can handle.

 

[spike.t]

It seems that even the CZ550 is going up in price.
I have one, so I will keep it.
Mine is a .375H&H.
I had one in .458wm. sold it to fund the .375, just a couple of years ago. If I had seen the future I would have kept both but didn't need 2.
I would like to have one in a Brno 602, seems to be more desirable and valuable.

In UK they gone nuts..was looking at cz 550 and found one at gbp 8000....another for gbp 3000....unbelievable

 

[BeeMaa]

In UK they gone nuts..was looking at cz 550 and found one at gbp 8000....another for gbp 3000....unbelievable

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Time for you to switch to Blaser.