.375 H&H - Whitworth vs Winchester M70 vs CZ

Hello Everyone.

Looking at a CRF .375, what is everyone’s opinion on which of the three (Whitworth, Winchester M70, CZ) would be the best rifle for the money? They all seem to be in the same $750-$1200 range which matches my budget . For the M70, I would only be looking at the CRF models.

Thank you all for your opinions.

Ken

I have current model 70 which I love. Super slick action, and accurate.
I also have a BRNO 602 (very similar to cz 550) 375. Which I haven’t shot. But the rifle seems very well made. The action is rougher, but I think it smooth up with use. Also it has a 5 round magazine. I don’t think I will fire it, as I plan on selling it to fund other things I want.
Can’t go wrong with either of these two. I’m sure the whitworth is a good rifle too, but I have no experience with them.

You're going through what I just went through.
I haven't actually handled any at this point but if everything goes as planned I just purchased the Whitworth for sale here.
For one thing the price is the best of the 3 and I like the classic look that the rifle features.
I doubt you'll hear anything bad about any of them though.

I literally asked the exact same question of myself a few years back when I bought my .375 H&H... when considering what to buy, it seemed those three options were all solid performers within my price range..

ultimately I decided on the M70... I got a stellar deal on a stainless classic that I just couldnt pass up..

had I not found that rifle when I did though.. I am pretty sure I would have bought the CZ.. thats what I was leaning heaviest toward at the time..

all that said.. I am overjoyed that I found the deal on the M70.. its become one of my favorite rifles..

M 70.

Zastava/Whitworth

WisconsinKen said:

Hello Everyone.

Looking at a CRF .375, what is everyone’s opinion on which of the three (Whitworth, Winchester M70, CZ) would be the best rifle for the money? They all seem to be in the same $750-$1200 range which matches my budget . For the M70, I would only be looking at the CRF models.

Thank you all for your opinions.

Ken

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Whitworth

WisconsinKen said:

Hello Everyone.

Looking at a CRF .375, what is everyone’s opinion on which of the three (Whitworth, Winchester M70, CZ) would be the best rifle for the money? They all seem to be in the same $750-$1200 range which matches my budget . For the M70, I would only be looking at the CRF models.

Thank you all for your opinions.

Ken

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Well I'd go for the largest magazine capacity you can get for the money. I have the M70 and I'm happy with it, however the upgraded stock and bottom metal to get another round is expensive. So I would the rifle you like best, but do your research ahead of time.

I have a Win 70 Safari Express and it has done very well for me. Accurate, slick action and the price was right. You can't go wrong.

I am personally an EXTREMELY big fan of the pre 64 Winchester Model 70 chambered in .375 Holland & Holland magnum . If you can find 1 with a " Bull barrel " then , it is even better.
That said , l hear that the new control round feed Winchester Model 70 " Safari Express " models are just as good , if not better than the pre 64 variants of my time.
In conclusion , l endorse the Winchester . Traditional , American Craftsman at it's finest . Robust , accurate and marvellous value for the money .
Get 1 with a super grade stock . It makes all the difference.
I cannot say anything negative about the other 2 choices which you have mentioned , however.

My first 375 was a Whitworth that I bought for $350.00 at a gun show on a whim many years ago. Really liked it. Liked even better after I fitted a Bell and Carson stock to it it. I hunted with it fairly extensively. Actually, I only hunted big game with a 375 after this purchase.
My brother bought a Winchester stainless Classic he did not like. I traded for it. The Whitworth had more bolt “slop”. I ended up selling the Whitworth to my other brother who still uses it.
Nothing against the Whitworth, but my preference is for the Winchester.
I have never handled a CZ.

Hello WisconsinKen,

There have been many, many threads about this one

The most recent was https://www.africahunting.com/threads/375-rifle-options.54281/

Take a look at it I would suggest, a few of us took the time to give detailed answers...

All are good but there are some real differences: double square bridge (built in scope bases); action length; magazine capacity (3 vs. 5); iron sights (integral barrel boss & barrel band vs. screwed on sights); peripheral parts (cast pot metal vs. machined steel); etc.

Thank you all for the info. I am currently sitting on a Rem 700 Safari Grade but the CRF vs PF argument makes a lot of sense to my engineer brain so I may pick up a CRF up instead.

WisconsinKen said:

Thank you all for the info. I am currently sitting on a Rem 700 Safari Grade but the CRF vs PF argument makes a lot of sense to my engineer brain so I may pick up a CRF up instead.

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The CRF is nice, but is it really necessary? PF allows for a quick reload for one round if necessary.

Another worthy debate

The most recent thread on CRF was https://www.africahunting.com/threads/a-push-feed-rifle-or-a-control-round-feed-rifle.53972/

Again, all are good, but there are some real differences. Not so much about extraction with modern ammo, truth be told, but with rifles function.

I can say I have owned all three. I started with a CZ which was an accurate shooter, had the extra Capacity hunters seem to want. The bolt needed to break in all in all I really liked the rifle and took it to Africa with me. I sold the rifle to a friend who still has it.I also used a CZ to build my 404 Jeff
I Bought a MK X Zastava a year later and really liked the way it shot I was never able to get the trigger the way I liked it but my groups a 200m were the size of baseball and it was also light and had a great feel.
I then heard about the new Winchester Safari Grade and decided I had to have one and sold the Zastava and bought the Winchester. The Winchester and I never hit it off it felt bulky but the action was smooth fit and finish were decent so I kept working on Loads but could never get it to shoot anyware near as good as the Zastava so when I saw a Whitworth Safari come up for sale on GB the Winchester became expendable.
So having come full circle I'm extremely happy with my new/old Whitworth I like the old school looks and feel I still need to work on the trigger

Big fan of Mod 70 Safari Grade 375 H&H.

Rob404 said:

I can say I have owned all three. I started with a CZ which was an accurate shooter, had the extra Capacity hunters seem to want. The bolt needed to break in all in all I really liked the rifle and took it to Africa with me. I sold the rifle to a friend who still has it.I also used a CZ to build my 404 Jeff
I Bought a MK X Zastava a year later and really liked the way it shot I was never able to get the trigger the way I liked it but my groups a 200m were the size of baseball and it was also light and had a great feel.
I then heard about the new Winchester Safari Grade and decided I had to have one and sold the Zastava and bought the Winchester. The Winchester and I never hit it off it felt bulky but the action was smooth fit and finish were decent so I kept working on Loads but could never get it to shoot anyware near as good as the Zastava so when I saw a Whitworth Safari come up for sale on GB the Winchester became expendable.
So having come full circle I'm extremely happy with my new/old Whitworth I like the old school looks and feel I still need to work on the trigger
View attachment 326613

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What seems to be the issue with the trigger? Its actually a dang good trigger and easily adjustable every which way from Sunday.

Oh, and as far as the choice. All are good rifles, but my Whitworth is still here after 36 years and never felt the need to find something better.

I have owned and shot all three and Ruger RMS, savage 110 and remington 700. and currently own the BRNO 602. In 375 H&H.

Didn't like the savage or remington, because of push feed and stock design. Both shot well but went down the road within 4 months.

The Ruger RMS was a really nice rifle the shot well, was a tad heavy but I bought it to convert over to 404 Jeffery, another AH member currently owns it.

Have owned several whitworths over the years and all of them have shot well, the balance was good and the stocks while didn't have super grain they were well fitted and not one of the oversized blocky stocks you see on a number of other manfactures. and they have been the lightest of the 3. I always regret selling them. I have one for sale now but another is in the safe and built my wifes 375 from a interarms for her buff hunt this year.

Have owned a CZ 550 and it was the heaviest of the lot and shot good but the action was roughest of the three you mentioned, with a AHR upgrade 1 or 2 it becomes a very reliable DG rifle. I sold it before having AH work on it and I found a as new in a box BRNO 602 from an estate that had never been shot till I got it. One day it will go to one of my grand sons or grand daughters.

Post 64 Win model 70, The stock is as plain as a piece of pallet, action was very smooth and it fed and shot everything I put in it. Is a good reliable rifle out of the box and it's weight is inbetween the Interarms and the CZ.

Pre 64 Win model 70 Mine was built in 1952 and was one if the rifles that Weatherby converted to 375 Weatherby when they first got into business. It is a rifleman's rifle and will go to a grand sons or grand daughters.

My vote based on my rifle is
1. Pre 64 M70
2. BRNO 602
3. Interarms Whitworth/Mark X
4. Post 64 M70
5. CZ 550 (if it has has the AHR upgrade done it moves to #3)

All three of your options and good solid rifles and you really can't go wrong with any of the 3.

Comparing effectively a Mauser 98 to a Winchester 70 only has a few areas of difference. To my thinking a M70 is an improved M98 for these reasons: the top lug on the bolt is not weakened by having the ejector slot cut through it, the safety actually locks the firing pin rather than the trigger/sear or in the case of bolt mounted safeties, the M70 releases with a straight forward push rather than a perpendicular to the bore push. As to CRF v PF, I consider the amount of grip the extractor has on the rim to be of more relevance than whether it snaps over it or not. both the M98 and M70 have at least 2-3 times as much grip on the rim as a Remington M700 and similar actions.

So for the above reasons, I would go with the Winchester, but only slightly over the M98; but either are overwhelmingly preferable to those rifles that have small extractors and trigger mounted safeties.