CZ 550 Rifle Opinions?

[VanderLaan]

CZ offers a nice discount for hunter safety instructors. Looking at a 550 American. Anyone have an opinion on this model? Performance? Accuracy?

 

[timbear]

I have a CZ 550 in .375 H&H mag. I bought it second hand off a bloke up in the Northern Territory (Australia) who was hunting water buffalo with it. It is very smooth in the action, controlled round feed, and shoots very accurate with factory ammo (Federal 270 gr soft nose). I have so far only shot deer with it as Africa is as yet an unfulfilled dream, but performance is great. 5+1 round magazine, the straight American stock handles recoil really well, and the pleasing lines are an extra bonus. I love the rifle and would not trade it for most twice as expensive ones!

 

[Code4]

They are a rock solid basis for a good rifle. Like any rifle they may need 'tuneing'. I had one in .308W which I took to Africa and it performed very well, surviving dust storms across the Grassveldt and International travel. I prefer fixed magazines and the removeable magazine lost me. The long chamberings eg .30-06 with fixed magazine as per Mauser '98 would have been a longer lasting purchase.

I had the trigger rebuilt from the factory set trigger and had it bedded. These are normal improvements you can expect to do on any rifle.

On the strength of that experience I bought a Safari Classic in .416 Rigby and it also performs solidly. Again the trigger needed adjustment and the front sight replaceing but that's all.

 

[classicsafari]

The CZs are a good option. The last couple I used (458LOTT and 416Rig) fed flawlessly. HOWEVER the stocks are light weight walnut that is prone to split in heavy calibres and must be suitably bedded, pinned and screwed down to minimise this problem.
Oh, and when hunting DG, I prefer a bolt rifle to carry a minimum of 3 down and one up. A bonus as The CZ carries more.

 

[B9.3]

I have a CZ550 American 9.3x62 Mauser. It is a good, strong and accurate rifle. It is nowhere near as smooth as my Winchester Model 70 Classics. But they have a very robust action that will last a life time of hard use. You can't go wrong with one. I would definately buy mine again. The 9.3x62 is awesome.
Bang-Flop DRT. A very sensible calibre choice.

 

[.416 Rigby]

Had one in .375. very well made, but heavy for a .375. My riflesmith cut the barrel to 23", glass bedded it, tuned the trigger to a crisp 3.5 lbs, removed the front sling swivel stud, replacing it with a barrel band and extended the bolt handle. The rifle was very reliable and shot well, but still felt too heavy for a .375. traded it towards a Caprivi and never looked back.

 

[kingcorona]

Dollars to Doughnuts

CZ's are the most consistent gun for the money in the past 10 years...bar none....others have caught on but their prices are now MUCH more than a base 550......Where were they 10-15 years ago when we were pluncking down our cash? I own 15 CZ's/Brno's and not one of them has a mechanical fault......stocks sometimes are too plain Jane but that is NOT why I buy a gun......I always called them the average mans Sako's next to the older Tikka's....oh yeah got 12 of those as well....Nice to see Winchester/Browning/Rem/Ruger back in the game.......but for a few bucks more can have a KImber if I really wnna buy American or a Weatherby Mark V Deluxe/Accu/Ultra......got 6 of those.....my favorites are the CZ full stock guns.......I just dialed in my 9.3x62 today.......1.5" group at 200 yards with a 4 power scope....not bad....not unexpected......I have 3 full stocks...they are compact/timeless and to own a comparable gun from anyone else would cost you about 2 grand...at least.....did I mention the one pistol I own is a CZ75 compact 40....did I mention I love CZ's!!!!!!!!

 

[redriverjake]

As I've said in a couple other threads... I would sell my soul before my CZ 500 American Safari in .375 H&H. I kid you not, as much as I'd hate to, I would get rid of every other gun I had and sleep under a bridge if I had to. I still have several rifles and have had plenty others of in all kinds of calibers and out of all of them this rifle and this caliber would be the one I chose if I had to. There is no doubt it can be improved upon and as a matter of fact I'm sending mine to AHR in the near future. I probly would not bother sending it off if I did not intend to put it through some very serious use. I've had this one for 6 years and shot upwards of 5-600 rounds through her without a single hitch. Never had to shoot at an animal more than once either. I've left her open sighted and its plenty spot on for the kind of hunting I do but I've punched holes in a couple critters out to a shade over 200 yards, I normally stalk within 50 yards for a strong majority of my shots. I'll more than likely also get a detachable scope setup at some point just cause you never know. In short (hahaha) the CZ gets my vote.

 

[kingcorona]

Here here Redriver!!!!!!! My 500 Jeffery should be arriving in 2 weeks...can't wait!....Ammo arrives this week.........from my 22lux to my 416 Rigby-458 Lott...CZ has you covered .Sold a CZ 30-06 American from their 1st year of production 4 years ago....will NOT make that mistake AGAIN!

 

[redriverjake]

Man Kingcorona, I see some restless nights in store for you my friend. While my .375 is off getting her thing done I want to aquire a .505 G. I also have thought plenty on the .458 Lott and would sure like to hear of your experience with the one you have.

 

[kingcorona]

I shoot almost exclusively 458 WM ammo out of it....usually of A-square pedigree....will put a couple 458 Lott's thry it for fun but my shooting is pretty much limited due to a massive neck injury.......I have a need for more surgery but am putting it off as long as possible...why I gave up goose hunting.......limit my calibers to a 30-06 case for hunting...I collect African calibers as a hobby but I can no longer plan on such a trip. Alas I love hearing everyone's tales and am deeply jealous........I would need a quadruple neck fusion to make the repair complete.....that would eliminate any shooting anything heavier than a 257 caliber..........................................NOT YETBy the way that CZ cycles 458 WM out of that gun like one of my Tikka's or Sako's....like butter.......when you touch off the Lott loads the action is more deliberate..........

 

[redriverjake]

well damn man... that 500 will be hell on your neck. I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Sounds like some pretty serious stuff, if you don't mind what is the issue and how did it come about ?

 

[kingcorona]

Collect bore sizes...that 500 just came up.......with all the bells/whistles(muzzle break,bolt/extractor jeweling,bedding/stock recoill reducer/ammo/original box-instructions-adjustment tooll)....for 2k.......R U KIDDING ME.....my neck has to agree....get it! I blew out me neck capturing a 275+lb patient as they tried to hit the floor....not on my watch...he grabbed my neck and I hoisted him up with 1 arm and me neck......so goes my Physical Therapy career......massive disc collapse onme spinal cord....lost the use of both arms for over 5 months.......got it back but something was not right....got 2 more compressing the ol spinal cord........surgery is imminent.......just stalling.......when I hear some overweight person talk about how they can handle themselves just fine I remind them that it takes people like me to sacrifice it all when things don't work out so well for them...........it's always "their" business until it became mine...oh well.....

 

[redriverjake]

Oh well my a##, I'm sorry man. I don't really even know you but that kinda pisses me off. I wish you the best of luck for as well of a recovery as possible.

 

[35bore]

kingcorona, agree with redriverjake, you well being and your right to live the way you want has been comprimized by some piece of s#*t who is probably living off of the government, good luck to you man, seems you are a little more passive than I would be in your situation. Get healthy then beat the crap out of the prick that did this to you. Good luck and best wishes. Scott.

 

[CHAPUISARMES]

CZ offers a nice discount for hunter safety instructors. Looking at a 550 American. Anyone have an opinion on this model? Performance? Accuracy?

I purchased a second hand CZ550 in .375H&H that had shot a lot of game in Queensland and very accurate. I used this as my base for a Custom Rifle, had the barrel cut to 24" Recknagel Barrel Band, Front sight with Moon insert, Rear sight and Scope QD Bases in a Custom Made 1/4 Rib with All the Metal work done by Alex Beer in Tasmania The stock was made by Ross Waghorn which turned out to be a beautiful rifle, in fact I was so impressed with the outcome, I duplicated the procedure by having another CZ550 made up in 30.06 to look identical. Of course both were 'Slicked' up and the feed checked so as to allow a cartridge to be dropped onto the magazine follower and the bolt closed in an emergency.

Although I took both to Africa recently, the 30.06 accounted for 10 Plains game as this was the rifle that I had in my hands when the game appeared.

You can not go wrong with a CZ550 in my opinion and Yes, I love them to bit's.

Cheers,

Jeff Gray

 

[BARTFRNCS]

CZ 550 safari classic in 375H&H mag just went to africa with me worked flawlessly. You cant go wrong with a CZ 550!

 

[kingcorona]

You never know what life will throw your way....sad part is that I have had 3 surgeries helping people who when all was said and done ended up in a nursing home......and all were in the 300 lb range.......I am not angry....I chose a career that put me at risk......I helped literally thousands of folks over the past 25 years or so....I figure I deserve some time off..... too old to go back to college for an advanced degree and too young to be content sitting around......trying to find a happy middle ground that won't make me a quadriplegic,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,nuff said,,,,,,,,did I mentiom I love my CZ's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

 

[fhm3006]

...anyone in this thread favoring CZ's...?opcorn:


I am hot on the trail of a new 375 H/H for end of this year, and the Win 70 and CZ 550 looks to be the majority vote here on AH.

I still have time to decide / confuse myself...

 

[B9.3]

fhm3006, I have both and love both. The Model 70 is the smoother of the two but I would buy either again. Handle both, shoulder them and make you decision on what feels best to you. You can't go wrong with either. They are strong well made tools to last a life time. I am very impressed with the new model 70s, I personally think they are the very best ones yet.. The CZ550 is probably as tough as it gets. I can't recall ever handling a rifle as rugged as them. Mine is a CZ550 American in 9.3x62.