Thoughts on the CZ550

[Creatineboy]

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?

 

[spike.t]

Try the search facility on here.....plenty threads on the cz 550 to look at already...

 

[mark-hunter]

You may take a look at zastava m70, winchester m70, and zkk 602.
I have zkk 602. No complaints.
Other options you have mentioned

 

[colorado]

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’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.

 

[High Country Hunts]

A CZ550 Magnum is a bit of a staple guide type rifle, used widely on big game. A solid work horse that needs little refinement - all steel, controlled round feed that in the past was chambered in those lovely African calibres keeping them alive.
My own .375HH with upgraded 3 position safety, smoothed action and custom stock.
Not much to grumble about with these rifles. Some say slightly on the heavier side !!!!!
Maybe compensate by removing pointless stuff from your day pack ?

 

[High Country Hunts]

 

[skydiver386]

I have 6 of these CZ550 rifles now, and they are as tough as they come. I prefer the longer barrel and heavy weight because the recoil is greatly reduced. Some prefer the modified M70 safety, but I've kept all mine with the original factory safety.

In my experience these rifles flat out work every time, but you can't be gentle with them, they like to have the action worked hard and fast. The action can be smoothed out by a competent gunsmith and this goes a long way to making them as good as rifles costing 3x as much. One custom rifle I had built the action was smoothed out and the bolt jeweled, and it's unbelievable.

The receiver and the scope bases that fit it are much better than a round or flat top receiver with simple screw holes IMHO. Fail proof recoil stop, and quick detachable as an option. Both 1 inch and 30mm rings are available, and 34mm if you look hard. Fixed factory rings are a dime a dozen it seems.

If you can find one, the factory 458 Lott is the one to get. Stout recoil, but less feeding problems than the standard 458 Win.

 

[Brandon.Gleason]

I've a handful of CZ 550's from 243 Win through 458 Lott. My three safari rifles are 300 win mag, 375 H&H, and 458 Lott, all customized to the same specifications by AHR or Matrix Gunworks (after AHR stopped taking Upgrade work). The CZ's are a touch heavy, but that is my only complaint with them after the upgrades were done. Prior to the upgrades, they are rougher actions with meh triggers and a safety that doesn't appeal to me, but a phenomenal starting block for a very reasonably priced, semi-custom build. I keep picking them up every time I see one reasonably priced, which is a climbing number since they've ceased production.

 

[GerardV]

View attachment 717808A CZ550 Magnum is a bit of a staple guide type rifle, used widely on big game. A solid work horse that needs little refinement - all steel, controlled round feed that in the past was chambered in those lovely African calibres keeping them alive.
My own .375HH with upgraded 3 position safety, smoothed action and custom stock.
Not much to grumble about with these rifles. Some say slightly on the heavier side !!!!!
Maybe compensate by removing pointless stuff from your day pack ?

Where did you get the 3 position safety? Also, is that an aftermarket stock?

I have a CZ550 in .404J and would like to upgrade both the stick and safety.

 

[dchum]

Try the search facility on here.....plenty threads on the cz 550 to look at already...

Please for the love of god

 

[dchum]

Here’s 3 out of the hundreds of threads on this rifle

Thread 'CZ 550 Rifle Opinions?'

Aug 21, 2011

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

• VanderLaan
• Replies: 52
• Forum: Up to .375

Thread 'Winchester Model 70 375 H&H vs CZ550 375 H&H'

Mar 5, 2024

I’m looking at buying one of these and I’m looking for comparisons. The Model 70 will be a current production in Safari Express or some of the earlier ones with the CRF action. I’ve seen more 550s for sale than 70s. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

• Grizzly375
• Replies: 57
• Forum: Firearms & ammunition

• 

C

Thread 'Questions About the CZ 550'

Oct 31, 2009

See a lot of posts fro serious African hunters that are shooting the CZ 550. Truthfully, I always thought, for no particular reason other than price, that they were less than great guns. But obviously that cannot be true, or so many people would not have them.

I just finally looked at one in a shop and I liked its simplicity. I am still stuck on an extra gun for my long safari and I am now seriously considering a CZ 550. Can those that have them comment on the pro's and con's. THey are not perfect so I would appreciate hearing about what's right and what could be improved. For instance...

• Cleathorn
• Replies: 44
• Forum: .375 & up

 

[Daniel Cary]

They would've been the best investment, one could have capitalized on

coulda, woulda, shoulda,

 

[Hunt anything]

I’m one of the few that had one in .416 Rigby and didn’t like it. The tolerances were very loose, I could shake it and it sounded like I was shaking a Morocco. Couldn’t get used to the European style stock and since I don’t have a competent gunsmith close by I couldn’t get a 3 position model 70 style safety that I’m used to installed without shipping it somewhere.
I sold it and the guy that bought it loves it and I have a Montana Rifle Company .416 that I really like.

 

[PARA45]

I am very happy with my AHR CZ-550 in 375 H&H. I've shot a bunch of plains game, a Lioness, a cow Buffalo and a bull Buffalo. A lot of them used in SA by PHs.

 

[skydiver386]

I am very happy with my AHR CZ-550 in 375 H&H. I've shot a bunch of plains game, a Lioness, a cow Buffalo and a bull Buffalo. A lot of them used in SA by PHs.

View attachment 717882

That's some nice looking wood on that rifle.

 

[PARA45]

That's some nice looking wood on that rifle.

Thank you! It's the original stock that was worked on by RJ Renner. It is a sweet shooting rig.

 

[colorado]

Where did you get the 3 position safety? Also, is that an aftermarket stock?

I have a CZ550 in .404J and would like to upgrade both the stick and safety.

Wayne at AHR put mine on as well as a single stage match trigger which is flawless. He doesn't do it anymore unfortunately.

 

[High Country Hunts]

Where did you get the 3 position safety? Also, is that an aftermarket stock?

I have a CZ550 in .404J and would like to upgrade both the stick and safety.

As I’m in Australia I used the services of ‘safari arms’ gunsmith for most of the metal work and Kudu gunsmith (rear sight).
The custom walnut stock was shaped by Ross Waghorne - semi retired now

 

[rigby 416]

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

 

[camperx]

I have a 550 in 7 x 64. Very reliable and shoots better than I do.