Who traditionally had the higher build quality -- Winchester Model 70 or CZ?

[Hornedfrogbbq]

Growing up in the Midwest, the only CZ stuff we saw were cheaper shotguns. Now, reading about African medium and big bores, I realize they apparently made some good rifles.

In the mode of "great gun for the money" it seems like the Winchester Model 70 and the CZ 550 are in the same class. Maybe that assumption is off?

If you were given an opportunity to buy one or the other, should one be cheaper if you have roughly thr same wear on it. Assume they are both CRF.

Which would you prefer to own and why?

 

[Beck]

CZ for sure - impeccable reputation for reliability. They also come in a lot more calibers

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

CZ for sure - impeccable reputation for reliability. They also come in a lot more calibers

I know the mod 70 went through a push feed stage. Did CZ keep their fit and finish through their whole manufacturing duration of these 550's or did it ever waiver?

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Never owned either but I do recall reading many posts on here about feeding problems with CZ that had to be reworked by gunsmith. One fella became somewhat famous for running a shop that did this almost exclusively. Model 70 became cheapened for a while but even as push feed I don't recall a lot of gripes about them not working properly.

 

[BeeMaa]

It depends on how you look at things. Both platforms are incredibly reliable, but historically the CZ550 was not as refined as the Win M70.

For pure ruggedness, the CZ550 would be the first choice. But it could need some work to smooth out the action and make it feed reliably depending on cartridge and ammo selection. The stock was also much more blocky than the M70.

The CRF Win M70 was typically good to go right out of the box and had a more svelte profile stock and was a bit lighter given the same chambering.

One of the biggest differences is the CZ550 having a double square bridge with dovetails machined into them. This made the mounting of a QD optic very easy. Where the M70 requires bases and rings to achieve the same thing but adds one more point of potential failure.

My CZ550 375H&H cost was about $1200, but I added an AHR #2 upgrade. I think I had about $4K total invested back in 2017. Those days (and prices) are gone. A CZ550 with an AHR upgrade can go for over $5K depending on cartridge and options.

I sold the CZ to another member who is now using it as a client rifle guiding for AK brown bear.

 

[Shootist43]

@BeeMaa, I couldn't agree more. Especially when you include the BRNO ZKK - 602. I have two 404 Jeffery rifles. One a converted CZ the other a Winchester. While both feed reliably and shoot under an inch the Winchester is just a tiny bit slicker, but it too was reworked in a Custom Shop. For those hunts where a 404 Jeffery would be a little much, I have a pair of 375 H&Hs; one a Winchester the other a BRNO. IMHO you can't go wrong with either one of them.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I shot my two buffalo with CZ 375 H&H that I presume was 550. It had their set trigger setup where the trigger is pushed forward to give it a hair pressure release. I don't believe I've ever seen a Model 70 with set trigger of any sort. I didn't shoot my PH's rifle enough to comment on the quality of that trigger used conventionally.

 

[BeeMaa]

I always thought of the CZ550 (and BRNO) as the Toyota Land Cruiser of rifles…they just keep going.

I suppose it’s pretty easy to see where my loyalties lie. But I will also say that my rifle was pretty rough out of the box and I seriously doubt that I’d have enjoyed it as much without the AHR treatment.

It was an incredibly easy rifle to shoot and shoot well. I’m positive it was capable of shooting better than I could. 3-shot groups at 100 yards would typically be touching and right at 1” from sticks.

Another thing to look at is barrel profile. The CZ was a bit heavier compared to the M70. Not sure it made a difference in accuracy, but it sure did with how the rifle handled.

 

[Landlock91]

I sold the Winchester .375 H&H and kept the CZ 550 .458 Lott. The Winchester was a better rifle on paper. The CZ is the one I actually reach for when the plan involves things that might eat me. I also own a CZ 550 in 9.3x62 that has taken more deer and hogs than any other rifle I own. It's ugly. The bolt feels like dragging a rake across concrete. But it has never, ever failed to go bang when I needed it to.

 

[Beck]

I sold the Winchester .375 H&H and kept the CZ 550 .458 Lott. The Winchester was a better rifle on paper. The CZ is the one I actually reach for when the plan involves things that might eat me. I also own a CZ 550 in 9.3x62 that has taken more deer and hogs than any other rifle I own. It's ugly. The bolt feels like dragging a rake across concrete. But it has never, ever failed to go bang when I needed it to.

Hard to argue with results

 

[skydiver386]

The model 70 fit and finish might be slightly better overall, but the CZ550 action is definitely larger, and a better choice for anything larger than 458 Win. If you are ok with the available factory calibers, and the slightly lighter weight, the Winchester is a decent product.

Personally, I never cared for the Winchester safety mounted on the rear of the bolt. Yes, yes, yes, We know all the theoretical advantages, but the bottom line is it's not ergonomic.

I prefer nearly everything about the CZ. The weight, the physical dimensions of the stock, the safety, the scope mounting system and even the set triggers.

 

[WAB]

I’ve posted this pic before. The rifle on the left is my M70 in .458 Lott. The rifle in the middle is my buddy’s CZ in .458 Lott, both custom rigs. I don’t think there is a nickel’s worth of difference between them.

 

[Ruraldoc]

I have multiple examples of 70s and CZ 550s.

They are both solid working rifles, both sometimes need to be worked over by a gunsmith to be perfect.

I think a good example of either will get most any job done.

Only the Winchester is still in production, I have a new Super Grade being shipped to my dealer now. I have high hopes for it based on my previous experiences.

 

[Choupique]

Which would you prefer to own and why?

The current model 70's are exceptional. They're well put together and shoot great. IMO (as a model 70 fan) its a much better rifle. I dont have any field time with a 550, but the times ive handled one I was never impressed with the fit an finish. Its a true magnum action though.

As stated earlier, the first thing many do with a CZ550 is send it off to get worked over by someone who can make it feed properly. Model 70's dont have that problem. Where the 550 shines is getting you a true magnum CRF action for very cheap relative to the rest of the market. Even with some smith work that exceeds the price of the rifle, its still vastly cheaper than any other ready to go magnum express rifle. If you've got to have a big torpedo sized cartridge (416 Rigby, 550 Gibbs, etc) its the only affordable option that im aware of.

The model 70 can cover every hunt on the planet with its clambering options. You can get one in .223 or .458 win mag or many things in between. Its a standard size action and the .375 h&h and derivatives are the largest things itll feed well without some work, and it wont hold many of them in the magazine like the 550 will.

For me, model 70 every time. Out of the box you can trust it, which isnt necessarily true of the 550.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Both brands had rifles that were better than other at one point, but generally I’d say Winchester had better build quality out of the box. The ZKK are better than the CZ in my opinion.
Let’s not forget that there were entire gunsmith shops where the bulk of their business was “finishing” stock CZs into 100% reliable DG rifles. They certainly have great potential, especially at the price point, but fell a bit short out of the box.
Now I’m not trying to say that Winchester is without their flaws, but it seems that more of them worked 100% out of the box.
Both are great options for the serious hunter.

 

[rookhawk]

Growing up in the Midwest, the only CZ stuff we saw were cheaper shotguns. Now, reading about African medium and big bores, I realize they apparently made some good rifles.

In the mode of "great gun for the money" it seems like the Winchester Model 70 and the CZ 550 are in the same class. Maybe that assumption is off?

If you were given an opportunity to buy one or the other, should one be cheaper if you have roughly thr same wear on it. Assume they are both CRF.

Which would you prefer to own and why?

The Winchester Model 70 is a better rifle for fit and finish. But that doesn't mean its the right gun for the task.

CZ is the least expensive true magnum action rifle with CRF you can buy. 505 Gibbs, 500 Jeff, 416 Rigby, 458 Lott, 450 Rigby...these magnum calibers will not easily fit in a WInchester Model 70 action that was really designed for the medium bore 375HH/458WM family of cartridges. You'll see Model 70s in other compacted magnum calibers like 416 Rem, but it just isn't the right platform for a dangerous game rifle for true-magnum calibers.

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

Out of the factory box the M70 for me. I had a pair of CZ 550’s both chambered .416 Rigby. The 550 has a lot of potential for a custom maker to work with but I wasn’t going to invest in getting basic functioning of the rifle to be smooth and reliable. My out-of-the-box M70 Classics chambered .375 H&H and .416 Rem good in all aspects. My .416 Rigby and .458 Lott are Ruger RSM and Ruger No.1 and again good in all aspects. My main DGR over the last 20+ years is a custom .500 Jeffery built on a M70 Classic and is trusted with beautifully sleek lines, slick reliable feeding and accurate.

 

[Choupique]

ou'll see Model 70s in other compacted magnum calibers like 416 Rem, but it just isn't the right platform for a dangerous game rifle for true-magnum calibers.

I'll take that a step further and say the model 70 is flat out not compatible with true magnum cartridges. It just isn't big enough. I'm sure some smiths out there have made them run in the past, but .416 rem mag is really stretching the limits of the action in every direction. Even .375h&h is tight in there and if you start taking taper out of it, getting it to feed is starting to turn into a little bit of a trick already.

If you need a real magnum cartridge, you need a real magnum action, and the model 70 is not that. It's a nice svelte action that can accommodate some specific dangerous game calibers. The 550 is a true full dimension magnum action that makes a .375 h&h cartridge look small. It's a shame it's out of production. Having access to a very affordable magnum action rifle, even if you did get a turd that needed work, was awesome for the industry. Really wish I had gotten one when they were still widely available. I remember having a 550 american safari in I believe 416 rigby in my shopping cart on Buds, I think it was $1,400 at the time. Man I wish I had gone ahead and bought it.

 

[Choupique]

a custom .500 Jeffery built on a M70 Classic and is trusted with beautifully sleek lines, slick reliable feeding and accurate.

That's very very cool

 

[Hunter-Habib]

CZ 550 was offered in more calibers than the Winchester Model 70.

The Winchester Model 70 was more reliable out of the box than the CZ 550.

The Winchester Model 70 Safari Express is still being manufactured (albeit in Portugal by Fabrique Nationale) while the CZ 550 is out of production since 2019.

In the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum, .416 Remington Magnum and .458 Winchester Magnum offerings… the CZ 550 held a larger magazine capacity than the Winchester Model 70.