375 H&H CZ 550 vs. Winchester Safari Express

CanadaBoy said:
Martin, thanks for pointing out though that for sale listing, I appreciate it. I did see that stainless 375 for sale but as your signature line says "Life's too short to hunt with an ugly gun", and while I admit that its beauty is purely based on personal taste I find stainless and synthetics ugly. Definately appreciate the heads up though and if anyone else knows of any good deals please let me know!
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I agree with you on the stainless synthetic thing, but Paul pretty much only owned nice guns and is great to deal with.
 
Well I have a new model 70 but not in a magnum caliber. It's a great rifle, quick handling and the action as mentioned is smooth. My 375 is a CZ 550, but in the amarican 550 magnum platfom. I must have been lucky because the fit and finish is secound to no other rifle I owned and the wood is beautiful in my opinion. The first time I seen the one I bought I knew I wanted it and even though I practised self control at first it was just a matter of weeks before it came home with me. It shoots great in my opinion. I have produced better groups at the range with it than my M70 and I truly enjoy taking it out. I didn't get out a lot this fall, but it did fill my mule doe tag quite nicely. Good sized doe fell right where she was hit and didn't move again. I have been tossing the idea of having the barrel cut down a bit, to 21" or 22", but all and all I really enjoy the rifle. As many said you can't go wrong with either, but I thought I'd put a good word out there for the CZ!
KO
 
I bought the Ruger RSM, the unnamed competitor in this comparison of 550 vs M70. It has more to offer feature wise than the other two (Circassian walnut, integrally machined sight rib on the barrel, NECG one standing two folding irons with proper regulation, rings included, banded front sight and barrel mounted sling stud, ebony foreend tip, sculpted steel grip cap, and more odds and ends in a magnum CRF action (as is the 550).

If I had to buy one of the others, it would be the Winchester.

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The only reason I didn't include the Ruger RSM is that they are no longer made and are more expensive and hard to find. Also, I would prefer to buy brand new for this rifle. Of course if a good deal on an RSM or a Mauser came up I would look at it. My reason for going with the CZ or Winchester was that want the best CRF 375 H&H I can get for under $1500.

Cheers
--Derek
 
I prefer the winchester,more refined and the action is smooth out of the box, where as most 550's need some action polishing. The winchester is also a good value.I just picked up a new model 70 safari 458 win for $1150. Just cut the barrel back to 21" and bedded it into a mcmillan, now we are just waiting on a grizz to leave the den :)
 
Grit, would you mind telling me where you got one for that price? The best I've found is $100 more.

Cheers,
--Derek
 
Got it locally at hougens sportslodge,I think they might have a 375 still in stock.I had rockchucker shorten the barrel to 21", move the front sight back and finish a macmillan and glass bed it. I'll post a pic,he does great work, the rifle looks awsome
 
CanadaBoy said:
The only reason I didn't include the Ruger RSM is that they are no longer made and are more expensive and hard to find. Also, I would prefer to buy brand new for this rifle. Of course if a good deal on an RSM or a Mauser came up I would look at it. My reason for going with the CZ or Winchester was that want the best CRF 375 H&H I can get for under $1500.

Cheers
--Derek
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Good fair reasoning, I think I'd opt for the Winchester for sure. Their layest offerings are jaw droppers for their price point.
 
Another vote here for the Winchester. I've owned both the CZ (in .375) and the RSM (in .416Rigby), and I feel that they are much too heavy for a .375. I recently handled a model 70 Safari and fell in love. Much nicer fit and finish than the CZ, and I definitely see one in my future, in .458WinMag. It isn't quite as classy as the RSM, with that wonderful integral quarter rib, but the RSM is just a little too porky IMHO.

Epps has a couple of RSM's in .375, and they also show one model 70 Safari in that chambering as well. Good prices.

Congratulations on your decision to hunt Africa, and with a charismatic, classic gun to boot! Enjoy the anticipation and the preparation...they are a big part of the overall experience.
 
While talking about weight, my .375 CZ and Winchester .458 weigh exactly the same. (9.5 pounds) You wouldn't guess it by shouldering them, but the scale doesn't lie. Advertised weights don't mean much.

My .416 Rigby actually weighed 1/4 pound less with the original stock. I swapped that out for a Bavarian stock that fit better and weighed a couple pounds more. I got that one from an American booking agent, then phoned him to see if he had filled it with lead or forgot to cut down the tree first.

There are two different "American" stocks, the one that CZ USA puts on, and the one that the rest of the world gets. The "international american" has more drop at heel and is slimmer all around. The CZ USA are straighter, fatter and many of them need the optional wheel kit. The fancy wood versions are heavier.

The CZs follow the European express rifle pattern, and the Winchester embodies the American hunting rifle pattern. You can even argue that the M70 defined what an American rifle is. The feels are very different.
 
Well I just ordered a M70 from Epps, along with a couple boxes of ammo !!!!! I think it was the only one in 375 that they had. In a week or so I'm supposed to go to the range with a couple of guys a go to university with, I can't wait to try it out.

I've never used any rifle with more recoil than a 30-06 before. But I don't find that heavy 12 gauge slug loads in my brother in-laws Mossberg 535 bother me, so from what I've read about recoil comparisons I'm not worried at all.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences, I think it helped me make a more informed decision, which should lead to me being more happy with my choice.

Don't worry, I will post pics and a range report once its here.
 
Dogleg said:
While talking about weight, my .375 CZ and Winchester .458 weigh exactly the same. (9.5 pounds) You wouldn't guess it by shouldering them, but the scale doesn't lie. Advertised weights don't mean much.

My .416 Rigby actually weighed 1/4 pound less with the original stock. I swapped that out for a Bavarian stock that fit better and weighed a couple pounds more. I got that one from an American booking agent, then phoned him to see if he had filled it with lead or forgot to cut down the tree first.

There are two different "American" stocks, the one that CZ USA puts on, and the one that the rest of the world gets. The "international american" has more drop at heel and is slimmer all around. The CZ USA are straighter, fatter and many of them need the optional wheel kit. The fancy wood versions are heavier.

The CZs follow the European express rifle pattern, and the Winchester embodies the American hunting rifle pattern. You can even argue that the M70 defined what an American rifle is. The feels are very different.
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That's funny!
I have a 602 apart right now and picked up the stock last night...I was wondering how stinking heavy that piece of wood was!?
The rifle (unloaded) with a 2.5X Leupold and steel Warn rings weighs 11 pounds 5oz.

Will compare the weight on the 550's and my old (peep sight) 602.
 
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