CZ 550 Safari Magnum .375 H&H for Deer Hunt

[bsctov]

I know this sounds crazy, but I want to go deer hunting with some friends in PA eventually, and In Ohio, you can't hunt with a rifle, which sucks. SO...I've always wanted a safari rifle, and after looking at a few options, I think I've settled on the CZ 550 Safari Magnum in .375 H&H, and using it as my primary rifle for the deer hunt.


Any thoughts on this and a relatively affordable scope that can withstand this heavy blast and recoil?

 

[critter]

You will be well armed. Good hunting.

 

[beatledog7]

bsctov,

You don't sound crazy, but your post is confusing.

You say you want to go deer hunting in PA, but you can't hunt with a rifle in OH, so you've decided to buy a safari rifle for deer hunting.

Do you mean you're only going to use the rifle in PA, where presumably it is legal to hunt with a rifle? If that's the case, the CZ will be effective alright, but why would you want to haul around something as heavy as a CZ 550?

It's your money and your back, but for hunting deer in PA I'd choose something, shall we say, more typically used for hunting deer in the North American woods. I'd recommend something like Savage Axis XP .243 or 7mm-08. It comes complete with a pretty good (non-adjustable) trigger, a manageably short 22" barrel, and a decent 3-9X40 scope and weighs in at about 7 lbs with 4 in the mag (that's 2.5 lbs less than the CZ safari, a difference you'll feel in no time). And it can be had for about one-third the price of the CZ 550 then sold on if you no longer need it.

Such a rifle (by Savage or some other reputable maker) will prove versatile and plenty powerful to take any deer in PA. Plus, ammunition won't cost a fortune.

Carrying a CZ 550 in 375 H&H through the PA woods seem like torture to me. Save it for when you really need it.

 

[bsctov]

Thanks for the replies.



I mainly just want the CZ 550 because it's cool. Taking it deer hunting is just an opportunity to shoot it and test it out, along with my optic choice. I know the ammo costs alot, but I'm probably getting into reloading soon so I'll fare just a tiny bit better, although I'm kind of nervous about blowing up the rifle with a cruddy reload.


Any scope suggestions? Needs to be able to get rained on, bumped and banged here and there.

 

[a-sheepdog]

I have been kicking around the idea of the CZ 550 American Safari 375 H&H myself. I hunt elk in Montana, but already have a 338 Win Mag for that and have a hard time justifying a 375. I have wanted one for years, but it is unlikely that I will get to Africa or elsewhere that such a large caliber would be needed. I keep telling myself it would be good for brown bear. I see one in my not so distant future, but in reality it is just because I want one and not for any real "Need". I agree with the other guys here about the weight, it is a cannon and is not light. If you want it for no other reason than you are a tax paying citizen and excercising your second amendment rights, I say go for it.

 

[bsctov]

Whats the maximum practical range on one of these?

 

[Float Pilot]

Since I often carry larger caliber rifles up here, I have also fond myself having to shoot our small Alaskan deer with a Brown Bear (Griz to you) rifle.

Oddly enough it does not mess up the meat very much. In fact since cartridges like the 375H&H , the 416 Taylor, hot loaded 45-70 and so on,,,, rely on bullet weight and diameter to transfer their muzzle energy, they do not pulverize the surrounding tissue into muck. Plus their projectiles do not fly apart and leave bits of jacketing in your meat.

You will also find that for some reason the 375 H&H does not kick as much as you would think. The long case and gentle shoulder angle give it more of a push than kick. More like a 12 gauge shotgun and less like a 300 Win Mag.

The 375 H&H is a great all around cartridge and it shoots pretty flat when you use the lighter bullet weights. Since you do not seem to own another rifle, I would hazard a guess that you are not yet a hand-loader. So... factory ammo will be pretty expensive.

You will not need the 300 grain bullet option in your case. Even the 270 grain spritzer will be more zap than you need, although that is an easy to find bullet weight. FOR GOODNESS SAKE SAVE YOUR BRASS FOR THE DAY YOU BEFRIEND A HAND-LOADER.

The Hornady 270s will work fine on smaller critters, although I have seen a couple fall apart after going through brown-bear shoulder blades.

I think Winchester only offers a 300 grain load these days.

Federal makes a load with a 260 grain Nosler Accubond boat-tail bullet. It is a very nice load for longer ranges. My daughter used this load in Africa to take a large Kudu and a couple plains antelope.

The 375H&H can be used out to 300-400 yards by a real rifleman. That is actually well-past the ethical hunting distance for most folks. You would be amazed how many folks think 150 yards is 400 yards...

 

[tulsamal]

The main thing to me would be.... reload for it. Not just to save money but in this case so that you can load up some reduced loads. It's not just a matter of recoil. You want the bullet to expand and deliver the energy inside the deer. If it exits still going 2000 fps and barely expanded then you really are over gunned. Find an appropriate bullet for thin skinned game and then load it on the lower end of the charts. That will be plenty for deer. Won't have much recoil so you will enjoy it and gain confidence in the rifle as well.

Gregg

 

[Robert]

I just bought a Winchester M70 Safari Express in 375H&H. I am not saying don't buy the CZ but you might have a look at the Winchesters too. But if the CZ is what you want then by all means go for it.

I topped mine off with a Leupold VXIII 2.5-8x36 with the Boone and Crockett reticle. Very nice scope, good clear glass and should be able to stand up to anything the 375 can throw at it. Spring for the Leupold Alumina caps, they are more expensive than the Butler Creek caps but you will not regret it.

Oh and I'd give any brass you don't want to keep a good home

 

[Gunnerboy]

some peoples kids....... what you need is a 6.5x55, wheres Kachok i think he can put in some better input than me on this lovely little cartridge.

 

[1KPerDay]

I'm buying a Barrett .50 for squirrel hunting.

 

[LeonCarr]

IME the .375 H&H with 270 grain bullets has about the same trajectory as a .30-06 with 180 grain bullets.

I understand the "cool" factor when buying firearms. Cool gets old quickly when you are paying 2 dollars or more a round to shoot your cool rifle, when a less cool and much less expensive to own and shoot .30-06 (also available in the CZ) will do anything you are trying to accomplish.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[jem375]

If you are going to reload, try the 225 gr. Hornady bullet, this would be a great deer bullet..................

 

[bsctov]

I own a ruger 10/22, yugo sks, mosin nagant, savage mkII,maverick 88 and some handguns, dont reload yet, and it hurts.

Is the recoil comparable to any of these by any chance?

 

[1KPerDay]

Maverick 88 with some magnum slugs, maybe...

 

[Robert]

375H&H, when loaded right is a fine round for just about anything in the world. Don't worry about what the naysayers have to say. This is a great time to pick up a decent single stage or turret press and learn to load for a fine cartridge. You can load it down to 30-06 level, and no one will say that is too much for deer, or you can load it up to take Elephant and Cape Buffalo. Recoil runs about twice that of an average 30-06 but I have not found it to be unpleasant.

I have a fired a number of 375H&H, out of a friend's Savage, and 470NE and neither are unpleasant. The most unpleasant thing I have ever fired was my Mossberg 590 with magnum slugs. 375H&H is not nearly that bad.

 

[porktornado]

i agree, .375hh is not a hard hitter. i have shot a clients cz 550 and the first thing i thought when i picked it up was, GD this thing is heavy! the client even mentioned how heavy it was. you might want to check out savage, they are making some in .375 ruger and the ballistics are a little better. not to mention stainless and synthetic.

 

[Craigman]

I have a prostaff on my mod 70 .375 HH and it is faring fine so far. I also had it on another heavy recoiling gun and it had survived that too. I too am going to take a deer with mine this year and dont really care what anyone says. More of just a "say I've done it" type thing.... I posted a while ago about .338 for deer and got flamed even more, so dont worry. It's expected

As for the weight, I only have 1k acres to hunt on a nd its rolling hills/orchards with blocks of woods, so I cant really carry it too far too long. Plus I'd like to use it while I'm still young and the weight doesnt bother me that much. Mine IS a damn heavy rifle.

 

[Slamfire]

I have a 375 H&H, taken it out deer hunting but never saw anything. One of these days I am going to find that elephant hiding in the strawberry patch, and won't he be surprised!

 

[Woodyard]

If you are attacked by lions, tigers, mastodons or grizzly bears while deer hunting you will be ready.

 

[Pete D.]

.375

I have the Winchester M70 chambered for this grand old cartridge.
(100 years old this year).
Get into reloading as soon as you can. Not only do the rounds in general cost less but the ability to custom make ammo for precise needs is a real plus.
For hunting PA deer, you could download the H&H cartridge to the equivalent of the 375 Winchester.
Pete

 

[Gordon]

The Federal 260 Accubond load is the schizzle for 200-400 pound game. I reload them to almost 2800 FPS in my 25" Model 70 and model 700 Brown Prescion Remington and get sub 3" 200 yard groups with the 700 remington below 2" pretty consistantly at the 200 yard dead on sight in.

 

[pubthumper]

Man, thats a huge round for a deer. ANY deer. Come down to Florida and lets see you blow one of our tiny deer in half with that monster. We've got some hogs down this way could use that medicine. Good on you though, go for it man. Happy hunting!

 

[dubbleA]

Man, thats a huge round for a deer. ANY deer. Come down to Florida and lets see you blow one of our tiny deer in half with that monster. We've got some hogs down this way could use that medicine. Good on you though, go for it man. Happy hunting!

That's an old wives tale, the ol heavy .375 bullet just plows through dense critters and pokes no bigger wound channels that common deer cartridges. In spite of common belief, it wont blow a deer in half. I have been using one for years for everything.

My Sako is a hammer..........

 

[pubthumper]

I stand corrected, but then I use a .30-06 for everything, so what do I know? Ever seen a Florida deer? You could cut one down with a slingshot. Aw, I'm just foolin around. A cap gun would probably do it. Foolin aside, I've read about that, and seen similar posts here on the efficacy of the .375 h&h on smaller game. Will stick to my '06 though.