CZ 550 Safari Magnum

[tcrocker]

Has enyone shot an CZ550 IN 458 WIN MAG? If so how well do they shoot, and how does the stock hold up to the recoil?

 

[tcrocker]

Does the American Safari stock or the Safari Stock fit better useing open sights?

 

[thatguy]

I doubt that there would be any stock trouble. These are solid but not fancy rifles. The American style stock would feel better under recoil, I think. Don't know about it affecting the sighting.

 

[tcrocker]

I have two CZs know (22lr and 3006) later being 550 American I was kind of leaning tword the hog back modle. I have heard of the stock breaking on the older guns. I was wondering if this was good info or not. If this was true did they "CZ" fix this problem.

 

[Byron Quick]

I don't have the CZ 550 Safari Magnum. However, I have what I believe is a nearly identical rifle in .458 Winchester Magnum...the BRNO 602ZKK. Mine has the European "hogsback" stock.

When I first fired the rifle, I fired it with a friend who gave me left over ammunition he had from a rifle he once owned. He had owned a Ruger M77 in .458 Winchester Magnum and said it kicked like a mule.

We were both very surprised at the light recoil of my BRNO using the same ammunition that produced brutal recoil in the Ruger. The only hypothesis I could come up with is that the European style stock dampens felt recoil. It certainly wasn't due to the hard rubber recoil pad.

Later, I wanted a comparable .308. The only offering CZ had in .308 with the European style buttstock was the CZ550FS. I bought it and it also is noticeably lighter in felt recoil than other bolt action .308's I own.

My considered opinion is that the European style stocks handle recoil better than the American style stocks do. However, this is based on experience with only two rifles and two calibers.

I can think of no other explanation for the difference in felt recoil in these two rifles when compared with American stocked rifles of comparable weight shooting ammunition from the same box.

 

[Matthew748]

Hopefully someone with first hand experience with the modern rifles marketed by CZ will chime in soon. I have been toying with the idea of picking up a CZ 550 (I’ll take mine in .375 H&H though) in the spring. The one thing that I have come across at a few different boards are accounts of the regular walnut stocks cracking. Folks say that you need to either get the laminated stock version or glass bed the walnut stock models to prevent this.

Is this a classic case of error-net misinformation? I don’t know for sure, but I would also like to find out before putting my cash on the counter.

 

[tcrocker]

My CZ 550 American in 3006 is also a very mild kicker using hand loads. A gunsmith friend of mine said that the gun was a very mild kicker he's thoughts on the matter was the recoil pad they us must have been socking up most of the felt recoil.

 

[mountainclmbr]

I have a CZ 550 American Magnum in 375 H&H. I looked into getting it glass bedded, but have not done it yet. The recoil is not bad for the first shot of a session, but you will feel it the next day after 20-30 rounds. No cracks in the stock. I may look into getting one of those Lead Sled things to help with working up accurate reloads. They are fine rifles for a good price, but a pre-64 Winchester may still follow me home one day!

 

[Cosmoline]

I had one in .375 H&H and the old style stock. It had *LESS* felt recoil than my 12 ga or a Mosin-Nagant carbine. Even with the most potent .375 loads. They CZ designers really know what they're doing.

 

[tcrocker]

Enybody tried the euro stock CZ?

 

[GW]

I'm looking at doing a CZ in 375 H&H
What price range are we looking at in stores wherever you may be?

 

[BigG]

I've had both the .458 and .375 CZ 550 Safari Magnums in the European Hogsback stocks. Both kicked less than Model 70s I had in the same calibers with the California style (American) stocks. I think the European stock is miles ahead of the American style.

 

[Preacherman]

Byron's right - the European-style stocks are easier on the shoulder than the American design. However, the American design is better for scope use if you want a high-cheek weld. The European stocks are less comfortable in this mode. In Africa, many pro's use the Euro stocks from personal preference.

 

[Any Cal.]

I put some rounds downrange with a Euro .458 WM. CZ. The rifle was beautiful, and the rounded stock was great. The sights came naturally to your eye, and the recoil did not seem to hit you in the cheek. I have never been a fan of the look, but I am now sold on it as far as performance. The rifle also had what I thought was a very nice balance and proportions, making it easier to shoot well.