Steyr Pro-Hunter vs. CZ550

[shadow9]

Narrowed the decision down, finally, between a Steyr ProHunter/7mm-08, or CZ550 in 6.5x55.
Plus of the Steyr - I own an M40A1, I like their feel/quality/customer svc. Accurate, reliable, ultra-safe, fort-knox reciever (150,000PSI!?), Balance, ergos, detach mag WITH the disabling system (1/4" drop to get rounds away from bolt), Set trigger (must)
Minus - Price, availability. I can order one from SteyrArms, but I'm looking north of $1150, not counting scope. I need a scope. I'm not skimping. Also, I can "Deal" with a closed top/ejector/push-feed, but Ive always been fond of controlled-feed/manual ejection/open top, for round-loading. Thus:

CZ550 - SOLID rifle, Mauser action (and reciever, closest build to original, 'nuff said), open-top, accurate, available (local can order), cheaper than Steyr (American is only $720). Can scope with add'l funds, or get the FS model.
CZ drawback - I'm in new england. We have weather changes like a tween's moodswings. A poor Walnut stock, no matter how well made, could suffer. I may be shooting year-round. Also, hence why I'm disinclined to the FS, though the mannlicher stock is pretty. No detach mag/fast reload. Not known to be AS accurate as a Steyr, and there's been complaints of stock-breaks, and general quality drop in the past year, eg poor wood-choice. No offer in 7mm-08, but avail in 6.5x55. Kevlar is kinda...fugly, IMO.

Suggestions?

 

[redactor]

If you are flexible on the cartridge, check CDNN for the Steyr. They periodically advertize them in Shotgun News for $600 - $650, depending on version.

 

[Storm]

I just picked up a Pro Hunter in .260 REM. I haven't shot it yet but can tell you that there is a lot of flex with the plastic stock up towards the top of the forearm. Some have reported that this effects accuracy while others have had no such problems. It could be iffy with a bipod. There seems to be a way of holding the rifle with the grip more back by the magazine that reportedly resolves the issue. I happen to like the feel of the plastic stock and do not wish to change it. The problem is that if you do go to a replacement stock you are going to have a hard time finding one other than a McMillan which runs over six bills. There are fixes for the flex which involve installing steel rods embedded in epoxy putty. You may want to do a little research on the stock issue.

As to weather resistance, from waht I understand it's hard to beat the Steyr.

 

[shadow9]

Red - Thank you for the heads up, but caliber is perhaps the most inflexible aspect of all this...I've fallen in love with the "magic bullet" Swede, and my Scandinavian heritage helps. Called CDNN a couple of weeks ago, turns out that was a run when SAI was risking going out, and SteyrArms bought back CDNN's stock of ProHunters.

Storm - Congrats! Was it brand new/ordered, or new from store-stock? I've been back and forth with SteyrArms via E-mail, it turns out that until recently, (and per their website), unless specified, they shipped with a "grey or black synthetic stock", with "Fiberglass-reinforced stock" extra. Apparently it was the "Synthetics" that had issues, as other posts I read were saying you could send your rifle in, and either for extra $$ or under warranty, they would refurbish it with one of the fiberglass stocks (also carried on SteyrArms accessories- $250), which had significantly less flex. It can be debated between poor production, or the fact that many Europeans hold a rifle closer to the balance point/magazine, and rely much less on Bipods. Plus, the flex in the stock could be used as a "damper" for recoil vibrations, or less noise/rattling when carrying.
Also, on the Steyr - there have been questions on barrel-removal, and rumors of them being loctitied or heat-treated - from cust svc it seems the ProHunter line is in fact screwed-on, in a conventional manner. Still recommended to send it in to Steyr, as apparently they don't let their tooling out to the public for use. No confirmation on that...I wonder if it's possible, or what it would take, to become a Steyr-certified gunsmith outside of Steyr Arms/Steyr-Mannlicher Austria...

Last - Storm, would it be too much to ask for a picture of the muzzle of your Steyr, so I can get an idea of barrel ratio and what the crown looks like? Especially since yours is the same .264 that I may/will probably go with?

Thanks for the replies!
-S

 

[Storm]

Hey Shadow, I will grab my camera and have a pic tomorrow AM. Man, thanks for that info. I have to think mine is an older one. It's a gray stock. I really have no problem with holding closer to the mag as that is my preferred grip anyway. I've heard that with the second version of the stock they did was much better, but not perfect, but much better. I'm thinking that the closer to the mag that you get the better it will be either way. One way or the other this rifle will be well worth the effort.

Funny you should mention the 7mm-08. I switched on layaway a Weatherby MKV in that caliber for my Steyr in .260. I figured I could always get the Weatherby. A Steyr in 7mm-08 will rock. BTW, if you go with the Steyr and want extra mags, and if Steyr is out of them, I probably have a source.

Either way you go you will be a happy camper

 

[Storm]

Shadow, here's the muzzle/crown. BTW, I bought this rifle at a local shop. I like to buy what I can hold/examine first, especially with a used rifle. This was the first used Pro Hunter that I had come across. I've seen a lot of them new but are always over a grand in price. I couldn't pass on this opportunity.

 

[c919]

No detach mag/fast reload.

My CZ 550 American in .308 has a detachable mag. I'm not sure, but I thought detachable mags were standard on the 550's. You may want to look into that.

 

[HOOfan_1]

My CZ 550 American in .308 has a detachable mag. I'm not sure, but I thought detachable mags were standard on the 550's. You may want to look into that.

Only on the short action calibers. The 6.5x55 is not a short action. Oddly the 550s all use a long action though...or at least my .22-250 has a bolt longer than my Remington 700 .30-06 bolt.

 

[shadow9]

Thank you for the pic Storm! It helped ALOT in "visualizing" the Steyr. Funny enough, a local gunshop had a CZ550 American to hold today... It isn't making the decision any easier...

I noticed the CZ has a thicker/more-solid stock, something else I like. I used to have a M39 Mosin-nagant, which is a heavy thing, but I liked that aspect, made it easy to aim. Also, a good sized-barrel is a plus (varmint is a little too big, this will be carried). I noticed the 550 American has a VERY good sized barrel, and pictures of their FS model show the same size. (oh-I also held a Tikka with a scope..ew. Yes, they're light, but when you attach a scope, you feel more of the scope than the rifle)

RE: Magazines - HOOfan is right - the DM is offered for short-actions, but all CZ's are based on a Mauser long-action. The long-action calibers are fixed mag/floorplate, which the 6.5 would be. Also, the shorts only have 4 rounds per mag, fixed 5. All considering though, if I need to slam a mag home and pound a round fast, its a SHTF situation anyways, and I'm probably better with a semi-auto.

As for Ammo, I'm less concerned about factory stuff, as this will also be a venture into reloading...hence the attraction to 150,000PSI, but the closed-top is a bother (harder to get to a possibly stuck round). Mausers are open-top, single-feed (if wanted), and BEEFY extractors, plus if a cartridge blows, they vent it to the outside instead of holding it all in.

The last half of Steyr vs. CZ is the longevity and service. This has been my biggest battle...I have worked around cars for a bit(imports/euro - Eibach, not Edelbrock ), and just replaced the sear action and assembly in my P99, no problem (technically now have an AS and a QA model! ). I've got calipers, and part of adopting a rifle (like adopting a car), is getting all the "medical supplies" for it as well. Chamber reamers, Go/NoGo's, barrel vice, etc...but I intend to build that collection down the road of owning it.
The CZ is the easiest to work on, IMO, being about 80% Mauser. It's 1950's technology, really, and thus is less sensitive to torques, clearances, etc.
The Steyr is opposite. EXCELLENT from factory, and is like a 2009 BMW. Insane performance, great relability, really great features, VERY safe, but "Send to Steyr" if anything goes wrong. Apparently somebody wanted to change their trigger (said to be "user-adjustable", and messed up their POI putting the stock back on, as the front bolt needs to be torqued to a .1"/lb tolerance for it to shoot right. e.O;;

All said, let's face it, we've all felt a disturbance in the Force. SHTF is fun to talk about, but theres still a slightly increased chance of it happening. In that case, the closed top is stealthy, open isn't. Can't get to a Steyr service, can't ship, so if Steyr goes, that's it. Also, in order to get a 10-round mag (just 1), plus adapter, plus scope/rings/bases, AND rifle, I'm lookin at $1600...more than I have. The Steyr is more weatherproof, to a degree, but I'd want to put the rifle into a case for carrying anyways.
The CZ is Mauser-based, and if in a jam, a M98 could be spliced into the CZ. Fast reload/tactical maneuvers goes to the Steyr...but the CZ could hold its own, I want to think. Then again, with how many hunters and mall-ninjas and vets there are in America, I'm pretty sure engaging anything is a suicide course. Best to run, hide, and avoid encounters as much as possible. Rely on what you have.

Still on the fence... SHTF, I'd want the steyr out-of-the-gates, but my logic tells me the CZ may be a better long-term bet.

On that note, insane ramblings concluding, I'll turn this over to whomever bothered to read all that

 

[timbertoes]

Care to consider a Tikka ?

Mine is in 6.5x55 and is an all-holes touching rifle at 100 yds.
And that was with the very first reload recipe put in it!!

Whereas the CZ550 I used to own never acheived that, with several reloading recipes.
but of course, collective experiences vary!

 

[Storm]

Care to consider a Tikka ?

Mine is in 6.5x55 and is an all-holes touching rifle at 100 yds.

A great choice and a great caliber!

 

[viking499]

I have a Tikka in that caliber.

It is an awesome choice and an awesome caliber.

 

[Coal Dragger]

I used to own Steyr Rifles, and had mixed results with them. I had a Steyr Scout that was a good little rifle, and I regret selling it off, and I owned a Steyr SSG69 PII that was not so good. The SSG69 has some delicate parts, but is very accurate, getting replacement trigger guards, magazines, and stocks is expensive and a pain in the ass. Steyr customer service is lackluster, and their warranty sucks. I really do feel that the importer tries to give good service but they seem hamstrung by Steyr on this front.

I can't speak for CZ products or customer service though.

 

[shadow9]

Again, ty for the input folks!
Timber - Originally, the Tikka in 6.5 was one of my TOP choices, my old M39 was a Tikka manufacture(part of choice)...but the Lite I found to be TOO light to hold/carry (I'm used to milsurps), and they've stopped importing the T3 Lite in 6.5x55. Which, IMO, was a grandly stupid plan..seeing as it's often preferred to the .25-06.
Thusfar, I've worked with SteyrArms, and their customer service has been very informative, and extremely fast/efficient. However, Coal, you aren't the first I've read/"heard" to have issues with Steyr-Mannlicher GmbH(Not Steyr-Arms). Plus, getting parts/accessories is major $$$ (Sako-range $$$), and service may need to go to Austria. ($$$).
I'm looking for a one-buy sort of thing(think of a Samurai choosing their katana), so I don't mind spending some $$ on it. Also hinging on this, is I'm still not highly disciplined at caring and using the rifle, so I'd rather get a GOOD mid-range, than start with a Blaser or a Sako. It's a little akin to handing a red-belt or green-belt a $9,000 Folded-steel hand-forged katana...
So, long-story-short, although they're VERY good guns, I'm tossed whether the $$$ for the Steyr is worth it. (See also: Heckler & Koch )

 

[Coal Dragger]

I think the SBS series rifles are a good design, but don't really know that they are worth the premium over some other rifles that are less expensive and more readily available. I liked my Scout for some of the unique features to that model, but will readily concede that the SBS action left some things to be desired. Namely they have a very heavy bolt lift to cock the striker, and the trigger was OK but not great and was not very easy to adjust.

Frankly I do not think the state of European gun makers, especially those in Germany and Austria, is very impressive right now in the value for your money department. This is especially true with rifles. I will grant that many US makers have made efforts to cut costs and use cheaper materials and manufacturing methods, but the Germans and Austrians have taken it even farther. The problem is that given our unfavorable US Dollar to Euro exchange rate, you are paying a lot more money for a German/Austrian rifle than you are for a US made rifle and not really getting any performance advantage. The Blaser is a really neat rifle and I would love to have one, but honestly they are grossly overpriced starting at nearly $3K. The multiple caliber argument doesn't even hold water considering a barrel and bolt will run you $1500 by the time you also get a saddle scope mount for it too. So the switch caliber aspect has little value in the US where you are not limited to the number of rifles you can own.

SAKO makes a nice rifle but at nearly $1,650-$1,700 for a M85 you can buy one hell of a nice US made rifle that will out shoot it, have a nicer stock, and be easier to service.

For example $1650.00 will buy you a Cooper M52 that will be guaranteed to shoot 1/2" groups at 100 yards with match ammo, my M52 in .280AI does just over 1/2" with 140gr Accubonds for 3 shots and under 3/4" for five shots with the same load. Please consider that this is the first ammo I ran down the barrel, and with it shooting like that I have zero motivation to do much load development or try much else.

 

[Alagator]

I'll chime in on the issue of SBS heavy bolt lift. Somewhere along the line, Steyr reconfigured the bolt cam to eliminate the problem, as discussed here:
http://www.steyrscout.org/steyrtip.htm
I had one of the older ones in 270 and FR. Frog installed a new cam --wow. Although the info on his website is about the Scout, a lot of it generalizes to all SBS Steyrs. I really enjoy hunting with my Steyr, and have shot some .4 inch groups with factory ammunition. Mine seems to prefer standard velocities. I agree with those who noted the flexible forend. I hold mine just forward of the magazine, and try to rest it there if possible. I really like the tang safety-- it works well when you have to take a left-handed shot at a deer. I remove all the stock spacers for winter shooting with bulky clothes.

 

[Storm]

I'll say one more thing about the price of the Steyr. Honestly, if I had to pay anywhere near retail I wouldn't own the gun today. When I came across the Steyr I had a very lightly used Weatherby MKV (synthetic stock) in 7-08 on layaway for $599. As the Steyr that I stumbled upon was the same exact price I did a switch on the layaway and came home with the Steyr. I figured that I could always get the Weatherby but that the Steyr was an opportunity, especially at that price, and in .260 REM, not common for that rifle. But again, at north of $1000 the Steyr wouldn't be mine today. I've spent twice as much on a rifle, but with rifles like my Savage 10 FP and 12 VLP and Remington SPS Tactical as price and quality comparisons I would have a very hard time pulling the trigger much above $700.

Hey Alagator, have you used a bipod on your Steyr, and if so did you have any issues with the forend? I really want to keep the factory stock and have no dersire doing the "fix" that involves installing strengthening steel rods. Beyond that I am more than fine holding the rifle towards the magazine as that is my natural tendency anyway.

Another consideration. Today a spare magazine for my Steyr should arrive. Steyr seems to be sold out of most of them and mine in .260 REM is about as rare as hen's teeth. I ended up ordering one for .308 as the .260 is a necked down .308 and a .308 snap cap cycled in my .260 (short of fully chambering, of course). With shipping it was $69. Ouch. While one need not have multiple mags (I like to have four) I think that aftermarket for the Steyr is going to be a problem. Heck, the only choice to replace the stock is a McMillan that can be had for over $600, more than I paid for the rifle. Had I not been a Steyr shooter for 25 years I probably would not have considered the rifle. Some things I'm willing to put up with

 

[shadow9]

Probably settling with a CZ 550 FS in 6.5...held/worked a Scout in the store the other day (closest I could find to a ProHunter), and found the action to be very "clicky" with things, what with european guns having safety regs up the wazoo...kinda a put-off. Plus, I don't wanna be spending megabucks on accessories, and would rather have a few avail. Truly, the CZ doesn't need any accessories...and they're certainly tested many times. Now it's the battle of getting a Finn M39 and a FAL, or doing a NICE CZ550 with a NICE scope attached (QDs tho, I want to use the irons sometimes). FALs, though, aren't really available done right unless its also over a grand...the M39 is my old baby, hence not willing to just get a new one, but they will accrue value over time (perfect for a long-term hold)...but I gotta find the right one... >.< I can deal with a "Sticky" bolt on a CZ...ever worked a M-N bolt?