what's the difference and which is more desireable?

About the only readily obvious difference is the safety on the 550 works what most people feel is the correct way,on safe to the rear,off safe forward. The other obvious difference is the trigger. The 550 has a combination set/regular trigger. The 602 has an either/or trigger that has to be physically changed. Other than that they are pretty much the same as far as i can tell. I have one of each and actually like the 602 better for no real obvious reason I can state. Stocks are totally different and I like the 602 stocks while the 550 doesn't fit me at all. My 602 is an old 375 without the popup peep sight. It once belonged to Jon Speed when he was in Tanzania. My 550 is a 416 Rigby with a custom Brockman laminated stock. It shoots well also. I like both of them and they will be the last two rifles I ever get rid of. Both have had the barrel cut to 21" and fitted with ERA ramp fronts that are adjustable for elevation and hold red fiber optics blades.

unless it has the popup sight, assuming a big bore, the 602will be rough as a cob, have likely the most complex trigger short of the deathstar, and a bassackwards safety that could get you killed...

whoops.. updated typo.. thanks

I must be the absolute luckiest person on earth when it comes to rifles. My CZ550 in 416Rigby does not have a pop up sight but is in no fashion rough as even a feather much less a cob. The bolt is smooth as any Mauser I have ever worked and the exterior has not one tool mark and a very good blue. The safety function - safe to the rear and fire to the front with a red dot showing when in fire position is exactly the same as my 458 Whitworth. As to the complexity of the trigger I have not disassembled it as I don't disassemble triggers of ANY type,Timney,Dayton Traister or Model 70. As to its reliability I have found absolutely no fault with it. I have read many poor mouthing entries on this forum about any thing other than an Oberndorf Mauser and it gets rather tiresome. I have been building and shooting rifles for more years than I care to remember sometimes and I rarely have these experiences with my purchases. As I said I am probably the luckiest shooter alive in this respect but I don't find my 550 to be similar to what is described above. But then maybe I have some kind of unique one-off rare model.

Jeffe,

I think you got that bassackwards. The 602 is the one with the backasswards safety.

That's better. The 602 has one of the strangest triggers known, for a big-bore at least. The trigger pivot pin is located in the trigger guard. The trigger guard has the wood stock between it and the receiver, so the trigger is really not mounted metal-to-metal to the receiver. Odd, but it seems to work.

Someone can correct me if I am wrong, but another thing to consider is that no after-market triggers are available for the 602! The 550 does have options available.

When will someone make an after-market trigger for the 602!!

I don't find the 602 trigger to be very unusual in it's construction of part being in the trigger guard and part being on the reciever. If memory serves most set triggers for Mauser actions were made this way for many years. They were also sold aftermarket by suppliers such as Stoegers,Flaigs and the Original Sight Exchange.
They performed well also. I had an original Mauser factory sporter with that installation. I have the standard trigger on my 602 and find it to be a good one. I had another 602 with the set trigger and I found it to also be a pleasant trigger to use and rather liked the straight trigger.

I looked at making a good trigger for the 602, for about a minute, then went and took an aspirin and lay down. What a mess it is. I don't know of anyone making aftermarket triggers for it. Don't see how you can.

Since the subject of triggers and CZ's came up, I'll state my experience once again. Mine is a 550 in 416 Rigby that was customized by Match Grade Arms.

I had a trigger failure on mine in 06 while pointed at a Buffalo Bull's shoulder from 40 yards or so. Still don't know if it was a factory screw up or something that happened during the customization. In either case, I cannot trust the weapon and have never hunted with it again.

I'm thinking about sending it to AHR for a new trigger and some additional customization but I have to get past the trust issue with it first. Finding out your trigger is completely disconnected while the rifle is pointed at Mr. Nasty from close range in thick bush, doesn't inspire a sense of reliability in a weapon.

Timney makes an excellent replacement trigger for the cz55o.

cz55o triggers

Best,
Dave