Howdy All:

A new CZ 550 .375 H&H and the occasional Whitworth Mauser I see for sale are usually about the same price (about $800 to $950).

I'd like to get an inexpensive .375, and don't want a Remington 798 or a Ruger Hawkeye.

Your opinions as to the pros and cons of each would be appreciated, thanks.

I like the Whitworth for its svelte lines, light weight and excellent balance. I don't like the sliding trigger safety and the reduced magazine capacity as compared with the CZ.

The CZ also has a slide safety, and one which has had its share of well-documented problems as well. It is also somewhat bulky, which is not a good thing. It is a true six shooter, though, and that counts for a lot with me.

Either rifle would need at least some modification to suit me, however, which defeats your purpose of keeping things inexpensive.

I bought my Whitworth back in the mid-80s, had a 3-psn safety added for function and express sights & barrel band swivel mostly for looks

It has been very dependable & very accurate - no complaints, mine has a hammered barrel, assume they still are

probably true for most 375 H&Hs, no matter what weight bullet I feed it, the POA is the same

I own both, like both, but like the Whitworth better. Slimmer, trimmer, lighter, points better, faster handling, finished better, etc.

Whitworth! Better balance.

Mark Stokeld did some work on a 550 in 416 Rigby for an Alaskan guide a couple of years ago and published the pics here. He estimated that he shaved about 15% off of the stock through simple reshaping which resulted in a much less clubby stock and more along the lines of "svelte". In all likelihood the same could be done for you. However, if you don't plan to do anything with it, the Whitworth may be the way to go.

Personally, I like the Whitworth in hand, but the CZ can be made into probably exactly what you desire with a little work.

off-center, but only slightly so...I took a stock (reworked trigger 3.5lb unset, 1lb set) CZ in 450 Dakota to Zimbabwe 31 days ago for a buffalo hunt. I like the rifle as is, and have a CZ in 375H&H, 416 Rigby, and a mannlicher stocked 9,3x62 I got my elk this year with. A CZ may not be perfect out of the box, but do not let anybody tell you they need work to have a great hunt with.

Rich
CZ Lover
Buffalo Killer

thw whitworth and 798 are the same action, but with different stocks. if youre gonna need to do some work on any of the choices, i dont see much difference in the 798 and whitworth except theyre both overpriced on the current market