Which is the better quality action?
I ordered a custom based on a CZ in left hand but starting think I should have ordered with a GMA instead, even though it would probably be 1000-1500 more expensive.

Should I be sorry?

GMA and Prechtl seem to be the choice for Mauser-based customs these day, particularly for safari-type rifles. But if you're not planning on a $10K build, the CZ 550 is the way to go. What are you planning?

check your inbox biebs

quote:

Originally posted by xile84:
Which is the better quality action?
I ordered a custom based on a CZ in left hand but starting think I should have ordered with a GMA instead, even though it would probably be 1000-1500 more expensive.

Should I be sorry?

What Cartridge did you choose for this project???

375 H&H!

Get your CZ550 tricked out a little. Welded up bolt handle and some checkering, Engine turned bolt finish, a lil polishing of the ways and a AHR trigger and never look back. Put the extra money towards ammo or your next safari.-Rob

quote:

Originally posted by xile84:
375 H&H!

I agree with Biebs, if you are NOT going to spend $10K plus on a custom rifle go with the CZ. I've had several CZ rifles tweaked and they work just fine.

I have one custom rifle, a 404 Jeffery, built on a Standard Mag. GMA action and it is nice...I have 2 more GMAs in hand, both small ring versions (1.30", one short and one long action) that will be made up in 7x57 and probably a 375 H&H.

It all depends on budget and what you want...

A GMA-based 7 Mauser.....nice!

As nice as the GMA actions are they still take some work to make sure they work 100% with whatever cartridge you choose. Add to that the wood, price of stocking, barrel, sights and quality labor and as everyone says you are pushing $10,000 +

A CZ like this one on the left, built by Lon Paul and used on a spring bear hunt a month ago,can be had for half of that. This one is a .370 ( aka 9.3x66) rather than a 375.



The rifle on the right is my 9.3x62.

I love my CZs. I have several, and they're all semi-customs or customs, and all hunting rifles.

I could never manage to convince myself to spend more on a rifle for the "prestige" factor alone.

I am no expert on actions and all I can say is from what I have experienced with the CZ and others.I think the CZ has a short cocking spring compared to a Mauser which may be responsible for a very light strike on the primer even when new.I called CZ for a new spring and they have none.I had a few misfires with the CZ and my Rugers until I changed the Ruger springs for a Wolfe spring.I don't know about the gas handling charateristics of the CZ compared to the GMA.I would prefer an integral bolt handle,fewer parts,and top quality steel.GMA is a company who specializes in building actions and CZ is not.Anything can go wrong,especially when parts are welded,safeties and triggers are added, so it is important to place your trust in the right place.

one is used by the pretentious "mo-it-costs, betta-it-is" crowd, the other makes a fine hunting rifle

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
one is used by the pretentious "mo-it-costs, betta-it-is" crowd, the other makes a fine hunting rifle

Life is full of choices, costs/benefits, etc. To boil down the difference between a custom vs a factory, either action or complete rifle, into such simple and personal terms is below the conversation here...

I think the GMA actions are beautiful, but if you judged the CZs in comparison to an M70 classic or new FN model (I don't have a pre-64 to compare), I think they feel more solidly built. A little rougher to start with but they smooth up nicely. I have the AHR CZ#1 upgrade on mine (unnecessary but nice) which includes the AHR single stage trigger, straighten and fill bolt handle and 3 position M70 type safety. I like my CZ 550 better than the M70s I or my friends own. I've never handled or shot a GMA custom Mauser but I'm sure it would be awful nice.

quote:

A CZ like this one on the left, built by Lon Paul and used on a spring bear hunt a month ago,can be had for half of that.

Phil, must be a different Lon Paul than the one I know :-)

quote:

Originally posted by 458Win:
As nice as the GMA actions are they still take some work to make sure they work 100% with whatever cartridge you choose. Add to that the wood, price of stocking, barrel, sights and quality labor and as everyone says you are pushing $10,000 +

A CZ like this one on the left, built by Lon Paul and used on a spring bear hunt a month ago,can be had for half of that. This one is a .370 ( aka 9.3x66) rather than a 375.



The rifle on the right is my 9.3x62.

I have seen pictures of several of Lon Paul's rifles but never had the pleasure of handling one...quality looking work!

CZ makes a 458 Lott rifle that smashes you in the face when you fire it.Also,barrels that are bent and shoot crooked.Also,bores that last for one 20 round box only.Also,the trigger with the most slack in the world.Do you trust their actions?

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
CZ makes a 458 Lott rifle that smashes you in the face when you fire it.Also,barrels that are bent and shoot crooked.Also,bores that last for one 20 round box only.Also,the trigger with the most slack in the world.Do you trust their actions?

Yes Dear



SSR

xile84: I have a .600 OK Rifle that was built on a GMA Action. Although I liked the idea of the .750" boltface with the .600 OK Cartridge, (which has the same casehead diameter as a .505 Gibbs), it took a fair bit of "tweaking" before it would operate correctly. Initially, the "springs" on the magazine box were so tight that it took both thumbs to push the cartridges down into the magazine. This tightness also had an effect on the way that the cartridges advanced from the magazine into the chamber. Additionally, the cartridges were hanging up upon being advanced into the chamber. Here, I think the leading edge of the brass, (despite the fact that I had both chamfered and crimped it), was getting caught on either the headspacing ridge or the ridge where the barrel and the action are joined. It has had a few trips to the gunsmith, and now is pretty close to being sorted out. I have not heard of these sorts of issues with the CZ Actions.....and I've never heard of any problems relating to the narrower boltface. Best. Chip.

As a left hand action I think the CZ is over priced. The Dakota action maybe a little less than the GMA. Good luck and post pictures.

Jjs. I stated my opinion. If you have another that is perfectly fine. I don't prefer to waste money for zero, repeat zero functional difference. But hey I drive a cross over suv that ain't a Porsche. Other than hp rating it is , within useful tolerances for a daily driver, the "same" but cost 1/4 as much.

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
CZ makes a 458 Lott rifle that smashes you in the face when you fire it.Also,barrels that are bent and shoot crooked.Also,bores that last for one 20 round box only.Also,the trigger with the most slack in the world.Do you trust their actions?

Sure not my experience with them

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
Jjs. I stated my opinion. If you have another that is perfectly fine. I don't prefer to waste money for zero, repeat zero functional difference. But hey I drive a cross over suv that ain't a Porsche. Other than hp rating it is , within useful tolerances for a daily driver, the "same" but cost 1/4 as much.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, however you took a "jab" at those that make a choice alternative to your own, if the "jab" is at me that's just fine.

As I said in my original post on this thread, I have owned several CZ 550 and they work just fine....

Your suggestion or statement that there is no functional difference between the two action is subjective...spend a bit of time and do a comparison on specs of each including options regarding action specs, ie length / size options, bottom metal, safety, etc. Certainly, these differences will effect the function of a finished rifle...If you see no value that's just fine....

I am not going to get into a "back and forth" with you here, as the choices are up to each individual...value and utility are subjective.

Certainly what you drive is of no concern to me and I do my best not to judge or characterize others by what they purchase...cars, rifles, etc...but we all fall short from time to time...

Also,a front sight hood that flies off with recoil.Rear sight windage adjustment screws that can`t keep the sights from moving under recoil.Leaf sights that can`t stay up under recoil.A recoil pad that makes an already short LOP,shorter under recoil.

I have both in Left Hand. I like them both too! The CZ once worked over can be made into a very nice rifle. It will weigh much less than a similar rifle with a GMA action.

The GMA once worked over is very nice and can be made into a better "show" rifle. I am not suggesting they are not reliable....they are just better looking than the CZ.

To me the biggest difference between the two is the weight and the cost.

quote:

Originally posted by AfricanHunter:

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
CZ makes a 458 Lott rifle that smashes you in the face when you fire it.Also,barrels that are bent and shoot crooked.Also,bores that last for one 20 round box only.Also,the trigger with the most slack in the world.Do you trust their actions?

Sure not my experience with them

Sure,there are also those that claim they have not had any problems with them feeding.IMO,the CZ action is a tough baby to get to feed.So is the geometry of the rails,ramp etc... not very good?

I have a CZ550 in .375 H&H and it has never missed a beat. It feeds, functions and fires everything put in it, including North Fork's old design cup point solids. The only thing I did was replace the original recoil pad with a Pachmayer decelerator as the original was too "sticky". Accuracy is not an issue either.
For a high end custom, I would use the GMA but if you want a good rifle at a reasonable price the CZ will work as well as any and better than a lot of the competition.

I don't think of things in terms of a high end custom vs an ordinary rifle but a rifle that works vs one that doesn't.If you want a rifle such that everything on it works right then you need to deal with the right people.Same as with the action.

I see that shootaway is trying to "poke the monkey."
Whose monkey? His own monkey, of course.
I have been around the block a few times.
I might have several extended-pinky-finger rifles in the safe.
But I will never again look to Mauser Banner,
Dakota, GMA, or any other Boutique Action Maker,
should I have a need ...
CZ will do nicely for the true magnum.
Winchester, Ruger, or standard Mauser will handle the rest.
Nothing bigger or better than a CZ 550 Magnum action
is called for, except for stunts and showing off.

I like my CZ....thanks for the advice Shootaway, I will now stick to shooting 19 round boxes of ammo so that my bore will last.

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:
I see that shootaway is trying to "poke the monkey."
Whose monkey? His own monkey, of course.
I have been around the block a few times.
I might have several extended-pinky-finger rifles in the safe.
But I will never again look to Mauser Banner,
Dakota, GMA, or any other Boutique Action Maker,
should I have a need ...
CZ will do nicely for the true magnum.
Winchester, Ruger, or standard Mauser will handle the rest.
Nothing bigger or better than a CZ 550 Magnum action
is called for, except for stunts and showing off.

Is it that's why you ordered a Satterlee?

I missed whatever "shitaway" wrote as I have him permanently on IGNORE. GREAT FEATURE BTW! Its blathering s are not worth reading nor responding to in any event.
I own and have gunsmithed a few GMA's and I'm not that impressed. Its not that they are bad, its just that they are not that good either. I've always saved mine for really big cartridges like the Gibbs and .600oks where it makes some sense due to the bolt diameter and mag box. If they float your boat, thats fine but the CZ550 is without a doubt the best bang for the buck out there IMHO. I've seen a CZ based .375 that held about 6 rounds too. Pretty neat gun. -Rob

If I was building a 505 Gibbs or a 600 OK, I think that the Granite Mountain Action would be the better choice. If I was having a .375 built, I think I would go with the CZ. I guess my real choice would be a nice, light, handy .375 Ruger over the H&H anyway. Just my two cents.

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:

quote:

Originally posted by RIP:
I see that shootaway is trying to "poke the monkey."
Whose monkey? His own monkey, of course.
I have been around the block a few times.
I might have several extended-pinky-finger rifles in the safe.
But I will never again look to Mauser Banner,
Dakota, GMA, or any other Boutique Action Maker,
should I have a need ...
CZ will do nicely for the true magnum.
Winchester, Ruger, or standard Mauser will handle the rest.
Nothing bigger or better than a CZ 550 Magnum action
is called for, except for stunts and showing off.

Is it that's why you ordered a Satterlee?

shootawry,
That was a long time ago, and luckily I got the 50% deposit back.
The purpose then was to get a stainless magnum Mauser built by Satterlee.
I did not have the intestinal fortitude to wait all the years that would require.
I have since decided a stainless magnum Mauser is not so important.
Maybe CZ will make their acton out of stainless someday?
Ho-hum.
I am too much of a whimp to need anything bigger than will fit into a CZ 550 Magnum, that wonderful, high quality action.

Now go poke your monkey, none around here for you to poke, except yourself.
Animal cruelty inflicted upon oneself is too sad to watch.
Go do it in private, shootaway.

Remember,RIP when you didn't tighten your guard screws right and your stock cracked? Then you didn't tighten your scope rings right and they cracked too.I hope that nothing else cracks and you have to deal with gases.

Shootaway

Have you learned how to clean a rifle barrel yet?

Inquiring minds want to know.



SSR

interesting posts as i was thinking the same thing as xile84

i have a 375h&h cz left handed that has been upgraded by wayne at ahr - upgrade 2

i also have a 458 lott same upgrade

hate the fact cz charges $600-$700 more for a left handed rifle - only negative i can say about cz - i own a dozen of their rifles

When i build another 375 H&H i would use a gma action - just cause it is different

the 375h&h cz rifle i have is my go to rifle - i probably will use it as my main hunting rifle for the rest of my life

all in all the best 3-3.5K i spent on any gun including my beretta 682e

i have hunted the rifle hard and eventually plan to send it back to Wayne to get the wood upgraded.

Beretta, feel free to drop by in my other thread to help me decide on a stock blank from Wayne!

With all the intelligent people going to hunt Africa today,I wouldn`t be surprised if they came out with a plastic action.

they have - its called a blaser :-)