All right guys, X-mas shopping is done and there is a little let over for Santa.
Santa had his eye on Winchester Model 70 Safari ($929.00) or CZ 550 American Safari ($629.00). I've read alot about CZ's on the forums (mostly positive) but not much on the Mod 70 (it looked nice at Cabela's though). Any suggestions or opinions are appreciated.

God Bless and Merry Christmas!

Doug

CZ - for the money you save, you can "slick it up" nicely.



Also, the CZ will hold 5-down (375) with no modifications.



Merry Christmas to you!

I have a cz 550 and really like it it is accurate to and is a six shot gun......talk to a person who owns an m70 and they will suggest that. I think you will do well with either, the weight difference is not as much as claimed by there advertisments ts either.

I am not just trying to prove PC wrong, but I have a M70 in 375 and I would get the CZ. I got mine for 650 unfired, after spending about 100 to have the barrel band sling swivel fixed and reblued (guy had used pliers to force a too large sling swivel pin in it) I was at 750. It is a very well made rifle, smooth as silk, shoots great. I still have to put a scope on it though and do something about the iron sights as they are too low with that stock and I can't get down on them for a good sight plane.

For the 300 difference you can do a lot to the CZ, and not everything the guys here say to do HAS to be done. If you like M70 safeties put one on, so under 150, then if you want another crossbolt add one, what 45 bucks installed depending on who does it. you can bed it yourself.

in short, if I had to pay regular price for them I would get the CZ, even though I love my M70. almost forgot, I had to have my monogram gold inlaid in the triggerguard, that is extra but I had to do it at least once to have a truly personalized rifle. :-)

Red

I HAVE a Model 70 375H&H push feed circa 1980 and I gotta admit, I have NOTHING bad to say about it after close to 5000 rounds down range. I am in the process of having it rebarreled because it has lost some of it's accuracy and now groups 1 1/2-2" for my troubles.
I have handled bunches of the CRF and have been sorely tempted but I have never had a misfeed, or any function problem with the pushfeed and I have to admit I never envision having to run rounds while inverted.
I shot numerous big bore exercises and friendly competitions with it where speed of fire was a requirement and since I was also shooting against double rifles, the 3 down one up was not a problem. Again never a malfunction no matter how fast I ran the bolt.

I know that there are lots of tweaking things that you can do to CZs to make them "work" after you get one, but there has always been something about my Winchester bolt guns that has just always been a good solid gun feel to them and they always seem to just keep on trucking.

my .02

I've had both rifles, though neither in .375 (that one's a Whitworth I will never part with) and I still maintain that by the time you have either one of them absolutely the way you want it, you will have so close to the same amount of money with either one, it won't matter. The extra rounds down on the CZ are a definite plus, if you're likely to run into something irritable and those double square bridges are too classy. On the other hand, it is not for nothing that the M70 is "the Rifleman's Rifle" and so I don't believe that either one of them can be called a bad choice. Have fun.

Main question I have is have you handled both of them? They are pretty different rifles in terms of fit and style. The M70 is more refined in terms of both fit and style. THe CZ can be made into a very nice rifle with some work, but from the factory, the finish is pretty crude and it pegs out the "clunky meter". If you just want to bu a rifle and shoot it without doing anything else, I would get the M70 hands down. If you have some more in your budget after the initial sales price, then it evens out some. But to make the CZ more svelt will cost more than the M70.

I too have done both. I have a mod 70 375 and CZ in both 416 Rigby and 404 Jeffrey. All are tricked out pretty well by someone or another. If you like one safety over another that is a choice. As said above if you are not restocking, check fit and feel of each. I restocked all of mine. The 6 shooter aspect of the CZ is a plus. How tricked out it really needs to be to suit your taste is up to you and your budget. Got a coin? Flip it.

Model 70 is my choice. Next one will be a Dakota.

a very prejudiced vote for the M-70

DougE,

I have an M70 in 375 H&H and two CZ 550 Safari Magnums one in 416 Rigby and one in 458WinMag being converted to 458Lott.

I'd say go to a store that has both, handle them both at the same sitting, and then go with the one that feels best and strikes your fancy. IMHO, you really can't go wrong with either one.

BTW, the first owned was the M-70, the last two added have been the CZ's