CZ 550 Safari Magnum or Winchester Model 70 Featherweight?

[kamagong]

If you could only have one, which would you get? I am torn between the CZ Safari Magnum in .375 H&H and the Winchester Featherweight in .308. Truth be told, I will probably get the both eventually, so I guess I should ask which I should get first?

As a bit of background info most of my shooting experience is with pistols, although I also own a couple of ARs. Now that I've checked the "serious" guns off the to-buy list I want to get a good bolt action centerfire.

I am well aware that these two guns are quite different. At this moment I am leaning towards the CZ for the simple fact that it comes with iron sights and I can take it and go shooting immediately. On the other hand, ammo is much more available and cheaper for the Winchester.

What do you guys think?

 

[RickMD]

If all your shooting experience is with handguns and AR's, going to the .375 as a first rifle would be a major mistake. There is simply no comparison between a .308 and a .375. Additionally, unless you live in grizzly country or Alaska, there's little use for a .375 anyway. The recoil of a .375 H&H is nearly double that of a .308 class rifle and is far more expensive to shoot even if you handload.

Colonel Townsend Whelen once wrote, "The 30-06 is never a mistake". This is from an expert rifleman with few peers. Whelen could reportedly hit a man-sized target at 200 yards using the bolt action, open-sighted 1903 Springfield .30-06 service rifle, scoring six hits in ten seconds flat, and could do it on command.

Go with a quality .308 or '06. Chances are you can get by for the rest of your life with just that one rifle (unless you're like the rest of us and believe if one's good, fifty must be better).

 

[Dr.Rob]

Unless you are planning a hunt for Alaskan bears, moose and giant plains game stick to the .308.

 

[kamagong]

Chances are you can get by for the rest of your life with just that one rifle (unless you're like the rest of us and believe if one's good, fifty must be better).

I think that's it exactly. I don't hunt, although I plan to after hogs eventually. And I hope to one day go to Alaska, maybe even Africa, for safari.

For my normal, everyday existence I don't need a rifle. I have my 1911s and ARs, as well as a couple of .22lrs, for use as my regular boomsticks. Maybe I'm getting too caught up in the mystique of the rifle, but I really want to own a fine example of one. I'm currently reading Jeff Cooper's Art of the Rifle and Peter Capstick's Death in the Long Grass. Since this gun won't be the most practical piece in my safe, part of me thinks I should just go with the one I find most beautiful, assuming I can hit with it of course.

For those that aren't familiar with these two rifles, I'm attaching photos from the manufacturers. I think they're gorgeous.

CZ 550 Safari Magnum

Winchester Model 70 Featherweight

 

[Loosedhorse]

CZ's are great, and the .375 is a legend. But the strength durability of the CZ action, and the universal appeal of .375 against tough game, both kind of clatter to the ground for a rifle that is meant for the target range.

I have found late-production Model 70s to be very inconsistent in their accuracy; and featherweights are more fun in the field then off the bench. Even with those warnings, I'd probably go .308 here.

Sometimes people just fall in love. A good friend just bought a .416 Rigby--no plans to go to Africa, just wanted it. Good for him.

...But he's owned a .308 for a few decades. You did ask "which one first."

 

[tcrocker]

Neather. I got the CZ 550FS in 9.3x62. It is right on the heels of the 375HH, and you can hunt dangrous game in some countrys in Africa. But it uses a standard long action case. And it's a tac driver..But if you decide you wont a Featherwight let me know I have one I'll sale you it's in 30-06.
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[Dr.Rob]

If you are set on the CZ, you might try the AMERICAN safari magnum, the stock is more traditional.

 

[Gordon]

I have a twenty something YO friend who as his first rifle bought a .375H&H CZ550 Safari. He was shown how to shoot it properly from the get go , got basic reloading equiptment and learned to shoot it with the express sights. It is a very good rifle, close to perfect IMHO, and he can get less than 3" 100 yard groups with his mellow reloads and 6" at 200 yards, benched. Funny his next acquisition is gonna be a .308 Winchester Featherweight! Yes the new ones seem spotty in QC/accuracy so he is looking for a 10 YO or older "Classic" controlled feed or (better) a pre 64 Featherweight.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

The new production Win. 70, from what I've heard, are quite nice, made from the FN manufacture. They have gone back to the pre-64 action with CRF.

Actually, I'm about to buy one of the new production Stealth's in .308, here is a link:

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=001C&mid=535120

Heck, I just like the action, I'd go for a Win. 70 Safari Grade over the CZ.

 

[Craigman]

.375's are sweet! and I think it'll hold its value better. The Win Featherweight will hold decent value too, but .308's (to me) are a dime a dozen. and i dont believe in overkill either

 

[Hizzie]

IMHO get the 375 H&H, you can always download ammo for plinking or smaller game. You cannot hotrod the 308 Win to 375 levels. The 375 would be more versatile. Oh, and you might want the Amercan stocked version for recoil.

9.3x62 or its rimmed equivalent 9.3x74R are street legal for dangerous game in only 2 or 3 countries in Africa if you plan to ever go there. Most regulations state .375 minimum caliber (9.3mm = .366"). Many don't have an energy requiremnet making rounds like 376 Steyr legal. H&H Hunter posted a sticky on caliber/energy requirements in Africa.