CZ vs. Savage!

[Sulaco]

I am in the market for a new rifle and have narrowed my selection down to either a CZ 550 American, or a Savage 114 American Classic.

I am leaning more towards the CZ because of the trigger, but I like supporting an American company and I also like the idea of being able to swap out barrels on my own. Plus the Savage is cheaper.

What say ye?

 

[browningguy]

Actually, the accutrigger on the Savage is better than any stock CZ trigger to me. I've got several hunting friends with CZ's, and while they are ok they aren't any more accurate than most Savages. The CZ looks a little better from 10 feet away, but most of them have pretty mediocre checkering when you get close, and some awful sprayed on colored finish. The good news is that when you strip that finish there is often a pretty nice piece of wood underneath.

Guess I'm voting Savage.

 

[Essex County]

Good Luck abounds! There is no incorrect answer......Essex

 

[scubie02]

what caliber are you looking for? the American Classic is the one with the nice wood stock, correct? I hate to say it, as I'm a CZ fan and own several, but in that comparison (for me personally) I'd go with the savage, as it's a lighter/handier rifle (and quite nice looking). I'm not a fan of the stocks on the regular savages, but the nicer model is pretty nice actually. With the CZ's, I'm not a fan of the 550 Americans--to bulky and clubbish. Now the full stock model is another matter, the lux ones aren't too bad, and the 527's (if you were looking for a 22 centerfire or a 7.62x39) is a nice rifle.

Now mind you, there's nothing wrong with the 550's and I have yet to get a CZ that's not more accurate than your average rifle, so if you like the style it's a decent rifle.

 

[Will Learn]

+1 for Savage

 

[SSN Vet]

I'm drooling over the 114 American Classic.

It is a beautiful rifle and I'd love to have one in .30-06.

Unfortunately, a Stevens 220 is more in my price range...

long sigh.......

 

[Sulaco]

I just got a price of 600 for the Savage. I have a friend at a local shop that can probably do better.

I am leaning towards .270, but open to 30-06 because it's a better 'do anything' caliber.

 

[SShooterZ]

No comparison in my opinion.

I own both and I think the CZ is a notch above the Savage in terms of fit, finish and quality. Better wood, deeper bluing and a Mauser action that's hard to beat.

Savage has a great trigger but using the set trigger on the CZ is outstanding. You barely have to touch the trigger. The CZ will also come with a setup of rings and you won't need bases so you save a few bucks there.

Both very good choices though and I don't think I could give either away.

 

[flashhole]

+1 for the set trigger on the CZ. You'll love it. My CZ is the 550 Full Stock, great gun.

 

[CZF]

CZ all the way. I hate that ugly looking accu-trigger gimmick, and have to
wonder if the Savage is 100% American made??

My best friend in Oregon, has a couple of Savages. I've shot them and found
them to be ok. he has shot my CZs and was favorably impressed.

My CZs (beautiiiful) did cost a bit more than his economy level Savage guns.

 

[cbsbyte]

wonder if the Savage is 100% American made??

Well Savage is made in America. The factory is right down the road from me, and everything is made in house except for some of the stocks which are made else where. On the other hand their 22.lr and .17HMR rifles are made in Canada. The new shotgun line is made in Italy. So almost everything is made in the US.

Personally, I would go with what ever feels best, and is the cheapest. Good idea to try hold both models before putting down any money.

 

[R.W.Dale]

when you get close, and some awful sprayed on colored finish.

????? A sprayed on high polish blue. Whodda thunk it??

By the CZ you'll be far happier with it. The single set trigger is outstanding unlike savages retarded ACCU-GLOCK trigger.

 

[Davo]

Krochus I like the Accu-trigger, what is your problem with it?
And I think hes referring to stock finish, not the bluing.

 

[mustanger98]

I like the AccuTrigger too. It's not Glock. I know; I've looked at Glocks and hated 'em.

 

[R.W.Dale]

what is your problem with it?

let's see other than the fact it's a visual abomination and that Savage feels like the only way they can trust us peasants with a decent trigger is to install an axillary safety catch onto the trigger itself.

It might be different if the accu trigger had the best trigger pull of any rifle EVER. But instead it's little more than an OK trigger with a goofy safety added to it.

After adjustment my old sav 110's had much better triggers than any accu-glock unit I've ever pulled

 

[R.W.Dale]

If it walks like a duck, swims like a duck, quacks like a duck, %*@)@ and leaves feathers all over the place.

Then it must be A DUCK

 

[RobZ71LM7]

*yawn* The only argument I'm hearing from those that don't prefer the savage are cosmetics related. My accutrigger was 1.5 lbs out of the box, nice clean crisp break and practically no creep or overtravel. It's pretty damned good for a factory trigger. And my HS Precision 10FP shot less than 1/2 moa out of the box.

 

[rangerruck]

cz, with a very close second to the savage, the cz trigger is way better.

 

[Drifter27]

Recently bought a savage, it was fairly accurate when it shot, but it looks like what comes from my dog when she eats too much grass. Now its in the corner waiting for the gun show. I'm building a gun rack to show off my 550, and doesn't lag on straight shooting. Its your money but I'd get the CZ.

 

[cmb3366]

Meet the twins, my pair of CZ 550 .270's. I bought the second planning to rebarrel, but couldent bring myself to after seeing how accurate it was. The triggers are sweet, a single set, fully adjustable affair. Anyone who says the Savage Lawyer-Bar model is better has not felt a CZ. Build quality on the CZ's is superb.

 

[Ifishsum]

Both fine guns IMO. I'm pretty much sold on Savage - unfortunately I haven't been able to find an American Classic locally to fondle and make my own yet.

I really don't think you'll be sorry either way though.

 

[Waddison]

I own both, load for both and shoot both regularly.
Savage 12BVSS .243 Win., CZ 550 American 6.5x55.

Both will shoot very, very well if I am having a good day. The Savage will print 3/4", 5 shot groups at 100 yds. (occasionally better) when properly fed, and the CZ 550 will do slightly better. Both shoot better than my Kimber 84M "Classic" that cost more than twice the price of either the Savage or CZ! For "from-the-box" volume production rifles, how can a guy complain? (The Savage likes Hornady bullets and the CZ prefers Sierras. So it goes...)
The trigger on the Savage is the equivalent of a fairly well adjusted Rem 700. The CZ's set trigger is nearly target quality. When set, is one clean, crisp, consistent HAIR trigger. And the CZ's trigger is easily adjusted. Mine is adjusted to a very consistent 2-1/4 lbs.

Savage fit and finish is pretty good. Much better than the 1992 vintage 110 I had in .270. UGH! The CZ is a couple grades better. The metal finish is better. The wood to metal fit is better. The quality of the wood and inletting is better. And the feel is a WHOLE lot better!

The CZ's bolt is silky smooth, true Mauser. The Savage is not as smooth, "bump 'n run" (push feed) bolt action. Both will do the job, but the CZ will do it a little more nicely! Aesthics have value, too.

Price wise, they are not all that far apart. I like my Savage, but I love my CZ!
Handle them both. Compare them closely. Then decide where YOU think the value is.

You are the one who will use it after all.

Waddison

 

[M1 Shooter]

Savage.


Don't get me wrong, I like the CZ's, although I don't own any of their centerfire rifles, I have handled them in gunshops, they are pretty nice. I like some features on the Savage better and vice versa. One thing I like better about the Savage is its safety. It's a tang safety that is easy to get at and I like that it has three positions, 1, safe(locked trigger and bolt), 2, safe(locked trigger, but you can work the bolt for loading unloading), and 3, fire.
BTW, mine is a pre-Accu trigger model, and the trigger is adjustable. I've adjusted it down to a nice crisp 3lb pull. I haven't tried the Accu trigger so I can't coment on it. I suppose one of these days I'll pick up a CZ as well though. I have a couple of their rimfire rifles and they are sweet!

 

[Sulaco]

Both guns fit me well with the better fit going more to the CZ. I also like the CZ trigger better than the Savage trigger but not because I dislike the Accu-Trigger (I am a big Glock fan and don't mind a trigger safety one bit, although I do understand the liability argument from our side).

I am still on the fence, but beginning to lean more towards the CZ (it's also what I originally wanted until I saw Savage was making the 114 with a nice stock).

 

[SShooterZ]

*yawn* The only argument I'm hearing from those that don't prefer the savage are cosmetics related.

No you're not. Trigger had been mentioned several times as had the action.

And all things being equal, aesthetics will help lean someone towards one over the other and should be mentioned.