Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Winchester SE or CZ 550 Safari in 375 H&H?

Handled the Winchester, seemed to fit well.

I like the idea of the CZ's greater mag capacity. Never handled a humpback 550 but understand it tames recoil a bit better.

I imagine this topic has been beaten to death, but looking for insight from people that have handled both. and observations from actual experience in the field.

I plan on actually using the rifle, primarily for a cape buffalo in the relatively near future.

Thanks in advance!

Never shot a buffalo, but like the CZ and its humpback stock. Fairly trim and handles recoil well for me.

I have a CZ 550 in .375 H&H. It shoots well and the recoil is moderate. The moderate recoil is largely because it's a heavy rifle. I've used it for buffalo and a variety of plains game and it has worked well. I have no experience with the Winchester.

I have the Winchester. Recoil is not an issue. You can also gain 1 round of capacity by changing the follower spring.

The 550 is a big heavy rifle for a 375. It does make it comfortable to shoot. The humpback stock works great with the iron sights.

I liked mine, but sold it. If I get another CZ 550 Safari it'll be in 416 Rigby or larger.

Winchester.


Both are good, but the CZ is bigger bulkier and a tad heavier...if you haven't hunted buffalo,there is a LOT more carrying and walking going on than shooting.
And three rounds is enough in the gun at one time.

No question Winchester. CZ is great if you are shooting a 459 Lott, but for a mild recoiling 375, hard to beat the 70

I thought you could only get .459 Lotts in a Remmy 700.....

Opps, but I see your point!

IMO, the Winchester wins out. I've got a New Haven SE in .416 Rem and another in the .375 H&H. The SE's are far from the "ideal" rifle in .375, primarily because the barrel is so stout (I think they use the same barrel contour for all chamberings up to .458). But it still weighs less than the CZ and handles better because of it. In any case, the CZ will still get the job done with no issues if it feels better to you than the Winchester.

Buy both.

Winchester model 70 all day everyday, only CZ I'd have is one that has had the euro slapped outta it by that hand out West, IIRC, it's AHR, the refinements and reliability are there and the unneeded bulk is gone.

Exactamundo!!!!!! Seems a lot of guys are asking about 375's here lately.. I'm glad I got mine when I did..

You bet BSA, I held, and wept over, an AHR in 9.3-62mm, that was one sleek and svelte hunting rifle, it wasn't for sale, or it would have left with me.

I like the CZ. Using one to take my first cape buffalo a couple weeks ago with one may have something to do with it.

Actually the extra weight helps since I don't normally shoot anything larger than a 30-06.

.459 Lott, only a Hi Point could handle such a round!

Thanks for all the input, leaning hard to the Winchester.

I am fixing to drive to ND from NM in preparation for being transferred there. I might just turn it into a scavenger hunt road trip. Stop at Cabelas and Bass Pro, see what turns up. A Whitworth would be a cool find too.

A whitworth would be damn good. Those are excellent rifles. Or maybe an old pre 64 model 70, some pawn shop owner has stashed away...

I posted a Model 70 for sale a while back. I will not be able to post pics for a few weeks if anyone is interested.

What about the Winchester Alaskan? Has anyone got one or handled one? The Safari is really barrel heavy in 375.

Looks like the Alaskan may have a slightly thinner profile barrel than the Safari Express. Could balance better? Though the barrel is an inch longer.....


http://www.winchesterguns.com/produ...current-production/model-70-alaskan.html

mlg, not a bad idea. The Safari Express is listed right at 9 lb. while the Alaskan is listed as 8lb 8oz, so 1/2 pound less. However, all calibers, are listed at the same weight so until you actually handled one in .375, you wouldn't know if it was any different than the SE or not. Of course, this assumes you are buying a new manufactured rifle and not an older NH rifle.

test13428

Yes - Only way to really find out would be to handle one in 375. And really the only thing missing on the Alaskan over the Safari looks to be the barrel sling swivel.....personally I could live with that in 375!

Who makes the spring? I've got one I'd like to change out.

Use a non-magnum Winchester factory spring

I bought the Alaskan over the SE. I felt that it handled better than the SE as there is less weight (not by much, however) and the center of mass is a little more forward. The SE is cool and has a barrel mounted sling point, however. I have a CZ and it is just too heavy for a 375 to my mind. My Alaskan has very plain wood, but I don't care as long as it is reliable. ymmv

I've got the CZ 550 in .375 and .416, and the Winchester in SE in .458 and .375 in the Alaskan.

Despite years of use with the CZs, I'll take the Winchesters in a heart-beat. It isn't even close, and the CZs got perma-parked the day the M70 .458 showed up.

I don't know where Winchester dreamed up the published weigh for the Alaskan. It isn't close to true. My .375 Alaskan weighs less than their published weight with the scope mounted. Its lighter than my M70 Featherweight in .270 Winchester. A 8 1/4 pound scoped .375 opens up all sorts of user options. It handles like a sporter instead of an Express, carries like a Featherweight and with some of the lighter bullet options matches the trajectory of my .300s with typical hunting bullets out to 500.

A few years back there was a guy at the range practicing offhand with a big ol' rifle. With open sights, he was laying them in very well at 100 yards. Turns out it was a .458 he'd had built in the custom department at New Haven. He also had replaced the cast extractor with a good spring-steel one and had the bolt handle spot-welded to the body. With those mods, an M70 would be my choice.

The CZ AHR 9.3x62 I had was a gorgeous rifle in every way, I traded it. It was a tad heavy and too pretty to bang around in the brush.

I have a SS NH M-70 Express in .375 H&H which is lighter than the 9.3 AHR. I cut it to 21" and just recently sent it to Karl for major barrel flutting, hopefully to lose another 8 oz. I'm looking for it to show up any day. With the original Tupperware, NECG irons and a 1.5-6 Zeiss Victory glass in Warne QD's, it's about ideal, IMO.

BTW, I tweaked the NH trigger to a crisp 3#'s, jerked the hot glue bedding out with plairs, Steel Bedded the lug. And, who cares if you scratch up a SS/Tupperware gun...

I like that rifle, it handles great and is a keeper. I'll post photos when I get it back and put together. After I trade a .338-284, the .375 H&H will be my only rifle larger than .300 WM, not counting .45-70's of course; I have five.

DF

For reference purpose, I pulled the scope off of my M70 Alaskan .375. With Leupold QD bases but no scope or sling it weighs 7.78#. I felt it was noticeably more lively in the hands than the SE. The SE has nice features and I would want the extra weight in a .416 as I am getting old and recoil sensitive.

I went through this exact same decision two years ago, debating between the CZ, Winchester Safari Express and Winchester Alaskan. I ended up buying the Alaskan and it's been fantastic. I preferred the lighter barrel contour and front swivel location on the Alaskan compared to the Safari, and both Winchesters I felt were finished nicer and weighed less than the CZ. My Alaskan weighed 7 lbs, 9 oz out of the box. I was pleasantly surprised by the recoil, having shot it in all positions it has never been uncomfortable.

I would also consider the Kimber Talkeetna

Ken,

In an earlier post you mentioned that a Whitworth would be a cool find. Let me second that suggestion.

I decided that was the way I wanted to go a few years ago, and have never regretted it. I found one at a very good price. It would have been very serviceable as it was, but I wanted a few improvements. I turned it over to Jim Kobe who did wonderful work on it and produced exactly the rifle I wanted. Among other things, I had him cut the barrel to 22". As pictured below, the rifle weighs 9 lbs. 5 oz. which I find to be a good weight for a .375. It is very accurate with the original barrel (I checked that before Jim did the work.). I took it to Africa in June 2015 and shot a Kudu, Nyala, and Black Wildebeest with it and really bonded with the rifle. It shoots 270 gr. Barnes TSX bullets as flat as a 180 gr. bullet in a .30-06.

I picked up a beautiful interarms whitworth in 375h&h this morning. Very nice gun.

Yes they are.

I prefer my M70 over my BRNO due to its weight and balance.

That's why I prefer my Sako Mauser.

Mrfudd,

If that Sako ever needs a new home you let me know. I have been looking for one for a while. Nice rifle!

One of my .375's,a Winchester M 70 SS with a Banser stock and Weaver 3x scope.



As is in the pic,just a hair over 9 lbs.

My Mark X is right at 9.5 lbs and i actually welcome the weight as far as recoil goes, for toting it i just have to "suck it up, buttercup"

I doubt that the Sako will be for sale in the foreseeable future. It handles and shoots great. Recoil is very mild for a light rifle. My 110# niece had no problems shooting it before I mounted the scope- probably weighed right at 7#. Must be great stock geometry.

Nice Mark X you have Jmd025.

Here is a .375 RUM with a 4x Zeiss,it is kissing up to 10 lbs. With a 300 gr Nosler Partition,it's getting 2736 fps average and recoil is just about my limit.

Used a 300 gr Hornady RN on the rabbit.

Thanks ! I dig it .

No jackrabbits under its belt yet , but I did stalk up this pile of venison cutlets and took it before it could charge .

Good going!

Cabelas north of Denver had a like new model 70 Safari Express at a great price. Mine now.

Gotta pick an optic, rings, & base.

Zero the irons for what range?