Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles CZ 550 American or SC M70 Super Grade?

Price difference about $150 more for the new M70.

Looking at .270 for either one.

Is the M70 worth the extra $?

I can tell you that the CZ in an excellent rifle for the money. Accurate, rock solid, reliable. And the new wood is very nice. I have had Rugers, push feed 70s, and a fair amount of other stuff, factory and custom, and I have bought and kept 2 CZ 550s. I lent my 6.5 to a friend last week when we went out to fill doe tags. He's always shot Remingtons. Now he wants my 550.

To me it seems that the numbers are off a bit...either the CZ is marked way up, or the Winchester is marked way down.

Around me, the price difference is closer to $300.

I don't have any direct experience with the new M70's, but by all accounts they are supposed to be nice.

I own a CZ550 American (.30-06), and it is a great rifle...not without its con's, but for the price (around me they go for $600+/-), it's tough to beat and the Single Set trigger is a nice feature. Even though i rarely use it, it has come in handy from time to time, especailly when shooting on paper.

DW

I like the CZ's but for that money the M70 is a better rifle. It will be bedded, the bolt has an anti bind feature lacking on the CZ's, and you will be able to mount the scope lower. The Winchester will also have a much higher re-sale value.

The CZ 550 American is a great rifle. When I first got it, I figured I'd never use the ss trigger for hunting. WRONG. Turns out I've used it on every animal I've taken so far.

Does the CZ bolt tend to be sticky?

Mine isn't.

Winchester M70 Super Grade - I only buy firearms made in the United States.

IMO- The CZ bolt can bind when operated. You usually have to work at it to make it do it, or operate the action in an awkard angle, but can be done. I CAN'T make a M70 bolt bind if it was manufactured after the late 60's, early 70's (whenever they added the anti-bind).

Really couldn't go wrong with either, but I would lean towards the Winchester if the price is that close. Hard to beat the Super Grade for a fancy and classy rifle both. Have only seen a couple of them ,but they have both been beautiful.

Go American made! They are great guns!

I love my CZ, but only because Winchester never made a Super Grade 416 Rigby. As has been previously stated the CZ's are terrific rifles but the Winchester Super Grade is a class act that a CZ cannot match.

As to CZ bolts binding, they get VERY high marks in PH trials in Africa and are common to see in the hands of same. Mine is rock solid reliable or it would not be my Elephant Brown Bear and Buff rifle.

Buy the model 70. If you choose to sell it someday you will be very glad you did.
dan

In overall value money-wise, the nod goes to the M70. I have not had a chance to handle the M70's outside gunshop, but they sure seem nice. I have a BRNO 601 in .270, and the wood is very pretty, it handles fine, but darn, is that one heavy gun! It is a very heavy barrel profile at the receiver, and though it tapers, with scope and 4 rounds ammo + sling, you are at a very porky 10+ pounds. Surely the M70 is slimmer than that.

Another consideration are scope rings, especially if you have need for extended ones. the CZ rings are VERY expensive in comparison to M70 rings

Good question! was very intrested to hear about the bolt binding on the CZ. As for my earlier posted question on Kimbers, Cooper's, and Model 70's, I am leaning toward the Model 70 and doing the "upgrades" that I would personnally favor, rather then spending money on a higher end rifle that may still need some work. Had been thinking about the CZ550, but this post has put that question to rest.
Put me in the Model 70 Camp!

Rob

I had a CZ550 9.3x62mm which had a bolt that had a tendency to bind. I first noticed a couple of weeks after getting it home. The place I bought it from said it was just "new" and would slick up..So I kept for another few weeks, shot it a bit and free floated the barrel. Durring that period the bolt continued to bind periodically, so the shop sent back to CZ who replaced with a new rifle, no questions asked..

Even tho' minds seem to be made up, I just have to say a couple of things in response to this post. I have no interest in being inflamatory but please... In my experience the 550 is a significant improvement over the Brno ZKK rifles in a number of ways. No comparison. Neither of my 550 bolts shows any inclination to bind. I have an older 550FS in 7x57 and a newer American in 6.5. They kill deer for me every year and function flawlessly. I let a friend use the 6.5 last week. Now he wants to take it home. As for rings, I put Millett or Leupold rings (can't remember which) on the FS since I'm not crazy about the CZ factory rings. They were about $26 and have been solid. I had an old BLR 30-06 scoped. THAT was a 10 lb. rifle. My 1885 scoped is a 10 lb. rifle. The newer 550 American is less of a porker by far than either of them. I'm an old fart, I hunt in the mountains, and neither 550 is a burden.

Just got home and weighed the 550 American. A couple of ozs. over 8 1/2 lbs, ready to hunt, like 8/12. I realize a lot of a person's affinity for a particular rifle is personal taste. No argument. But let's at least be reasonably accurate and compare apples with apples.

Well I went in and compared them side by side. Did not like the high gloss finish (blue)on the SG. The wood was nicer on the SG, but nothing to get real excited about. I ended up leaving with a pre 64 mod 70, circa 1954. They just don't make them like that anymore.

Excellent choice. Congrats!

Well a pre 64 vice a CZ-550.. My bolt does not bind, it was a bit stiff when new but I polished the rails a bit and shot the rifle. No issues. Great figure in the wood. Nice set trigger and MOA accuracy out of the box. No need to bed or mess with the stock. They are a bit heavy, but well made and a proven action. Mine is a 550 in 9.3X62 Kind of a crap shoot to me, (pre 64 wins of course) later Winchesters?? The one rifle I have kept (wifes) that I can not to get to shoot well is a model 70.