Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa It Appears That CZ is Discontinuing the 550?

That should create a stir, but...somehow... it isn't Strange.

I was told that at SCI.

Stopping production altogether or just not sending any here?

The well-to-do in Yurrup seem to be gravitating toward the various spendy straight-pulls for driven hunts, and even some LR work, if YouTube is to be believed, but I thought the African market for good CRFs was still solid.

'Course, I been wrong a few million times before....

From their website, here in Yurrop,

https://www.czub.cz/en/hunt-and-explore/kulovnice-hunting

it appears, only the 557 action is left -

https://huntforever.org/2018/01/11/cz-model-557/
This is a push-feed.

Winchester 70 year 64 all over - from CZ.

The controlled-round-feed is going the way of the Dodo, but for the millions Mauser 98, Brno ZKK, CZ 550, Winchester 70 pre 64 as well as Kimbers.

The 557 appears to be a decent, if unremarkable push feed rifle. Where its market niche is here we'll just have to wait and see. I've seen exactly one in a store. Kinda heavy by current standards, I think. Personally, in blued steel and walnut, I'd be looking at Hawkeyes and M70s (but I ain't looking).

I have two CZ 550's now.One is a 308 Win Varmint.This rifle shoots extremely well.The other is a 550 Prestige in a 30-06.I ended up fire lapping it and it shoots really good now,under an inch.Before fire lapping it was more like 1 1/2-2".I just sent back a 550 Ultimate Hunting rifle 300 Win Mag just a couple of months ago.I inspected the barrel and the last two inches was badly grooved.CZ did an accuracy test and it failed.They offered me any rifle they had in stock or full refund on the rifle.I was surprised to see how few rifles they had to offer.The smallest magnum rifle was 375 H&H and then in the 557 line,30-06 was the largest and priced considerly less than the value of the rifle I had.I elected for the full refund.This rifle had issues from the start.I sent it in when it was new for feed issues and stock finish was coming off.They fixed all that.It didn't shoot as well as I expected it to.It was long throated with a short mag box.About .100 was as close to the lands as I could get.They advertised it as 1MOA out to 600yds with a couple of bullets I did not shoot so I never sent it back.It was really picky on what bullets would shoot well.I ended up fire lapping it with all 50 Tubb's Final Finish bullets.It shot much better after that with some bullets anyway.Such a shame CZ dropped the 550 line,they were great rifles if made right.

CZ will be foolish to discontinue the 550. The 557 is no better and maybe not even quite as good as the Howa, and the 550 is excellent in so many ways.

They started discontinuing the 550 in some models a few years ago.They are nice rifles with a lot of steel compared to a lot of rifles these days.I guess I'll hang on to the two I have.I can't say anything bad about their warranty service,they have treated me well,I think the factory quality control might need some help.

You mean I'm going to be hunting with (gasp!) an "obsolete" rifle?

Gee, have never done that before....

At least you won't be the only "seasoned citizen" hunting with an outdated, obsolete rifle.

I can say that. I'm older than Ingwe; he's older than dirt.

DF

Yep. CZ has a history of discontinuing excellent, expensive to produce firearms. I was not happy when CZ discontinued the 550 American quite some time ago in smaller calibers, but they continued production of medium and large bore 550s. Now it seems that they are discontinuing those as well. A shame really, b/c the 550 American is an excellent rifle - my only gripe with them is that the stocks are a bit fat and heavy.

I was also extremely disappointed when CZ discontinued the Dan Wesson Valor - especially the blued, carbon steel version.

They're just like any other company in that respect - maximizing their profits at the expense of quality.

As far as production CRF rifles, I guess FN, the Win M70 & Kimber are the only games left in town.

I recall the set of rings CZ provided with my 550 American chambered in the Swede. They are beasts! I used them as paperweights until I passed the Swede on to a nephew for graduating from college and the paperweights went with it.

Speaking of 550's, here's a full stock 550 in 7x57 with gray finish and butter knife bolt handle. I think it's factory, but don't know the specifics. I traded for it, then traded it for something I thought I wanted more. The wood looks like European walnut with the color and the streaks. It has a Timney trigger.

Does anyone know anything about this particular 550?

DF

Puddle, I just came from the folks house where Dad is shedding tools\guns and stuff he no longer can use. Sadly one is a 550 Swede with rather nice wood. He is wanting to sell if anyone is interested? Do not know why but his action is slicker than my 270 (remains rough) though mine is years older with a lot more rounds down her. No way 100 rounds made were ever fired in his. 50 would be a stretch.

Funny you mention rings. I had to buy new rings for his because I bought him a new scope and the 'smith' had put red loctite on the screws when installing his old scope. I had to destroy them to get them off. I went to a local Gibsons- hill country Texas - and darned if they didn't have a set of CZ 550 rings.

I bought my CZ 40P there for less thatn $300 if I recall.

Kenjs1, I recall the wood on that 550 American Swede was borderline too pretty to hunt with. It's probably why the nephew coveted it so much (that and the handload recipe I used for it).

Well Mule Deer I hunt with obsolete rifles too,,,,,,,,,,,,because I must be an obsolete hunter.
I like obsolete values too, and obsolete patriotism and obsolete belief in God and family.
But I did find a lot of obsolete elk, deer and antelope to hunt and fill our freezers, so all is well I guess.

Ruger Hawkeye.

The Ed Brown 704 action is CRF, although not a typical CRF design.

That design is now the basis for LAW rifles.

DF

Yep, basically the Garand system--which has worked very well for a long time.

OK. I never made that connection.

I have a 704 and had a Garand. Just never compared them or even thought about comparing them

DF

I have a 550 American in 9.3x62. Got it about 20 years ago and it has become my favorite rifle. Good thing s they made a lot of 550s so you can always pick one up on the used gum rack somewhere. I'd like to have one in either 7x57 or 6.5x55. Might be time to start looking around.

Yep, that's one reason factory rifles are discontinued: Enough were made to satisfy demand, and maybe even exceed demand.

Which is why Savage never started making the 99 again. When they were discontinued, there were already enough to MORE than enough to saturate the market. Which is why basic-model .300 Savages sell these days for around $500, depending on condition and locale.

I laid in 3 and am damn happy i did. Nicest factory rifles available imho in both execution and design.

Maybe for heavy working rifles like African PHs need, but for nicest factory rifles I vote for Kimber.

I just threw up in my mouth a little

You need to do something about that acid reflux issue.

Endeavor to persevere.

Me too! I have picked up (7) of them over the years. My first was a 9.3x62 which sold for $425 new. I had the CZ custom shop convert it to a safari rifle for me with open sights, barrel band sling swivel, etc. It was my retirement gift to myself.

I then bought three more in 6.5x55, 30-06, and another 9.3x62. I had Wayne at AHR convert them all to his #3 package with beautiful wood. However, the 9.3x62 was converted to a 9.3x66.

I then found two AHRs in 9.3x62 on the net that were also Wayne's #3 packages, and I had to have them!

Finally, I bought a stock 550 in 9.3x62 that I will let Wayne convert to something for me. I wonder if one can convert this caliber to a 358 Norma?

I am VERY sad to hear that CZ has discontinued the 550. Perhaps I should pick up seven more...

I could live with ALL of my rifles being "obsolete"..

I've always liked what I heard Kaywoodie say one time..

He prefers to hunt with no rifle made after 1947.....

I'd be good with that...

Only blued/steel Hawkeye you'll be looking at (if you were too look) is old stock or African models. Plain Jane regular ol wood/blued Hawkeyes are also discontinued.

I checked into a 9.3 x 62 the other day thru a LGS I do business with and they couldn't find one but told me there were still some 550 Safari's in 375H&H,416, 450 Lott and 458 Wins still available at around $1250 ea and ones with high grade wood for around $1800. MB

My 2007 vintage 550 2007 Safari 375 H&H is not for sale or trade. CZ has a world market. From my understanding Brno and CZ rifles are widely used in Africa. It's hard to believe that CZ is abruptly. leaving that market. Some months back a shooter next to us was shooting a 550 in 404 Jeffery. The gun was a custom from CZ. That rifle was a knock-out. It's hard to convince me that there was a quality problem with his rifle or mine. Another member allowed how that shooter was getting ready for his third African hunting trip. One needs to remember that CZ was housed in the Evil Empire. CZ rifles were not imported to the US until the Empire dissolved.

CZ550 American in 9.3x62 on gunbroker.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/865743082

Here's another 9.3x62 CZ550 with a "Buy Now" of $910 with a replacement Boyd's laminated stock, if that is your thing.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/865891811

While I understand the need and the marketing of the Ruger American Rifle, the Winchester XPR, the Browning Abolt III, CZ 557, Savage Axis, Remington 783 and others, I believe it is a mistake to ignore or fail to promote your regular line of rifles.

I believe Winchester has not properly promoted the Model 70 for many years, then they bring out the XPR. If you watch some Winchester sponsored hunting shows, it's like the host HAS to hunt with the XPR, if it is chambered in an appropriate caliber. Who in that situation would hunt with an XPR when there is a Model 70? Ruger is dropping several previously success M77 lines. Not much left of interest. Seems everything is devoted to the American Rifle. CZ keeping the 557 while allowing the 550 to expire is another example. No longer a fan of Remington rifles, so I don't care what they do. It's hard for me to decide if Savage should be building the Axis as I really don't have a clue exactly what is the difference between it and the lower end Model 10 and 110. Browning promotes the XBolt well, but they are about the only one. Kimber builds the Hunter line, but it is not really a bargain rifle. The metal work is the same (but no threaded muzzle, uses a DBM and has a high quality injection molded stock) as the Montana. You can take a Kimber and move it to a Hunter stock and vice versa.

Are we doing it to ourselves? Gleefully snapping up American Rifles etc because they are cheap and accurate and mostly ignoring the traditional lines? We probably are.
I do have a Kimber Hunter as a truck/utility rifle and my daughters have Savage Model 10s. No Axis, 783, XPR or American RIfles.

If we want the traditional rifles, we have to buy them, or the manufacturers, mostly run by bean counters, will drop them ASAP. Don't let them.

When I'm able I want a CRF Model 70. I have not given up on Remington 700s because of their design and if you put a good trigger on them and properly bed them I am here to tell you they will still out shoot most of theseothers. I have three examples in my safes, a 700 SPS .30-06, an ADL Synthetic, .22-250, and an ADL .243. They will outshoot everything I have except my old old way pre-accutrigger Model 110 Savage 7 Rem. Mag.
They, all three will outshoot me. That .22-250 will shoot under 1/2 MOA. The .243 and the 06 will shoot right at MOA with me behind the trigger, better with younger eyes.