Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only CZ 550 safari classic vs safari magnum

Is there any difference in these rifles other than the name? I have the classic version in 458 win mag/458 lott and was wondering what the value might be. Thought about selling it. Appreciate anyone’s input.

I guess nobody knows

I am not sure. I have the Classic version.
It seems there was an American Safari ?
I think Wayne van Zwoll did a short magazine article.
My Classic has been modified as to trigger and other features.
Was the single set trigger one of the differences ?

Mine is stamped, CZ 550 Safari Classics. The plural form.

It has the CZ-USA, Kansas City, KS stamp. And was apparently re-chambered from 458 Winchester to 458 Lott by CZ USA.

I'm not 100% sure of the naming but there were rifles modified in the US - they replaced the barrels and stocks and added a front sling attachment on the barrel, and a recoil reducer in the stock. They did this in 404J and 500J and one other that I can't recall. They were almost double the cost of the unmodified CZs.

The 458Lotts were also done in the US but were only a reamer job on the standard 458WM, and stamped for both chamberings.

Your best bet would be putting it up for sale on the “African Hunting” site. IMO. Lots of knowledge CZ guys and guys with deep pockets.

The "Safari Magnum" was the standard production rifle with European style "hog back" stock with the schnabel forend.




The "American Safari Magnum" was the same gun with American Classic style stocks.



Both of these were chambered in .375 H&H, .416 Rigby, .458 Win and .458 Lott.




The "Safari Classics" were built in the CZ custom shop here in the States with upgraded Classic style stocks with cheekpiece and they used McGowen barrels. They were offered in those chamberings plus .416 Rem, .404 Jeffery, .425 W.R., .450 Rigby, .500 Jeffery, .505 Gibbs. They would also do other cartridges on request.

Thank you for the explanation !
That simplifies things.

I didn't realise that 425WR and 450Rigby were also in that line-up of the Safari Classics. A friend of mine had a CZ550 in 450Rigby but I thought that it had been built up privately over here in Ozzyland. The stock was an exceptional piece of timber. Come to think of it, I think it his was done over here - the front sling swivel was on the stock and I believe that the barrel was OEM too since it had the CZ open sights on it. Does the 458WM barrel have enough meat in the chamber end for 450Rigby?

Thank y’all for explaining this!

100%.

They also did the American Safari Magnum with laminated stocks. Both my .416 and .458 are of this version.