CZ's will out shoot Rugers no worries, cz big bores have a better lug set up on the action than do the Rugers.
Some people will payout on the cz regardless............................funnily enough it's the same people always knocking them.......gets boring because a lot of it's bull crap. Probably all factory rifles off the shelf have issues......un fortunately.
The Ruger big bores are not your average MK11, and the 1/4 rib integral to the barrel is a sweet touch, they should not be compared to there crappy stainless MK11 (a tough and serviceable rifle given)
It is bull crap that the cz mounting system is weak, don't listen to that. I have a .585 Nyati built on a 602 Brno which is is the old version of the cz 550 magnum and the mounting set up holds as well as anything and that thing makes the lott look like a pop gun.
Rigby & Co at one point used the Brno/CZ action to make there big bores on.
A lot of cz's find themselves in use in Africa on Dangerous game also one of AMERICAS finest smiths J.Belk talks very highly of cz's. Check below.
Have a read Lawdog !!
I will say though the Ruger Big Bores are a pretty rifle and I would take which ever fits you best.
Reposted by request-----
Written several months ago and I have seen nothing to change my mind.
-----Critique of the current CZ rifles--------
In the last 6 months the CZs that have come through by shop have been of higher quality, better, fit and better finished rifle with every critical dimension dead on the money.
The first of the “new” BRNOs that I saw was the CZ 600, 602, and Fox models. This was twenty years ago. They had plenty going for them mechanically but looked they were finished with a cutting torch and sand blasted with road gravel……and they worked about as smooth.
Then my old partner started buying M527s in Hornet and 223 about 10 years ago. . I re-barrelled several of the 223s to Cheap shot and was pleased with them. The Hornets are a marvel.
Lately I’ve had several 550s in the shop for triggers, bedding, re-barrelling, etc. They last 3 #8217& I have seen are truly good rifles.
Externally the profile is now true with the bore and polished by increased tool speed (and probably Tin coated) with better cooling. It looks like they increased RPM and reduced feeds. This is totally reversed to what other manufacturers are doing.
When you increase RPM you reduce tool life. That means it cost more. When you slow the feed rate the milled surface is much smoother. It also takes longer to machine an action. It cost more money.
The bolt to receiver tolerance has been cut in half. That allows the new polish to get even better as the two surfaces wear in.
Somehow they have found quarter-sawn Turkish walnut for stocks. It’s plain as a chair-leg, but it’s sho NUFF good wood. The finish looks like an oil spill, but it comes off easy enough.
The barrels are so good I wont sell the take-offs. I’ll use them for *something *.
The action is an alloy steel Mauser with some Winchester M70 features. Surprisingly, the CZ has the best of both actions incorporated in it with some truly well thought out features. The CZ is an inner ring, three lug, non-rotating, long extractor action. It’s a true controlled feed rifle with the smoothness of a pre-war M70 but with the lock time of a Remington and the safety margin of a “C” ring Mauser.
Criticisms—
The European style stock is ugly as a Tumble bug’s den but the new American classic is remarkably well done for a factory rifle.
I wish I could get them without their so-called checkering. It’s pretty crude, but at least it’s cut by a person.
I truly wish I could meet the brain-dead marketing moron that specified the whole left side of the action be carved with a *$%%^#} billboard. He should be whipped with nettles and made to listen to rap music from a boom box locked to his head til his kidneys melt.
A line of stamping is OK, if done well. This CZ, CNC milling machine writing would look better on the hull of a ship…..below the water line.
The muzzles look like they were crowned with the corner of a brick, but they still shoot good. A recrown is the first thing any CZ desperately needs.
The position of the trigger is wrong and the trigger itself looks like it belongs on a cap pistol. There isnt ’t a good alternative. The entire trigger was miss-designed from the beginning. The way it is now is the only way the trigger is safe against bumps and jars. I'm working on it.
Trigger and Safety----
There should be an aftermarket trigger done, but since the CZ works so well and only the looks makes it horrid, an aftermarket trigger probably won’t be done. The single set is a very nice trigger and externally adjustable. The axis of operation should keep it more accurate than similar designs.
The sear contact patch is easily 50% greater than other override triggers. That's GOOD.
The safety is two position that locks the bolt down, that feature can be removed in 2 minutes if you have a bench grinder.
The safe on the M550 is a redesign of the Remington M700 but done in milled steel and over engineered to near bank vault standards. It blocks the sear and removes it from contact with the trigger AND cams the cocking piece back like a M70. It does not block the trigger and there is no trigger/safety interlock. There is a terrific 3-position safety made by PME if you prefer the vertical axis safeties.
Accuracy---
I’ve never heard of an inaccurate 527 or 550 rifle. The best group I’ve ever shot from a factory rifle (including a couple 40XBRs) was with a 527 sporter with a straight 8 scope!
I’ve not yet seen a bedding problem in a CZ, but they can be made better with glass bedding. I don’t free float anything I shoot but this action is as stiff as a Remington and will stand it if that’s what floats your boat.
These rifles are priced less than the value of the action and the other parts are too good to throw away just to use the action.
What a delicious dilemma.
If I was on investment brokerage house I'd issue a strong BUY recommendation..
