{"id":82652,"date":"2017-11-21T11:59:41","date_gmt":"2017-11-21T16:59:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/blog\/?p=82652"},"modified":"2025-11-18T04:22:32","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T10:22:32","slug":"cz-550-american-safari-magnum-full-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/cz-550-american-safari-magnum-full-review\/","title":{"rendered":"The CZ 550 American Safari Magnum in .375 H&H \u2014\u00a0Full Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Safari.\u00a0<\/em>The mere mention of the word obtains my undivided attention. it is the concept of a hunting adventure in the wild places of Africa. It’s undoubtedly my happy thought. The word safari<\/em> is taken from the KiSwahili dialect of East Africa. It simply means \u2018journey.\u2019 It represents the challenge of shooting a big-bore rifle. It also represents being in an environment where there are animals large enough to take your life with ease. The CZ 550 American Safari<\/a> rifle is, in and of itself, a journey. It has its roots in the Czechoslovakian Brno ZKK 602 rifle, and has come a long way to get to the current inception. That ZKK 602 is still revered among those who enjoy the big bore bolt-action rifles. The action is considered as rock-solid and reliable as a Mauser 98<\/a>.\"The<\/p>\n

The action itself is very strong, making a perfect platform for the popular rimless safari cartridges: like the .375 Holland & Holland Belted Magnum, the .416 Rigby and Remington Magnum, and the .458 Winchester and .458 Lott. Today\u2019s CZ 550 is a worthy descendant of the ZKK 602. Because it is a true controlled round feed action, it has the same large magazine capacity as the 602, and offers the reliability needed for those who are among dangerous game on a daily basis.\"The<\/p>\n

Bolt Action Rifles<\/h2>\n

In the last century, bolt-action rifles<\/a> become the consummate blend of reliability and affordability when it comes to dangerous game rifles. Yes, I am a fan of the double rifle and all of its baggage, including the logistic and romantic virtues. However, if I need a rifle capable of handling the world\u2019s game and I need it on a budget, the bolt rifle will get the nod every time. The Mauser 98 action, developed at the end of the 19th<\/sup> century, remains to this day a staple among bolt rifle designs. There’s a good reason for this. Its design is simple, strong, and fully functional at the worst of moments. Mauser 98 clones are still the basis for fine dangerous game rifles. And the CZ 550 action is a proud descendant of that honored German design.\"The<\/p>\n

The 550 is a controlled-round-feed action. This means the bolt face uses a claw to grasp the cartridge rim directly out of the magazine and will control that cartridge all the way into the chamber. While having been debated for decades, this feature is usually a universal requirement among the Professional Hunters who use a bolt-action rifle. I personally insist on it \u2013 though I know those who do not and have lives to tell the tale \u2013 for my own dangerous game guns, and the CZ 550 action is properly equipped with this feature, again a carryover from the Mauser 98 design. The 550 also uses a blade ejector, one of the strongest and most reliable designs on the market. Those two features alone should warrant the choice of a CZ 550 as a safari gun, but there\u2019s much more offered that adds to the list of benefits of this rifle.\"The<\/p>\n

CZ 550 Ergonomics<\/h2>\n

If you prefer iron sights for dangerous game work, and that\u2019s a perfectly viable sighting system, the CZ 550 is well equipped. Express sights, built around a fixed rear sight for 100 yards and undershooting, features a wide V and a vertical white line in the classic safari tradition. Additional leaves, marked for 200 and 300 yards, flip up to extend the range of the rifle. All these possibilities mate up with a fine barrel-band front sight bead, hooded for protection. The hood has a nice little window cut in the top to allow the natural light to flow to the front bead. The sights align very naturally, and though that small bead can be a bit tricky on a dark background, it allows for precise shot placement.\"The<\/p>\n

\"TheSPECS\"The<\/h2>\n