Originally Posted by
Nomercy448
As for the CZ vs. the Win 70, after owning both - including magnum length and "safari cartridges," I'd rather spend my money at the smith (or take the time to alter it myself, having done so on a few of them) and own a CZ than buy a Win 70. They make both because different guys will buy one or the other, but my recommendation is the CZ. Find me an unfired Pre-64 M70, maybe we'll have a different conversation, but as far as what's on a shelf today at the store, I'll take the CZ every day and twice on Sunday before I spend money on the Winchester.
I still think the .375 Ruger is a logical choice. It is being chambered by other manufacturers than Ruger and is becoming increasingly popular where dangerous game is hunted. Any .416 is a specialty rifle.
Your 550 experience is totally different than mine. I was unlucky enough to get one with the standard backward safety and otherwise all it needed was a new trigger, action smoothing and correction of it's feeding problems. It turned out to be a good solid rifle but I still did not like the way it handled. It belongs to someone else now.
I would buy a 550 again if I was looking for a .416 Rigby or one of the other similar cartridges that benefit from a very large action and a heavy rifle. It is a good solid action.
In my view the new production Model 70 is a better rifle than any other Model 70 that I have seen - including the "pre-64".
To each their own. It is what makes horse races.