Push Feed or Controlled Round Feed?

Although I have no interest in hunting "dangerous game", I do believe that controlled feed is a highly desireable feature in a sporting rifle that is used for hunting of any kind.

While I strive for clean one-shot kills, and put in the time at the target range to help insure that I'll be able to deliver them, the game sometimes has it's own ideas. With a controlled-feed action, I hunt with confidence, knowing that if a quick, well-placed second shot is required, my rifle will deliver it -always, and without fail.

I currently shoot a CZ 550 American Classic in .30-'06 caliber. This rifle will put 5 shots into 1.5 MOA groups, which I believe to be sufficiently precise for the game that I shoot over the ranges that I am comfortable shooting it at. I don't think that controlled feed reliablity and sufficient precision need to be mutually excluisve and the CZ 550 adequately proves that point.

Although I would not personally hunt game with a push-feed bolt action, I know that there are legions of hunters here in this country who have used Remington Model 700's and similar weapons for years with spendid resutls at every pull of the trigger, so I would have to say that for some users, controlled-feed is a "non-feature", subject to personal taste.

Shoot what you've got confidence in and shoot well, whether it be controlled-feed or push-feed, and shot it confidently. For me, doing that means shooting a controlled-feed action. Your results, as they say, may vary.

-JP

I like the basic execution and design of the CZ550 and took a nice 39" cape buffalo with one in 416 Rigby. The 550 in 416 was the most accurate out of the box big bore I've ever shot...and at a very modest price!

One thing that has been encountered frequently with the heavy caliber 550s is their peopencity to crack stocks, however. The first thing one should do when getting started with the new CZ550 is to purchase a Micro Bed or Acraglass kit and bed the action...BEFORE you ever put one round through the rifle. This done, you have a wonderful shooting rifle with a good single set trigger set up. I was able to get sub MOA three shot groups out of the two different CZ550s I have owned...one in 416, the other in 375 H&H. Both have been traded off in my constant cycling of guns, and I miss them.

I love sporting arms, and want to own them all. The way I get to come near owning them all is to buy them right when opportunity allows; play with them for a while; sell or trade them for whatever catches my fancy next. Thats how I've magaged to own so many different guns. :idea: Some are so good that they just stick around. I call them my savings account for my old age...adaquate rationalization IMHO. :wink:

The CZs in general also need a bit of breaking in, action wise. The final machining is often just a bit rough at the edges, but working the action several hunderd times smooths things out, and they work much better. Their design has only one flaw in my opinion...the safety. It is in a place at the right side behind the bolt where it is possible to brush against it with your hand when cycling the bolt and knock it back to the "on" position. This can get a your "you know what" in the ringer when trying to get off more shots quickly into a brown bear or ticked off buffalo. It has never happened to me, but can happen in theory. The safety doesn't move back all the way with the bolt open, but it can move just far enough to engage. This would be a problem if shooting with gloves on...possibly...

All in all, do I like the CZ550...? YOU BET!

Drop-Shot,

The barrel on my CZ 550 is 600 millimeters, according to the owner's manual. I think that works out to around 23.5 inches or so.

I've been thinking of buying another CZ 550 in .375 for an upcoming African trip, but right now, I leaning toward the 9.3 X 62 chambering, instead. It would be a little more practical as a feral pig gun than a .375 H&H Magnum is and that is what I hunt the most here in the Golden State. However, I don't have any interest in hunting dangerous game and I got along just fine previously on kudu, eland, and the like with my old Springfield in .30-'06 shooting Barnes "X" bullets and Barnes "Solids", so I might just skip the whole medium-bore thing and take what I've got.

If I do get the .375, I'll definitely be taking luv2safari's advice regarding taking precautions to prevent stock splits.

-JP

JP,

You are a man of quality and breeding! You have mentioned two of my all time favorite calibers, 375 H&H and 9,3x62.

For your purposes the 9,3x62 would be a great choice. It is a killing caliber in a standard length action. I shoot its older brother, the 9,3x74R...exact same FACTORY ballistics...But, the 9,2x62 can be pushed a bit to the point of having a real rock crusher round. It will also shoot somewhat flat with the Nosler 225 Ballistic tip bullets. Many elephants were killed with the 9,3, although it is not exactly legal now to do so. It was the issue round for game rangers throughout Southern and Eastern Africa for years; that says something right there!

With the 286 or 320 gr bullets out on the market it becomes a potent "little" round. There are many good bullets for the 9,3 around now. If American hunters knew what the 9,3's were, they might just flock to this .366 caliber powerhouse; it can be made to walk away from the 35 Whalen, another of my favorite calibers.

I feel like I'm cheating on my wife (or worse, my mistress) by not urging you toward the 375, probably my favorite caliber of all, but you are leaning the right way regarding the 9,3. Have you ever thought of having it rechambered to 9,3x64... :?: then you have the best of both worlds... :idea:

Although I personally prefer controlled round feed and especially like the Winchester pre-64 type; I'm not sure that it really makes a difference in the real world. I have been nothing but pleased with that type of feed/claw extractor on my Kimber 84M and was likewise happy with a previous SIG 970 and Rem. 700 with push feed actions. I'm also not sure that it has anything to do with accuracy either. Maybe one type or another is preferable for benchrest type shooting, but in a hunting rifle I've had both types that shot much better than I do. Likewise, I've never heard of a push feed failure in the bush, but all of my hunting rifles will be controlled feed as long as they still make them...
Bottom line is there is probably no real reason for CRF but hey there isn't a reason for AAA Walnut stocks either other than pure aesthetics- but thats enough in my book.

My old Remington 721 in 300 H&H has failed to extract twice on me, both times hunting plains game in Africa in hot weather. The second time it happened I had along a pack type cleaning rod to beat the spent casing out.

Therein lies the failing of the Remingtons. I like the old gun and will keep it, but it is going on N. American hunts, only. My 700 Classic in 35 Whalen hasn't presented any problems so far; neither has my 721 in 30-06.

I just today took possession of my new safari rifle. It is a Husqvarna 649 in 9,3X62 circa 1952 with a detachable side mount, so I can use open sights or the Weaver K3 60-B P&CH scope I just mounted. It is on an FN 98 Mauser type action...CRF all the way!!

The 9,3X62 is a .366 cal that shoots a 286gr bullet traditionaly. It can be pushed to get around 3,700 foot-pounds energy at muzzle; the factory load is 3,550. :shock: :shock: I'll be trying 232, 250, 270, 285, 286 and 320 grain bullets in the 9,3; the 286 and 320s in both softs and solids.

I'll no doubt be selling the Remy 35 Whalen, as the 9,3X62 is so similar. It has a 3X9 Burris Fulfield in Talley QR mounts and a second Rem synthetic stock. Because I shoot heavier bullets with heavier recoil, I glassed the walnut Classic stock to prevent any cracking or breaks...helped accuracy, too.

The new CZ 550 in 416 Rigby (CRF) seems pretty OK.