Ceska · Rifle

CZ 550 Safari Magnum

Name: CZ 550 Safari Magnum
Brand: Ceska

Bolt action · .458 Lott · introduced 2004

Also known as CZ 550 American Safari Magnum, CZ-USA 550 Safari Magnum

Find Ceska CZ 550 Safari Magnum for sale Check the market price

About the CZ 550 Safari Magnum

The CZ 550 Safari Magnum is a large-caliber bolt-action hunting rifle built on Česká zbrojovka's magnum-length Mauser-pattern action. Chambered in dangerous-game cartridges such as the .458 Lott, it uses a controlled-round-feed claw extractor and fixed blade ejector for reliable feeding under stress, a cold-hammer-forged heavy sporter barrel, a single set trigger, and express iron sights. Marketed as an African safari rifle, later production examples were offered with a durable aramid-composite American-style stock in addition to the classic Turkish walnut.

The .458 Lott was developed by big-game hunter Jack Lott after a Cape buffalo nearly killed him when his .458 Winchester Magnum failed to stop the charge; the CZ 550 Safari Magnum is one of the few factory rifles chambered for the resulting harder-hitting cartridge.

CZ 550 Safari Magnum specifications

General

Type: Rifle
Action: Bolt action
Firing mechanism: Hammer-fired
Trigger: Single set
Calibres: .458 Lott
Magazine capacity: 5 rounds
Magazine: Internal

Dimensions

Barrel length: 635 mm (25.0 in)
Overall length: 1181 mm (46.5 in)
Weight (empty): 4.25 kg (9.38 lb)

Barrel

Rifling twist: 1:14 in (356 mm)
Rifling: Right hand

Materials

Barrel: Steel
Receiver / frame: Steel
Stock: Composite
Finish: blued

Performance

Muzzle velocity (typical): 700 m/s (2297 fps)
Muzzle energy (typical): 7938 J (5855 ft·lb)
Effective range: 100 m

History

Introduced: 2004
Discontinued: 2020
Production status: Discontinued
Country of origin: CZ
Designer: Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod

Features

Mauser controlled round feed
Fixed ejector
Cold hammer forged barrel
Single set trigger
Express sights
Hinged floorplate
Aramid composite stock

Safety

Two position safety
Controlled round feed

Weight, barrel and overall length reflect the .458 Lott American Safari Magnum configuration (9.38 lb, 25 in barrel, 46.5 in overall). The 550 platform succeeded the CZ 537 and was itself replaced by the CZ 557 around 2020, though the magnum Safari actions continued under the CZ 550 name.