Hi all,

A hunting buddy of mine wishes to purchase his first Big Bore.

He has been offered a ZKK 602 .375(excellent condition) at a very good price but is also interested in a new 550 Safari in the same calibre.

Question:

Which is better and WHY?

While I like the 602's I prefer the cz 550, I have a 602 in .585 Nyati and the rest of my big bangers are cz 550's, I like them but my 602 has a regular trigger blade and that old fashioned BRNO logo on the front bridge and I do like it so if it's at a good price go for it. Essentaily they are the same beast bar a couple of minor diffs.

I like the zkk 602, but, they are prone for splitting at the tang of the stock, you would either need to reinforce it with cross bolts or get a synthetic stock. Had a cz550 in 458win, very nice rifle, pleasure to shoot, excellent trigger. Only fault being that the mag spring was not strong enough, the rounds would slide back and forht whilst out hunting. the cz 550 would be my pic though.

cheers 338w

The overall finish of the 550 is much nicer but I am partial to ZKKs. Look more like classic, traditional working Mausers. I'd buy it, especially if the price is right.

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But do not forget the bassackward safety of the BRNO ZKK 602. That can get you killed, and must be changed out for a safety that works when pushed forward to fire.

To the price of the 602, add about $400 for parts and labor, to get the proper safety installed. For most purposes, except a full blown custom job, the CZ 550 Magnum is better.

If I could find a 602 with a pop-up peep I would grab it.

Alf, I've never owned an early peep ZKK but I've heard they are better finished. I did own a 1985 vintage 270Win ZKK600 that had the most magnificant Turkish walnut one could ever want. A blank like it had would probably cost $2K now. This 223 I have been working on has fairly nice wood, but nothing like the 270:







And regarding the backwards safeties, I never get confused using them, and I grew up shooting M-70 Winchesters. Think of cocking a hammer gun and it makes perfect sense.

If you are just collecting BRNO's, by all means leave the bassackward safeties as original.



The vast majority of rifle safeties are push forward to fire, save the Mauser flag which is push to left/down to fire which is still not a pull back and cock type motion. Almost all the side safeties and shroud safeties are push forward to fire: like the CZ's and M70's, Remingtons, Sako's, Rugers, Whitworth Mark X's, etc. (and CZ has a new model that looks like a Winchester M70 Classic clone!).



Almost all tang safeties on singles and doubles are push forward to fire!



Any experienced rifleman is going to have this safety release sequence imprinted indelibly in his reflexes: push forward to fire.



A hurry-up shot at PG or DG might be sorrowfully missed while fooling with a backassward safety in the rush of the fray: push forward by reflex and "#@ $%&*" when the trigger is pulled, and the game gets away or you are trampled.



If I had to use a bassackward safety on a bolt gun, I would leave it forward to fire ... er, uh, back to fire ... see I made the booboo mentally ... and leave the bolt lifted, closing it down to ready for fire at the moment of truth.



Of course maybe there are some who have never developed a reflex except for "pull back to cock and fire" ?

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Alf,
You don't use the safeties on doubles and singles with tang safeties either then, I would have to guess.

Your procedure is the one I referred to above.
However, even with that, I could still reflexively push the bassackward safety of a 602 forward as I was bringing it to bear, and then I could get stomped.

No way! No good! BASSACKWARDS!!!

I have no such problems with a Mauser flag, and would tend to use an original Mauser with military style safety in the same manner as you have described. There is no way I could go wrong with that.

The bassackward 602 safety is a hunting accident waiting to happen to anyone who is accustomed to actually using the safety on the vast majority of firearms.

RIP,

Saw one of the new CZ Mod. 70 SS clones which is a MRC barreled action with an add on walnut stock. Looked pretty nice.

Its good to see others who like the pop up peep sighted ZKK602s. I have a popup peep sighted 74 model for my 458 Lott custom gun being made. It fits 5 in the mag easily and with a bit of pushing ,or very slight mods ,will fit 6 in the mag and one in the spout. Mag length is perfect for 375 or 458 Lott and if you arent using a scope ,a quick push of a button and the rear peep sight pops up for longer shots.Very cheap as well ,compared to custom actions with less features.

Here are some not very good views of a Brno ZKK 602 action with push button pop up peep sight.Gun is having a 3 position Mod 70 type safety fitted at the moment.

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Alf,
That looks pretty neat. Does anybody make the hardware to retrofit a CZ 550/do a conversion?

RIP,
I agree with you, and not just because we're related. People live or die every day based on their habit patterns. That's why the best military units practice critical procedures day after day for years. Under severe stress a human does not think, he/she/it reacts and acts without conscious input.
The specifics of your pre-planned and pre-practiced course of action are not as important as picking a course and following it until it is hard wired into your body.
Alf has a system that works for him, and is a part of him. I use RIP's system: When I want the safety off to shoot, I push forward and put my index finger into the triger guard. Why? That is how I was trained and drilled. My CZ 452 feels backward and unnatural, but I havent been charged by any ground squirrels yet, so that is no big whup.
It is kind of like always shooting clay pigeons with the gun dismounted, and the safety on when you call for the bird (better yet is a trapper that throws at random for you). Every time you shoot that shotgun you push the safety off as you mount the gun and slap the trigger as the butt hits your shoulder. It is slower at first, but when you hunt things go much better.
So, pick a system that seems rational to you (and works preferrably), stick to it, and practice it until and if you ever find a compelling reason to change. The next step is to perform that task under time pressure in front of other people (e.g. competition, check rides, shooting school). Then when you need to employ that rifle/pistol/shotgun it is just there.
Anyway, that's what my daddy taught me.
JCN

RIP
Whit all respect for your opinion, but that was quite a statment ..??
Event though I never have huntet anything more dangerous than an occasionally pissed off moose or red stag, I have had ZKK rifles as the tool of the trade for more than 30 years, both 308 win, 30-06 and 375 H&H.
For me they have not once been an "accident waiting to happend".
The socalled bacward safety is like cocking the hammer on a SA revolver or a lever action rifle and work just fine.

Beside my ZKK�s I have hunted with Winchesters, Rugers, Remingtons both BA and pumps, Tikka and Mausers, Savage and brake open singelshot Thompson as well as lever action Marlins.
Changing between these rifles have never so far representet any problem safetywise for me.

You my not find yourself comfortable with the safety on the ZKK, but stating as you did seems to me a bit "overkill" ?

Nice pics of the Brno's there folks...Brno's and cz's are just the ducks nuts

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Alf there great looking rifles where do you find all your sexy Brno's ??

Will,
Thanks for the info on the new CZ.

MRC barreled actions on the new CZ's, eh? Ought to be a good shooter for a .308, shortmag, etc.

You are the inside man on CZ USA developments. Thanks for keeping me filled in. I missed out on that somewhere along the way.

JCN,
Once again, your brilliance amazes me. Well said! Thanks for having the patience to better elucidate this concept. I fear that it is still falling on "deaf eyes," however. Some gotta learn the hard way!

Some more "ducks nuts"

My one "duck's nut" is a 500 A2 or ".510 JAB." The safety on this BRNO ZKK 602 has been replaced with a Wisner three-position "wing." It was originally a .375 H&H and I still have the funny stock and and the original barrel as "parts."

Bassackward no more! The McMillan fiberglass stock is a walnut brown color. The McGowen Stainless 1:10" twist 23" barrel and action are blacked, with a Wilson GunKote type finish. 10.75 lbs bare. The muzzle brake and scope add about two pounds to it if used. I like to go bare.

Just felt like trotting out this old photo for old tyme's sake.

Hey Safari Hunter. What brand scope rings are they you have. I want some quick release ones like them.

Safari Hunter what calibre is your "Ducks Nut" ?? I realy like that and what power leupold have you got mounted on it ??

Does anyone know the the value of a ZKK 602 action with a pop up peep?

We should call CZ 550's, "Duck nuts" from now on.

Brian W. The ZKK 602s are cheap in Australia because their are so many of them. The one I got for AUS$400 (US$300) was hardly used. Since mine is in being turned into a custom gun (3 years wait),I,m going to get another cheap one to practice with in the meantime.

3 years wait?,
Did my former gunsmith move to Austalia?
jcn

It's a .375 H&H Magnum. It has a Leupold Vari-X III 2.5-8 mounted with Warne QD's.

Alf , I noticed the scope with the bottom rail (No rings). I like the look , do you know who makes quick release mounts to adapt S&B or Swarovski railed scopes to Brnos?

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