I know the rifle are different. Are 550 better an 602 or [on the] contrary ?? Give me fact. I love my 602, but should I buy a 550 too ??

a 602 with a peep sight is PROBABLY better machining, due to age, than most. the 602 has a backwards safety, and generally the machine work is worse than a 550 magnum. *I* feel the 550 magnum is the superior action, but that's my opinion
j

Personally I prefer my 20-year old 602 in .375 to two 550's in the same calibre owned by friends.

Hard to say exactly why, but I like the way the 602 operates and the 550's somehow feels "flimsy" by comparison (I know they are not). One aspect where I do feel the 602 is superior, though, is the trigger. The 602'2 trigger is considerably more rugged and a PH friend of mine tells me he knows of several 550's that had trigger failures after very hard/frequent use. Haven't seen it myself, though, so I cannot comment any further. As to the safety, well, it's a bit like a Volkswagen: perhaps not very elegant but if you get behind the wheel everything is where it is supposed to be. I'm used to mine, and even though my 602 is in the process of being rebuilt and restocked, the safety is one part I did not change. The issue of the "backwards" safety is a bit overstated in my opinion. I know several people who regularly use 600, 601 and 602 Brno's and none of them have ever had an ND or complained about the safety in any way. As always, the safety catch between your ears is more important.

That's my opinion, anyhow. Perhaps the best way to go about it is to go with your own feeling. If you feel like owning a 550 as well, well, by all means! The more the merrier!

I like the backwards safety on ZKKs. Just like cocking a Colt Single Action or a hammer shotgun. I never get confused and I was brought up on Model 70s.

I own and use both ,a 602 in 375H&H and a CZ 550 in 416Rigby. Have taken many head of african game with both and like them equally as well as far as the rifle goes. I find no difference in quality or practicality and the difference in the 2 safties presents no problem to me as I regularly use tang safeties,Mdl70 safties,FN safties,the 2 Brno/CZ safties and a Savage slider type several different side safeties as on my Thompsons and FAL. Anyone who shoots regularly does the same with no problem. Some people just seem to look for an excuse to knock something and probably have no actual experience with much of anything. I do prefer the 375 over the 416 but that's caliber choice not the gun itself. The only difference I find in any way less than the other is I prefer the Brno trigger over the CZ. It has nothing to do with the CZ being a set trigger it has to do with the width and curve of the CZ that I don't like. I have no idea when my 602 was built, it does NOT have the peep. It was Jon Speeds rifle and he told me it was the last rifle he used in Tanzania when ever that was.

Growing up using the No4 the ZKK safety is both in the wrong place and the wrong way around! But! There is that recessed "dot" on the rear of the receiver and I just put a good amount of red paint into that recess. When I can see it I know that the rifle is set to "FIRE". When I can't see it I know that it is set to "SAFE".

And, as it isn't a "battle rifle" there is no reason at all to carry it off safe at any time other than when "immediate action" is required so, no, I don't see it as a problem either.

I much prefer the more simplistic back end of the bolt on the ZKK and don't like the shroud on the 550. Can this shroud be removed at all?

I had never thought of the "cocking" idea like a hammer gun but I like it! It does make the thing easier to remember. Thanks for the tip!

The first two digits of the serial number are the date on your ZKK. It should also have Proof Marks with a two digit number by them. That is also a year indicator.

I call bullshit!
Most of us are hardwired to push the safety forward to fire. Many thousands of times have we done this. We do not even have to think about it. It is a reflex.

In the heat of action, there is a great chance one will push the safety forward to fire.

If your last 100 rifles were properly safetied, the bassackward safety will require a conscious effort to "cock the hammer" after you squeezed the trigger and nothing happened.

Will the shot opportunity be gone bye-bye or will you be gone bye-bye under hoof or horn, fang or claw, by the time you finish fumbling.

The only reason I would go for a BRNO ZKK 602 is to get one with the factory pop-up peep.
I would then have to change the safety, like I did to the only 602 I own.

The factory triggers of the BRNO ZKK 602: they came with parts for two different trigger setups.
The trigger is attached to and pivots in the bottom metal. The trigger comes off the gun when the floorplate is removed.

At least the overcomplicated CZ 550 trigger is attached to receiver, it stays put when the bottom metal is removed, and it can be tuned into a non-set trigger of crisp, light single-stage function.

The CZ 550 safety works in the proper direction. Not bassackwards. I wonder why CZ didn't just keep making it bassackwards as on the forerunner BRNO?

Progress sometimes comes with learning from mistakes.

quote:

Originally posted by zimbabwe:
I own and use both ,a 602 in 375H&H and a CZ 550 in 416Rigby. Have taken many head of african game with both and like them equally as well as far as the rifle goes. I find no difference in quality or practicality and the difference in the 2 safties presents no problem to me as I regularly use tang safeties,Mdl70 safties,FN safties,the 2 Brno/CZ safties and a Savage slider type several different side safeties as on my Thompsons and FAL. Anyone who shoots regularly does the same with no problem. Some people just seem to look for an excuse to knock something and probably have no actual experience with much of anything. I do prefer the 375 over the 416 but that's caliber choice not the gun itself. The only difference I find in any way less than the other is I prefer the Brno trigger over the CZ. It has nothing to do with the CZ being a set trigger it has to do with the width and curve of the CZ that I don't like. I have no idea when my 602 was built, it does NOT have the peep. It was Jon Speeds rifle and he told me it was the last rifle he used in Tanzania when ever that was.

The date should be stamped on both the barrel and receiver, where they join. "76"=1976, "89"=1989 and so on.

quote:

I would then have to change the safety, like I did to the only 602 I own.

Please may I ask where from? And can you post a picture? Was it easy/cheap or complicated/expensive?

Ed Lapour 3-position safety for ZKK 602, purchased in the white ($268 for "kit".) Installed by Bobby Pitchford, lots of gunsmith time along with shortening the barrel, etc.

See other post [ZKK 602 .375 WeM overhaul near College Station] and note exerpted below



Bobby Pitchford (Pitchford Gun Works http://www.pcgguns.com/ just finished installing the Ed Lapour safety, re-crowning and installing NECG front sight, bluing, etc. after shortening the barrel by 2 inches for me.



He had to spend a whole day re-cutting (to fit) "everything" on the ZKK 602 for the safety. That added significantly to the over-all cost. Also, someone might want to know you lose the field-strip button for disassembly of the bolt so nifty on the original Brno version.


BNagel

BTW, since I requested to pay for his extra time re-cutting "everything" which took a whole day it was way more expensive than I thought it would be. But, it's done right!

Wisner used to make them and the jigs required for installation by a competent gunsmith.