Time and again, I've read disparaging comments about the CZ/Brno safety as installed on the 600/602 series.

Having used them for close to thirty years, though, I'd like to point out a few things about this safety.

Pro:

- It's one of the strongest side safeties around: no sheet metal or flimsy parts.

- It's one of the most positive locking systems in the side-safeties, there is almost no way that the firing pin can be released, short of breaking a massive part (and not even my most ham-fisted tracker could manage to bend it..).

- It does lock the bolt when on - again, no flimsy bendable parts.

- It cannot be engaged on an uncocked bolt - no risk of having a locked bolt if you need to load in a hurry.

- It is very easy to find and actuate, the big knob cannot be missed, or slip away.

- Contrary to what often said, disengaging it is a natural movement: in tight spots with you-never-know-what behind bushes, I carry my rifle with my thumb resting on the safety knob, and when bringing the rifle up it's just one smooth movement with the thumb finding his place on the grip while uncocking the safety (think of it, on other safeties you have to flick your thumb forward and outward, then back again).

The only negative point that can really be raised is that CZ safety's crime is to not be like most other safeties... A bit meager, considering that all these safeties are ON THE WRONG SIDE of the action to start with anyway!!!

As for the likelyhood of getting confused when handling different safeties, well... Could be. But I have never mistakenly tried to move the safety the wrong way around on my Brnos, or on my other rifles/shotguns (mostly tang safeties moving forward). Never. My hands know which safety knob is there, and my brain never needs to think about it.

Philip

If you own ten (or more) rifles, firing practices makes one function, on autopilot / out of habit according to "what's usual". If those you own are Winchester/Remington/etc. predominately, what you are used to is 'forward to fire' on the same side as the bolt instead of flopping the safety to the left (Mauser flag type) or the Brno set-up.

Where it actually matters most is under dangerous situations (or others where a quick shot is needed.) I opted for an Ed Lapour 3-pos safety on my 602 (Winchester type) just to make it the same as my other rifles.

I'd follow your advice if I only used Mausers and old Brnos.

2 cents

I have heard this argument many times since I own several CZs.
I also own a over and under with the safety and selective barrel on the top tang.
I use a Remington pump with the safety on the back of the trigger guard.
I sometimes hunt with my first love, 16 ga IC H&R hammer gun with the cracked fore arm. Western Auto give me $2,00 in off in 1950 if I would take the cracked one. I also have Winchester rifles.
Every one of them just seems to be ready to fire when I pull the trigger. Kenny

I have a 602 in 375,a 550 in 416 Rigby and both have been to Africa and both have been used on dangerous game ,the 602 many times. I have shotguns with tang safeties,cross bolt in front of trigger guard,and I NEVER forget which I am using on a covey rise or a single. I had a Browning that had a push forward safety inside the trigger guard. I had a double rifle with a Greener type side safety I even had Thompson TCR that had the damnedest safety I ever saw on it. The M1 I carried in the Army had a safety in the front of the trigger guard you pushed forward and the Thompson had a switch/lever affair on the left side. I have had FN style safeties on the left side of the cocking piece and Buehlers on the right side of the cocking piece. I have a 375 on a Westley Richards 98 action that still has the original wing safety. I can't imagine a safety I have NOT owned and used. I also cannot remember any instance of not realizing what safety I was using at the time and the operation of it. I also have a Model 70 with the current safety ,a transition model with the transition safety and a prewar with the left side safety. In other words in my opinion after over 60 years of hunting with not one error, I don't worry much about safties. And that is not even mentioning the pistols I have and their various safeties or no safties such as my P7. People give the Brno's a bad rap for their own poor gunhandling skills.

I've always felt the same way. I wasn't "trained" to operate a safety and can do so on several types of rifles without putting much thought into it. Hell, I can even walk and chew gum most day's.

Terry

I got rid of my two ZKK 600 rifles partly because the safety operated the "wrong way" to my Parker-Hale M81 rifle.

The only solution to it is to get out the red paint and re-fill or re-paint that "dot" a regular intervals.

A dose of "brain fade" afflicts without warning and I did have a shot at a deer when I for a few seconds forgot how the ZKK 600 safety worked!

So then got rid.

I was brought up on M70s in the 50s, have my share of custom Mausers with M70-type safeties, and have no problems what-so-ever with my ZKKs. I find these safeties to be the most logical, like cocking a hammer gun. Those who disparage ZKKs don't use them enough.

quote:

like cocking a hammer gun.

BINGO!

Keith