I have a rifle on hand, an old BRNO ZKK 600 ( see
http://www.fritidvildmarksliv....rno_zkk600_9102.html
and click on the small photos to get an impression of the aperture sight solution) , one of the first ones which had an aperture sight builded into the rear bridge as a "pop up" solution.. A genious solution in my thinking.. Anyone out there who have experience with these early ZKK`s???

I had a couple of the first ones imported into Canada in 1968 and, while the triggers sucked, the rifles were/are great. With some gunsmithing, the standard triggers CAN be made workable and the EARLY ones were worthy successors to the superb Brno 721/722 and ZG-47 rifles, of which I currently have seven and just missed a choice 22H-7Mauser yesterday.

I have and do own about every "classic" big game bolt rifle made, that is "crf" types and I consider these Brnos to be the "top of the heap" where such rifles are concerned.

The early ZKKs, if they had used a Mauser-98 trigger, would have been the best hunting rifles ever made, period.

Thanks Dewey..
This one is among the early ones made with the peep sight in the rear bridge..
I have considered it to be the heart of a new big bore rifle, new trigger, M70 type safety, barrel - well everything new except the action..

I bought one in '71 and bought it just because I liked that sight! The triggers were needlessly complex and the action was a bit rough but this was the most accurate 30/06 I ever owned. I have a short action (601) in the drawer I will do something with, someday. Regards, Bill.

Agree Bill - I just love that sight too I wonder why other gunmakers havent copied it...?

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I wonder why other gunmakers havent copied it...?

Because actually it isn't really that practical IMHO.

I've had three BRNO ZKK rifles. Two in 270 and one 243. Plus have handled a 7x64, a 308 and a 223. These last two didn't have the "pop-up".

All had the excellent BRNO mounts for the Zeiss-Jena 'scope.

When I first bought it I saw the "pop-up" as a long range iron sight for maybe 300 yard and longer shots.

With the barrel mid-sight for the closer stuff at 50 to 250 yards and zeroed for that distance.

But actually as I used the rifles I realised that my theory was the wrong way around.

The "pop-up" sight was actually best used as the short range sight like a "battle sight" and the barrel mid-sight as the long range sight.

Why? Because the barrel mid-sight (like all such) allowed a low of high foresight hold to compensate for lighting conditions.

So "light up...sight up" etc. The "pop-up" doesn't as it is difficult to do this with an aperture sight other than by hold over or hold under.

Now that's all as well and the "pop up" as a battle sight is marvellous. Except! The sight aperture on it is too small for that purpose. And at long range the field of vision it gives is too small.

So actually it is useless save one benefit.

That of allowing shooters of a certain age in those few years when that can't manage a barrel mounted mid-sight (think SMLE) but can still, so far, manage a rear aperture sight (think Lee Enfield No4).

It is a superbly crafted piece of gunsmithing but ultimately not as of much practical value (the aperture is too small) unlike the large aperture similar sort of "fold up" thing that Redfield once offered as an option on their mounts or NECG offers as a "clip in" for Apel mounts IMHO.

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The early ZKKs, if they had used a Mauser-98 trigger, would have been the best hunting rifles ever made, period.

I would agree 100% with that.

Not to presume to disagree with an Englsihman, but, your comment is simply wrong. I have owned seven ZKKS and shot quite a few more and what one does is to carefully open the "peep" with a small, fine, round file and then cold blue it....works extremely well and with a modded Sourdough front, I could/can hit to 200M with almost the accuracy of a 4x scope.

I have several receiver sights on P-64 Mod. 70s with one-pc. Leupy QR bases and high rings, three of my six .338WM. rifles are so rigged, one has Dakota-Talley mounts, Talley peep and Martini custom banded ramp and blade and some of my rifles have the NECG peeps and some have the old Redfield "Ace in the Hole", all with Sourdoughs.

I have XS ghost and post on some and a custom Q-rib on my Merkel drilling in 9.3x74R, with an XS ghost ring built in, Ruger rings and a custom ramp and post. I also had the Wild West ghost and post on a Marlin 1895-45-70 and ALL of these work about the same, IF, you first adjust them to your load and then learn to shoot them properly.

I have 41 different rifles at present and have owned in excess of 100 others and probably only four of these have open rear sights, the rest all have peeps, posts and QR mounts of some type with scopes.

The practical value of the ZKK system is most obvious in a Grizzly defence rifle and those in .375H&H with this are now eagerly sought after by experienced BC mountain men who guide, prospect and generally work their rifle(s).

ALL rifles require SOME fitting and adjustment for the given individual and his/her uses....why do you think H&H, Purdey, Jeffrey and the other UK makers could charge such obscene prices for some pretty mediocre rifles?

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I have owned seven ZKKS and shot quite a few more and what one does is to carefully open the "peep" with a small, fine, round file and then cold blue it....

I think I'd end up by having the only ZKK with a OVAL peep!

all the better for charging grizzlies!