BRNO 602

Hi Guys,

I have been offered a BRNO 602 in .375 H&H with an old Ziess 4x scope fitted on QD mounts in good but used condition. I have not discussed a price as yet, what do you think would be fair? Can anyone tell me what the factory barrel length would be?

I would appreciate any advise on this model and things to look for when buying.

Many thanks,
Charly

I am no expert here, but I did some digging. I think the 602 is a "cock on bolt going forward" design. It should hold 5-6 rounds in the magazine. I think they stopped making them in the late 1980s. One report I saw said they are accurate, but hard to find and fit a scope mount. Sounds like yours had that problem fixed.

This is from an old article I found:

"The ZKK 602 is a true Mauser action with an easy five-round capacity (this is at least one round more than most .375's). The rifle has a 25" barrel with integral recoil lug and rear sight base, barrel band and front sight ramp. The rifles do have some rough edges including the trigger and difficulty in mounting scopes. The rifle's other drawback is its stock -- the "hogback" stock is not very pretty."

The last auction I found where one sold, it went for around $1,000 USD.

Hope this helps ....

I have had two of these rifles (ZKK 602) in 375 H&H through the years.
They are a bit rough, but one of thebest full size actions made after WWII in my humble opinion.

Usually very accurate, a little bit on the heavy side, but that´s a pluss regarding recoil.

Warne used to made really good one piece mounts/rings for the 602 that clamped right on.

They where delivered with two different stocks, the traditionally hog back, and a more classick type.

Both have a bit of drop on the heel, made to fit the open sights, which are one standing for 100m and two folding for 2 and 300 meters.
Because of the drop, they tend to have a bit more muzzle flip than with a more straight stock.

They where also delivered with two different triggers, one standard and one set trigger.
The last one is pressed forward to engage, and then brake with a tiny amount of pressure.

I never understood why they did put such a trigger on a 375 H&H, but they did.

All in all, a very good and accurate rifle, which take a beating with flying colours!

Like Arild, I have also had a couple over the years, one .375 and one in .458 Win. I think he has summed up my thoughts on these rifles nicely. I would not hesitate to own anothe one. With a couple of hundred invested in 'fine tuning' you will have a real work horse. They aren't fancy, but they shoot and can take a lot of abuse.

Thanks for your advise,

I`m told it will take 6 in the mag and has the sought after pop up sight as well as these rifle specific mounts. I`m not looking for a pretty gun just accurate and reliable at all times. I think the barrel is still 25" so that may require reducing.

I`ll let you know how it goes...
Charly

Shavesgreen, the advice you have been given here is golden!

The ZKK 602 is a rifle you will see most often in the hands of African PHs, and most will have a pair, one chambered for 375 H&H, and the other chambered for 458 Win Mag, or re-chambered to 458 LOTT. The express sights are rugged, and work very well with the stock design. As others have told you these rifle are "WORKING" rifles, and are as tough as anvils. They are true CRF (controled round feeder) a feature I wouldn't do without on a bolt rifle I would be useing on dangerous game! I would say a full 80% of the ZKK602s were sold to people in Africa to PHs, or game departments.

The rifle you are looking at, if the bore is good, and it feeds properly, with the scope and rings, included, is a find I'd love to come across, and if you can get it for under $1200 USD I'd jump on it, especially if it were a 458 so I could re-chamber to 458LOTT! The rifle is still made but in a new configuration and is called a CZ 550 today, but is not as tough a rifle as the old 602, IMO.

I do already have a CZ 550 in .243, which is very poular in the UK, and have found it accurate but a little agricultural!

I have agreed to take this rifle at £600, with the scope and mounts, so roughly 900 usd? I`m happy with that but will be adding a Laminate stock, cutting down the barrel to 22" and will look for a trigger kit.

When I get my hands on it I`ll do some before and after shots...

once again thanks for the advice,
Charly

Hi Charly,
Tell me did you ever find a decent trigger kit??

Please send me before & after photos.

I too use a Brno ZKK 602 but in 458 Lott.... I would like to get a decent trigger kit and also get a new stock!!!

Regards,

Sorry to say that I never did manage to source a trigger kit for the 602. A friend offered me a rem 700 stainless synthetic which had been bedded and fitted with a timney trigger so I bought that as well. I still have the BRNO and will keep looking for the trigger.

I have found the rem 700 to shoot really well, just a shame it`s not controlled round feed. It`s also really light so I`m having a muzzle break fitted to calm it down a little!

When I finally do complete the BRNO I will post some pics for you. If anyone comes across any trigger kits available please let me know.

All the best,
Charly

Shaves Green

ZKK 602 BRNO is a sturdy , solid and a reliable rifle with the failsafe action the wars had been fought with , put your hands on it as you see it , the caliber is universal and has lots of impact and with diverse grainage choices.25" barrel is what the rifle is originally produced with.

Go for it !!!

Monish

I just missed a similar rifle in .375 H&H earlier this week for $605. USD. I was on at $600. and got sniped at the last minute. I'm still crying. There are many smiths world wide who can clean up that trigger for you. Also, I believe that the Timney triggers made for Mausers will fit this rifle.

I am probably opening a hornets nest here, because I am well aware of everyone's feelings on rifles for dangerous game, i.e. push feed-vs-controlled round feeding. Does anyone actually have first hand experience (or even second hand) with a push feed action d.g. rifle not performing properly when needed? I read everything I can get my hands on and I have never heard of one verifiable instance of a push feed action jamming, failing to feed, failing to extract, etc. I don't care about someones girlfriends second cousin was told by a friend of the guy down the street. I want real world experience. Don't get me wrong here, because I LOVE my Mausers, but I also love my Remington rifles. I have never hunted dangerous game yet, but I plan to in 2012. I can buy any brand (H&H is just too much), but when the chips are down is one really better than the other. Not just your opinion, but actual experience with a malfunction directly attributable to the style of action. I am anxious to hear from everyone.

Semper Fi,
Airedale Marine

"Does anyone actually have first hand experience (or even second hand) with a push feed action d.g. rifle not performing properly when needed?"

Yes. I jammed up a M700 by short stroking it. It did not end up as a problem because the first shot was good, but it took several seconds to clear the jam. I am a very experienced shooter and hunter, but just screwed up. I really felt like the village idiot.
I still am a big fan the M700 for most game, but after that experience my DGRs will always be CRF.

I have had a couple of hunters who had the extractor on their 700 fall apart in the field. That can be a bit of a problem.

The most recent was spring 2009. The hunter was shooting a Model 700 on a bear hunt. Pulled the trigger, worked the bolt and the case stayed in the chamber and the extractor fell apart. He said it had happened once before and he had sent it in for repair. The gunsmith recommended installing a Sako extractor but he went for a regular Remington fix and it would seem that the replacement parts were no better than the original. I have been told this is more common with Remington's chambered in the bigger cartridges than it is with standard cartridges like the 06 or .270.

I am no expert on the Rem. 700's and do not even own one, but I view extraction issues like that as something to be concerned about.

As for short stroking, yes I have seen that a time or two as well.