CZ BRNO ZKK602 375 H&H

[Mountaineous]

I probably overpaid for this, but it fit the bill as a controlled round feed 375 H&H with some classic Africa character! Has anyone seen similar carved stocks, or have an idea where the carving might have been done?

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1102743268

 

[deewayne2003]

I think you did ok on it, someone spent lots of time doing that carving work.

 

[Mountaineous]

I think you did ok on it, someone spent lots of time doing that carving work.

Thanks. Someone definitely did spend a lot of time on it. Someone with more patience and artistic ability than myself. I wish I knew the story on it, but that’s probably a long shot.

 

[Datchew]

I don't normally get into carving or engraving but this one strikes a chord.
May it serve you well.

 

[Andrew62]

Looks like it is ready to head to Africa! Thank you for sharing your purchase!!

 

[Mountaineous]

I don't normally get into carving or engraving but this one strikes a chord.
May it serve you well.

Thank you. The very ornate engraving and carving work usually doesn’t do much for me. This one just had a rudimentary enough style that it grabbed me. Most engraved/carved guns look to me like they want to be on a display shelf. This one looked like it wanted to be hunted with!

 

[AZDAVE]

The 602 will serve you well!

 

[CoElkHunter]

I “watched” that one on GB at the same time a .375 Ruger RSM went for $2,125. Both very fair prices I thought. Congrats!

 

[Mountaineous]

I “watched” that one on GB at the same time a .375 Ruger RSM went for $2,125. Both very fair prices I thought. Congrats!

Thanks. I’m excited to get it in my hands!

 

[Hunter-Habib]

BRNO ZKK602s were known as the “Workhorse Of Africa” when I first began hunting in Africa during the 1970s. Back in those days, the BRNO ZKK602 and the Interarms Whitworth African were the only commercially manufactured control round feed rifles to be offered in dangerous game calibers (namely the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum and the .458 Winchester Magnum). And due to the international arms & ammunition embargoes that were in place against South Africa & Rhodesia at the time, just about all the newly imported firearms which one could see in Africa back in those days, were Czech BRNOs. Virtually every white hunter back in those days, used to keep a pair of BRNO ZKK602 rifles in camp (one in .375 Holland & Holland Magnum and one in .458 Winchester Magnum).

I still personally consider the BRNO ZKK602 to be one of the world’s finest .375 Holland & Holland Magnum rifles ever to be commercially manufactured. It’s a real pity that they ceased production in 1993. I’ve employed quite a few of them over the years.

 

[Pondoro]

100% Habib....I have a 602 restocked in british fashion. The action is buttersmooth after some honing and polishing.. I have shot game from impala (overkill) via moose to elephant.. It is not your typical ele rifle but it never fails to bag..

5 cartridges in the magazine is never wrong..

 

[Mountaineous]

BRNO ZKK602s were known as the “Workhorse Of Africa” when I first began hunting in Africa during the 1970s. Back in those days, the BRNO ZKK602 and the Interarms Whitworth African were the only commercially manufactured control round feed rifles to be offered in dangerous game calibers (namely the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum and the .458 Winchester Magnum). And due to the international arms & ammunition embargoes that were in place against South Africa & Rhodesia at the time, just about all the newly imported firearms which one could see in Africa back in those days, were Czech BRNOs. Virtually every white hunter back in those days, used to keep a pair of BRNO ZKK602 rifles in camp (one in .375 Holland & Holland Magnum and one in .458 Winchester Magnum).

I still personally consider the BRNO ZKK602 to be one of the world’s finest .375 Holland & Holland Magnum rifles ever to be commercially manufactured. It’s a real pity that they ceased production in 1993. I’ve employed quite a few of them over the years.
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Thank you very much for the short history on their use in Africa. I can’t wait to get this one back to hunting on the dark continent. It looks like I should have it in my hands by Monday. With any luck, it could find itself hunting leopard and buffalo in Mozambique next year.

 

[Shootist43]

Mountaineous, I watched this rifle on GB for quite a while. I bought one off GB several years ago and have been very happy with it. Please let us know how it shoots.

 

[MontanaGrant]

You’ll like it. I love my 602. Manages to snag it for $950 last fall. Still no clue why it was so cheap other than it was marketed as a ZZK instead of a ZKK so maybe it missed some of the searches.

Mine holds 6 down though I usually load just 5. Pussycat to shoot being so heavy.

I watched that one sell, I don’t like stock carvings normally but that one was very appealing. Nicely done!

 

[Mountaineous]

Mountaineous, I watched this rifle on GB for quite a while. I bought one off GB several years ago and have been very happy with it. Please let us know how it shoots.

Will do!

 

[Mountaineous]

You’ll like it. I love my 602. Manages to snag it for $950 last fall. Still no clue why it was so cheap other than it was marketed as a ZZK instead of a ZKK so maybe it missed some of the searches.

Mine holds 6 down though I usually load just 5. Pussycat to shoot being so heavy.

I watched that one sell, I don’t like stock carvings normally but that one was very appealing. Nicely done!

Yeah I was hoping this one would go a little cheaper than it did, but I had pretty much made up my mind that it had the right character for me. I was half hoping that someone here would recognize the stock and know the history of it, but I figured that was a long shot.

 

[Pasme]

A number were imported by Bauska in Montana back in the mid 80's. I've probably had a half dozen pass through my hands over the years. They came in through Canada to Bauska in Montana if I remember correctly. 602's are a good gun. CZ never made any junk. And it's "bullet" with an"e", not an "i". Check your Websters dictionary. It's your friend. They weren't "banned" in the U.S. It's just that imports from the then communist countries weren't allowed. You could own one, it was just a LOT of hoop jumping to get one into the country.

 

[illini]

I looked at that on GB and really liked it. Wished it was in 458. You got an awesome truly one of a kind rifle.

 

[Mountaineous]

I posted the hunt report, but I just wanted to follow up on this post and show that the rifle was put into use! I did end up swapping out the safety for a model 70 swing safety (I didn’t trust my brain to remember ‘pull back to fire’ in a heated moment). I also added the Swaro Z6i and Warne QD mounts. It performed admirably, as did the Swift A-frames.
The bullet shown was recovered from under the hide on the backside shoulder of the Buffalo. He went maybe 50 yards after the shot and was dead.

 

[skydiver386]

Those rifles and Africa go together like peas and carrots.