A fun restoration - custom stock for my Brno ZKK 601 .222

Longwalker · May 13, 2026

Call me a gun nut, but I think some firearms are works of fine and functional art. Good guns help mindful hunters connect with culture, heritage, craftsmanship, and environment. This custom Brno ZKK 601 chambered in .222 Remington has an action made in 1967 in the the Zbrojovka Brno factory in the Soviet era Czech Republic, Stocked in New Zealand walnut by a fine craftsman in Australia, with a fore end tip of Brazilian Rosewood gifted from a guitar maker from Edmonton, Fitted by a gunsmith in Tisdale Saskatchewan, and final form finished by a restorative artist in Newfoundland. So much artistry and collaboration! Many thanks to stocker Cameron Hatcher and finisher Chris Dawe. The rifle is already experienced, and it took a few years for me to coordinate the work, but with the makeover I’m now ready take it out on many more hunting adventures!

RLL · May 13, 2026

Fine woodwork there! I’d like to re-stock a couple more rifles to enjoy myself.

steve white · May 13, 2026

What a fun project! And 222 is a niche that is missing in my arsenal, as I suspect in many others as well. A nice, light kicker just made to turn out the lights on a winter pelage fox, etc. Happy for you.

Shootist43 · May 13, 2026

Longwalker, being able to look at a rifle that looks like what rifles are supposed to is becoming a rarer and rarer opportunity. Enjoy the view! I know I did.

Longwalker · May 13, 2026

... and now I'm appropriately armed with a proper controlled-round feed "stopping rifle" if I ever get charged by a badger!

Miletic · May 13, 2026

A beautiful piece of history. The stock is great. I hope you have many successful adventures with the rifle.
I just have to say my opinion that I don't like the optical scope mount. I can't stand mounts that clamp the optics from above.

Sarg · May 13, 2026

Very nice & you had some top guys working on her, using good materials Eh !

We/I shot hundreds of Deer with Trippelys - Triple Two in NZ & then Thousands of Roos in Aussie, with a few big Boars thrown in, it worked very well before the .223 days & now fast twist days !

I have a ex police department .223 ZKK 601 action only, less bolt in the project draw, would be great to have a rifle turn out as nice as your beauty !

Grumpy gumpy · May 13, 2026

I’ve got a couple of Cameron’s stocks, all nice grain like yours
Gumpy

alby · May 13, 2026

Very Nice!

Jhsmith · May 13, 2026

A class act!

txtrout75218 · May 22, 2026

We don't have to worry about badgers here. It's the dang bunnies that worry me ..

Outstanding work on the rifle.

Bob Nelson 35Whelen · May 23, 2026

@Longwalker
A beautiful rifle in a great calibre.
If you are using it for predator work a nice 50gn VMAX with around 25gn of 2297/H 4198 would work well. This is the load I use in my old 788 and gives consistent half moa groups .
Bob

Longwalker said:
Call me a gun nut, but I think some firearms are works of fine and functional art. Good guns help mindful hunters connect with culture, heritage, craftsmanship, and environment. This custom Brno ZKK 601 chambered in .222 Remington has an action made in 1967 in the the Zbrojovka Brno factory in the Soviet era Czech Republic, Stocked in New Zealand walnut by a fine craftsman in Australia, with a fore end tip of Brazilian Rosewood gifted from a guitar maker from Edmonton, Fitted by a gunsmith in Tisdale Saskatchewan, and final form finished by a restorative artist in Newfoundland. So much artistry and collaboration! Many thanks to stocker Cameron Hatcher and finisher Chris Dawe. The rifle is already experienced, and it took a few years for me to coordinate the work, but with the makeover I’m now ready take it out on many more hunting adventures!View attachment 764329 View attachment 764331 View attachment 764330

Bob Nelson 35Whelen · May 23, 2026

steve white said:
What a fun project! And 222 is a niche that is missing in my arsenal, as I suspect in many others as well. A nice, light kicker just made to turn out the lights on a winter pelage fox, etc. Happy for you.

@steve white
Y'all need a nice old REM 788 in 222. Ugly as sin but man they shoot.
Bob

Bob Nelson 35Whelen · May 23, 2026

Sarg said:
Very nice & you had some top guys working on her, using good materials Eh !

We/I shot hundreds of Deer with Trippelys - Triple Two in NZ & then Thousands of Roos in Aussie, with a few big Boars thrown in, it worked very well before the .223 days & now fast twist days !

I have a ex police department .223 ZKK 601 action only, less bolt in the project draw, would be great to have a rifle turn out as nice as your beauty !

@Sarg
What they don't tell you is how many deer were wounded in those days with the triple duce. I spoke to an old culler from those days and he said the percentage was quite high but they didn't care as it was culling
Bob.

Sarg · May 23, 2026

Bob Nelson 35Whelen said:
@Sarg
What they don't tell you is how many deer were wounded in those days with the triple duce. I spoke to an old culler from those days and he said the percentage was quite high but they didn't care as it was culling
Bob.

I think that particular Culler was either inept or full of it Bob !

They had to collect tails & keep tally to report to the headman, slack numbers means you got shitter blocks.

I killed truck loads for the chiller myself with the .222 Rem & I wouldn’t want any valuable carcasses getting away !

Back then factory Sako - Norma & RWS where the deer killers as in Europe it was used to shoot small Deer, unlike US ammo which was for Varmints !

We (not me anymore) still shoot 100s of deer with .224 but now it is fast twist .223 Rem.

Actually I did start my culling with .223 as was issued one but moved up as Big Reds & longer Range pushed me towards .308Win.

steve white · May 23, 2026

Bob Nelson 35Whelen said:
@steve white
Y'all need a nice old REM 788 in 222. Ugly as sin but man they shoot.
Bob

Well, they can be re-stocked, too. Never too late to add good looks.

93marlin · May 23, 2026

Bob Nelson 35Whelen said:
@Longwalker
A beautiful rifle in a great calibre.
If you are using it for predator work a nice 50gn VMAX with around 25gn of 2297/H 4198 would work well. This is the load I use in my old 788 and gives consistent half moa groups .
Bob
Gotta love those 788's!

A fun restoration - custom stock for my Brno ZKK 601 .222

Longwalker

RLL

steve white

Shootist43

Longwalker

Miletic

Sarg

Grumpy gumpy

alby

Jhsmith

txtrout75218

Bob Nelson 35Whelen

Bob Nelson 35Whelen

Bob Nelson 35Whelen

Sarg

steve white

93marlin

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