The history:
The factory has long history, and it was until recently traditionally builiding mauser 98 type of rifles. The factory is also famous, for one of the first new "wonder nine" pistols CZ 75.
In prewar period, they designed BREN machine gun (stands for Brno - Enfield)
Etc, etc, you got the picture
The quality:
During post war period and during early german ban on gun production, their CZ mauser actions have been imported by some notable best engslish gun makers, to install on their high end products. Most famous is Rigby. This speaks about the quality of actions.
ZKK 602, CZ 550.
My latest acqusition.
So, ZKK 602, magnum action, in the photo attached..
Older models of ZKK 602 were produced with colapsile peep sight, on rear receiever, and two crossbolts.
Newer models, were produced without the receiver sights, and without crossbolts, but with strong steel recoil lug in stock forend.
In the 90ties, 602 is phased out, and started production of CZ550, again magnum size action.
On this photo is the rifle as I bought, 602, 2nd hand, with fixed mounts and large 8x56 fixed power, Swaro scope.
I took it to the gunsmisth, for some minor upgrades, and mounting the other scope.
The lenght of magnum action, medium action, and related aspects:
So, if considering DG caliber, two most common today, are 375 H&H, and 458 win mag.
Those two can fit, in standard long (medium) action, with cartrdidge LOA 3.34 lenght max.
375 is longer than 3.34, acrtually is 3.6 inch LOA, but it can still fit, with smart action adjustement in standard medium action lenght.
In the attachment (black and white photo), there is winchester m70, standard lenght action 30-06, and same win m70 action factory made to take 375 H&H cartridge - see the details and compare.
Similarly, this system, of adjusting the medium action lenght for 375 H&H, most of modern gun factories (if making 375 rifle at all) will take.
Zastava m70, another m98 clone, has similar philosophy, and makes only standard 375 HH and 458 wm, rifles in DG calibers.
Others, such as Ruger, went different route and designed their own, similar cartriddge 375 Ruger, OAL 3.34 inch to fit standard size rifle action, to avoid action lenght problems, and keep medium action in full production
All these things are happening, just to avoid setting up production line for magnum action. Because it is costly, and gun makers are strugling in market competition, and so are cutting the costs.
Apart of design problems, just to fit large fat DG cartridge in the medium lenght action, there is one other "minor" detail, not overly advertised:
Magazine capacity!
In standard medium action, when loading big DG cartridges, there is also reduction of magazine capacity. (no volume) So, DG rifles, such as winchester m70, or zastava m70, will have capacity of magazine reduced to 3 cartridges 375 H&H.
Now, Go back to Brno/CZ rifles - and you will see magazine capacity in their long, widish action of 5 and 6 cartridges.
Brno CZ 602 (mine) for example have 6 rounds capacity, plus for those who wants to play - plus one in chamber.
This is all the benefit of magnum action, that most of modern factories try to avoid at any cost. (in fact, to reduce the costs of production, for additional production line)
The link to short yout tube video, showing 7 shots being fired from ZKK 602, 375 H&H.
(try to find the rifle with that mag capacity today, in flush magazine?)
And then, there is the scope mounting system.
Most of m98 clone modern factory models will be drilled and tapped for scope basis.
But, the Czeck rifles have true double square bridge design of receiver, and dove tail.
So, using this system, the scope basis are better fixed, and alligned, which is (in my view) much better solution when isntalling a scope on DG, rifle, with considerable recoil.
Other details of ZKK rifle.
Safety:
Safety is off, when in rear position. (opposite to most of others models, where safety is off, on fwd position, but this is typical for czeck models)
Barrel:
Not free floated, on standard model.
So, comeing back to my gun.
I took it to gunsmith, and will do some work.
Barrel to be free floated.
Installing German swing mounts (QD) for this scope, of the magnum reinforced type (6 screws on the ring, see photo)
Glass bedding
lightening the trigger.
Changing the safety to standard type, fwd when off.
New Scope mount basis will cover visually the iron sights, so the sights will have to be raised a bit, and zeroed again.
And installing new scope, swaro 1.7-10x42 with iluminated reticle.
Last photo in attachment is of new QD german swing mounts, swaro, and some buffalo ammo, being ready for my rifle.
So, all in all, after longish consideration, I was not able to find better model of magnum 375 H&H rifle for me, and went for ZKK 602, or CZ 550. I found ZKK 602.
The long magnum action, mauser 98, I am not aware that any mass production factory makes today.
And there is limited number of options on m98 MEDIUM actions in new rifles today for 375 and 485.
So, I had to go back to search for 602 or 550. No other choice
The first next step, out of economy-budget line will be newly made mauser 98 magnum, made by Mauser, but... check the price. Its next level of the game. Its high end rifle, by price.
