CZ 550 Safari Magnum 300 Win Mag?

[Milan]

This is fascinating reading....

Actually, the ZKK 602 and the CZ 550 are exactly the same action, made in the same CZ factory, with the same machine tools.

The CZ factory used the Brno trade name during the communist years because it had accrued a good reputation in Europe before WWII. After the communist era CZ was privatized and used its own trade name. They are apparently starting to use the Brno trade name again for some product lines. Not all ZKK 602 had the fold down peep sight, and those that did not are indistinguishable (save the brand) from the CZ 550, although through the successive generations, the bolt handle profile has changed a little, and the bottom metal has changed, replacing the ZKK trigger that is articulated on the trigger guard, with the current trigger unit. Some prefer the old trigger, some prefer the new trigger. I had both, both work.

Because these are not cast actions, and they are not CNC machined, but still made on machine tools, they tend to have a few machining marks and burrs here or there, which need to be cleaned up for perfection. I certainly do not understand why they do not deburr at the factory, but I can personally live with it and do it myself considering the tremendous value and the uniqueness of the value.

Rigby of London used in succession the Brno-marked and CZ-marked actions to build their own Rigby rifles (and removed the Brno or CZ markings) during the long time before Mauser very recently restarted building magnum length actions. Whether one uses a Brno-marked ZKK602 or a CZ-marked 550 action to build a rifle makes zero difference whatsoever.

The imaginary CZ "issue" is perpetuated by folks who visibly have never held a CZ 550 and are mostly repeating each others. This is regrettable. It personally makes me smile when folks bash the $950 factory CZ for not being as smooth as rifles that cost twice or three times as much, while not realizing the incredible value they have in their hands (true magnum length, double square bridge, build in scope mounts, integral rear sight island dovetail, barrel band front sight, steel bottom metal, 5 + 1 capacity in most calibers, etc.)

Could not agree more. The differences are bolt handle - some bent back/some with hole filled in, trigger, safety (I still like the ZKK 2-position safety more), bolt shroud and I'm not sure if the firing pin/ cocking piece/firing pin spring retaining mechanisms are the same or not (I no longer have a ZKK to verify), front hood and I guess the trigger guard/bottom metal. But the receiver, followers and bolt body (basically the important bits) are identical as far as I know. The little differences listed above would not make one better than the other. If anything, the smoother metal finish, the trigger, and for US shooters the safety might make the CZ better. Put a CZ 550 with the peep sight option in the old ZKK stock (like the one pictured in this thread) and we're cooking with oil.

That said, I myself do prefer ZKKs, just from nostalgia I guess, and more than ZZKs I prefer the true Mauser style simplicity of the older models like ZG47, VZ24, VZ33 and the 21/22 models in the long actions. But in the magnum, the ZKK 602 and CZ 550 are hard to beat (unless you get magnum Mauser).

 

[Hoss Delgado]

This is fascinating reading....

Actually, the ZKK 602 and the CZ 550 are exactly the same action, made in the same CZ factory, with the same machine tools.

The CZ factory used the Brno trade name during the communist years because it had accrued a good reputation in Europe before WWII. After the communist era CZ was privatized and used its own trade name. They are apparently starting to use the Brno trade name again for some product lines. Not all ZKK 602 had the fold down peep sight, and those that did not are indistinguishable (save the brand) from the CZ 550, although through the successive generations, the bolt handle profile has changed a little, and the bottom metal has changed, replacing the ZKK trigger that is articulated on the trigger guard, with the current trigger unit. Some prefer the old trigger, some prefer the new trigger. I had both, both work.

Because these are not cast actions, and they are not CNC machined, but still made on machine tools, they tend to have a few machining marks and burrs here or there, which need to be cleaned up for perfection. I certainly do not understand why they do not deburr at the factory, but I can personally live with it and do it myself considering the tremendous value and the uniqueness of the value.

Rigby of London used in succession the Brno-marked and CZ-marked actions to build their own Rigby rifles (and removed the Brno or CZ markings) during the long time before Mauser very recently restarted building magnum length actions. Whether one uses a Brno-marked ZKK602 or a CZ-marked 550 action to build a rifle makes zero difference whatsoever.

The imaginary CZ "issue" is perpetuated by folks who visibly have never held a CZ 550 and are mostly repeating each others. This is regrettable. It personally makes me smile when folks bash the $950 factory CZ for not being as smooth as rifles that cost twice or three times as much, while not realizing the incredible value they have in their hands (true magnum length, double square bridge, build in scope mounts, integral rear sight island dovetail, barrel band front sight, steel bottom metal, 5 + 1 capacity in most calibers, etc.).

To each his own, I guess...

I agree with almost everything you say. My first comment could have been worded better , but l never meant to bash CZ products . The fact that 6 out of 10 African Professional Hunters own one speaks a lot about their quality. But all l am saying is that there are many ( but obviously not all ) Cz550 rifles in BIG GAME CALIBERS which need some gunsmithing done to them to get them functioning perfectly after they've been bought NIB . And l have actually fired many CZ rifles AND BRNO rifles over the last 20 years . This isn't just something l read off the internet. Many of You've never had a CZ 550 need gunsmithing . That's good . But to say that anyone who speaks about these issues is " imagining things " is very radical view . How many of us can possibly be imagining the same issues on different Online forums ? And a lot of people even started threads online asking for help about how to get their new from factory CZ rifles functioning properly. While many people may be exaggerating , l don't doubt that there is any truth to these claims , especially since l have experienced it myself. For instance, I've never had a Weatherby or Remington 700 rifle malfunction either , but l know enough from the people l interact with , that it wouldn't make a good dangerous game rifle . I've never had a push feed rifle jam either , but l know that most professional hunters wouldn't deem them as reliable as a controlled feed . If CZ recently started turning out 550s which NEVER need to be tuned up by a gunsmith before using on DG , that's good . But l am pointing out that over the years from my personal experience , some of the CZ rifles in Large calibers ( over .375 ) did need some gunsmithing. After that , they functioned properly and perfectly. If l sound like l am bashing CZ products , believe me . I am not. But to say that anyone experiencing issues with some new from factory large caliber CZ 550 rifles , is imagining things , is being a tad bit unreasonable.
And Yeah , not all the ZK602s are perfect either. Some can be quite rough or have sticky actions until you do some work to them. But l have been lucky enough not to have it happen to me.

 

[Hoss Delgado]

Could not agree more. The differences are bolt handle - some bent back/some with hole filled in, trigger, safety (I still like the ZKK 2-position safety more), bolt shroud and I'm not sure if the firing pin/ cocking piece/firing pin spring retaining mechanisms are the same or not (I no longer have a ZKK to verify), front hood and I guess the trigger guard/bottom metal. But the receiver, followers and bolt body (basically the important bits) are identical as far as I know. The little differences listed above would not make one better than the other. If anything, the smoother metal finish, the trigger, and for US shooters the safety might make the CZ better. Put a CZ 550 with the peep sight option in the old ZKK stock (like the one pictured in this thread) and we're cooking with oil.

That said, I myself do prefer ZKKs, just from nostalgia I guess, and more than ZZKs I prefer the true Mauser style simplicity of the older models like ZG47, VZ24, VZ33 and the 21/22 models in the long actions. But in the magnum, the ZKK 602 and CZ 550 are hard to beat (unless you get magnum Mauser).

You summed it up really well , Milan

 

[Milan]

I agree with almost everything you say. My first comment could have been worded better , but l never meant to bash CZ products . The fact that 6 out of 10 African Professional Hunters own one speaks a lot about their quality. But all l am saying is that there are many ( but obviously not all ) Cz550 rifles in BIG GAME CALIBERS which need some gunsmithing done to them to get them functioning perfectly after they've been bought NIB . And l have actually fired many CZ rifles AND BRNO rifles over the last 20 years . This isn't just something l read off the internet. Many of You've never had a CZ 550 need gunsmithing . That's good . But to say that anyone who speaks about these issues is " imagining things " is very radical view . How many of us can possibly be imagining the same issues on different Online forums ? And a lot of people even started threads online asking for help about how to get their new from factory CZ rifles functioning properly. While many people may be exaggerating , l don't doubt that there is any truth to these claims , especially since l have experienced it myself. For instance, I've never had a Weatherby or Remington 700 rifle malfunction either , but l know enough from the people l interact with , that it wouldn't make a good dangerous game rifle . I've never had a push feed rifle jam either , but l know that most professional hunters wouldn't deem them as reliable as a controlled feed . If CZ recently started turning out 550s which NEVER need to be tuned up by a gunsmith before using on DG , that's good . But l am pointing out that over the years from my personal experience , some of the CZ rifles in Large calibers ( over .375 ) did need some gunsmithing. After that , they functioned properly and perfectly. If l sound like l am bashing CZ products , believe me . I am not. But to say that anyone experiencing issues with some new from factory large caliber CZ 550 rifles , is imagining things , is being a tad bit unreasonable.
And Yeah , not all the ZK602s are perfect either. Some can be quite rough or have sticky actions until you do some work to them. But l have been lucky enough not to have it happen to me.

Unfortunately nobody can deny the issues. I just still have not found a Czech made CZ that did this. The ones sold here do not seem to have the issue (but of course I have only actually handled 4 of them and 1 was a .375). I thought it was mainly the guns done by CZ-USA but again I do not know if they get complete guns from Czechia or if they get barreled actions (I doubt that as they look identical to factory rifles and maybe only the Custom Shop puts stocks on). So if it is US only phenomenon, let's put the blame where it belongs and not bash CZ. It is bad enough that CZ's quality is even in question given their reputation for reliability in the past. But even if it is CZ's fault, it is due to cranking out more rifles quicker due to market demands (or owners greed ), so nothing unusual here. Most rifle products in this price range suffer from this. CZ's attraction for me (and I'm heavily biased towards Czech products) was mainly the fact that for little money I got a lot of gun - sturdy, dead reliable, accurate rifle with iron sights AND great scope rail, with true walnut (Czech/German walnut in the old days, don't quote me on that) stock that fit me well. Fit is obviously personal thing, but the CZs seem to line up to my eyes better than most.

Lately I have not been crazy about their new stocks. They seem finished better and have nice wood, but feel bulkier, I'm not yet sure about the laser checkering (seems too sterile to me compared to hand checkering, but the old hand checkering was quite horrible) and I do not like the new iron sights and the 3 position safety. But in my experience they are still slick, accurate and reliable. So it is hard to read/hear that others have issues. That's all.

 

[One Day...]

Great discussion guys.
Signing off not due to any lack of interest or otherwise, but flying in a few hours for Huntershill for another two week hunt.
I was there last year (https://www.africahunting.com/threa...faris-august-2018-plains-game-paradise.45017/) and am going back for the second half of the plains game: Sable, Roan, Nyala, Lechwe, Tsessebe, Common Reedbuck, Vaal Rhebuck, Bush Pig, etc. and maybe another buff depending on how things go with Vaal Rhebuck and Bush Pig (these can take time to get)...
I wish I could say I am going to miss the forum for the next 2 weeks ... but I won't: being on Safari beats talking about being on Safari
Best

 

[Milan]

Cool! Enjoy your hunt.

 

[sestoppelman]

Not that I can tell...haven’t actually measured it but that’s what the tag on it said when I bought it...now you got me wondering so will put a tape to it

So how long is that barrel? Surely you have taped it by now!

 

[bassasdaindia]

CZ550 rifles are fantastic and probably the best value for money rifles available.
With a little bit of work they become even better rifles .

 

[Fastrig]

So how long is that barrel? Surely you have taped it by now!

23 5/8” so guessing that’s a 24” barrel Guess I better not believe tags again

 

[sestoppelman]

Yup!! Be surprised how many people miss measure barrels.

 

[Scrumbag]

23 5/8” so guessing that’s a 24” barrel Guess I better not believe tags again

= 600mm buddy

 

[Fastrig]

= 600mm buddy

Us Yanks need to learn the metric system on of these days