Recently acquired 1975 BRNO ZKK-602 375 H&H from gun show

[BJH65]

Went to this past gun show in Tulsa specifically to deliver 22 guns to one of the big Gunbroker sellers for consignment and after that mission was accomplished, I went and checked out the gun show. There weren’t a lot of big bore African rifles (which is what I had my eyes peeled for) but a few piqued my interest. A nice Hoffman 375 H&H, but it had some modifications. A brand new looking, appeared unfired Sako AV 416 Rem Mag Mannlicher carbine asking $1400 but would have taken $1250.

Came across a really nice, 1975 BRNO ZKK-602 375 H&H with QD mounts and Leupold 1.5x5 scope asking $2100. Had the factory pop up peep sights too. Hmmm… the Sako AV Mannlicher 416 rem mag was the better deal but the BRNO 375 H&H appealed to me more and I’ve found the sellers are usually willing to negotiate, at least the last several gun shows anyways. I made a note to come back to those two later. Came across a beautiful no salt FN Browning Safari, looked almost new, asking $1400 and seller would taken couple hundred less, but in 338 win mag! If it had been a 375 H&H I’d of taken it home.

After quite a few hours later, after we finished looking over everything, I decided I’d go back to see about the BRNO 375 H&H. Still there, so after some negotiating, I have several extra scopes sitting at home, we agreed on $1600 without the scope and mounts. So I went home the proud owner of a classic 1975 BRNO ZKK-602 375 H&H. This rifles feels a lot more livelier in my hands than my CZ 550 Magnums, much slimmer, smaller stock with less wood. I am not certain if the stock has been modified or if it’s a different stock?

Got home and took it out back for some impromptu shooting just with the irons. While I like the pop up peep sight, I I don’t care for the sight picture with the fixed rear sight combined. If I were shooting just irons and wanted to use the peep sight, I’d probably remove the rear iron sight for a cleaner sight picture. So I just shot half a dozen rounds of some old Federal 260 grain Nosler Partion. At 50 yards, windage was perfect but about 6 inches high. It was kind of refreshing to shoot this 375 after previously shooting my 458 Lott and 416 Rigby, recoil was almost pleasant!

I contacted JJ Perodeau to see about replacing the safety with a M70 type safety, adding a barrel band, and shortening the barrel and reinstall front sights. Damn, JJ has relocated near Tulsa and no longer does bolt action rifle work, just double rifle work. He's the only one I trust in Oklahoma to do this work so for now I’ll just mount a scope and use as is. Anyhow, still on the hunt for a high quality bolt action rifle but will wait and see what I I get from the consigned guns, will take a couple months.

 

[Dewald]

That stock is aftermarket. I would replace it. But you did well on the barreled action.

Also, those fullstock Sakos kick like a mule in .375 and up, and they often have accuracy issues when the barrel warms up. You picked the right one between those two.

 

[BJH65]

That stock is aftermarket. I would replace it. But you did well on the barreled action.

Also, those fullstock Sakos kick like a mule in .375 and up, and they often have accuracy issues when the barrel warms up. You picked the right one between those two.

What would you replace the stock with and why, just curious? It seems to be of good quality but I’m not an expert. Since it’s fairly slim and I like how it handles, I’ll probably keep as is for now.

 

[cajunchefray]

I like the stock with the short slim forearm. Good purchase.

 

[Dewald]

What would you replace the stock with and why, just curious? It seems to be of good quality but I’m not an expert. Since it’s fairly slim and I like how it handles, I’ll probably keep as is for now.

I think it has too much drop at the heel and comb. It will likely be balanced somewhat weight forward as well. It will be OK to shoot with open sights, but not practical with a scope.

If you want to keep it at a budget an original Brno ZKK602 straight stock is perfect. Otherwise a replacement McMillan would work well. Obviously you can also have one made after you get yourself measured.

 

[BJH65]

I think it has too much drop at the heel and comb. It will likely be balanced somewhat weight forward as well. It will be OK to shoot with open sights, but not practical with a scope.

If you want to keep it at a budget an original Brno ZKK602 straight stock is perfect. Otherwise a replacement McMillan would work well. Obviously you can also have one made after you get yourself measured.

Thanks for your assessment. After I get the scope mounted, we’ll try her out in the field. I didn’t realize how much wood my CZ 550 416 Rigby has and now understand why some have the stock slimmed down…this Brno 375 feels like one of my 270, 30-06 or 7mm hunting rifles.

 

[Monski]

Nice rifle, I like the stock on it. Lower combs work for me. I didn't see it before you did but wasn't in the market for it. Congrats! The Sako 416 rem was listed as $1250 when I saw it later on.

 

[BJH65]

Nice rifle, I like the stock on it. Lower combs work for me. I didn't see it before you did but wasn't in the market for it. Congrats! The Sako 416 rem was listed as $1250 when I saw it later on.

Thanks! I was tempted on that Sako Mannlicher 416 rem mag because I also have 100 rds of 416 rem mag reloads at home and that seller was pretty motivated but since I have a couple 416 Rigby’s just didn’t make sense. We always enjoy the Wanenmacher’s gun show,

 

[deewayne2003]

@BJH65

If you end up getting rid of that stock let me know, I’ve got a rifle I could use it for.

 

[BJH65]

@BJH65

If you end up getting rid of that stock let me know, I’ve got a rifle I could use it for.

Will do. Felt fine shooting with irons, we’ll so how it feels once I get a scope mounted.

 

[deewayne2003]

Will do. Felt fine shooting with irons, we’ll so how it feels once I get a scope mounted.

Also if you find someone in the sooner state that works on them please let me know, I’ve got one that needs the safety conversion also and action smoothing.

 

[BJH65]

Also if you find someone in the sooner state that works on them please let me know, I’ve got one that needs the safety conversion also and action smoothing.

JJ Perodeau recommended Mackool Firearms in Tulsa which is now 918 Guns in Tulsa. I haven’t contacted them yet. Seems like all the gunsmiths who had expertise with these rifles are gone, retired, or no longer doing this work.

My old friend Dennis Olson from Montana had a stroke awhile back and while recovering pretty well, isn’t taking anymore work, he’s in his 80’s. Triple River is long gone. No more AHR and Matrix not taking work. I’m not aware of any gunsmiths in the OKC area who do this kind of work either, which is closer to where we live.

I’ll certainly let you know if I find someone. I’ll probably contact 918 Guns (Mackool) and see what they say, little skeptical though. If a gunsmith doesn’t have expertise with a Brno ZKK or CZ 550 I’m not going to chance it.

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[Warren Knudsen]

What a great find, I love my old brnos ,and have 4 of them, including a 1972 zkk602 in 416 Rigby.
It looks very tidy indeed, after market stock but you lucky with the peep sight, they are great.

 

[BJH65]

What a great find, I love my old brnos ,and have 4 of them, including a 1972 zkk602 in 416 Rigby.
It looks very tidy indeed, after market stock but you lucky with the peep sight, they are great.

Thank you! This is my second Brno ZKK-602 and I couldn’t really pass it up!

 

[Hunter-Habib]

The BRNO ZKK602 (chambered in .375 Holland & Holland Magnum) is my favorite big game rifle of all time. Heartiest congratulations. During the 1970s & 1980s, almost every white hunter in Africa (especially Rhodesia/Zimbabwe) had a pair of BRNO ZKK602s at the Safari camp (one in .375 Holland & Holland Magnum and one in .458 Winchester Magnum). We used to call them the "Work horse of Africa".

Please do check how the rifle feeds with flat nosed solids. I have personally seen two specimens which feed flawlessly with round nosed solids but required some work done to the feeding rails in order to reliably feed flat nosed bullets (the early pre-2011 Barnes Banded Solids and Hornady Dangerous Game Solids).

If I may offer more small suggestion- When I first used a BRNO ZKK602 in on my Kenyan Safari in 1974, I initially felt (just like you) that the barrel was too long. In practice however, I have never found this to be a handicap. Even when hunting a Cape buffalo on foot through the dense thicket of Rift Valley, all while carrying the rifle myself for hours (I never trust gunbearers to remain loyal & stand their ground when things might get ugly in the bush).

My recommendation to you would be to first try the rifle out with the original factory length barrel, for a while. If it still feels unwieldly in your hands, then you shorten it. These rifles are no longer made and those original Czech Poldi steel barrels were extremely accurate.