Thoughts on the CZ 600 Series?

[Northern Shooter]

Now that it's been out a couple years I'm curious to hear from owners or those that have used them what they think of the latest 600 series from CZ.

Obviously it was disappointing that they continue to do away with magnum length actions (as did the 557) but they did return to a form of controlled round feed with the 600's.

There were early issues at launch with the planned switch barrel system which leader to a recoil and the removal of such a feature.

I'm currently eyeing the the 600 Lux model as it looks the part, is CRF, offered with a drop & fixed magazine (neat design) and equipped with a short 20" barrel. Too bad they don't offer this in any standard length magnums 375 Ruger, 416 Ruger, 458 WM etc.

I'm currently considering one in 8X57 as a "modern Mauser". They are quite affordable as well at about $1,000 USD.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I have a very positive opinion on them. I saw quite a few of them at Tanganyika Arms in Tanzania last year. All chambered in .30-06 Springfield. My white hunter had one in camp as a rental rifle.

I had previously hunted red stag in Denmark with a CZ 600 chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum. Extremely accurate & reliable set up. But not a traditional control round feed design.

 

[Northern Shooter]

I have a very positive opinion on them. I saw quite a few of them at Tanganyika Arms in Tanzania last year. All chambered in .30-06 Springfield. My white hunter had one in camp as a rental rifle.

I had previously hunted red stag in Denmark with a CZ 600 chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum. Extremely accurate & reliable set up. But not a traditional control round feed design.

Is it just the ejector that is different from the Mauser style? the bolt still controls the cartridge, right?

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Is it just the ejector that is different from the Mauser style? the bolt still controls the cartridge, right?

That's correct. But this should not even remotely detract one from buying these excellent rifles. I really want to try a LUX variant in 8x57 mm Mauser one day.

 

[Northern Shooter]

I love that it’s offered in the 8x57 but wish that it was available in other euro calibers like the 6.5x55, 7x57 and 9.3x62.

I get why they chose to opt for the 30cals but to be honest those are boring and are offered in every other rifle on the market.

Offering it in .308, 30.06 and 300WM also seems….repetitive.

 

[MS 9x56]

I have handled them at my lgs but they just don’t fit me like the 550’s do. That and I have an aversion to black plastic stocks.

 

[mdwest]

I don’t own one, but a guy that occasionally hunts with me bought one about a year ago… he seems to really like his a lot… he’s taken a couple of deer at his west Texas lease this year with it and has no complaints…

 

[Northern Shooter]

I have handled them at my lgs but they just don’t fit me like the 550’s do. That and I have an aversion to black plastic stocks.

The Lux Model is the only one that appeals to be.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I love that it’s offered in the 8x57 but wish that it was available in other euro calibers like the 6.5x55, 7x57 and 9.3x62.

I get why they chose to opt for the 30cals but to be honest those are boring and are offered in every other rifle on the market.

Offering it in .308, 30.06 and 300WM also seems….repetitive.

Basic principle of economics: Supply & Demand.

All rifle companies these days offer a .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield and a .300 Winchester Magnum variant. Why ?

Because people want them and they sell.

 

[Ericedwinbates]

Own one in 223, great feeling little rifle and handles well. Accuracy is fair, fit and finish is decent.Hate the magazine, very poorly designed and will not feed bullets that are shorter or a bit blunt, needs long pointed ones . I would not buy another, cant speak on the larger cals offered?
My 2 cents.

 

[mark-hunter]

Now that it's been out a couple years I'm curious to hear from owners or those that have used them what they think of the latest 600 series from CZ.

I am not the owner of new cz600.
To me they are simbol of overall decline of once great factory.
They changed design of rifle (from CZ550) due to having all robotized new machinery in factory.
First line of production of new CZ 600 had a safety recall, with some issue of exchangeable barrels.

CZ 600 Recall

www.czub.cz

This by know should be fixed.
Next, this was the first rifle in long line of the factory designs, in which they phased out a dove tail as a base for scope mounts. In my opinion this is due to production cost cutting and thus reduction in overall quality by reducing another great feature.
They reduced number of available calibers.

On a separate note, for heir new marketing policy: They phased out practically all break action rifles / guns as well - remaining only redhead break action shotgun in production. Another point in new marketing and economic production of the factory.

Undoubtly this rifle (CZ600) will be accurate. But now it is just one of the plethora of budget push feed rifles on the market. I would say, nothing special, except for attractive pricing, which was the target of design in a first place.

Personally I would go for tikka t3x, for a bit higher price. In last decade tikka made its name to become a legend of factory budget rifles. I own one tikka for last 20 years.
Recently I tested browning a bolt, in 30-06, another of budget rifles on the market, this is another one I can suggest to take look into. Metal magazine, battue sights, fine checkering, palm swell on the stock grip, accurate.

 

[ZG47]

I am not the owner of new cz600.
To me they are simbol of overall decline of once great factory.
They changed design of rifle (from CZ550) due to having all robotized new machinery in factory.
First line of production of new CZ 600 had a safety recall, with some issue of exchangeable barrels.

CZ 600 Recall

www.czub.cz

This by know should be fixed.
Next, this was the first rifle in long line of the factory designs, in which they phased out a dove tail as a base for scope mounts. In my opinion this is due to production cost cutting and thus reduction in overall quality by reducing another great feature.
They reduced number of available calibers.

On a separate note, for heir new marketing policy: They phased out practically all break action rifles / guns as well - remaining only redhead break action shotgun in production. Another point in new marketing and economic production of the factory.

Undoubtly this rifle (CZ600) will be accurate. But now it is just one of the plethora of budget push feed rifles on the market. I would say, nothing special, except for attractive pricing, which was the target of design in a first place.

Personally I would go for tikka t3x, for a bit higher price. In last decade tikka made its name to become a legend of factory budget rifles. I own one tikka for last 20 years.
Recently I tested browning a bolt, in 30-06, another of budget rifles on the market, this is another one I can suggest to take look into. Metal magazine, battue sights, fine checkering, palm swell on the stock grip, accurate.

I agree about the round receiver top. Silly idea, in my opinion. This is not a rifle for would be Rambos. That change makes scope mounting both more complicated and less reliable. The big issue behind rationalisation at Uhersky Brod, is that:
the business was starved of capital for a very long time. I heard that, for a while, back in the 1990s, they were importing lower cost labour from Vietnam, when by rights, they should have been investing in CNC machinery and gradually updating their production drawings, tolerances, etcetera. The weird specification of the original Bren assault rifle, which was subject to the whims of Czech military procurement clowns would not have helped, in regard to amortisation of development/production capital costs and also cash flow.

 

[Luvthunt]

Step down from Brno to CZ another step down from 550 to 600. The bottom of the barrel gets closer each time.

 

[Northern Shooter]

I own a couple CZ550, that’s as good as CZ gets.

Is the 600 really a step down over the former 557?

 

[MS 9x56]

Own one in 223, great feeling little rifle and handles well. Accuracy is fair, fit and finish is decent.Hate the magazine, very poorly designed and will not feed bullets that are shorter or a bit blunt, needs long pointed ones . I would not buy another, cant speak on the larger cals offered?
My 2 cents.

Do they make blunt 223 bullets? Asking for a fiend.

 

[MS 9x56]

Step down from Brno to CZ another step down from 550 to 600. The bottom of the barrel gets closer each time.

Now they are following the American business model.

 

[mdwest]

Now they are following the American business model.

Thats not surprising... The US is the largest consumer of firearms on the planet.. theres a huge market for "entry" and "mid market" rifles here..

FWIW I know CZ's mil/leo rep that covers western Europe for them.. Theyre very interested in trying to get a bigger piece of that market as well.. (tactical)