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Last month Outdoor Life asked if I would go to the Czech Republic for the unveiling of the CZ 600, the Czech company’s all-new bolt action rifle, along with the opportunity to hunt for a Mouflon ram. After a split-second deliberation, some schedule rearranging and passport-renewal panicking, I said “Does a fat dog fart when ya’ nudge him? Hell yes I’ll go!”
There’s no shortage of recently introduced bolt actions, most of which shoot well and are reasonably priced. It’s a competitive market. Standing out in a crowded field of sub-$1,000 bolt actions is no small task, but the new CZ 600 series rifle does in fact set itself apart from the competition.
CZ, based in the Czech Republic, is known for making classic, square bridge, Mauser-style bolt action rifles. Robust and featuring the quintessential claw extractor with controlled round feed, the design’s lineage goes back more than a century. While still a great configuration that works quite well, technology has move on and CZ decided it was time to move with it.
So not only is the CZ 600 series an all-new design—which is big news in itself—but it is replacing all the existing centerfire bolt actions in CZ’s catalog, meaning CZ will no longer make the CZ 527, CZ 557, and CZ 550 Safari rifles. So with the CZ 600, the company is burning its boats on the beach, so to speak, and isn’t looking back. I used to work at Marlin Firearms, so I can appreciate how massive an undertaking this is. After handling the new rifles for several days and hunting with them in the Czech Republic, it looks like the CZ 600 will be a big success.
CZ 600 Specs and Features
- Action: Three-lug in two rows, for six lugs total (mini action only has 3 lugs)
- Bolt: Interchangeable bolt heads for swapping cartridges
- Barrel: Quick remove and replace design with three Torx fasteners
- Muzzle: Threaded for brakes and suppressors
- Trigger: Four user adjustable settings from 1.3 to 3 pounds
- Magazine: Polymer detachable box that locks in place
- Models: Alpha, Lux, Range, and Trail
- Safety: Tang-mounted plunger style vertical safety, that locks bolt in “safe” position
- Cartridges: Varies by model but initial offerings include: .223 Rem., 7.62×39, 224 Valkyrie, .308 Win., 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .30/06 Sprg., .300 Win. Mag., and 8x57JS
- Prices: Alpha: $749; Lux: $848; Trail: $1155; Range: $1199
- Availability: Mid-January 2022
CZ 600 Receiver
The desire for modularity had a dramatic effect on the receiver design. Unlike most bolt actions, the bolt’s locking lugs don’t engage with the receiver but rather with reciprocal lugs machined into the barrel. This allows the barrel to be inserted into the receiver in a similar fashion to an AR, making it easier for the user to change barrels with no need to set the headspace when making the change. Another interesting choice: The receiver can be either steel or aluminum depending on the model. CZ’s new design also ditched their traditional proprietary dovetail for Picatinny/Weaver style bases or, on some models, a version drilled and tapped for the user’s choice of mounts and rings. CZ 600 Series rifles will be built on one of three receiver sizes: Mini for .223-size cartridges, Medium for .308-size cartridges and the 6.5 PRC, and Long for the .30/06 and .300 Win. Mag. cartridges.
Easy Switch Barrel
The CZ 600’s barrel is cold hammer forged with a threaded muzzle and available in different weights and lengths depending on the model. Because it slides into the receiver rather than threading in, there are no external threads. Instead, there is an indexing slot on the barrel, making it impossible to insert incorrectly. The barrel is removed and reinstalled via three hefty Torx fasteners in the receiver that are torqued or loosened in a specific pattern. Resetting the headspace is unnecessary and CZ guarantees return to zero within 1 MOA. This is one of the easiest, most foolproof methods for removing and reinstalling a barrel I have seen.
CZ 600 Three-Lug Bolt
As mentioned, the bolt has two rows of three locking lugs and a compact 60-degree bolt throw, with the exception of the mini action which has only three lugs. Significant effort went into the bolt design. CZ ditched the classic Mauser claw extractor for a more modern AR- or Sako-type but still managed to make it control round feed. Another feature is the controlled ejection. Many riflemen shooting Winchester Model 70s or Mausers appreciated working the bolt slow to drop cases right beside the rifle or working the bolt briskly to send cases over to your buddy two benches away. The CZ 600 has a plunger-style ejector that pops the case out in the same manner. Here’s how it works. On a Remington 700 the plunger is pushed forward by a spring. On the CZ 600 it is held rearward with a spring. With the plunger flush with the bolt face, the action can still function as a control-round feed as the rim of the cartridge can slip under the extractor without bumping into the ejector. As the bolt is moved backward, the plunger engages with a stop that moves it forward, above the bolt face, and pops the brass free. The harder you work the bolt, the more vigorously the brass sails clear. It’s a nice touch. In addition, the bolt head can be swapped to accommodate a new chambering.
Adjustable Trigger
Most serious hunters and shooters want an adjustable trigger because the lawyer-approved pull-weight on factory triggers can be annoying at best and almost unshootable at worst. The only downside is sometimes adjusting the pull weight can be tricky. CZ has an innovative and patented take on this. Their adjustable trigger has four positive, detent-defined settings that can be selected with an Allen wrench without removing the action from the stock. This prevents making the trigger unsafe. The pull weights are in Newton Meters (feel free to commence with the metric jokes), but work out to about 1.5 pounds at the lightest setting and 3 pounds at the heaviest setting.
Innovative Safety
The safety is the most unusual I’ve seen on a bolt action, but also very intuitive with just a bit of use. It’s a tang mounted plunger design. Basically, the safety consists of a button located at the top tang position, which you push down for “fire.” Pushing it back up, which you do from the bottom side of the stock just behind the trigger guard, places the rifle on safe. In the safe position, the bolt is locked in place. I appreciate this because it keeps the bolt closed when walking with the gun slung over my shoulder. There is a bolt lock override on the side of the receiver. Push and hold this button down to work the action or remove the bolt, all with the gun on safe. During the hunt I used this feature frequently to clear the action while getting in and out of vehicles, getting into stands, and so on. It’s a smart design element.
Locking Detachable Box Magazine
Detachable box magazines are great. They make it easy to load and unload the rifle, and to carry spare ammo. Still, it’s not impossible to accidentally hit a rifle’s mag release button and drop the mag when least expected or worse yet, lose the magazine. The CZ 600 has a locking detachable box magazine that prevents this. Just insert like you would any other detachable box mag, then slide the release button forward, this locks it in place. It’s simple, convenient and secure. The detachable box magazine can also be loaded or topped off like a conventional top loading bolt action when the magazine is in the gun. CZ is constructing the magazines for the CZ 600 from polymer.
Four CZ 600 Models
Initially four models will be available in the U.S.: the Alpha, the Range, the Lux and the Trail. Expect to start seeing them in mid-January 2022.
The Alpha is the basic 600 action in a synthetic stock with a molded rubber insert with a flat bottom making it easy to rest on a bag or pack, an aluminum receiver with integral Picatinny bases, and a semi-heavy profile barrel with a 1 MOA guarantee. Available calibers include .223 Rem., 7.62×39, 224 Valkyrie, .308 Win., 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .30/06 Sprg., .300 Win. Mag., 8x57JS. MSRP: $749.
The Lux is a more traditional looking hunting rifle with a European styled walnut stock with a hogsback comb, sporter weight barrel with open sights and threaded muzzle and a steel receiver drilled and tapped for scope bases. 1 MOA guarantee. Available calibers: .223 Rem., .308 Win., 8×57 IS, .30/06 Sprg., .300 Win. Mag. MSRP: $849.
The Range is aimed at the long-range hunter or precision rifle shooter. It features a target style laminate stock with an adjustable cheek piece and integral push button sling swivel cups and dual swivel studs on the fore-end. The heavy target barrel comes with a .75 MOA accuracy guarantee. Available calibers: .308 Win., 6mm Creedmoor. MSRP: $1,199.
The Trail is radically different than the other three models. Available only in the mini-size action in .223 Rem., the Trail is a cross between an AR-15 and chassis-style rifle. Made to be modular and portable, it features a telescoping stock, a free float M-LOK handguard, an enclosed receiver with top Picatinny rail and uses AR-15 magazines. The mag release and safety are styled after CZ’s Bren series rifles. The mag release button does not lock. The Trail has a 2 MOA accuracy guarantee. Available calibers: .223 Rem. MSRP: $1,155.
Read Next: Building the Ultimate Open-Country Hunting Rifle
Summary of the CZ 600 Rifle
Overall this is an impressive new rifle platform with well thought out features and innovations that are useful, not just different for the sake of being different. The interchangeable barrel feature will great for those that want to change calibers without buying a new rifle, or for those that shoot a lot and need to replace a worn-out tube. We were not able to do thorough accuracy testing at the event but do anticipate having one to put through its paces in a controlled environment very soon.
