CZ 600 MDT

From the moment I first saw the CZ 600, I liked the fundamental action concept and the variety of stocks. The latest MDT model is for precision rifle shooters, as it boasts lots of adjustability and customisation options. The rifle is currently advertised in .308 and 6mm Creedmoor chamberings, and the latter is certainly a prime choice for PRS shooters, although I was a little surprised the 6.5 Creedmoor is not currently advertised. Anyway, I chose the .308 because I had ammunition to hand.

Cold steel
CZ cold hammer forge their barrels, and the 24” (610mm) tube begins with a neat, recessed crown and an 18x1 thread for a moderator or brake. The diameter is 22mm, and the barrel tapers straight out to 32mm, where it enters the steel action. The barrel is clamped in position, and although first advertised at launch as being interchangeable, CZ now semi-permanently threadlock them in position. The bolt’s six lugs lock into the barrel and allow the handle to offer a 60° lift for fast operation.

Strip down
The bolt travel is 106mm, and there is a 68mm handle extending from the 19mm shaft. It is capped with a 21mm grooved teardrop, and the bolt release plunger is just behind the handle. The bolt’s face is a semi-control feed, with a plunger underneath acting as the manual ejector, meaning the ejection strength is dependent on the amount of effort you use to cycle the action. The bolt can be disassembled by hand for cleaning, and the bolt’s head is technically interchangeable, even if no longer advertised as such. CZ also offer 600 actions in aluminium, but this variant is steel and incorporates a Picatinny scope rail. There is no inclination built in, so if you do need to extend scope range, then mounts are the best option.

Trigger it
One of CZ’s best in-house design features is the single-stage trigger with four-stage weight adjustment. An Allen key is supplied for the small screw with a white dot, just ahead of the trigger. This has strong detents so can be changed through the weight settings and returned exactly to your preferred choice. The polished steel blade is 5mm wide and the weights on offer are 491g/17oz, 854g/30oz, 1117g/39oz, and 1210g/42oz. Unlike the sporters, which have a plunger safety catch through the tang, the MDT variant has an ambidextrous, two-position safety running through the chassis, just above the grip. This also locks the bolt closed on safe, but you can open the bolt if the bolt release plunger is operated simultaneously.

Feeding time
CZ has opted for a single-column, AICS-compatible steel magazine with a slight tweak. Standard AI mags have a flat follower, but CZ has supplied a more advanced, MDT branded, unit with small feed ramps at the nose, ensuring the rounds are guided more precisely towards the chamber. I checked that ammunition cycled through the action and I was pleased to see no damage to the bullets’ meplats or case necks. The mag holds 10 rounds, and five rounders are available. The ambidextrous release catch hangs from the front of the spacious trigger guard, and the mags clip in and out of the chassis/action without stalling.

Grey or bronze
There are two versions of the 600 MDT, with one coming in a grey MDT CCS stock (on test) and the other boasting a bronze MDT SRS Skeleton. The latter costs more due to the greater butt complexity. The CCS features a rubber MDT Elite Pistol Grip, and the vertically adjustable cheekpiece has two finger adjustable locking screws. The cheekpiece isn’t laterally adjustable but it has a slot in the front to ensure bolt function in any position, although you may need to raise or drop it to remove the bolt completely. Although quite broad at 42mm, the slender design allows it to support your cheekbone without lateral pressure against your jaw. Built onto an aluminium AR-15 buffer tube, the length of pull (LOP) can be adjusted by inserting spacers, and I’m pleased to report that everything locks securely in position, without any rattles. The hand stop allows the rifle to be squeezed into your shoulder, and there is an underside bag rider with an M-LOK slot to take a monopod if desired. The LOP measures 14”/354mm when all four of the 6mm spacers are fitted.

Cerakoted aluminium
The rest of the aluminium chassis is Cerakoted grey, showing a smooth, matte finish. It features a 12.5”/315mm long fore-end that’s 45mm wide and 35mm tall. This is rigid and provides a decent free-float for the barrel. QD Anchor points are located bilaterally at the front, with the rest of the sides showing M-LOK rail for accessories. The underside ARCA rail is great for fitting bipods and tripods. However, being Cerakote smooth, I found you need to clamp them tight to stop any movement during recoil. The final touches are accessory mounting points below the action/ejection port, and there is also a secure, 22mm deep barricade stop with gripping grooves.

Range time
CZ assures a five-shot group that measures 0.75 MOA when using premium ammunition. The barrel on this rifle has a 1:10” twist rate, giving greater versatility than a 1:12”, which I generally find limits a .308.
Mounting a scope and bipod was straightforward, and I chose a moderator to dampen noise, as this gun weighs 5.2kg/11.5lbs and was unlikely to be snappy anyway. It’s interesting to note that when bore sighted, the gun shot very close to the point of aim, and when zeroed, immediately had no problem beating the common MOA standard with factory 165gr hunting ammunition. I then cleaned the rifle and inspected it for shaved filaments of copper or brass in the chamber area, which would have indicated disrupted feeding, and I found none. The bore cleaned up easily and showed no immediate copper problems, so I switched over to the 168gr Match ammunition, which reliably printed sub ¾ MOA at 100m. This significantly exceeds the advertised capability. A bore scope inspection showed a good barrel with no specific failings. I ran a 15-shot string which maintained MOA, and it didn’t deviate from the mean point of impact either. Overall, I have found the barrel reliable!
The trigger was crisp and repeatable, and it arrived set on stage one. However, I used stage two for a bit more feel to suit my shot tempo. The reach to the trigger from the throat of the MDT grip was 70mm, and I liked the slight inclination of the grip, rather than a truly vertical drop. There is a slight palm swell, and you can reach the magazine release with your fingertip. The bolt operation was impeccable, being very light and fast, without any stalling, and ejection was controllable.

Backup
If you need a backup shot, a single round dropped through the ejection port will feed smoothly into the chamber. Overall, I find it hard to dislike this action, as it seems to deliver everything.
Disassembling the rifle required two T25 screws to be removed fore and aft of the magazine well. CZ’s 600 action has a flat base that mates accurately with the MDT inlet, and there are steel recoil lugs to ensure that the recoil forces are evenly distributed. Although fundamentally a heavy gun, I didn’t find it cumbersome and liked the handling characteristics. There are no abrupt corners, and the recoil feel was perceived without vibration, but it wasn’t totally inert either. You could perceive the linear firing pulse through the gun without excessive point-of-aim disturbance, and shooting standing from a tripod really illustrated this. If you were to go for a brake and 6mm Creedmoor, it would be even more gentle to shoot, and that’s before considering the fitment of fore-end balance weights.
Neutrality is there for you to customise on this rifle, and with a full-length barrel, you get all the velocity your ammunition promises, plus reliable accuracy and thermal consistency.

Conclusion
Some may critique a manual ejector, but when operated correctly, it gives all the power you need. Plus, you get some control that you cannot have with an automated ejector. If you really like to pamper your brass, this is a desirable factor. I found the stock’s ergonomics acceptable, and the balance point was perfectly placed, right on the barricade stop. The recoil is inherently very calm, given the gun’s weight, yet I particularly liked the dexterity and delicacy with which the bolt cycled, as it doesn’t disturb the rifle and tussle with the point of aim on those fast repeat shots. I just hope that they introduce a 6.5 Creedmoor, because when the fundamentals of a rifle work so well, it simply makes the rifle easier to shoot.