CZ 600+ Alpha in .243 Win Review

CZ’s 600+ Alpha in .243 Win blends a crisp 1.4 lb single-stage trigger, controlled-feed reliability, and a quick-change barrel system. We shot groups, ran offhand drills, and pushed real hunting loads to see what this rifle actually does on target.

Inside the CZ 600+ Alpha: Features That Matter

CZ might be best known for their autoloading pistols, but they have built quality rifles for decades. Their 457 series of rimfire rifles continues to cater to the target, training, and small game markets. In 2023, CZ gave its line of centerfire rifles a facelift with the all-new 600 series of hunting and tactical bolt-action models. One potentially useful feature of CZ rifles is their quick-change barrel system, which allows you to switch between calibers and barrel profiles. Unfortunately, the 600 did not have that feature. The new 600+ models borrow all the same great features of the original, but now have the quick-change barrel system all squared away. This review concerns the CZ 600+ Alpha chambered in the light-kicking .243 Winchester cartridge.

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CZ 600+ Alpha Build: Barrel, Action, Trigger, and More

The CZ 600+ Alpha is the base model of a line of rifles that range from the collapsing stock 600+ Trail to the walnut-stocked iron-sighted 600+ Lux. The Alpha is distinguished by a black fiber-reinforced polymer stock and a free-floated semi-heavy barrel that splits the difference between a light tapered barrel and a full bull barrel.

Action

The rifle is available in three action types: mini, medium (short action), and long. It is chambered in calibers including .223 Remington, .243 Winchester, 6mm and 6.5 Creedmoor, as well as 6.5 PRC, .270 Winchester, .308 Winchester, .30-06, and .300 Win. Magnum.

All versions use a black anodized aluminum receiver for a good mix of weight savings and strength. The barrel comes threaded for 5/8×24″ accessories like suppressors and muzzle brakes, save for the .223 version, which uses a 1/2×28″ thread pitch.

The 600+ Alpha is a controlled-feed bolt-action rifle, although the lack of a long extractor might lead one to assume it is a push-feed gun like the Remington 700. The Alpha has a short 60-degree bolt throw and feeds from detachable box magazines. The magazine can be removed for loading or loaded from the top while fixed in the rifle. Magazine capacity ranges from 3-5 rounds.

Trigger

The standout feature of the 600+ Alpha, or at least the one that stood out to me most, is the adjustable single-stage trigger that can be adjusted with an Allen wrench down to an advertised 1.4 lbs. without tinkering with the trigger out of the rifle. Other features include a vertical crossbolt safety, a right-side mounted bolt release, and an orange-indicated cocked striker indicator.

The 600+ Alpha ships in a plain cardboard box with a single magazine. The rifle marks the bottom floor in price point among the line with an MSRP of $799. The model I chose is chambered in .243 Winchester and wears a short 20-inch barrel with a 1:10 twist.

First Look and Setup: Optics, Suppressor, Balance

On closer inspection, the 600+ Alpha in .243 crosses paths between a deer stand rifle and a youth model. The 20 inch barrel is the shortest in the Alpha line, but it retains an adult length of pull. The barrel has a traditional 1:10 twist rate that works best with 50-100 grain bullets, which makes this rifle particularly suited for game getting rather than competition.

The stock has a pair of durable sling studs for carry. In the hand, the 600+Alpha balances right at the magazine, but the rifle feels heavier than a synthetic stock rifle should be.

In terms of construction, the rifle is neatly assembled with no machine marks or burrs throughout the construction. Visually, it is clear to see how free-floated the barrel is as you can see the polymer ribs that reinforce the fore end.

After a quick boresight, I reached into my bins of .243 Winchester ammo and headed to the range for a series of test runs.

Range Proof: CZ 600+ Alpha Accuracy and Reliability

In my experience, CZ rifles are reliable and accurate performers with a fit and finish that is sometimes lost on our American brands. The 600+ keeps up appearances and even comes with a MOA accuracy guarantee with match-grade ammunition, but given how the rifle is set up, I wanted to test it in the context of a straight-laced weather-proof hunting rifle. This is reflected in the 200 rounds of ammunition I ran through the rifle. These included:

As I had more of the Remington load to spare, I used this as my sight-in load. I started from a bench rest on targets at 25 yards, then recalibrated again with a few shots out a 100 yards. After a good cool down, I settled in for groups.

Accuracy: Real Groups at 100 Yards

Accuracy testing the CZ 600+ proved to be an exercise in variable control. One’s definitions will vary, depending on whether you are shooting from a rest or offhand, what type of ammunition you are using, the twist rate of the barrel, and even the number of shots used to judge consistency and accuracy. Of course, the most important variable is the shooter. From a bench rest at 100 yards in the hands of an average shooter, taking five-round groups, the CZ 600+ produces easy 2-inch groups.

It became obvious early on that the semi-heavy 1:10 twist barrel does its best with the Winchester 58 grain Varmint load up to the Remington 80 grain PSP, particularly when fired in three-shot groups, as by the time I get to the fifth shot, the barrel is already heating up.

Best Load

The Remington load did best with a three-shot group measuring at .82 inches. Going for my usual five-shot routine widened it to 1.3 inches. Hornady’s 95 grain SST is over 140 feet per second faster than the Federal 100 grain soft point load, and it is easy to tell by the report and the amount of heat coming off the barrel after only five rounds. My groups with that load produced 2-2.5 inch groups between the three and five shot groups. This round in particular exhibited horizontal stringing. The other rounds selected produced the following three shot groups:

*muzzle velocity denoted in feet per second and as an average of five shots fired over a chronograph at a distance of ten feet.

Offhand Reality Check: Ergonomics Under Time Pressure

As with any other firearm, inconsequential things on the bench become great benefits or detriments when shooting offhand. Most of my shooting with the CZ 600+ Alpha was done offhand in sitting and prone positions. My targets consisted of eight-inch steel plates at 200 yards and paper targets at 300 yards.

On the whole, the buttstock and comb naturally give a good cheek weld. The rubber butt pad effectively cushions the modest recoil of the .243 but would be more effective on heavier-hitting calibers. The pad helps to give a 14-inch length of pull, which is great for taller shooters like me, but if you are shorter and stature and wearing some heavy clothes, the pad will tend to catch before it meets the shoulder. The rest of the stock fits well and offers plenty of gripping surface, even on slick, dewy mornings. But the magazine, safety, and trigger are quicker to stand out.

Magazine

You can detach the magazine for loading or lock the magazine in place and load from the top. The magazine itself is high quality and lends itself well to easy loading in both ways. But the magazine body is long for the .243, and there is space for obviously longer and more powerful rounds. Unfortunately, this gives the follower some potential excess movement. On two occasions early in the test cycling, the follower got stuck and did not rise far enough to feed rounds for the bolt to pick up. I would not call these fluke events, but it did knock the 600+ slightly in the reliability department. Otherwise, the rifle cycled and shot everything I fed it.

Safety

The safety is different from most other rifles and works like a crossbolt safety, but in a vertical position. It is not as intuitive to put on safe, but it is fast and quiet to take off safe.

Without a suppressor, the CZ 600+ balances well in the hand. With the addition of the SilencerCo Velos 7.62, the rifle is noticeably muzzle heavy. It cut down on recoil and blast, but the rifle got tiring to hold after a while. Thankfully, the trigger consistently came to the rescue. It has no take-up and very little overtravel. At its lowest setting, it measures at 1 lb 4 oz. on my Lyman trigger scale. A determined touch sets it off, and I was able to smack my targets even as my scope reticle started to shake.

Specifications: CZ 600+ Alpha .243 Winchester

Pros and Cons: What Stands Out

• Pros: Adjustable 1.4 lb trigger, controlled-feed reliability, threaded barrel, MOA guarantee with match ammo, solid build quality, and versatile quick-change barrel system.
• Cons: Magazine follower stuck twice, muzzle-heavy with suppressor, safety less intuitive to engage, adult-length LOP may snag for shorter shooters with heavy clothing.

Final Verdict: Where the CZ 600+ Alpha Shines

CZ’s catalog has changed quite a bit over the last several years, and the CZ 600+ Alpha stands out as its entry-level centerfire bolt-action hunting rifle. There are no heavy barrels, special chassis systems, or checkered walnut to bother with. Instead, you get a utilitarian but well-shaped weather-proof composite stock and a business-like semi-heavy barrel. You also get a robust controlled-fed action and an excellent trigger that can handle any load and drive off bad habits. These features are particularly handy for larger .30 caliber rounds. In the .243 Winchester chambering, the CZ 600+ is light-kicking and flat-shooting, but the cartridge may be best utilized in a dedicated youth model that is yet to come.

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