Picatinny rails

A Picatinny rail is a scope base that you screw onto the receiver of your rifle. It gives you a standard interface for scope rings, red dots and other accessories. Once the rail is on, you can mount any optic with a Picatinny base or Picatinny rings, and move it along the rail to set the right eye relief. You can choose rails from JK-N, CZ, Contessa, Toni System, CJ Manufactory, Davika and Ascalon Arms, most of them made for specific CZ and Brno rifles.

Rails for your rifle

A rail must match the top of your receiver and the position of its screw holes. Open the collection for your rifle:

• CZ 457 Picatinny rails
• CZ 455 Picatinny rails
• CZ 452 Picatinny rails
• CZ 600 Picatinny rails
• ZKM 451 Picatinny rails
• ZKM 452 Picatinny rails
• ZKM 456 Picatinny rails
• Brno Combo Picatinny rails

Some rifles need a closer look:

• CZ 457: the right hand and left hand versions need different rails. JK-N makes left hand rails, flat and with 25 MOA.
• CZ 600: the rail depends on the length of the upper receiver, which depends on the calibre. The short rail fits the .223 Rem and 7.62x39 rifles. The medium rail fits the .308 Win, .243 Win, 6 mm Creedmoor and 6.5 mm Creedmoor rifles. The long rail fits the .30-06 Springfield, .270 Win, .300 Win Mag and 8x57 IS rifles.
• Brno ZKM 452: JK-N makes rails for both the 11 mm and the 16 mm dovetail. The 16 mm rail also fits the ZKM 456.
• Brno Combo: the JK-N rail is made for mounting a red dot.

Rail or dovetail rings

Many rimfire CZ rifles, such as the CZ 457, have an 11 mm dovetail on the receiver. You can mount a scope directly on the dovetail with dovetail rings, see Scope rings with dovetail base. A Picatinny rail adds a step, but it gives you more options. You can use any Picatinny rings or mounts, you can choose an incline, and you can move optics between rifles that all have a Picatinny rail.

Flat or angled rail

A flat rail has no incline, which is marked as 0 MOA. An angled rail is higher at the back than at the front. The incline tilts the scope down towards the muzzle and gives you more elevation adjustment for long distances. The incline is given in MOA in the product name. For the CZ 457 you can choose rails with 0, 15, 20, 25 or 35 MOA. For the CZ 455 and CZ 600 you can choose flat rails or rails with 25 MOA.

For hunting and normal range distances, a flat rail is the simple choice. If you shoot at long range and run out of elevation on your scope, choose an angled rail.

Steel or aluminium

• Steel rails come from JK-N, Contessa and CJ Manufactory. They are strong and resist wear from repeated mounting. The JK-N rail for the CZ 457 has an anti-reflective finish and, according to JK-N, the tightest fit of all CZ 457 rails.
• Aluminium rails come from CZ and Toni System. They are lighter.

The rails are made in the Czech Republic (JK-N, CZ, CJ Manufactory, Ascalon Arms) and Italy (Contessa, Toni System).

Other rails and adapters

• Blaser rail for the CZ 457: the CJ Manufactory steel base converts the 11 mm dovetail to the Blaser interface. You can then use quick-lever Blaser mounts and swap between scopes, for example a day and a night scope, without removing the mount.
• Picatinny rail for M-Lok: the Ascalon Arms rail turns an M-Lok slot into a Picatinny interface. It is made from 7075 aluminium with a hard anodized finish.
• Side rails for the CZ Bren 2: original CZ side rails for 11 inch models, sold as a pair.
• Picatinny rail for Davika mounts: a base made to the STANAG 4694 standard that adds a Picatinny interface to Davika scope mounts and rings.

Rings and mounts for your rail

Once the rail is on, choose rings by the tube diameter of your scope. You can get Picatinny rings from JK-N in stainless steel with a lever or a screw nut, from Contessa in steel, and from Davika in 7075-T6 aluminium, including QD Ergo mounts and cantilever mounts that move the scope forward. JK-N also makes a customizable ring mount for 1 inch, 30 mm and 34 mm tubes, and a polymer reduction from 30 mm to 1 inch. See 30 mm Picatinny scope rings, 34 mm Picatinny scope rings and 1 inch Picatinny scope rings [25.4mm].

Installation

You can mount a Picatinny rail at home. You need a torque wrench and the right bit for the screws. Screws come with the rails.

1. Unload the rifle.
2. Clean the screw holes in the receiver and degrease the screws.
3. Place the rail on the receiver. On the CZ 600 rails, put the longer screws at the back and the shorter screws at the front.
4. Put a drop of medium threadlocker on each screw.
5. Tighten the screws evenly to the recommended torque.

The recommended torque is in the product description. For example, it is 2 to 2.5 Nm for the steel JK-N and Contessa rails. The CZ aluminium rails for the CZ 457 and CZ 455 use 1.5 Nm for M5 screws, 1 Nm for M4 screws and 0.5 Nm for M3 screws. Too much torque can damage the thread in the receiver, so do not guess.

Related collections

After the rail you need rings or a mount. See Scope rings and Riflescopes. For a red dot on a rail, see Red dots with Picatinny base.

Frequently asked questions

Can I mount a Picatinny rail on my CZ rifle at home?

Yes. You need a torque wrench and medium threadlocker.

1. Clean the screw holes and the screws.
2. Place the rail on the receiver.
3. Put threadlocker on each screw.
4. Tighten the screws to the torque in the product description.

Should I choose a flat or an angled rail for my CZ?

Choose a flat rail for hunting and normal range distances. Choose an angled rail, for example 20 or 25 MOA, if you shoot at long range and need more elevation from your scope.

Does one Picatinny rail fit several CZ rifles?

Only in a few cases. A rail must match the receiver and its screw holes, so most rails fit one model. Exceptions are the Contessa rail, which fits the CZ 452 and CZ 455, and the JK-N 16 mm rail, which fits the Brno ZKM 452 and ZKM 456.

Can I put a red dot on the Picatinny rail of my CZ rifle?

Yes. Choose a red dot with a Picatinny base, or a red dot on a Picatinny mount. Then slide it onto the rail and tighten the clamp.