Hello,

I was at a local gun show this weekend and bought a BRNO 21 or 22F in a 7x57. It was made in 1949. I have a couple questions:

What is the difference between a 21 and a 22?

What is the value of a gun like this? (maybe should have asked this before I put the money down)

ddj

They're priceless. 21 is short barrel, 22 is long, H is half stock, F is full stock.

Extreemy nice rifle and hard to find here in the sates. I see brno commercials rifles go for 1200 , and I bet many go for more.
I understand they are a bitch to scope though.
Might want to check with ray atkinson, I belive he knows them well.
...tj3006

Mike,

Thanks, it is a short barreled rifle 20 1/2" barrel. It had fiddleback the length of the stock. It had some handling marks and a scope with rings and bases. The rings and bases are unlike anything I have seen before.

Did these rifles come with dovetails? It looks like the rifle had square bridges.

Thanks,

ddj

They came in 20.5" and 23.5" barrels, with half and full stocks available for each. 1949-55 models have square bridges with dovetails, early models had round bridges and a clip slot. None were ever marked with a model designation, and various retailers advertised them pretty much as they pleased (721, 722, 21, 22, H, F, etc).

An unmolested example is usually worth about $1500 or so, depending on the cartridge. Molested examples can be found for half as much.

quote:

Originally posted by trouthunterdj:
Hello,

I was at a local gun show this weekend and bought a BRNO 21 or 22F in a 7x57. It was made in 1949. I have a couple questions:

What is the difference between a 21 and a 22?

What is the value of a gun like this? (maybe should have asked this before I put the money down)

ddj

GREAT snag!!!!

Don

What type of loads do people use in their BRNO's?

I am looking forward to seeing how it shoots.

Thanks for the help,

ddj

These rifles are throated for the heavy stuff, 160-177 grains.

I love them. Sold one last year for too little. I am shooting the other with factory ammo.
Right about the scoping but I just saw mounts and rings for sale for around $300 which is better than drilling and tapping.
My gunsmith made some for me from gunsmith blanks but I am sure that would cost way more anywhere else.
The absolute beauty of the 21 and 22 is how smooth the action is. Like butter in bed.
Frank

Seriously, I'd love to see some pictures of your new find. They're one of my favorites

I'm trying to get some pictures to work.

Thanks

ddj

quote:

Originally posted by Blacktail53:

Seriously, I'd love to see some pictures of your new find. They're one of my favorites

I have a short barreled FS w/DST....CZ rings fit perfectly on it....it shoots 139 Hornadys well albeit seated way out.....

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Originally posted by Blacktail53:

Seriously, I'd love to see some pictures of your new find. They're one of my favorites

Vapo,

They are some magnificent rifles; my kind of rifles, classic designs.

Don

Thanks to vapodog for posting pictures for me.

ddj

The top rifle is a 22h 7x57 (1955).

The middle rifle is a 21f 7x57 (1949).

The bottom rifle is a Biesen 257 Roberts on a 1909 Argentine.

ddj

quote:

Originally posted by trouthunterdj:
The top rifle is a 22h 7x57 (1955).

The middle rifle is a 21f 7x57 (1949).

The bottom rifle is a Biesen 257 Roberts on a 1909 Argentine.

ddj

I apologize, I thought they were Vapo's rifles.
Those are the finest rifles a guy could ever get! The lines are excellent and the workmanship is second to none. I love those stocks.

Don

Over the past 45 years, I have owned about every highend production rifle made, this is bolt actions, which I prefer. DMB is right, the Brno 21/22 and ZG-47 series are peerless in terms of quality and the actions of these are THE choice for building custom rifles on.

I have a 21 action salvaged from a total beater and a Kreiger 7mm bbl. I am slowly obtaining the finest parts available and will send it to Ralf Martini to have my "dream" rifle built, probably another .280Rem., my favourite chambering in this action.

When you look at these, the contemporary FN sporters, Mod. 70s, HVAs Mannlichers and just basic Savage 99s from that era and then what we are offered today, it is enough to make you puke!

THDJ,

Nice rifles!! Thanks for sharing!
Some day I'll run across a great deal on a 21/22 and add it to the herd. They're built the way a rifle should be built.

Thanks for the kind words.

I really appreciate the older classic rifles. The workmanship and effort to produce these guns are fantastic.

ddj