Ray's nice Brno Mauser

12 March 2017, 05:12

Atkinson

Thanks bill,
I picked this up on the internet, Its a 8x57 (.323) 20 inch full rib carbine with a minty bore. and how about that alcorn bolt handle. Brno made them right after the war came to an end, they used the LR mauser that they had been making for the Germans, this was 1945-46, then they ran out of LRs and somehow got hold of 1937 SM German Custom Mauser for the round tops call the mod 21 and 22, they finally got around to making the mod. 21 and 22 with the double square bridges, in my opinion the early LR and the the mod. 21 and 22s are the best commerdially made rifles ever made. I have owned a number of them in every varity, but they keep going up in value to the point I always end up selling them. The leather covered recoil pad is a add on but stock not cut, but its a $600 add on.

I just might run a 06 reamer or a 06 AI reamer in this gun, the 8mm'06 IMP. is a dandy caliber, then drill and tap it for scope and go elk hunting..then again maybe not. A carbine 8x57 is a pretty fair elk gun as is.

12 March 2017, 05:58

ALF

Brno's

12 March 2017, 12:54

Monastery-Forester

13 March 2017, 07:50

grizz007

Classik!

13 March 2017, 08:00

richj

Very nice mannlicher.

8mm

13 March 2017, 14:43

hdxr750

Those are all very Nice Rifles

13 March 2017, 17:39

snowman

quote:
Originally posted by Atkinson:
Thanks bill,
I picked this up on the internet, Its a 8x57 (.323) 20 inch full rib carbine with a minty bore. and how about that alcorn bolt handle. Brno made them right after the war came to an end, they used the LR mauser that they had been making for the Germans, this was 1945-46, then they ran out of LRs and somehow got hold of 1937 SM German Custom Mauser for the round tops call the mod 21 and 22, they finally got around to making the mod. 21 and 22 with the double square bridges, in my opinion the early LR and the the mod. 21 and 22s are the best commerdially made rifles ever made. I have owned a number of them in every varity, but they keep going up in value to the point I always end up selling them. The leather covered recoil pad is a add on but stock not cut, but its a $600 add on.

I just might run a 06 reamer or a 06 AI reamer in this gun, the 8mm'06 IMP. is a dandy caliber, then drill and tap it for scope and go elk hunting..then again maybe not. A carbine 8x57 is a pretty fair elk gun as is.

Beautiful Ray I like your idea of an 8mm-06 Ackley. That is a great cartridge, however do you think you would gain a whole lot with that 20 in barrel ? 8x57 with good handloads is nothing to sneeze at.

13 March 2017, 19:58

xausa

quote:
Originally posted by Atkinson:

I just might run a 06 reamer or a 06 AI reamer in this gun, the 8mm'06 IMP. is a dandy caliber, then drill and tap it for scope and go elk hunting..then again maybe not. A carbine 8x57 is a pretty fair elk gun as is.

Ray,

Have you thought of rechambering to 8X64? It's the metric equivalent of the 8mm/06, and has the advantage of factory ammunition, should you ever want to sell it. I have a BRNO ZG47 in 8X64, and it is a hammer on whitetails. I'm sure it would be on elk as well.

I use neck expanded 7X64 cases for brass.

Bill

14 March 2017, 06:38

snowman

X nice thought but the 8x64 does NOT clean up an 8x57 chamber without setting the barrel back. Base diam of the 8x64 is about .010" smaller than the 8x57 case.

14 March 2017, 06:50

ALF

Brno published that the 8x64 was their most popular caliber for the Galas rifle (ZG series)
What is interesting about this is that would expect the 8x64 then to be the most abundant of the ZG series and yet it is not , not outside Europe at least !

14 March 2017, 07:00

SNAP

I have had about 15 Brnos, ZGs and 21-22 series since 1965, sold most and have several left plus a ZG action and 21 action.

I also consider them the *best* production rifles made and the ZGs in 9.3x62, polished receivers, the best. I have two and an action being fitted with s sts Benchmark tube in 9.3.

17 March 2017, 05:14

dwheels

I am a sucker for those old Mannlicher rifles. That subtle curve under the forend is what does it for me. Way to go I am jealous.

17 March 2017, 16:36

Monastery-Forester

Where have you seen Mannlicher-Rifles?

17 March 2017, 16:54

Steve 460

I've got a model 22 in 8x57. It's an early model in pristine condition, serial number 3xxx, and proofed in 1942. Interesting thing about it is the address on the side of the receiver is in german rather than czech. I don't think they turned out too many sporting rifles during the war. One of my favorite rifles.

18 March 2017, 00:35

Atkinson

Ive talked to a number of collectors of Brno rifles and a number of well known gunsmith..This particular rifle is a mod. 22F "Large Ring", I didn't know these existed, the stock and checkering pattern is the same as the small ring, has a strange single trigger as opposed to a double trigger..It is a very rare rifle and several offered to buy it from me at a super price, and I may sell it at some point but not for now..These showed up shortly after WW2 about 1942. The small rings were dated in the 1950s and are so marked.

I was threatened with gilflurting and stringhaltering if I changed one thing about the rifle, so no D&T, no 8mm/06 Ackley, or my usual butchering of a collector item, these are serious threats, I think!

21 March 2017, 14:59

sambarman338

A good decision, Ray. There's a lot to be said for leaving a gun as it is, esp. an old collectable one.

For instance, I know my favourite shotgun would fit me even better if I shortened the stock a tad - but my sons are taller and I don't want to spoil it.

02 April 2017, 02:50

Atkinson

Sambarman,
I agree, these old desirable collector guns need to be kept original, most I end up selling for just that reason, and personal greed has some legitmate reasoning to me!! I hate that but it is an issue with nice guns...I hate myself when I let one go, and wish Id kept it almost every time!

03 April 2017, 09:39

kevan

Ray, you might be pleasantly surprised at how well the old 8X57 thumps Elk.
I know that my old VZ24 is a keeper as is.

04 April 2017, 02:49

Cold Trigger Finger

You had me stressing that you were going to start chopping on it. So glad you will leave it as is . the 8×57 is a great round . And no doubt will do super as an elk round.
Beautiful rifle !

Phil Shoemaker : "I went to a .30-06 on a fine old Mauser action. That worked successfully for a few years until a wounded, vindictive brown bear taught me that precise bullet placement is not always possible in thick alders, at spitting distances and when time is measured in split seconds. Lucky to come out of that lesson alive, I decided to look for a more suitable rifle."

07 April 2017, 06:14

Atkinson

I got out and shot it a bit, It shot an inch at 50 yards with irons with several loads and to the same POI and my chronograph sez its a copy of the .308 but with heavier bullets..It liked the 250 gr Woodleighs at 2250; the 160 gr GS customs at 2900 plus, and the 200 gr. Sierras and Noslers, (I think noslers) but didn't chronograph them, but would guess they were at least 2600 plus, maybe even 2700..Sort of a half assed day of testing and shooting at rocks mostly because the wind got bad..When temps get up in the 80s I'll give it a good wringing out, but I sure satisfied with it now..It will duplicat the 30-06 and may be a tad better in that it has a wider cross section..and all this from a 20 inch tube..

10 April 2017, 00:40

Atkinson

Im about to go bonkers on this rifle, I love it and that's not a good thing..The more I think about keeping it, the more Im inclined to drill and tap it for scope and reshape that beautiful acorn bolt handle to be scope friendly..

I wish someone would buy it before it happens!! I have this new lovely old Leupold Alaskan 2.5X 7/8 inch scope that looks so nice when I set it on top of the gun..oh Lordy!!

23 August 2017, 10:10

z1r

05 September 2017, 06:30

Atkinson

That acorn bolt knob and the full length solid rib barrel blow me away and the forend separation with the integral barrel swivel, and cross bolt to hold it all together..Stuff like that that's too expensive to incorporate today for less than the cost of a new Dodge Desil,; makes me break out in chills and feel all warm and cozy all over!!

05 September 2017, 22:20

wildcat junkie

quote:
Originally posted by Atkinson:

I just might run a 06 reamer or a 06 AI reamer in this gun, the 8mm'06 IMP. is a dandy caliber, then drill and tap it for scope and go elk hunting..then again maybe not. A carbine 8x57 is a pretty fair elk gun as is.

Unless you plan to lengthen the magazine as far as you can W/O major surgery, leave it 8x57 and work up some loads with Rl-17.

My 8mm-06 bests my 8X57 by 170 fps W/200ogr bullets, but at an AOL of 3.420" compared to 3.032" for the 8X57.

Uses a lot less powder too.

09 September 2017, 21:38

Atkinson

That would be the plan if I was to do so, Im pretty much sold on long magazines and long throats, they perform better than the stats call for as a rule, particularly in the X57 case. Basically the short X57 case performs the same as a std 06 case velocity wise..Picks up a couple of hundred FPS at the same pressure level. Northfork did some pressure velocity testing for me some years back..Its a good option to blowing out the shoulder to an Ackley.

09 September 2017, 21:43

Atkinson

Can't seem to pull up any of the pictures???

11 September 2017, 02:24

wildcat junkie

quote:
Originally posted by Atkinson:
That would be the plan if I was to do so, Im pretty much sold on long magazines and long throats, they perform better than the stats call for as a rule, particularly in the X57 case. Basically the short X57 case performs the same as a std 06 case velocity wise..Picks up a couple of hundred FPS at the same pressure level. Northfork did some pressure velocity testing for me some years back..Its a good option to blowing out the shoulder to an Ackley.

With the 8mm -06 A/I @ 3.420"you can get to lightly compressed loads of Norma MRP with 200gr bullets W/O significantly exceeding 60K.

16 September 2017, 23:53

Atkinson

Well I got out to do some chronograph tests on my Brno 8x57 LR mod. 22C, (1943 carbine)...

My deer load is a 150 gr. Speer at 3,040 FPS, its a mild load as the same load is good with a 200 gr. Speer at 2677 FPS and they shoot to the same POI..So that pretty much took care of what Im going to hunt deer with and perhaps a cow elk with in 2017.

Im really liking this rifle the more I shoot it the better I like it..I had Jack Belk lower the original Acorn bolt just enough to clear the scope, and he drilled and tapped it without cutting into any markings..A added a 3X Leupold an its shooting an inch to an inch and a half..I may keep it, but one never knows with me. Not even I..

04 October 2017, 08:16

Atkinson

This mod. 22 8x57 has the Brno bottom metal of course, but the slot is not cut for double set triggers, its cut for the single trigger made by Brno!! Its the first Ive seen that way and its definatly original, not modified..Its a very rare rifle indeed. It does have a leather covered recoil pad, but stock not cut, I like that addition, and its very well done and very old but clean.

23 October 2017, 21:48

Atkinson

All the pictures went away..I can't get any of the photobucket pics..Whats with this?

29 October 2017, 12:12

NuB

quote:
Originally posted by SNAP:
I have had about 15 Brnos, ZGs and 21-22 series since 1965, sold most and have several left plus a ZG action and 21 action.

I also consider them the *best* production rifles made and the ZGs in 9.3x62, polished receivers, the best. I have two and an action being fitted with s sts Benchmark tube in 9.3.

Yup. Agree with your comment 100%. Best production rifles made.

05 January 2018, 19:01

Steve up North

I'm looking for a Brno ZG-47 in 8x64. Any idea where I could find one?

quote:
Originally posted by SNAP:
I have had about 15 Brnos, ZGs and 21-22 series since 1965, sold most and have several left plus a ZG action and 21 action.

I also consider them the *best* production rifles made and the ZGs in 9.3x62, polished receivers, the best. I have two and an action being fitted with s sts Benchmark tube in 9.3.

09 January 2018, 23:06

Atkinson

Well were in to 2018 and we did some culling last Nov. with this little manlicher 8x57 and the Speer 150 and Nosler 180 bal. tips..My friend and life long hunting partner shot a number of whitetails with both bullets, the results were the same dead deer and perfect bullet performance..

I see no need to change anything else on this wonderful little rifle. He also used the 8x60S with like results using the same bullets but at a little more velocity. Nothing changed there it worked.