For the last couple of years I have been wanting a classic mauser type factory sporting rifle. I have looked at some of the usual suspects such as the Husqvarna, FN, Browning, etc. Then recently I found out about the older Brno rifles. Specifically the model 21, 22 and the ZG-47. The ZG-47 seems to fit the bill perfectly! What can you guys tell me about these beauties?
I know that not many of these were imported to the US because of trade restrictions, so Canada and Europe are the best places to find one. I would love to get as much info as possible on these rifles. Pictures would be a definite plus.

These are very fine rifles, one of the best commercial rifles ever produced. Yes they are quirky, there were a lot of different chamberings from the factory, and I like the ones without the butterknife handle the best.

There are a couple of guys here that are lucky enough to own them, Kutenay has one, Alf problably has a trunk full of them, and I remember Fla3006 posting a pic off one that I though was just perfect.

Use your find button and search for ZG-47 there is a lot of excellent posts on this.

Very nice rifles.

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Ballard4590: For the last couple of years I have been wanting a classic mauser type factory sporting rifle....recently I found out about the older Brno rifles. Specifically the model 21, 22 and the ZG-47. The ZG-47 seems to fit the bill perfectly!

Precisely. Arguably the finest Mauser-type sporting rifle.

There has been alot posted on these boards about them over the past couple years, mostly by Alf, Systeme98 (Tom Burgess), myself, Kutenay, Johan and others. Basically, designed in 1947, approximately 20,000 manufactured at the Zbrojovka Brno arsenal between 1950-1962. Most were sold in Canada, Europe, Australia & South Africa, none imported into the USA because of cold war politics. Came in several configurations (2 barrel lengths, high polish & matte finish receivers, different stock & checkering styles, etc.) Calibers included 6.5x57, 7x57, 7x64, 8x57, 8x60, 8x64, 8x68, 9.3x62, 10.75x68, 270, 30-06. Most are 30-06, 270, 7x57, 8x57, 8x64, at least in my experience.

This rifle is SN44, made in 1950, a 270:



This is my "go-to" rifle, a 7x57 beater:



An exhibition Turkish-stocked 270 carbine:



This pimped-out specimen won the Grand Prize for engraving at the Brussels Exposition:



A few hundred German FW Heyms and Parker Hale Hussars were made using slightly modified ZG-47 actions:

Fla3006,

I like your "beater"

Actually there all nice rifles , the 270 on top is the pic I had in mind thats a very nice rifle also.

How long did it take you to collect all of those? You don't see a lot of these for sale, so know it took you a while. Very nice indeed.

Schromf, most of mine came from Europe & Canada, not many in the USA, haven't bought one in several years now, had 24 at one time, hard to find but occasionally for sale on the gun websites.

I have four, had two others, but sold one 21 long ago and recently parted out a minty ZG-47 for an action. This is now at Ralf Martini's place as my hunting partner is having a 9.3x64 built on it; he has bought a number of my choice actions for various projects and Free-Miner got another.

ZG-47s and especially 21Hs are still quite easy to find here, but, I have too many rifles now and don't want any more. I was just shooting my 21H longbarrel "roundbolt" yesterday, re-chambered to .280 Rem., it averages about .65 with 160 NPs at 2800 fps.

I have one 21H action left, slowly becoming a custom 9.3x62 as I gather the various parts; I consider this to be the finest production bolt rifle ever made and light sporters of superb quality can be built up from these actions.

Much as I like mine I wouldn't have hunted with it with original stock comb height or back to front safety.

[url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=346335&c=500&z=1"] [/url]

Kevin "Doctari" Robertson (The Perfect shot) has a ZG 47 in 9,3x62. Former owned by a man who worked with culling Buffaloes in Rhodesia in "The good days".

Some 600 buffalos has fallen for that rifle...

My .404 Rimless Nitro Express is built on a ZG 47 from 1956.



Husky

They are nice looking rifles, which way does the safety operate?

thanks...

jim

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This pimped-out specimen

LOL

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Jim: which way does the safety operate?

Like a Sako Rhiimaki, rotated up blocks the firing pin and locks the bolt, backwards as shown in the pics in battery. Also like a M70 but horizontal instead of verticle:

Fla'06,

Thanks for the explanation, I think you saved me some money.

I took a BRO M602 to Namibia in '95. By the end of the hunt I was not using the safety, and I vowed to replace the "backwards safety" or sell the rifle. I replaced it with a M70-style unit.

I don't think I would get used to a rifle with a safety that moves "back" to the fire position.

jim

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Jim: I don't think I would get used to a rifle with a safety that moves "back" to the fire position.

Lots of controversy about this, depends upon what one is accustomed to. I have never had a problem with Brno "backwards" safeties, just like cocking a hammer gun to me, makes sense. But of course most rifles & double guns operate by pushing the safety forward and one would certainly not want to get confused with a buff bearing down.

I own primarily P-64 Mod. 70s as hunting rifles and this is the safety style I am used to, so, I change out any other safety to this type. Currently, I own Husqvarna HVA, FN Supreme(Browning), Brno 21H and ZG-47 rifles so modified as well as my Dakota which comes this way. I have a Mannlicher-Schoenauer and a minty, high grade custom M-98 in 9.3x62 by Wm. Oschatz that are original, but, these are "play" rifles as they are too pristine and valuable to drag up B.C. mountains in the rain.

The Brnos simply require changing the bolt shroud and in the ZG, the cocking piece( IIRCC) to 98 style and then putting on the 70 style safety. They can be put back to original without any sign of the conversion for those to whom that is important.

I consider these and the FN sporters, especially the early C-ring ones to be superior to any other bolt action sporting rifle and, with a decent synthetic stock and so on, you have a rifle of reasonable weight and flawless function that will "take a lickin' and keep on tickin'". My 21H customized rifles will compete with a Rem. 700 p.o.s. in weight and are light years better in function.

The .404 shown in a previous post is lovely, my idea of how a REAL hunting rifle should look. I have handled and almost got a ZG-47 in 9.3x62, but, the guy who had it screwed me over on the deal. These are rare and I would prefer to re-barrel an .'06 for this due to the rather thin Brno barrels, my 21H is even nicer in this capacity.

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kutenay: I consider these and the FN sporters, especially the early C-ring ones to be superior to any other bolt action sporting rifle....The 404 shown in a previous post is lovely, my idea of how a REAL hunting rifle should look....9.3x62....These are rare and I would prefer to re-barrel

Ditto on everything you said.
I bought the Parker Hale Hussar pictured above with the idea of rebarreling either to 404 or 9.3x62. I have since bought an FN 9.3x62 so I may proceed with the 404 project as I have never owned one and it seems like such a sweet round.

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The Brnos simply require changing the bolt shroud and in the ZG, the cocking piece( IIRCC) to 98 style and then putting on the 70 style safety. They can be put back to original without any sign of the conversion for those to whom that is important.

Kutenay,

Thanks for amplifying the situation with changing out the shroud, that is of course what I did with my BRNO. I did not know what fits or does not fit the ZG-47.

jim