Some may have read I'm on a quest for a new 7mm. In my gun shop tours today I finally found something of interest. My question is what did I find?

It is a commercial BRNO in 7x64. Ok I got both of those down, but this is what puzzles me. It clearly has the BRNO banner on it, but is marked VZ-24. At first I thought it was a military when I saw that number, but it is clearly not. Its original, the barrel has Brno stamped in it and it has the bullseye ( I guess that what you call it) symbol.

The stock is typical european with a schnabel front end, single set trigger, with a funky rollover safety. I am sure after close inspection this is a factory rifle not fiddled with. It also had the swivel mount as part of the barrel.

My thoughts are its a BRNO 98 ( I'm pretty sure it had 98 stamped on the ejection side on the front of the reciever), but the VZ-24 is bothering me.

Anyone know what this was, I must admit I am curious, and its the most intresting rifle I have seen in weeks. The Franken-Euro stock would have to go, and rollover safety would need to be changed ( are there parts available? the VZ-24 would say yes). But it looked like a pretty good candidate for a custom rifle.

Thoughts? Opinions? or Damnations?

Well,
the VZ-24 was indeed made by Zbrojovka Brno. You probably have a sporterized VZ-24. They did export it under the designation B-98.

So, the gun is a true large-ring Mauser-98 and the caliber is as classic as it gets in such a gun.

What is the asking price ?

Regards

It has an expensive scope on it but they are asking $750..

Boy I can see this is an intensly popular rifle. I did get throught o the website finally ( must have been down before ). The photos of the current lineup look slightly different the bolt handles look different. But the rest of thee rifle looks the same.

Here is what I found:

http://www.zbrojovkabrno.com/arms/eng/zbrane/bo98st.htm

The difference I saw was the bolt handles on this are swept back on these and not on the one I saw.

Anybody know if there is a US distributor?

.

ZB or CZ?

I�ve heard nothing of that, could you please elaborate, Alf?

Thanks, Hermann

schromf,

There is a seller who offers 22lr Brno rifles on straight pull actions in the US. These are new rifles with beech wood stocks and I have been in touch with him as I am planning on buying one - they are realy cheap and I learned to shoot on a Brno Model 2 in India many decades ago.

If you want his contact details I could give them to you and you could check with him. I am not sure if he sells centerfires, though you could ask him and find out.

Good hunting!

I e-mailed BRNO today as if they had a US distributor. Lets see if I hear an answer.

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ALF,

I have dug through your old posts and me thinks you are quite knowlegable on this subject.

Are the new BRNO's worth the effort? I read quite a lot on the model 21's, but not much is said on these, newer 98's.
Another question I have is this standard mauser trigger parts on these? I know there are some set triggers that were quite unique and just about impoosible to get parts for.

How would you stack them against a new CZ? What I saw I liked better, but I am planning on a custom on this action, and I know a CZ can be cleaned up.

I am not looking for a magnum rifle, my thoughts are leaning to a 284 Win ( not in concrete yet and I seem to be getting beat up on this crazy though ).

Sweet! Ill take the Manlicher in 7X64..

I would be suprised if they are available stateside. If you are thinking of getting one to modify then you're probably just as well of starting with a milsurp VZ-24 (same thing) and making it how you want it from the start. I'd like to have one of those just as they are though, if they go belly up then they may become collectors items rather quickly.

.

Alf,

Yeap that looks like the beast, only real difference was the bolt handle and the safety. And tommorow I am going to double check on the bolt, I don't remember it being slightly swept as in the first rifle definately more like the second. I couldn't see the safety from your pictures, is that a rollover or is it something different?

Stock is very similar, was your trigger chromed and a single set?

Yes I liked what I saw, and thanks for the pics.

A good friend of mine just returned from visiting the ZB factory in Brno. They will custom make a VZ-24 just about any way you want it, upgraded wood, engraving, carved stocks, with or w/o sights, different bolt handle styles, etc. I have the names and email addresses if you want them but it is somewhat hard to communicate.

ALF,

Thanks for the pic's now I'm jealous. While I am picking your brain, can the triggers on the ZKK-600/601/602 be easily replaced with a Timney or similiar?

Schromf,

I had been of the impression that anything based on a military action was restricted from importation into the US.

Am I completely out to lunch on this or has there been a change? (It's not something that I keep up on.)

Sorry,

Last post should have been to fla3006.

Nomad- You are correct. I recently had a shipment of Oberndorf sporting rifles from Sweden held up because ATF incorrectly insisted at first that they were military. If you decide to import a ZB Brno, I would stress on the Form 6 that it is a sporting rifle and refer to it by the current model number. I'd also include with your application photocopies of the current company literature showing the rifle you intend to import.