Hi,

Here are some pictures of my BBK-01 action that I have just recieved. It has a typical raw casting finish. The action has several nicks all over and I don't think they are from the casting process. The extractor sleeve is not very tight, making the extractor to rotate without any resistance like my CZ and M-70. I don't like this as I like the extractor to be tight. The receiver has 4 tapped holes for the scope mount but I don't know what scope mount base does it use? The barrel reciever ring has an internal wall for the barrel to bottom out I suppose. It did not come with any paper work or manual. The bolt diameter did indeed measured at .725" diameter. The three position safety has a slightly larger lever than my M-70 but it is kind of difficult to operate. May be a little bit of oil would help smooth the safety operation. The trigger seems to break very cleanly and I like it a little better than my CZ as it seats a little further back. The two mounting bolts are steel SHCS but they look ugly and rusty. I will have to swap two stainless SHCS later.

Overall, I am not quite impressed with it. I paid roughly $560 out the door including tax. After seeing it, I think I would not have bought it if it were not for the larger bolt diameter. I think the CZ 550 Safari is a much better action out of the box. Later guys.



[ 11-11-2002, 08:44: Message edited by: Mingo ]

Here are some more pictures. Enjoy.

[ 11-11-2002, 08:48: Message edited by: Mingo ]

I think it is basically the same as the Bouska action. I bought a 416 built on the Bouska and even though I killed a couple of buffalo with the gun I've never quite been satisfied. It took a lot of tweaking to get it to feed and it has never quite been right nor is it still. If you aren't really familiar with BRNO/CZ etc. I would find somebody that was and let them tune it from the begining.

Ming,

I still think you have picked up a worthwhile action, that bigger bolt diameter is a goer for larger Gibbs rimmed varients. I am planning to somehow purchase 1 possibly two of these actions in the next couple of yeras to store them away for my "long term custom gun plans".

I still feel that with some money thrown at them they will come up trumps.

I feel that for use on big bangers they should have kept the recoil recess in the rear left bridge for mounts with the recoil lug. I feel this is advantageous for rounds like .505 gibbs & .585 Nyati, with that that rear mount just can't go any were.

Ming another option might be to Nickel coat the action which may take care of those nicks you spoke of as well as offering a tough finish.

Just so bloody hard to get this stuff in Oz.

Good luck & keep us updated.

Olympic bought the Bauska equipment when the Korean based operation folded, or so I was told. It's essentially an investment cast BRNO copy with some minor changes. It's a bit on the rough side but quite suitable. Again, I don't "know" this first-hand, but it was verified by one of the fellows at Olympic, Bruce Bell I think it was, just prior to the fire at their facility a few years back.

[ 10-06-2002, 04:44: Message edited by: Nickudu ]

I just remembered who else verified my information. It was via email from our late friend, Mr. Robert Bastow:

"What is the latest scoop there Nick? (Olympic) Personally I don't believe it will ever happen! (full production capability) Even if it does, the
Bauksa is a pretty rough, investment cast action. I don't intend to compete with these makers, rather I am aiming at the VERY top end of the market..with the best design, material and quality available..but with prices that will knock the Doumoulin, Vektor, Hartman & Weis, Johannsen, even the Dakota actions into a cocked hat!"
"I don't intend to compete with the Mauser 98 recycling market either..still too damn many high quality actions available. Now a "Kurtz" action or a bigger Magnum action (.750 dia bolt..4" box length) in either RH or LH persuasion, or a standard 98 size in a LH version, will create quite a market. Especially as these Actions will have ALL the features of the originals PLUS improvements that I consider even old Peter Paul would have approved if he had lived another hundred years! They will be made from far superior materials than any other action on the market. (8620 forged steel, case hardened to 60 plus RC for a far tougher and slicker action than any modern action cobbled up out of 4140 at 35RC..just because it is cheap and easy to do!"

He was a pisser, that Robert. Shame he passed on so young.

[ 10-06-2002, 04:46: Message edited by: Nickudu ]

Mark,
Thanks for the head up about some of the potential problems with this action. I am not so much worring about the feeding and finishing problems as these two things can be worked on very easily. The only thing I worry about is it's long term strength.

PC,
Those nicks are relatively small and I am sure that they can be honed, blended, and polished so they will disappear when it becomes a rifle. There is no need for nickel plating unless I want it to look shiny like stainless steel. Originally, I was planning to have it rust blued so it will be a keeper. However, I am changing my mind after seeing it. I will have it completely polished and hot blued. I bought it to use for developing my Ninja wildcat so I do not plan on investing a lot of money with it. As for the recoil shoulder for scope mounting, it can be done in a different way. A flat surface can be machined behind the rear bridge so a recoil shoulder is created for the rear custom mount to butt against. The same can also be done behind the front bridge. Anyway, I will keep you guys posted on the progress.

Nickudu,
Thanks for the insight. It is always good to learn more about some of these things. By the way, I also have my own "Mauser" action designed on the drawing board. It is still very much a concept and I hope that it will make it out one day. It will have a .800"-.850" diameter bolt to accomodate all the big hunting cartridges. I basically incoporated all the good features from both the CZ and the M-70 as well as some of my own stuff into this thing to make it a very unique design. All I need right now is some money to start my own firearm company. Later my friend.

Ming,

I saw a couple of the Korean made ondes when a feww were brought into Australia. They never had any scope mount screw holes in the receiver. One of the rifles was as a 358 STA and the gunsmith altered the receiver to take Leupold Dual DoveTails from Rem 700.

I am not sure that the flat surfaces would be good for scope mounting, really need a curved surface, unless of course you have dove tails lie CZ.

Mike

Mingo,
You are right, it's junk.. let me send you my address and I'll take care of that thing fr you!!

Man, really, for 500 bucks, you've got an action that will take a gibbs round... that's 1/5 the going rate. If it was mine, as i think i've posted before, I would have it brush blasted and a heavy matte finish (like sharkskin) to the whole thing. The square bridges look great.

The lack of good fitting on the extractor might be by design, as that will 1: allow for less "sticky" bolt feel and 2: it's obvious that they intend the extractor to have ALLOT of pressure on the rim/cut. I am not certain that's great, but it looks nice... far better than alot of the mauser action's I've seen cobbled into sporters... or even just about any 1903a3 that isnt bench ground.

looks like fun
jeffe

Could it be made to have dovetails and a recess in the rear bridge so that mounts like the Warnes' used on the big cz's will work ??

I like it Ming.

PC,

It is very possible to duplicate the same scope setup as the CZ but I think the BBK-01 was intended to be used with a set of mount bases. If I decide to mount a scope with this thing, I would have the top flat surfaces trued as the flatness of the casting is not good enough. Anyway, for around $150 to $200, you could have a custom made bases and rings designed specifically for your action and I think that would be a better option if you want the best for your custom rifle.

jeffe
If you send me $600 then this action is all yours my friend. I will go out and buy another CZ to build my wildcat with it. I understand your $500 scenerio but if you put the BBK-01 and the CZ 550 Safari actions side by side and ask people which would they rather buy and I am sure that CZ 550 will win hands down. Other than the 3-position safety and the larger bolt face, I don't see how it is any better than the CZ. With that said, I am grateful for its existance as it is always good to have an alternative action to build a big bore rifle upon on.

Mike375,
Thanks for the insight. I did not expect any tapped holes on top of the bridge but it did come like this unfortunately. I was planning to drill and tape two holes on the rear bridge to mount an aperture sight but now it does not look like it will work unless another hole is drilled and tapped. I hope that these pre-tapped holes can be ordered without so people can drill and tap whatever style of scope mount bases desired.

Later guys!

Guys I see a lot of potential here.

Jeffo,

I feel that the potential for this action lies in it's ability to accomadate the .640 rimmed stable of cartridges than the CZ or 602. It would also be a winner for those interested in the .577 T-Rex which is .688" ??? in the rim.

Mingo
I hope you proceed with the project, I have talked to a couple of gunsmiths who have told me that the action can really be turned into something and one smith has built several very expensive guns on them. I think a little TLC and a smith who has worked on these actions before will turn this into a piece you will be happy with. If a good gun smith can take an old military 98 action and work his magic and turn out an work of art you should be happy with the out come. I can put you in contact with the smiths I talked to. Good luck keep us posted. RNS