I'm looking at two rifles, both caliber .22 Hornet, with my grandson in mind. One is unfired, by CZ and the other is a well kept BRNO. At present, the BRNO bidding is higher.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/876915222
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/876534132

I have owned a number of BRNO rifles, mostly ZKK's, but never a ZKW like this one. I have never owned a CZ rifle, although I have several BRNO's which have been restocked with CZ stocks.

The difference in the two appears to me to be much like the difference in pre-War Model 70 Winchesters and the later rifles, with Monte Carlo stocks and plastic buttplates, which were produced just prior to 1964.

Can anyone shed any light on the reason for the price discrepancy? Is there that great a difference in workmanship and quality?

I have wondered this as well. Hoping to hear a good response.

In my opinion, having owned both, there is a substantial difference in fit and finish between a Brno ZKW 465 and a CZ 527, with the Brno being superior. It is also very true that the laws of supply and demand enter into this choice - there are many more 527s for sale and still being made than there are 465s which haven't been made for years. Either one will function and shoot just fine.

Small detail to note: the scope mount rails are slightly different in where they have the 'recoil notch' placed. No big deal for a Hornet, current ring mounts for a 527 will work fine on a 465 if you just file off the 'recoil pin'. Also, and I'm not certain about this, I don't believe the magazines will interchange, so if you need spares for a ZKW 465 they are very expensive when you can even find them.

I'll second bpesteve: The fit and especially the finish on the ZKW seems superior, but both will do the same job. I can only speak from experience in our market up here, which is often rather different to the prices on your side of barbed wire, but a good ZKW will usually go for at least 50% more than the equivalent 527. Overall, the 527 is regarded as a very nice, modern rifle, whereas the ZKW is more thought of as an old world classic, and thus highly prized. In other words, if you run a "K" reamer through a 527, people will ask how it's shooting now. Do that to a ZKW, they surround your house with pitchforks and torches. And definitely heed what he says about the magazines: They don't interchange, and a ZKW mag in pristine condition is worth half the price of a second-hand 527. Very hard to come by.

I don't know your grandson's age or experience, but if it's a starter rifle for a young shooter, I would be inclined to suggest the CZ. It'll do everything the Brno will do, but it's not as big a loss if it gets dinged up a little.

And buy the Brno for yourself....

X 2

Sadly, I held out for the BRNO rifle, but the bidding went considerably higher than I was prepared to pay. It certainly was a sweet looking rifle.

I'll just have to wait until the next one comes along. My grandson is 13 years old and comes to visit once a year, in summer. He has already visited us this year.

The 527 is a great rifle. There's a 527 hornet at the LGS for under $600 as I recall. Happy to provide their info if you are interested.

I have a Brno 465, and it is one of those which will have to be "pried from my cold, dead hands".

HOWEVER, I never use the safety on it since both it and the CZ operate backward to every other safety in the known universe. This is dangerous, especially in the hands of a novice shooter. You certainly don't want to have him conditioned to push forward for "safe", never, ever, ever.

Instead, I would suggest a Ruger 77/22H. Early ones had barrel problems, but reports are that currently produced rifles shoot with acceptable accuracy. It will be a bit less expensive than either the Brno or CZ, magazines are plentiful for it, and its oil-finished stock is easy to rejuvenate if dinged or scratched.

The Brno out classis the CZ in every respect..not to mention resale since the Brnos just keep climbing in value, and for good reason.

You might like one of the older Sakos in the L-46 model..The came in 222, 218 Bee, and 22 Hornet as I recall, I have one in 222 and I love it..