Good day ladies and gentlemen:

I have an opportunity to purchase, for $2700.00 Canadian, a brand new, in the box, CZ Brno Express double rifle in 9.3x74r with quick detach scope mount.

I know nothing about these rifles and was hoping the forum might have information, good or bad about this dr.

I own a couple of sxs but, have been enamoured with the o/u.

I look forward to your replies.

Kind regards,

Carpediem4570

I see there is only one trigger. Is there a way to select which barrel fires first?

These are nice rifles; CZ, not cuz.
9.3x74R is a fantastic round and everyone here has one or 5. .
I killed a bear in Ontario with one and it fall down and kicked.
I don't think you can select which barrel fires first; no need to.
If you already have SXS DRs, then you realize that over and under DRs are a totally different animal than a side by side; which is why they are Much cheaper.

Cuz was a typo.

I realize the Brno is an entry level rifle. Having used shotguns in o/u and sxs configuration, I assume the same principles apply to dr’s?

Like the single trigger shotguns, I assume there would be a selector switch to change barrels?

This express rifle just looks like a fun gun to shoot.

I have a SzS in that caliber. Love it for what it is. It's a betwixt and between caliber. Great cat gun. Great for heavy plains game like eland. A little light for buffalo and not legal in most places, but it would work. Never had an O/U double rifle.

Hello,
Some 10+ years ago I had some correspondence with a fellow poster from Canada. Apparently, he was the only one then with a new CZ double in Canada and thus the "expert" in the field. I have misplaced his name and his nick but I am sure if he reads this he will recognise himself and chime in!

I have no personal experience with the CZ/Brno but as said: robust guns, quite reliable. They are not so hand made as they were in the past decades when handicraft cost nothing in CZ (then Czechoslovakia). Today, they are more machine-made and put together with screws than they used to be. The main thing is, they are less handicrafted.

As for a 9,3 I suggest you try to test shoot it first. Some are kickers if they do not fit you despite the 9,3 being mild.

A big plus is the scope mount as it has sometimes been a problem.

I'd say at CAD 2700 the price is right.
Hard to wrong with this (if it is shootable for you).

- Lars/Finland

Thank you Lars:

The rifle in question was purchased in 2018 and sat in this fellows gun safe all that time. It is unfixed so testing it out will probably be a no-go.

I notice merkel produces an o/u dr in 9.3x74r in the model 323. Does anyone have experience with this model 323?

I really like the merke. I wonder how the 323 compares to the Brno express rifle?

I see a new dr in my future. I must have rocks in my head. It’s an addiction…lol.

Regarding the previous post, it is not unfixed, it is un-fired. Damn spell cheque.lol.

quote:

Originally posted by carpediem4570:
Cuz was a typo.

Like the single trigger shotguns, I assume there would be a selector switch to change barrels?

As dpcd said, no need for a barrel selector. Shotguns have selectors to enable the different choked barrels to be selected to fire first but O/U rifles are not choked. If wanting to load say a soft for the first shot and a solid for follow up in a double rifle then just load according to which barrel fires first.
Usually with O/U shotguns or rifles the bottom barrel should be the one that is fired first as the recoil is lower and straighter on the shoulder helping to lower muzzle flip and enabling quicker acquisition of the target for a second shot.

Agree a rifle that doesn't fit can "kick", but have a hard time imagining any 9.3 kicking unless it's too short and the scope cuts you.

I have a pair of the BRNO Super Express', in 9.3 and .375, picked up early 80's.
Both have double triggers and are easy shooting rifles but I prefer SXS so they've languished in the racks. Nothing "super fancy", but great "tool" rifles that you wouldn't fear of putting a scratch on.
Someday I should peddle them off!

quote:

Originally posted by carpediem4570:

I notice merkel produces an o/u dr in 9.3x74r in the model 323. Does anyone have experience with this model 323?

I really like the merke. I wonder how the 323 compares to the Brno express rifle?

Kinda sorta.... I have two Merkel 303 shotguns.
They're top of the line hand made doubles w/ detachable sidelocks. Initially, during the DDR years, they were made for the Party elite and export.
So how does it compare to the Brno? "Favourably" I'd say.
The price in 2018 was 27 000 € w/o extras (no typo).
So maybe look at Merkel's other products...? The B3 perhaps.
I have none of them but my friend's a keen Merkel fan and speaks highly. Apparently, some rust and others don't (unless Merkel's improved) but they honor the warranty.

- Lars/Finland

Thank you for your comments.

Lars, I’ve been looking at the b3 but can’t seem to find any on the used market. Regarding your comment about rust, what did you mean merkel is honouring their warranty?

I am a big fan of merkel. I have several of their shotguns and a sxs dr, 141ae in 9.3x74R. I would very much like to round out the collection with an o/u dr.
Kind regards,

Max

quote:

Originally posted by carpediem4570:

Lars, I’ve been looking at the b3 but can’t seem to find any on the used market. Regarding your comment about rust, what did you mean merkel is honouring their warranty?

Meaning that if there are issues, Merkel will fix it. They are keen on their good reputation.

- Lars/Finland

I have a BRNO stopper ,the caliber is 458 LOTT,It's built like a tank,started life as a 458 WM,I had it re-worked upto the Lott,the gun is a handloader's dream,extremely accurate,Hogs to Elephant?need nothing else,I have sold most all my other DR's,but this one will stay to the end

No need for selectors in double rifles?? Well thats opinnion based on ?????. A soft and a solid is handy for DG, the soft for the first shot and follow up with a solid is not a bad idea at all..

quote:

Originally posted by carpediem4570:
Regarding the previous post, it is not unfixed, it is un-fired. Damn spell cheque.lol.

To have a double rifle absolutely unfired would seem a rarity, unless one of those Japanese Winchesters that weren't regulated, perhaps. Does this one have adjustable muzzle distances? If so, I suppose they might have sent it out unfired.

As to single triggers, I would prefer one with a selector because the barrels probably don't shoot together at all distances. Knowing this, you might use a particular barrel for longer distances because that one shot higher.

My father’s estate had one in .375 H&H, belted, not flanged. I never shot it, unfortunately. I have a Chapuis in 8,3x84 SxS I prefer.

Ours sold at auction for somewhere between $3,000-3,500 USD a few months ago if I recall correctly.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
No need for selectors in double rifles?? Well thats opinnion based on ?????. A soft and a solid is handy for DG, the soft for the first shot and follow up with a solid is not a bad idea at all..

That's not is what was said Ray, we are discussing O/U rifles here. Most 'doubles' used in Africa will be SXS with double triggers so you have instant selection if loading each barrel with a different bullet. Some O/U guns do have double triggers too.
If a SXS or O/U double gun only has a single non-selectable trigger then just load your soft in the barrel firing first and solid in the barrel firing second. Hunting elephant you will most likely have solids in both barrels so barrel selection doesn't come into play.

quote:

Originally posted by sambarman338:

quote:

Originally posted by carpediem4570:
Regarding the previous post, it is not unfixed, it is un-fired. Damn spell cheque.lol.

To have a double rifle absolutely unfired would seem a rarity, unless one of those Japanese Winchesters that weren't regulated, perhaps. Does this one have adjustable muzzle distances? If so, I suppose they might have sent it out unfired.

As to single triggers, I would prefer one with a selector because the barrels probably don't shoot together at all distances. Knowing this, you might use a particular barrel for longer distances because that one shot higher.

If I had a double like that Sambar I'd be flogging it off right quick and using a bolt action rifle where every bullet went where I wanted it. No time for temperamental guns.

I did have one of those Winchesters, Lindsay. I bought it for $1000 as a speculation when new ones were $5000. It looked beautiful and came in a nice case with mounts - but wouldn't put any bullet weight closer than a foot at 50 yards.

Without misrepresentation I was able to trade it with a well-known gun writer for 60% more the next year, though.

Eagle 27,
DPCD stated no need for selective triggers, I replied to that for DG use.! I might add that loading the O/U lower chamber has been a problem in that many o/Us dont feed it well.having to hold the barrels down while loading the round. or so I have read on occasion. and observed on one occasion.

As to the caliber I have had many clients use the 93x74 and 9,3x62 on buffalo and I have used the 9.3x62 on a number of buffalo and no complaints.