I bought a Brno Model 98 in 7x57 for my wife. She has shot it a few timnes and likes it. I have loaded around 100 cartridges of various powder weights and velocities so she could get used to the recoil.
I was going through the cartridge box and looking at the cases. I had a few that were just under listed max load (50gr IMR-7828) when I noticed around 30% of the circumference of the case is visibly bulged about 0.3" from the base of the case. I then went over all the cases and to some degree they all show this swelling. We did most of our shooting last winter when it was cold and almost all of the cartridges were of the reduced velocity for my wife. I had only fired four full-on 2500fps with 175gr bullet loads. Consequently I didn't notice it until now. It appears to me the chamber is not round at all. What this means is I do not think cases can be reloaded more than twice and while accuracy is acceptable (2 inch groups) for hunting it is never going to be stellar.
The only solution I can see would be to rebarrel or take off an inch at the breech and rechamber. Since this is a lightweight barrel I do not think the latter would be a good choice in terms of safety.
I am bummed. I have put a really nice single set trigger on it and spent quite a bit of time getting the thing bedded properly. The stock has also been shortened to fit my wife.
I guess I am just venting.
Anything like this happen to anyone else before?

Sounds like you need to make a chamber casting. Get some cerrosafe from Brownells, that will tell you more than just guessing by looking at fired cases.

Oh, this just occured to me- Did you buy this gun used? Please do be sure to check the rest of the gun out in case the bulging was caused by abuse. Also, if it is only bulged .3" down then I suspect you'd only need to take off a little less than half an inch, so might not affect everything that much.

[This message has been edited by MarkWhite (edited 08-14-2001).]

Roger,
If the throat is not too long you might consider rechambering to 284 Winchester. Feeding may or may not require a little work. It would permit you to seat the bullets out far enough to not intrude on powder capacity.This would allow better performance than 7x57 or factory 284 Win.

Just a thought,
Jim

Roger. If this was my rifle, I'd pick up a neck sizing die and use that. When the brass starts getting real snug, I'd give it a full length size and start over. This way, you would not overwork the swollen part of the cases to any great degree.
Fact of the matter, I do this with all my brass now. At every fifth loading, I full length size. At every tenth loading, I anneal the necks. You'd be surprised at how long a case will last using this method.
Of course, if the brass is tight after neck sizing, this may not work, but is what I'd try first. If that doesn't work, you could adjust your F/L die do do the least amount of sizing of the base.
Was the barrel turned from a military? Chamber tolerences can be a bit loose on military barrels.
I sure hope you don't have to rebarrel. Hope this helped some.
Paul B.

Gentlemen,
Thank you for the suggestions, they are all valid considerations.

I think I know where I can get ahold of a digital camera so I can post a picture of what I have. Does anyone know a site that has free photo hosting?
Roger

Roger,

Try http://www.hunting-pictures.com/

Pete

Roger,
Save yourself a lot of grief and just rebarrel the rifle. You have an oversize chamber and trying to correct it generally just creates more problems...Send it to Walther and they can trace your old barrel, fit and chamber it...You will get a 1/2" gun back....

You didn't say which model that Brno was..If its a relitively new gun I would think that Brno would replace that barrel..

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

Well I emailed the Brno Importer and explained what the problem was. Within an hour he emailed back and told me to send the barrelled reciever back and he'd replace it no problem.

I mailed it out today Priority, Insured and Return Receipt.

It's nice when business can be conducted in such an upfront manner. I have corresponded with George Tripes for a couple of years now regarding the rifles Brno makes. Built on a VZ-24 action all polished up with a nice blue on it, at least my wife thinks it is "pretty" and that says a lot!

I have no interest in his business at all, I am just putting the address here if anyone is interested in a genuine Mauser 98 actioned rifle from the factory.

P.S. I have been after him to get the factory to make these in .404 Jeff but with a 26" barrel, if enough people email him maybe he can get the factory to do some?
www.zbrojovka.com

EURO-IMPORTS George Tripes
905 West Main St. E
El Cajon
CA 92020
USA
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tel: +1 (619) 442 7005
fax: +1 (619) 442 7005

When I lived in Germany in the late 50's, I always wanted a BRNO fullstock M98 in 7X57 with double-set triggers. Couldn't afford one. Little did I know that some day they would once again be manufactured, and made available here. Hope you get yours back corrected. They are sure beautiful guns!!

the finest commercial rifle ever built was and is the Brno M-21 and 22 built in the 40's through the 60's I believe...Double Square bridge actions, double triggers, shotgun trigger guards, polished rails, barrel band rear sights and what appeared to be intregal front sight with catapiler sight dovetails...I still have two of thoes babys, a 7 and 8 mm.....One manlicher and one rifle.
they don't make them like that anymore, come to think of it they never did before either.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com