I found a 1938 Pre-occupation CZ Brno VZ 24 M98 currntly chamberd in 8x57. Complete rifle.

Would this be a good action to build a custom rifle on?

It would be surface ground , new bolt, bottom metal,safty, ect the works.

Have not seen it yet, will on Sunday.Suposed to be in good condition.

Should I wait and find a better action? Or is this what I'm looking for?

Will be built into a 7x57 or a .375H&H if action
is appropriate.

If this is not a very good action for a custom rifle I'll pass on it.

Mausers sure are neat but boy they can be confusing

Allen

If the condition is good then I'd get it provided price was right. I like the vz24 for building on. They don't have the "cachet", now where have I heard that before, that the 1909 Argentine has, nor the nifty bottom metal. But they are well made.

"Good" VZ-24s are some of the best for building custom rifles.

Check for pitting, especially on the bolt and below the wood line. Also, if the crest has been ground off, make sure it hasn't been done so aggressively that scope mounts won't fit correctly.

There's no reason to replace the bolt, just the knob. (assuming it's not pitted too deeply.

Best of luck,

Dan

Well.. now that you mention the 1909 Argentine.
I just found a 1909 Argentine for the same price, $150. In very good condition.

Which one would be a better action for my wife's
7x57?

Allen

All else being equal, the nod goes to the 1909 because of the hinged floorplate. The metallurgy would be a bit better in the Vz-24 if you were considering a hard kicker.

Just get the 09 for the wife and the Vz-24 for a 376 Steyr for yourself!

It's a DWM 1909 Argentine by the way. If that makes a difference.

Allen

of the two I'd have to advise the Argentine.

However...The VZ-24 is an excellent project action......and 1938 is as good as it gets IMO.

Me,

I'd get both, I'm funny that way.

My .275 Rigby is on a VZ-24 action and it works very well.

I see it as better bottom metal on the VZ-24 or heat treating on the 09. Heat treating is a little cheaper than bottom metal.

Before anybody starts howling a 09 doesn't need treating in a 7x57, I load my 7x57 hot which means high pressure, which brings out all the potential in the 7x57. Also I am once burned twice shy on 09 actions and heat treating.

If you are really looking for on of the best actions for a 7x57 find G33/40.

1909 for her 7x57 and vz24 for .375H&H for me?

Would the VZ 24 be a good candidate for a .375 H&H strength and size wise?

Opening up action from rear and using Blackburn
magazine,follower & bottom metal.

Allen

If the barrel shoots well on the VZ-24, why not just leave it as an 8mm. You can get 150 grain bullets for the 8mm that work just fine on deer. My wife has an 8mm on a G.33/40 with the original barrel. it shoots very well and with the proper reload she is able to handle the recoil with ease. find a nice stock that fits the wife and away you go.

Have the 09 recarburized and set up for the HOlland.

Would a 1909 make a good .375H&H? Is it strong enough to be opened up?

Allen

quote:

Would a 1909 make a good .375H&H? Is it strong enough to be opened up?

Yes, if opened up properly ( front and rear ) the 09 will work fine.

quote:

Originally posted by AllenBosely:
Would a 1909 make a good .375H&H? Is it strong enough to be opened up?

Allen

Yes, the 1909 makes a fine 375 H&H. But it does require opening up the action, bolt face, etc... and also new bottom metal.

I am having my 375 built on a 1909 and I know of a few other AR members who have done it also. It makes for a very nice slim and trim 375.

I few years ago I had a spectro chemical analysis done on a 1909 receiver. The closest modern steel was 1018 cold rolled. There is NOT enough carbon for a reheat treat to have any effect.

I know that people have been converting Mauser actions to .375 H&H by removing the steel behind the rear locking lug. For the reason of safety, don't try this method. If you want a .375 H&H Mauser pick an action that was made later, perhaps in the pre-war late 30's, buy 2 actions. Cut and tig weld the receivers so you have a long and short action.

Mark,

I have built my last 09 on a magnum of any sort. The one I built didn't need opening up and was a 3.3 inch COL. That doesn't alter they are soft, and needed carborizing. I also agree that there a lot of other better choices to build magnums on. Personally I would look at a newer commercial action, like a FN or as you suggested a mid 30's action.

I would use the 09 on a 7x57 and still carborize it. I am a little confused on replacing the bottom metal on the 09 thats what makes them desireable. If I was going to the cost of replacing this, a lot of newer actions are possible.

09's have lost a lot of luster in my book after the problems I had with mine, its sorted out now but it was a PIA.

[For better or worse my custom .404 Jeffrey has been built on a 1909 mauser, I have had it carbourised/hardened whatever the process is. Even if it does not do any good I suppsoe there is a palcebo effect

I believe that the metallurgy of 98's improved greatly in the post WWI years and the VZ24 is a prime example of such. I rate them equal to the Oberndorf military actions.

The 09 is popular for its hinged bottom metal. If you are going to change it anyway, then the appeal is lost. I feel the action in good condition is fine for standard cartridges, but would certainly choose the VZ24 for magnum length or higher pressure cartridges.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark_Stratton:
I few years ago I had a spectro chemical analysis done on a 1909 receiver. The closest modern steel was 1018 cold rolled. There is NOT enough carbon for a reheat treat to have any effect.

That's why you give it a proper carbon augmentation then heat treat it. Remember, these have surface carbon and only the skin is hardened. They are soft inside.

All my mausers get this treatment.

1909's are fine for a cartridge with the same working pressure as it was designed for. This action gets its strength from the amount of steel backing the locking lugs and the general design.

When you choose a Argentine Mauser action, you must remember that each action is an individual. DWM built these rifles on contract between 1909 and 1915 and a lot can happen in 94 years or more. With an action this old, there is no blanket statements. You don't know the events or conditions your action has seen over the years. I'm just saying that you need to inspect each action carefully before you turn them into a custom rifle. I think 7x57 is a perfect choice for a cartridge using this action.

1909's have been known to exhibit setback from just the proof load. So limiting them to cartiridges of the same pressures as the original is no guarantee that they won't develop setback. I've seen way too many Mausers with setback, most still in the original chambering, and quite a few of those were obviously not shot much.

I wouldn't spend the money to build a custom on one without first having it carburized. The process is simply too inexpensive not to.