BRNO vz24 7x57 scattergun :help:

[ProfessrH]

Help!

Acquired one of the Brazilian vz24s on an auction site. Cool rifles with interesting history, and a great round for the whitetails and wild hogs we hunt here in Alabama. Easy to scope with a scout mount that will let me fall back on the iron sights if necessary. (I have my 8mm vz24 set up this way).

The good news: Action is nice and tight, stock is battered but solid. Barrel matches receiver matches stock. Bolt doesn't match, but is the appropriate bent handle with checkering. Barrel exterior has a couple of patches of bad pitting under the handguard. Took it to my gunsmith. The bolt closes on the go gauge, doesn’t close on the no go.

The bad news: Took it to the range. Twice. Accuracy at 25 yards was minute-of-page (at best), and w/ 139-140 grain bullets, about half keyholed. On the second range trip, with 154 grain bullets, three of four shots fired hit the target (backing) going sideways. The other shot was the start load; primer was backed out from low pressure.

Okay, caveat emptor and all that. I took a gamble, and it didn’t work out. That’s life.

However, I now own a nice little piece of history . . . that doesn’t shoot straight. My other milsurp rifles do, and they have been, or will be, pressed into service putting meat on the table.

My question is, what do I do with this one? It’s useless to me as it is.

Do I put it back on the market, acknowledging the flaws I didn’t know about when I bought it? I’ll take a beating.

Do I sit on it until such a time as the value for a BRNO wallhanger outpaces what I paid for it hoping for a shooter? (Bear in mind that I’ll be 100 years old in 2059)….

Do I rebarrel it?

I could -- tomorrow – go to Numrich and buy an unissued, unfired, refurbished 19.5” barrel from a Brazilian 1922 carbine. Could get my gunsmith to swap out the barrels, and put the original sights on the new barrel. The stock would not be correct, and it’d be touch and go whether the barrel stuck out past the bayonet lug. But I reckon it’d shoot straight.

I could buy a “dark bore” 1912 barrel from another auction seller, and have the correct length for the stock--and another questionable bore to contend with.

I could buy a sporter stock and mess up the look of the rifle even more. . . .

Believe me, my butt is sore from where I’m kicking myself. But constructive input is welcome here. In fact, I’m begging for it.

Thanks, and all best,

ProfessrH

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[Calif-Steve]

If you are looking to take it to Camp Perry, then you have issues. If it is a nice addition to a collection, then you are OK. I would try the BIG gunshow in your area and buy a nice/new Mauser with a nice/new barrel. Some of the German RC Mauser have new bores. Just look hard. Do not buy an unseen gun! I would likely sell that 7mm and start fresh.

[ProfessrH]

I was planning to take it to the hunting camp, so I have issues. Point well taken about buying rifles unseen! I really was jonesing for a 98 Mauser in 7x57 . . . hence my thoughts about rebarreling. Good money after bad?

[Calif-Steve]

First of all where do you find a nice 7mm barrel at good money? No don't. I think you should start fresh and buy a nice 7mm at a big gunshow. They are around.

[ProfessrH]

Point taken. The "nice" 7x57 barrel I was looking at can be viewed at Numrich Gun Parts Corp. - The World's Largest Supplier of Firearms Parts and Accessories


However, as noted, it's a carbine barrel, and I'd have to pay my smith to swap barrels, swap hardware, etc. And I'd end up with a mixmaster. So, no. You're right. I'll get back what I can on the scattergun and put that money toward a better rifle at a future date.