Need Info on BRNO Vz24

[JG2000]

From what i understand the Vz24's action is an exact copy of the Mauser 98. Is this the case? I have a chance to pick up a Vz24 for around $75. The barrel is really bad but the action seems great. If I ordered a new barrel and possibly a stock would I be able to order parts intended for the 98? I want to rechamber it in 30-06 since I reload for this already, are there some unseen problems that i might run across? Any constructive help will be appreciated.

 

[critter]

I have built several guns on the VZ24 actions. They are true large ring M98 Mauser actions and those parts fit. I got barrels, stocks, trigger groups, etc (mostly from Midway) and built them up. They will have 30-06 sized bolt faces so '06, .270, 25-06, 35 Whelen, etc work really well and you will not need bolt face nor magazine box rail work to get them to function, feed, extract reliably.

Those actions are also VERY strong ones and can, with serious work, be made into such things as 300 win mag, 458 win mags, etc.

Really fun and educational projects. It may not be a 'gun for cheap' project though depending on how far you go with it. Go for it!

 

[Clark]

I built a 300 Win Mag [3.34" 30-06 length] on a VZ24, and it turned out well for me.
I was getting VZ24 rifles for $75 for years.
Now they are worth more like $175.

Here I am opening a VZ24 bottom metal to take 3.34" cartridges:

 

[JG2000]

Great pic. Its currently chambered for 8mm will it require alot of machining?

 

[Jim K]

Converting a 98 Mauser in 8mm to .30-'06 requires lengthening the magazine, and work on the feed rails will probably also be needed. A better bet might be to convert it to .308 Winchester, which is shorter than the 8x57. There are, of course, many other possibilities.

Actually, the original 8mm caliber is as good as, or better than, either one of the .30 cartridges, but new barrels are hard to find, and there is not as wide a variety of bullets available.

Jim

 

[Jim Watson]

I have READ that converting a military Mauser to .308 is tricky because of the lesser taper of the .308.

Are you able to do the work yourself? There is no faster way to spend money than by paying a pro to make a nice sporter out of a military Mauser.

If I wanted to throw the money down a rathole, I'd make it a 7x57. Plenty of bullets and loaded up to '98 strength, is of ample power. Cost of a set of loading dies is trivial compared to the other expenses it will run up.

 

[Jim K]

Barrels in 7mm are easier to find than ones in 8mm, so that could be a good choice. It all depends on what you want the rifle for. The action is very strong, and barrels are available pre-threaded and even long chambered. Unless you know how, though, I recommend a gunsmith for installation. count on paying a minimum of about $170 for a decent barrel, plus another $30-50 for installation, depending on what you want.

Jim

 

[JG2000]

I'd like to do the work myself and will be checking local colleges to see if they have any classes I could take. But If i can't find anything i will certainly have a gun smith do the work. Not worried about the gun as much as my face laying next to it if it goes boom. I wasn't completely set on the 30-06 so if another caliber would work better i'm open to suggestions. It would be for hunting and some target. Just whitetail, hogs, and maybe elk. Thats why I was thinking the 06 since its so versatile.

 

[critter]

The '06 is a good choice, as you said, due to its versitility. If big bodied elk, etc, are in the offing, you might try looking into the .35 Whelen. I have built two of them (basically a 30-06 opened up to about .358 bullets) and they are quite effective 'thumpers'. Touted to be one of the first 'non-magnum magnums'. I really like mine. Versitile? Sure. You can load .357 mag pistol bullets for plinking loads or for vermin. Then you can load the heavies-225, 250 and even 270 grainers for some serious whomp.

I did not have to do anything at all to my action rails, etc, and they feed, function, extract and eject perfectly.

 

[JG2000]

It doesn't look like it would be to hard to get a .35 barrel and Midway has ammo for around $25 a box. Just not familiar with the round so i'll have to look into it. From what you say it seems like it would do the job just fine. Not having to do anything to the action would be a real bonus too, that way if i can't find a class all I would have to get a gunsmith to do is fit the barrel. Spending less on the smith means i get to spend more on the barrel, stock, and scope

 

[Clemson]

I would consider the VZ24 to be a great platform for the .30-06. You can rebarrel it yourself if you have the tools and motivation to do it. Schools are available in your neck of the woods. Lassen Community College in Susanville, CA, has a gunsmithing program. Some places offer short courses in the summertime. You can access the list through the NRA training department. You can also send the action to a gunsmith to have the barrel installed.

Clemson

 

[critter]

Basically all we did for my .35 Whelen was to unscrew the old barrel off, screw a new one on and finish ream to adjust headspace (the barrel came short-chambered). My smith had the action wrench, barrel vise and finish reamer so it was no big deal.

I glass bedded both actions and floated the barrels. In my experience, this MAY not be the best way to get pinpoint accuracy, but accuracy should be really good AND the most important thing to me is that the gun's zero WILL NOT CHANGE with humidity changes.

I made two. One likes 225 nosler BT's really well and the other shoots 250 gr bullets better. Both are barrels from Midway, which proves the old adage that every gun is an entity unto itself.

Understand that the .35 is not a 'long range sniping rifle' like a 7mm mag or even a .300 Win mag. It should be great out to 250 yds or so and it does poke a big hole and deliver quite a whallop. It is not a hard kicker IMHO-YMMV!

Good luck with the project.