Brno Model 21 8 x 57 JS

[JoevR]

Bushveld Hunting with a 1947 Model 21 Brno 8 ? 57 JS using iron sights

NSN Guns and Ammo in Silverton, Pretoria deals in previously owned firearms and is my favorite gun shop. In 2001, I was handed a Brno rifle by the salesman. I examined  the rifle, and noted that next to the proof mark was the numbers ?47?, meaning that the rifle was manufactured in 1947. On the top of the barrel was the calibre designation ?8 ? 57 JS?. The rifle had the double set trigger which is typical European, spoon style bolt and a short barrel. The receiver was round with a beautiful raised CZ logo on top. The rifle appeared to have seen little use, since the barrel was shiny and grooves crisp. The rifle appeared to have its original bluing. The receiver was not drilled and tapped for scope mounts. The price was very reasonable.

I informed my colleagues at work about the rifle, and told them that I considered it to be a good buy. Two of them went and had a look, but declined. Having given other guys a chance, I bought the rifle. Back then, the licensing system of the SAPS still performed well, and the license was soon granted. This was before the hell that preceded the implementation of the Firearms Control Act, which started roundabout 2003, when the vast majority of applications for firearm licenses were refused.

For years I searched for any information on the spoon handle Brno?s, without success. It was only recently that I discussed the issue with Casey Lewis, collector of especially Oberndorf Mauser sporting rifles. He told me that he has an original brochure for the Model 21 and 22 Brno?s with round receivers. Casey provided me with a scanned copy of the brochure, and the front and rear thereof is shown below:

              [img width=560 height=405]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... re-1-1.jpg[/img]

              [img width=560 height=406]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... hure-1.jpg[/img]

I bought Winchester 170 gr. factory ammo, and proceed to the range. My first group, with iron sights, off the bench with the target at 25 metres, measured 12 mm, and is shown below:

             [img width=560 height=229]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... oup1-1.jpg[/img]

Needles to say, a smile was glued to my face for the rest of day. I decided that I will not fit a scope to rifle, and proceeded to develop a suitable handload for bushveld hunting. I settled on a 200 gr. Speer spitzer, 46 gr. of S 335, a CCI 200 primer and the Winchester cases from the factory ammo. Muzzle velocity was measured with a Chrony, and averaged at 2500 fps. At 50 metres of the bench the group opened up to 19 mm, and is shown below:

             [img width=560 height=386]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... oup2-1.jpg[/img]            
               

Life size photo targets as used by SA Hunters proved most useful in preparation for the hunt. With iron sights you don?t see the enlarged detail when using a scope. You merely aim for the shoulder, and the photo targets helps to get used to the correct sight picture. I found that a six o?clock hold with a full bead worked well with the Brno. I decided to limit my range to a maximum of approximately 80 metres.

The Impala ram shown below was my first with the Brno. The hunt took place during May 2002 at Didingwe River Lodge close to Steelpoort in Mpumalanga. Didingwe means serval, ?tierboskat? in Afrikaans. I well remember the deep feeling of satisfaction I felt after this ?een skoot doodskoot? hunt. I took a second Impala ram, a ?knypkop? on this trip.

              [img width=560 height=383]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... rno1-1.jpg[/img]
           
My third animal hunted with the Brno was also my last with this utterly delightful rifle. The hunt took place on during May 2003 at Tooyskraal, a farm close to Mabula Lodge west of Warmbad (also known more recently as Bela Bela).

             [img width=560 height=382]http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49 ... rno2-1.jpg[/img]

I mentioned the rifle in conversation with a collector of Brno rifles, Johan du Randt. Johan immediately invited me to a range session at Blue Gum Valley. After he saw what the rifle was capable of, he simply had to own the rifle. A deal was struck, and even today he still thanks me that I sold the rifle to him. However, I recently acquired another spoon handle Brno, also in 8 ? 57 JS. This rifle has a longer barrel and the action top is a flat square bridged receiver and bridge with integral rail grooves cut on the side of the flat top to accommodate a scope mount. If only I could get one hurry up from the SAPS with the license? Let?s rather not go there.

I really enjoyed hunting with the Brno using the iron sights. If you have a rifle from the era before scopes came into general use, you probably have a rifle with excellent iron sights. If you are prepared to spend some time on the range practicing with life size photo targets, you will find that it is not all that difficult to consistently place your shots in the vital heart and lung area at 50 to 80 meters. Better shots than me will also be able to extend their range. The use of iron sights will add another dimension to your hunting experience, and you will, no doubt, experience a feeling of satisfaction and exaltation that only good hunting can provide.    

[Geno]

However, I recently acquired another spoon handle Brno, also in 8 ? 57 JS. This rifle has a longer barrel and the action top is a flat square bridged receiver and bridge with integral rail grooves cut on the side of the flat top to accommodate a scope mount.

Ek het anderdag net so ene in 7x57 vir 'n vriend verkoop. Bitter oulike geweertjies.

[spekieries]

More Joe

Ek het 'n 8x57 JS persent gekry by my vorige skoolhoof. Hy het 'n Spandau aksie en 'n Krupp loop op. Die geweertjie het 'n Hentshold Wentzlar 4x 32, quick detachable teleskoop op. Sy loop is die tipiese milit?re stepdown lope. Die geweer is lekker lig en sy kolfie is slank. Ek wou eers 'n ander kaliber op die aksie bou maar nadat ek bietjie gaan lees het oor die 8 mm se ballistiek het ek besluit om hom net so te hou. Ek het 2 duim van die loop laat sny, hom gekroon en hom oor geblue. Haar lopie is maar bietjie gepit en aanvanklik wou sy nie groepeer nie. Maar met 45.5 S335 en 195gr. Hornadys en so rondom 2450F/s gee sy my nou so net oor die een duim groep.

My volgende stap is nou 200 gr. Rhinos. Ek dink sy moet volgende winter die vleis huis toe bring.

As ek kon oor begin sou ek seker die volgende roere gekoop het. 6.5 x 57 ( Dit is die sweed nie waar nie) 7x57, 8x57, 9.3 x 62 en dan die10.75 x 68.

Ja hulle mag naby aan mekaar wees, maar ek wil hulle h?. Ek het reeds die 8(Spandau) en die 9(CZ 550). As die .270(ZKK602) se loop op is moet hy miskien 'n 7 word. Die P14 kan miskien 'n 10.75 word. Dan kort ek nog net die 6.5.

Miskien moet ek daardie teleskopie afhaal en ook die oop visiere gebruik.

Groete       

[JoevR]

Middag Spekieries

Jy is 'n gelukkige man om so 'n mooi 8 x 57 present te kry.

6.5 x 57 ( Dit is die sweed nie waar nie)
Groete        

Volgens "Cartridges of the World 5 th edition" is die 6,5 x 55 die Sweed.

Ek hou van jou kaliber keuses, veral die 10.75 x 68. My 10. 75 x 68 gooi 'n 350 gr Woodleigh teen 2 400 ft/sek. George Michael, outeur van die boek "African Fury", en eienaar van 'n vuurwapenwinkel in Pretoria in die 1940' en 1950's, het met net een geweer gejag: 'n Oberndorf Mauser in 10.75 x 68. Ek dink John Taylor het in "African Rifles and Catridges" 'n klomp twak oor die 10.75 x 68 geskryf.

Groete
Joe

[Frikkie Coetzee]

anton

Die 6.5 x57 is nie die Sweedse Mauser nie. Die Sweed is die 6.5x55

Lekker aand
Frikkie

[Kruger]

Ek het so een in 6,5x57 wat ek sal verkoop. Ongelukkig is daar n paar pitmerke buite op die aksie, maar loop is baie mooi binne.

[Kruger]

Nee, nie volkolf nie.

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll303/Mongoll/IMG_0054s_zps2f51eb01.jpg

[Pappabeer]

Kan ek opsie op hom kry kruger. Wat is die prys?

[Kruger]

Weet nie wat hulle nou werd is nie. Stuur my jou epos adres dan stuur ek vir jou fotos en dan sê jy wat hy min of meer vir jou werd is.

[Pappabeer]

dewald6555 at gmail.com