Rebarreling a Brno ZKK-601?

[jpr9954]

I found a Brno ZKK-601 at auction in .25-284 caliber. The description says the bore has corrosion and the rifling is worn. I am thinking this would make a good candidate for rebarreling to something like 7mm-08. The plus is that it is a CRF rifle.

Ammo is readily available for the 7mm-08 and it is not outrageously priced.

How hard is it to rebarrel a Brno? I would have a gunsmith do it.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

Not hard at all. BRNO ZKK series actions were the workhorses of Africa during the 1970s and 1980s (esp. during the time when most Western countries had imposed sanctions upon Rhodesia/Zimbabwe), and several gunsmiths turned out top notch rifles built on these actions. You can also rebarrel to .243 Winchester. Excellent caliber for the Tiny 10 and impala sized game.

Or .270 Winchester.

 

[jpr9954]

Not hard at all. BRNO ZKK series actions were the workhorses of Africa during the 1970s and 1980s (esp. during the time when most Western countries had imposed sanctions upon Rhodesia/Zimbabwe), and several gunsmiths turned out top notch rifles built on these actions. You can also rebarrel to .243 Winchester. Excellent caliber for the Tiny 10 and impala sized game.

Or .270 Winchester.

Thanks. Glad to know it is not a difficult rifle to rebarrel.

I already have both a .243 and a 6.5 Creedmoor so was thinking a bit larger. I don't think the .270 would work as it is a long action cartridge.

 

[shootist~]

The 284 case is about .030 wider than 7mm08, etc. Is that enough to be an issue with the feed rails?

 

[jpr9954]

The 284 case is about .030 wider than 7mm08, etc. Is that enough to be an issue with the feed rails?

That's a good question. I'm sure a good gunsmith would have the answer. As it is, I have to assume this rifle was rebarreled sometime after it left the factory. There is no way Brno would have made something in a wildcat like .25-284.

 

[Dewald]

Rebarreling is not a problem at all. I would first want to see that the rails holds, and feeds the 7-08 cartridge before committing to buying it. Otherwise you might want to go 7-08AI. It might help

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I would go with the original 284 Winchester. Everything the 7-08 but more. Ammo and brass is probably an issue however.

 

[jpr9954]

I've examined the markings much closer. Comparing the markings on this rifle with the Brno ZKK-601 and the vz24, I'm pretty sure it is the vz24 action in retrospect. This might open up the possibilities.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

They won’t be easy to confuse. The zkk will say so right on the front ring, the safety will be mounted to the action and pull backwards to fire, and the receiver is dovetailed for scope rings.
The VZ24 is a military action. The saftey will be mounted on the bolt shroud. The front ring will be round and not dovetailed.

 

[jpr9954]

This receiver was not dovetailed and the safety is on the barrel shroud. The markings for a M98/22 and the vz24 look about the same so I'm guessing it is one or the other.

I think what confused me was that it was chambered in a short-action caliber and I could see the Z peeking out from under the scope base. I should have done more research before assuming it was the ZKK-601 which would have been really nice.

Nonetheless, I may be able to pick up a decent donor action with a good walnut stock cheap. Fingers crossed.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I found a Brno ZKK-601 at auction in .25-284 caliber. The description says the bore has corrosion and the rifling is worn. I am thinking this would make a good candidate for rebarreling to something like 7mm-08. The plus is that it is a CRF rifle.

Ammo is readily available for the 7mm-08 and it is not outrageously priced.

How hard is it to rebarrel a Brno? I would have a gunsmith do it.

@jpr9954
If you have enough meat in the barrel send it off to get rebored to 35 cal. 35-284 makes sense to me.
Been done before and almost equal to the Whelen on a shot action.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Thanks. Glad to know it is not a difficult rifle to rebarrel.

I already have both a .243 and a 6.5 Creedmoor so was thinking a bit larger. I don't think the .270 would work as it is a long action cartridge.

@jpr9954
Why not just re barrel to 284win. Already set up to feed that case. The 284 is a brilliant 7mm .
Changing cartridges may not be possible as the 284 is a fatter case than any others eg the 308 family of cases and has a rebated rim.
Conversion to something else may need a lot of work.
Just my 2 cents.
Bob

 

[jpr9954]

I ended up passing on the Brno at auction. The price with premium and shipping got over $300. When I added in the expected cost of another $300 or so for gunsmithing, it just didn't make sense to me anymore. If I want something in 7mm-08, I can buy a Mossberg Patriot or Savage Axis for much less than $500.

Sometimes I wonder if I am not just too damn practical and frugal! But that does lend itself to good relations with my wife who now won't be too aggravated if I overpay (by a little) for an Interarms Whitworth in .375 H&H that I have my eye on.

 

[Dewald]

I ended up passing on the Brno at auction. The price with premium and shipping got over $300. When I added in the expected cost of another $300 or so for gunsmithing, it just didn't make sense to me anymore. If I want something in 7mm-08, I can buy a Mossberg Patriot or Savage Axis for much less than $500.

Sometimes I wonder if I am not just too damn practical and frugal! But that does lend itself to good relations with my wife who now won't be too aggravated if I overpay (by a little) for an Interarms Whitworth in .375 H&H that I have my eye on.

Good call. A VZ-24 is OK to build a M98 clone on, but their quality varies a lot. I would also if I did do that rather sick to a x57 cartridge of sorts in stead of a 7mm-08. I have no problem with the latter, but you can probably buy one for cheap, or build an absolute tack driver on a Tikka T3 action if you go that route.