BRNO 12GA and 7X65r combination

[Pheroze]

I wanted to share a friend's recent BRNO acquisition because I just think it is awesome.

He believes it is from the 60's. The Zeiss scope was made in East Germany. He sent me an email so I don't know much else about it. I am sure I will learn more this fall However, I think it's inaugural hunt will be turkey this spring. Very cool rifle.

 

[Mannlicher]

This is a Brno Super , made up to the 90 of the last century.

This is a special mount only for the 4x32 "NDR-Zeiss-Jena"-riflescope, which was standard on the czech rifles.

Mannlicher

 

[Mannlicher]

Brno Arms Firearms Catalogue

Mannlicher

 

[Red Leg]

One would see the OU shotgun version of them occasionally on the skeet and trap fields in Germany during the 70's. As I remember, Frankonia Jagd carried them, and they could be had very cheaply compared to anything built in Western Europe. Aesthetics were not a major consideration (the skeet guns often had very large baffles at the muzzle which I assume were to reduce recoil and muzzle flip) , but the action is very robust with a massive upper cross bolt. The gun should shoot forever. An East Bloc Zeiss was not exactly the same as a actual Zeiss from then West Germany. The factory in Jena (which became part of the Soviet zone) was caught in something of a pre-war time warp. Much of its tooling was moved to the Soviet Union. Like most Soviet erra production, quality control issues could plague products. Still, after reunification, the real Zeiss corporation was able to absorb and use the Jena entity. So, if the scope is clear and still working, then great. I would keep using it. I am not sure if the proprietary mount can be adapted to a modern rail mount scope.

The 7x65r is a wonderful round. It will be a perfect for deer. Results on a turkey could be fairly dramatic - about like shooting one with a .270.

 

[Pheroze]

Great info, I will pass it along if he doesn't already know this (I didn't).

BTW, I think the 12GA will be the turkey taker!

What do you think if the 7x65R for moose? From my look at the reloading data it would seem to be fine.

 

[Bsto270]

I rather like the gun. It's a shame to me that combo guns really never seemed to catch on as well in the US. I have an older Savage 24 I bought from a great uncle years back in 22. mag over 20 gauge. The rifle barrel shoots quite well, and believe it or not if one ignores that back sight and swings with the front like a bead, it doesn't do half bad as a shotgun. I often thought that in the thicker stuff I hunt here in Pennsylvania, if one could get a rifled slug to go fairly accurately through the shotgun barrel, a combo gun like the BRNO above could cover most of your bases for woods hunting whitetail, black bear, etc.

 

[Mannlicher]

One would see the OU shotgun version of them occasionally on the skeet and trap fields in Germany during the 70's. .

This was the Brno ZH 302 (Skeet Version ), the cheaper line of Brno:

Mannlicher

 

[Red Leg]

That's the one! The 302's were quite common. Looked rather like an industrial project. For a long time I had one of the sidelock SxS shotguns. An Army First Lieutenant could afford the undecorated version. As I remember it was about a 6 1/2 pound gun with 3" chambers. I fired a couple of 3" loads (lead - pre-steel) from it once and decided I had better things to do with my shoulder. But a very solid, well put together little gun which served me well on a host of drive hunts.

 

[Red Leg]

I rather like the gun. It's a shame to me that combo guns really never seemed to catch on as well in the US. I have an older Savage 24 I bought from a great uncle years back in 22. mag over 20 gauge. The rifle barrel shoots quite well, and believe it or not if one ignores that back sight and swings with the front like a bead, it doesn't do half bad as a shotgun. I often thought that in the thicker stuff I hunt here in Pennsylvania, if one could get a rifled slug to go fairly accurately through the shotgun barrel, a combo gun like the BRNO above could cover most of your bases for woods hunting whitetail, black bear, etc.

In Virginia, I often used a drilling deer hunting. I have guild gun in 16x16x8x57r. With the scope in place, it is as accurate as any rifle I own. After an early morning in the stand, I would often walk the ridge back to the truck and would usually flush two or three grouse - every once in a while I'd actually kill one. It was also an ideal choice for hunting the Sabine River bottom near the Louisiana coast. On a given morning the odds of flushing woodies were about the same as seeing a deer. Most combination guns, drillings or OU's were built to put a brenneke slug pretty much on the sights at 50 yards. On drive hunts, when boar were put up, a drilling could very quickly be turned into a double by dropping a slug in that left barrel.

 

[Bsto270]

Man @Red Leg I certainly like the sounds of that. Did it shoot slugs fairly close to point of aim if you left the scope on or did one have to remove it to be reasonably accurate? I am a novice on double rifles and combos (mine is left open sighted, usually reserved for small game or fall turkey season). The appeal of a rifle where one could use a slug in close and the rifle barrel a bit farther out to me is rather intriguing.

 

[Mannlicher]

For a long time I had one of the sidelock SxS shotguns. An Army First Lieutenant could afford the undecorated version. As I remember it was about a 6 1/2 pound gun with 3" chambers.

Was it one of these ?

Mannlicher

 

[Red Leg]

No 149 - Now I am getting really nostalgic.

Bsto70 my drilling (and many a jaeger's in Germany) is set up to shoot rifle to the crosshairs at 100 yards, left barrel slug with the same sight picture to 50 yards, and it also has an "einstecklauf" (insert barrel) in .22 magnum for the right shotgun barrel which is adjusted to shoot to the same sight picture at 70 yards. And remember the front trigger is a set trigger, so when shotgun barrels are selected, one has a set trigger for the .22. A German hunter while sitting in his high seat will be ready for anything that flies, walks, are runs. I have taken a number of foxes with the .22 mag while hunting deer. Amazing feats of technical engineering.

 

[Bsto270]

I have much to learn, but love this site for learning it. Makes me want a combo and or drilling and or double all the more.

 

[Pheroze]

I have much to learn, but love this site for learning it. Makes me want a combo and or drilling and or double all the more.

+1

 

[Rolf_T]

Hi!
I just sold one exactly the same model yesterday (in favor of a new Heym double rifle). Prize fetched 800usd. I believe you can find the production year by examining markings on the chamber end.
The side locks are beautiful. Shots 1+2 usually are very accurate, the 3rd climbs 50-100cm if fired too rapidly.

 

[Bsto270]

Oh man @Rolf_T I wish I could find one like that in the states.

 

[Rolf_T]

I can also add that my gun shot extremely well with Blaser CDP ammo in 7x65R, but reloading are more eonomical.

 

[Mannlicher]

...., and it also has an "einstecklauf" (insert barrel) in .22 magnum for the right shotgun barrel which is adjusted to shoot to the same sight picture at 70 yards. And remember the front trigger is a set trigger, so when shotgun barrels are selected, one has a set trigger for the .22. A German hunter while sitting in his high seat will be ready for anything that flies, walks, are runs. I have taken a number of foxes with the .22 mag while hunting deer. .

Mannlicher

 

[Mannlicher]

Combination 16/70 - 7x57R, F.Sodia, Ferlach - the austrian standard ...

Mannlicher

 

[Mannlicher]

12/70 -7x65R, heavy combination, Merkel 211, made in GDR ....

Mannlicher