Author Topic: VZ-24 (Read 5312 times)

Illhunter · « **on:** January 14, 2009, 04:37:37 PM »

i am wondering if you guys have any experience with this rifle i was looking at them cause i found them at good price since i have C&R. how does the 8mm round shoot to. are they accurate. I also would like to know how they are compared to the nagants i had one and liked it butnot sure if i want another nagant or mauser help me decide i know the best answer is get both cause they are good price but if only one which would be a better rifle. thanks in advance for any help you can give i truly appreciate it.

Terry

TribReady · « **Reply #1 on:** January 14, 2009, 05:05:41 PM »

I have no vz-24's yet, but plenty of mausers (all in 8mm btw) and love them. Not to start an argument, but hands down "better" than a mosin.
Of course, you still need to purchase/collect some mosins, but you can't go wrong with those mausers. Find a good quality 8mm with a good bore and you'll be set!

can I ask, are these vz-24 deals online somewhere?

Illhunter · « **Reply #2 on:** January 14, 2009, 05:10:34 PM »

yes i found them in SOG flyer for december have not decided on what i want but if i have enough cash when i order will get the VZ and the nagant and some ammo and may be able to add a CZ 52 if possible

Terry

Mikey · « **Reply #3 on:** January 15, 2009, 01:24:23 AM »

The VZ 24 is the best of all the wartime 98 Mausers, in my book, regardless of when it was made. The VZ is smooth and accurate. The CZ 52 is a VZ24 that was factory refurbished in 1952 at the Preduze 44, or Factory 44. I have a VZ/CZ 24/52 reworked from them and it is like new. I also have a M48A from Preduze 44 and that IS a brand new 98 Mauser - or at lest it was until I started shootin' the snot outta it....

How does the 8mm compare - you can just about forget anything if you want. I feel ti is one of the most powerful of the military calibers. The 8mm nominally shoots a 195-200 gn spire pointed boat tailed .323 diameter slug at about 2500'/sec (Sellier and Bellot ammo). I think the PRVI is about 100'/sec slower. To compare to a 30-06 - you have to handload to get there.

If you reload you will love the 8mm. Hornady makes a 195 gn soft point that I push with VV powder and I group three in the same hole at 100 yds. I switched to a 200 gn Nosler Accubond and got the same results.

I've had Mosins and they are quite alright but I prefer the Mauser. Get one now before they start getting too expensive and stock up on ammo. Avoid corrosive ammo if you can - stuff like the Turkish 150 gn surplus will give some misfires and is corrosive. S&B also makes mil-spec ball in 196 gn and that is when you know you're shooting a 8mm. Mikey.

Illhunter · « **Reply #4 on:** January 15, 2009, 01:40:25 AM »

thanks all no i need a loan so i can buy a new rifle.

Terry

critter44 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 15, 2009, 03:28:50 AM »

The VZ-24 is, indeed, one of the best of M98's. They are slick actions, strong as a bank vault and when you can find one with a good bore, great shooters. The 8mm is a great round and will take most any game in N. America with the correct loads. Milsurp ammo is available in various quantities and of quality ranging from great to awful.

Side story if you don't mind. A guy I know had a custom gun made on a VZ-24 in .270 caliber. He and a friend were shooting, reloading, shooting try-out loads to find a good and accurate load. Friend was doing the reloading, 3 rounds at a time. One batch he inadvertently loaded 7mm bullets in over a near max load for the .270. When the trigger was pulled, recoil was GREAT and the bolt had to be hammered open with a block of wood! The oversized bullet was swaged down and spit out the bore. Said VZ-24 action held up just fine with no ill aftereffects.

cbxboy · « **Reply #6 on:** January 15, 2009, 05:40:57 AM »

Ok, you now know the the VZ-24 is awesome, really is.

Let me give you the DRAWback of a VZ-24....real surprised no one else mentioned it.

They VZ24's have 4 sling attachment spots. So this means if your right handed and pull up the VZ there is a sling attachment sticking into your lower chin area. I have personally shot the VZ offhand in a casual manner and felt the metal bite me. With a little concentration and moving your cheek weld you can avoid this.......but caution is the key

So all in all, definately buy the VZ (but please don't take a loan if you were serious) it is a fabulous lil Mauser. I really enjoy the shorter Mauser OAL in the VZ. I have a crested and a non crest VZ.

Tim

Illhunter · « **Reply #7 on:** January 15, 2009, 12:43:24 PM »

nope no loan am waiting for taxes. sounds great i will definitely have to get one when the money is in. my question would be is there a way to remove the original sling attachment and put something different on it or just remove it without hurting the gun if you are not going to use a sling. if i am wrong let me know thinking out loud

Terry

Hank08 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 15, 2009, 05:23:43 PM »

Yep, you can take the side one off and you'll still have swivels on the bottom of the stock in the normal place. The sides ones are for carrying the rifle slung across your back, keeps the bolt and triggerguard from poking you.
H08

Illhunter · « **Reply #9 on:** January 15, 2009, 05:32:00 PM »

ok so would just have to modify my shooting to keep from getting bit
thanks all of you i do beleive this should be one of my purchases.

Terry

Troyboy · « **Reply #10 on:** January 16, 2009, 04:00:27 AM »

Mausers are the standard by which all are judged

prairiedog555 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 08, 2009, 04:30:05 AM »

I have a Mod. 48. It really looks like it is unfired. It was really gummed up with cosmoline. Anyway the trigger was so bad that I thought it was broke, so i went to my local rural gunsmith (very reasonable pricing) and got a Boyd's trigger for about $35.
Wow, we were both impressed. I'm not sure what the letoff is but it is crisp and solid.
I highly recommend both gun and trigger.

db22 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 16, 2009, 02:15:37 PM »

Just acquired a Vz24. The crest on the front receiver ring was was incompletely ground off, but appears to be that of King Carol II of Romania, dating the rifle to some time between 1930 and 1940. I agree with previous posts: the workmanship is very good for a military rifle. The bolt number does not match the receiver's serial number, so this particular rifle may be a salvage job, slapped together after WWII for the third-world arms market.

I am puzzled by the lack of other markings -- there are no proof or acceptance marks from a post-Romanian military customer. Maybe the old girl sat in a Romanian arsenal for decades, forgotten until after the fall of the Communist regime, when it was sold to the importer who brought it over here. Anyway, there is a lot of work to do, but the bore seems sound, and once the stock is refinished (it's a wreck now) and the metal reblued, I expect it will be a great shooter, a good companion to my other oddball Mauser, an FN Israeli Mauser converted in Israel to 7.62 NATO.

torpedoman · « **Reply #13 on:** February 16, 2009, 03:57:18 PM »

VZ then= CZ now

Mikey · « **Reply #14 on:** February 17, 2009, 01:58:59 AM »

Yesterday I was out shooting two of these rifles: a VZ-24 and a VZ/CZ-24/52. We shot all sorts of mil-surp, WWII (1944) stuff, some Turkish stuff which I do not like (delayed detonation, dirty) and some older Hanson (which was about the dirtiest stuff I have ever shot).

Not a burp or hiccup with either rifle and they just kept pounding those slugs right into the target. Going to try for another go-around next weekend.

1911crazy · « **Reply #15 on:** February 17, 2009, 07:59:07 AM »

Yup i got the VZ24 first then i got the 24/47 and the 24/52 next. But i haven't shot them yet. I guess i'm all VZ'd out for now.

I wanted to collect all the mausers but after hearing there are well over 1,000 mausers i figured i wouldn't live long enough to do it with so many mausers and so little time left.

One of my very first military surplus purchases was a yugo model 98 its actually a german 98k with the markings ground off and the yugo seal put on it. Its a german 98k mauser at a yugo price but the bolt is one of the smoothest bolts on a mauser i have ever seen.

Wasn't there some of the 24's in 7mm masuer too?

ECV Slick · « **Reply #16 on:** March 19, 2009, 11:52:26 PM »

I picked up a "scrubbed" VZ-24 that looks to be a "Russian capture" that is unfired. It's been on the "back-burner" for a while now and while I've finally accumulated a couple K rounds for it, I have yet to take it out. These rifles really exhibit high-quality in their manufacture.

RaySendero · « **Reply #17 on:** March 28, 2009, 02:23:13 AM »

Quote from: Illhunter on January 14, 2009, 04:37:37 PM

i am wondering if you guys have any experience with this rifle i was looking at them cause i found them at good price since i have C&R. how does the 8mm round shoot to. are they accurate. I also would like to know how they are compared to the nagants i had one and liked it butnot sure if i want another nagant or mauser help me decide i know the best answer is get both cause they are good price but if only one which would be a better rifle. thanks in advance for any help you can give i truly appreciate it.

Terry

Terry,

Here's how my Vz-24 progressed from a POS in a pawn shop in 2004 to ...:

1) An 8x57 straight bolt scout scope rifle in 2005:

2) An 8x57 bent bolt scoped rifle 2007:

3) A 9.3x62 with timmney trigger/safety with jewelled bolt in 2008:

Warning - Sporterizing can be addictive!

bluebayou · « **Reply #18 on:** March 28, 2009, 08:06:09 AM »

Ray, that is really a nice series there.....those "fair" ones at online are bouncing around my head now. I might have to get one.

I just got a Yugo 24/47, but still haven't shot it. I really like that scout setup. I want to make one of those.

What did you use for the barrel band on the forearm?

RaySendero · « **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2009, 04:31:24 PM »

Quote from: bluebayou on March 28, 2009, 08:06:09 AM

.....

What did you use for the barrel band on the forearm?

That's the original barrel band - I cut the sling swivel off, cut the band down, welded it back together, formed it to the new barrel, reblued it then reinstalled it over a piece of black electrical tape on the new barrel.

Gerry N. · « **Reply #20 on:** March 29, 2009, 01:31:40 AM »

Quote from: Illhunter on January 15, 2009, 12:43:24 PM

nope no loan am waiting for taxes. sounds great i will definitely have to get one when the money is in. my question would be is there a way to remove the original sling attachment and put something different on it or just remove it without hurting the gun if you are not going to use a sling. if i am wrong let me know thinking out loud
Terry

Midway has Fajen plastic drop in stocks for the 98 mauser for less than $70. That would be an excellent way to have a good shooter and not bugger up the military stock.

VZ is the abbreviation of Vzor which means MODEL in Czech. CZ is Czechoslovak Zbrojovka -- "Czechoslovak Arms Factory" Usually followed by BRNO, an industrial city in Czechoslovakia. In German, it is Brunn.

The VZ 24 was made and sold commercially and on contract for several countries in several calibers from 1924 until Germany overran Czechoslovakia in WWII. It is one of the best made and strongest of all M98 variants. Military VZ24's are very seldom found with matching serial numbers. During the war the VZ24 was given a Wehrmacht model number and was manufactued in quantity and issued to German units as a standard rifle.

Gerry N

bluebayou · « **Reply #21 on:** March 30, 2009, 07:25:55 PM »

Quote from: RaySendero on March 28, 2009, 04:31:24 PM

Quote from: bluebayou on March 28, 2009, 08:06:09 AM
.....

What did you use for the barrel band on the forearm?

That's the original barrel band - I cut the sling swivel off, cut the band down, welded it back together, formed it to the new barrel, reblued it then reinstalled it over a piece of black electrical tape on the new barrel.

thanks, I can't weld (yet) so I never think about cutting and welding, just new fabrication.

db22 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 02, 2009, 02:12:14 PM »

Ray: Beautiful job sporterizing your Vz24! I laid hands on one recently for next to nothing, hoping it would be a good shooter as-is. The chamber turned out to be dangerously oversize -- excess headspace, and the chamber neck was reamed out waaay big for some unknown reason. So -- I stripped the stock and am about to remove the barrel and fit a new one chambered for .308 Winchester. Did you blue the metalwork yourself, or send it out to be blued?

I suppose the stock will end up pretty much like yours. The wood is battered, but underneath all that dirt and old finish is some nice color and figure. I hope to make it into a respectable deer rifle. Will post a picture when the project is a bit further along.

RaySendero · « **Reply #23 on:** April 02, 2009, 03:03:20 PM »

Quote from: db22 on April 02, 2009, 02:12:14 PM

Ray: Beautiful job sporterizing your Vz24! I laid hands on one recently for next to nothing, hoping it would be a good shooter as-is. The chamber turned out to be dangerously oversize -- excess headspace, and the chamber neck was reamed out waaay big for some unknown reason. So -- I stripped the stock and am about to remove the barrel and fit a new one chambered for .308 Winchester. Did you blue the metalwork yourself, or send it out to be blued?

I suppose the stock will end up pretty much like yours. The wood is battered, but underneath all that dirt and old finish is some nice color and figure. I hope to make it into a respectable deer rifle. Will post a picture when the project is a bit further along.

I did blue with a paste in the first two pics as I had milled the of the rear receiver smooth for a rear two screw scope base mount. When the 9.3 barrel was added, I had my GS do a complete hot blue - The barrel was in the white.

The stock work and glass bed I did myself. I thought about restocking it, but liked the "history" in the original stock. I stripped the stock, shaped it, steamed pull all dents, finished with rough 60 grit sand paper, stained with a 2/3 red oak - 1/3 super dark walnut mix, then added 8 spray coats of satin polyurethane followed by 0000 steel wool. That rough finish combined with the poly left the stock with a good grip and it looks kinda like an oil finish but is completely water proof.

PS: Here's a link to another sporter I did:
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,77132.msg1098752450.html#new

db22 · « **Reply #24 on:** April 02, 2009, 11:06:35 PM »

Ray: the Arisaka looks mighty fine, too -- never thought of owning one of those . . . guess I saw "Sands of Iwo Jima" one too many times as a kid.

Did you re-barrel the Czech Mauser yourself? I decided to give it a try this time, using one of those Adams & Bennett barrels that are advertised as being rough-chambered. Wish me luck . . .

RaySendero · « **Reply #25 on:** April 03, 2009, 12:41:17 AM »

Quote from: db22 on April 02, 2009, 11:06:35 PM

Ray: the Arisaka looks mighty fine, too -- never thought of owning one of those . . . guess I saw "Sands of Iwo Jima" one too many times as a kid.

Did you re-barrel the Czech Mauser yourself? I decided to give it a try this time, using one of those Adams & Bennett barrels that are advertised as being rough-chambered. Wish me luck . . .

No, I had my GS do it with a Shilen barrel.

Aardvark · « **Reply #26 on:** April 03, 2009, 03:12:56 AM »

Here are a couple of "BLACK RIFLES" I did. One is a VZ24 the other is a Turk.Both are great actions to customize.

bja105 · « **Reply #27 on:** April 04, 2009, 12:27:39 PM »

I have shown this before, my VZ-24 35 Whelen. A&B barrel, Boyds stock.

It looks nice, and shoots well, but it weigh's a ton.

RaySendero · « **Reply #28 on:** April 05, 2009, 04:15:49 AM »

bj,

Nice rifle and good choice of caliber - I think the 35W or 9.3 is the way to go! Kinda like putting a new engine in an old hotrod - Make it a big one!

Does that scope clear the 3 postion safety or did you switch to a 2 position?

db22 · « **Reply #29 on:** April 05, 2009, 07:51:11 AM »

bja105: I bet the weight of that .35 soaks up some of the recoil when you shoot full-throttle ammo. It's a nice-looking rifle!