Vz 24 barrel choice question

[riflewoman]

I have a Vz 24 military rifle that does not have a matching bolt, but the headspace checked good. But, like most Vz 24s the barrel interior is like a sewer. I can get a pre-tapered in military steps chambered barrel from Lothar Walther in the caliber of my choice. So my question is what caliber? I really don’t have any 8mm rifles or particular interest in that caliber...so which? 308? 30-06? Like I need ANOTHER of those. At least with 308 ammo is less of a problem...

thoughts?

 

[mac86951]

I have a Vz 24 military rifle that does not have a matching bolt, but the headspace checked good. But, like most Vz 24s the barrel interior is like a sewer. I can get a pre-tapered in military steps chambered barrel from Lothar Walther in the caliber of my choice. So my question is what caliber? I really don’t have any 8mm rifles or particular interest in that caliber...so which? 308? 30-06? Like I need ANOTHER of those. At least with 308 ammo is less of a problem...

thoughts?

Mine is 6.5x55 a great cartridge for h4350 and slower. 7mm, or a 7.5x55 would be interesting too

 

[tobnpr]

I have a Vz 24 military rifle that does not have a matching bolt, but the headspace checked good. But, like most Vz 24s the barrel interior is like a sewer. I can get a pre-tapered in military steps chambered barrel from Lothar Walther in the caliber of my choice. So my question is what caliber? I really don’t have any 8mm rifles or particular interest in that caliber...so which? 308? 30-06? Like I need ANOTHER of those. At least with 308 ammo is less of a problem...

thoughts?

Would be helpful if you provided info on the application.
Hunting rifle? What game?
Target? Plinking?
Handload or factory ammo?

 

[nicholst55]

Unaltered Mausers sometimes have difficulty feeding .308-based cases, IME. Some will, and some will, but only very reluctantly. Anything based on the .30-06 case is a breeze. Have you got a .280 Remington?

 

[riflewoman]

I just want to get the rifle shooting kinda sorta ok without spraying bullets all over dam place. I have MANY guns for hunting. I don’t have a 280 but i do have a 284 and if I was considering a 7mm I’d opt for a 7x57.

 

[Laurie]

As @nicholst55 says, 308 sometimes won't feed. I had an ex Israeli Defence Forces K98 years ago that had been a government 7.62 conversion and it just wouldn't feed at all.

Norway rebarreled the K98s it relieved the departing Wehrmacht occupation forces of in 1945 to 30-06. This cartridge is slightly over-length for the standard '98 action. Hence all Norwegian ex-military K98s have a notch machined into the rear face of the receiver bridge to clear the bullet tip.

There is of course 7.92 Mauser. Not my favourite military cartridge - indeed probably my least. With service spec ammo, it kicks like a mule. If LW reproduces the 1930s military chamber form in its barrels, it has a near inch and half long tapering throat (to reduce pressure from the use of a machinegun-loaded heavy-ball cartridge and which would be seriously over-pressure in a more normal chamber). IME the result is mediocre accuracy at best from several ex-military Mausers in good to as-new condition. 7.92 enthusiasts disagree, but I gave up on these rifles a long time ago for range use.

Of the contemporary cartridges with similar COALs, that leaves the 6.5X55 and 7X57, both excellent designs and capable of exceptional precision, both very easy to handload, both moderate recoil in 'sensible' loadings. I'd personally go with the latter. The 7X57 is highly rated as a hunting round, but its range performance is excellent too and remarked on far less often. Loaded with 130-150s rather than the heaviest available bullets, it's very easy on the shoulder, an important point given the standard K98 type stock (which I assume your Vz24 suffers). I have a Steyr manufactured Chilean M1912 '98 action long rifle in well used condition but with a good bore. Despite the shallow V-notch Mauser tangent rearsight and my troubles in seeing it, the foresight, and the aiming mark all together, it will produce some sub 2 inch 5-shot groups at 100 shot off the bench. I fact I have one group with four out of five in under the inch spoiled by a single low shot which was most likely down to my aim.

 

[akajun]

I believe I have a nos military step barrel for a large ring Mauser in 3006, i believe it’s Venezuelan
Pm me if interested.

 

[nicholst55]

As @nicholst55 says, 308 sometimes won't feed. I had an ex Israeli Defence Forces K98 years ago that had been a government 7.62 conversion and it just wouldn't feed at all.

Norway rebarreled the K98s it relieved the departing Wehrmacht occupation forces of in 1945 to 30-06. This cartridge is slightly over-length for the standard '98 action. Hence all Norwegian ex-military K98s have a notch machined into the rear face of the receiver bridge to clear the bullet tip.

I once owned an FN-made Mauser from somewhere down South that had been converted to .30-06, and it also had the notch milled in the front receiver ring. It shot acceptably well for what it was, but it had too much pitting under the woodline for me.

The 7X57mm would be a good choice, although brass has been difficult to locate for the past few years. Not an insurmountable problem, unless you insist on having the correct headstamp on your brass.

 

[DocBII]

riflewoman,

6.5x55, 6.5 WSM, 338-06, 6.5-06. I've got Mausers in two of those four and 30-06. I have a fast twist .338 barrel I'm looking to make into a .338-06. This should work out to 1k with 285 weight bullets and a slow muzzle velocity.

HTH,
DocBII

 

[Riesel]

35 Wheelan

 

[z2013]

I have a VZ24 that I made into a switch barrel. Got the idea from Reid Coalfield in shotgun news. I have it barreled in 6BR, 22-250 and 308. I shoot high power matches with it and load from magazine one at a time ,feeds fine. Different stock and trigger.

 

[Ggmac]

7.65 argentine , use a 308 bore . Or the 6.5-55 , 7-57 .
8 mm can be awsome , especially with some S&B brass and handloads . A bit of a thumper . Ive done a coupe in 6.5 JAP , yes you read that correctly. Norma brass , shorter case but long bullets , mild , easy loading ( less powder needed ) accurate , very accurate .
Forgot a good one 6 Remington.

 

[tobnpr]

considering a 7mm I’d opt for a 7x57.

The longer-than-short-action lends itself well to the .284 Winchester. Case is longer than .308/7-08 so feeding shouldn't be an issue. More case capacity than the Mauser- but you can most likely find a prefit for the 7x57 easier.

 

[riflewoman]

The longer-than-short-action lends itself well to the .284 Winchester. Case is longer than .308/7-08 so feeding shouldn't be an issue. More case capacity than the Mauser- but you can most likely find a prefit for the 7x57 easier.

I already have a Mauser in 284. But thanks anyway.

 

[SBS]

If you're sticking with the original magazine, it will be a little short for most cases based on the .30-06. Have used the 7x57 family of cases on such Mausers with good results: 6mm Rem., .257 Robts., 6.5x55, 6.5x57, and 7x57. All of these feed well from Mausers machined for the 8x57 case and are generally pleasant to shoot at moderate velocities plus doing a good job on medium sized game.

 

[EOD Rob]

I have one in 308 and it is problematic at best. Beautiful, but problematic. I am thinking of going to the 6.5x55mm Sweden. Big fan of the 6.5. I have 6.5 Grendel, and 260 Rem and love both. If I'm correct, the 6.5x55 has just a bit more case then the 260 and the 6.5 Creed is a very close thrid. One of my first rifles was a 6.5x55 and fell in love. Draw back, you better be a hand loader! Not much out there for really good ammo!

 

[cowboybart]

Getting your barrel rebored by JES would be a cheaper alternative. How about a 9x57 or 9.3x62??

 

[riflewoman]

Thanks to all for the suggestions, keep them coming. A bit of background is in order. The rifle currently is in full military configuration. I plan on keeping it that way. Hence the stepped barrel configuration. I Was even gonna reuse the sights. A “military” cartridge would be preferred. My predilection is to go with 308 unless it just won’t feed at all, but I’m still open.

 

[pdhntr]

I recall back when there were all kinds of cheap Mausers for sale, and some of us bought up a bunch and chambered them for what ever. Yeah, there were problems with some of them, but we usually figured it out with some "adjusting" of the extractor shape and tension.

I know my VZ-24 in 308 never got the memo it isn't supposed to feed well.

Jim

 

[matthias]

I put a new barrel on my vz24 2 or 3 years ago. I went with 6.5x55 and I am quite happy.