BRNO ZH 304. 5x57R/12 gauge help please

[niacbob]

Hello

I just purchased the brno 304 and removed the barrel from the receiver so that I could clean it.
The action and barrel separated easy enough. Completed my cleaning.
For the life of me I must be doing something wrong because I can't figure out how to line up the two buttons (push button and fixed button on opposite side of receiver) and the slot for the extractor. The extractor is too far forward to mate with the slot.

I did look at the YouTube on the ZH301 disassembly. Tried to line it up as shown there but no joy.

Do I need to remove the extractor, slip in the barrel to the receiver and re-install the extractor?

Hopefully someone here can help me out.

Does anyone have a PDF file of the 304 manual.

Thanks

Bob

 

[farshot]

Dont remove anything. I had the same issues way back when I got my first one. The rear slides backwards and you need to overcome that stiff spring pressure when re-assembling. I am just going by memory so there may be certain steps that I forget.
I will take a look at mine, but it will go together without fuss when you know how to do it.

 

[niacbob]

Tks. I tried pushing back the rear portion of the action, the section with the lever on it. It didn't move. I used quite a bit of force but it felt solid. Makes sense that it should move back towards the butt of the stock.
If I can't get it to move back is this spring accessible after removing the butt stock?
I can't speak to the owner of the rifle so I am not sure how long it was in a safe or if the barrel was ever removed. It did come with a ZH 201 12G over 12G that looks like it has been used. All advice appreciated.

 

[farshot]

It is a game of precision. I just took mine apart and put it together a few times. Amazed I figured it out again.
Put the muzzle straight down on a carpet. Slide the receiver straight down so the top of the front receiver slides over the bbl chambers (but on a line to end up under the buttons) until the very front of the receiver is just past the push button (and the fixed button on the other side).
You will see the receiver slide back as you push. I put the butt in my armpit as I push it with my arm pit. I also hold the lever open with my right thumb.
When the alignment (the very front metal of the receiver with the openings for the buttons) is just past the buttons, push the left button in (I used a dummy 375HH just cause it was there).
Then watch the front thin metal of the receiver, it goes just past the button, push the receiver front over the buttons. It needs to mate at a slight angle (say 20 degrees off of straight), I use my knee to push the bottom front in and over the buttons....the buttons should both enter the opening and click... its done. The action can then be closed the rest of the way.
The real trick is ensure where the slots and the buttons line up, dont go too far past that.
LOL
good luck
once you see it and feel it, it is easy. If you cant do it, put it away for a bit cause that is when I break things LOL