ZG 47 at the range.

[jbmauser]

With little wind and the mild temperature, it was a beautiful day to head down to the range. This was the first time I've shot my ZG 47, and it did very well. The rifle is a Brno ZG 47 in 8x64S, manufactured in 1961. The ammo was factory Sellier & Bellot, 196gr SPCE. The target shows the average accuracy that I acheived today.

I bought six boxes of the factory S&B ammo, and once I fire off enough of it for the brass, I plan on doing some handloading.

 

[mbogo3]

Should be able to beat that with handloads.One I had in 30-06 put 165gr and 180gr in the same hole.Harold

 

[MetricMan]

A great rifle and a fascinating cartridge. That's a nice group with the factory loads. The S&B brass is really pretty good. With handloading and a bit of tweaking, you can get better results than the factory loads. I chronyed (chronied?) the factory loads and found them doing about 2580fps average, not too much better than my 8 x 57JS loads. With handloads, I have my rifle shooting 195gr Hornadys into 3/4" (3 shot groups). Velocities average 2610fps.
195gr Hornady SP
S&B brass
WLR primers
53.0grs IMR 4064 powder
OAL - 3.870"

 

[longbranch*]

Zg47

Very pretty ZG in a real thumper of a caliber. I'm sure with handloads you'll find a load that makes ragged little groups. Makes me want to take my 7X57 ZG to the range.
Cheers
Geoff

 

[Mike Webb]

Great Brno!! Love that tiger stripe wood.

 

[bellero]

Nice Brno, cool pics

 

[caramel]

Very nice rig... JP.

 

[Vimy Ridge]

Thanks for sharing!

 

[The Kurgan]

She's a beauty. Intriguing cartridge. Looks like a real shoulder thumper.

 

[jbmauser]

She's a beauty. Intriguing cartridge. Looks like a real shoulder thumper.

I thought it would be hard on the shoulder as well but I found the recoil to be surprisingly mild.

Thanks for the comments everyone. If anyone else has a ZG 47 they'd like to show, please feel free to post pics here.

 

[DOUGLAS D]

Very nice.
I'm sitting here drooling just a little over the condition of that one!

 

[zywina]

Beautiful ZG47 in a rare calibre, very nice shooting for a sporter! Still looking for that rare 10.75x68mm, maybe one day will find this holy grail, cheers dale Z!

 

[Why not?]

Just wondering if there is any difference between the 8X64S and the 8X63?

Ted

 

[jbmauser]

Just wondering if there is any difference between the 8X64S and the 8X63?

Ted

I have some 8x63 and will take a pic of the two rounds side by side. I just have to dig out the 8x63.
Ok found the 8x63. The top round is 8x63 and the bottom 8x64S. You can
see the 8x63 case is slightly shorter by about 1mm (big surprise) and has
less taper. It is about .030" larger in diameter at the shoulder than the 8x64S.
Interesting comparison since the 8x64S was originally designed as a military
cartridge intended to replace the 8x57 and the 8x63 also a military cartridge.

 

[1899]

Interesting loads posted so far. I would have thought that given the 8x64S has 7.5gr more capacity, and that it operates at a higher max pressure itwould easily outrun the 8x57. My guess was around 2800 fps with the 200gr bullets.

 

[Riflechair]

That is one beautifully crafted rifle and a very moosey calibre. Congratulations on a beautiful specimen. I am jealous... I once owned a German Guild mauser in 8X68 JS. The rife was gorgious. I was too inexperinced to appreciate it. I wish I had it back.

 

[brno375]

Still looking for that rare 10.75x68mm, maybe one day will find this holy grail, cheers dale Z!

Aren't we all.