My "New" VZ.24

Ricochet · 07-21-2004, 12:41 PM

Got a VZ.24 yesterday, that I'd bought from an online friend who was "kind of top-heavy on Mausers," had bought this rifle intending to build a sporter but didn't, and had offered it at a very low price to someone wanting to overload it till it failed! It's a very nice rifle, actually. Stock's pretty dinged, but solid, still with oil finish, nice straight grained walnut. Metal looks good, no visible rust (haven't taken it out of the stock yet), only a trace of blue remaining. The metal's basically "in the white," bright and shiny. Whatever crest was on the ring's been scrubbed. It's still got about 2/3 of a CM in a circle on the left side of the ring. The receiver and stock match, but the bolt doesn't. I'll post 'em in the bolt swap thread over on Milsurpshooter.net. (Receiver's FR 378, and I've got the bolt F5 9044.) The bore's got some frost and light pits, but sharp lands. The muzzle's good. It seems to shoot OK, but it shoots so high at 100 yards (with the minimum range set for 300 meters, I'm not sure for what ammo) that I was having to hold well under the target without a definite aiming point. Altogether a mighty fine rifle for $75!

I've got to find an appropriate sling for it. I've got a Kar98k sling, but it's made for a slotted stock and this one's got swivels. In fact, four swivels, two on the bottom, two on the left side!

I've rubbed a coat of boiled linseed oil in it. Looks spiffier!
:ballons:

Dale · 07-21-2004, 03:55 PM

Congrats and welcome Richochet.

Did I speel that reight? Heyall no! Well, get used ot it, lol.

Seriously, Ricochet, the 24 is a great little mauser and even a 'decent' one is certainly worth the $75 you paid.

I read not too long ago that some mausers are quickly becoming extinct, so to speak, so I'd grab any that was in decent shape and at a price that is worthy of it.

I'm gonna get around here soon and buy three or four more M48 Yugos.

If you can scrape the money up pick up a few Swede M96s now......going fast...so I hear.

Do you reload?

Try www.e-gunparts.com for that sling.

I have a few more links available and I'll look around for you but, to tell the truth, I'm a little zonked out this afternoon from some pain meds I took for some tests this morning.

I'll get back with you later when I have a clearer head.

Good luck...and, again, welcome.

Snakebite · 07-21-2004, 05:41 PM

$75 is good for just about any decent Mauser! The Vz24's are great shooters. I dont think there is a Mauser out there that doesnt shoot high at 100 yards.
The wood on the Vz's is very good quality, not the cheaper stuff the Russians or Chinese used. In fact chances are good that its actually American walnut. It should clean up nicely.
The gun store that I go to have been getting fewer Mausers lately and the ones they get are getting very expensive. A beat up one is $200 now.
Dale is right about the Swede. If you see one, buy it. You wont be disappointed.

Dale, hope the tests came back saying you are healthy as a horse and have another 100 years to live!

Ricochet · 07-22-2004, 12:17 PM

Yeah, I handload, but right now with surplus 8x57 and 7.62x54R so cheap, that's what I'm shooting. Haven't even bought any dies yet, though I'll eventually want to tinker. This VZ.24's a Romanian contract one. It likely saw combat, as they were made between 1937-40, and the Romanians fought as allies of the Germans in the Soviet Union. I think the stock's European walnut, possibly Turkish. It's not as dark as American Black Walnut.

What I did for a sling was to go to Sportsman's Guide and buy a $12.97 repro Japanese Arisaka sling. They're supposed to be identical to the early Czech slings for VZ.24s. I found an original cleaning rod for $10, and I've got an original bayonet on the way too, so I've got a bit more than $75 invested in the whole package but I think I've come out pretty well overall!

Ricochet · 07-22-2004, 12:22 PM

And thanks for the welcome, Dale!

Hope you get good news from your tests!

Dale · 07-22-2004, 03:35 PM

Rick O'Shay (I'm doing a play on word/name out of friendliness and not out of being a butt head).......thanks for the concerns over the tests......it's just a matter of aging and, so far, it's not life threatening so I thank the good Lord for that...yepper....fer sure.

Although I erroneously mentioned the medication was for pain (and it was, in part) it was more for relaxation.

Can't recall what the people gave me but it works...mmmm.

Wife had to go with me and, of course, she drove me home.

I like that kinda service, lol.

Shaun · 07-22-2004, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricochet

Yeah, I handload, but right now with surplus 8x57 and 7.62x54R so cheap, that's what I'm shooting. Haven't even bought any dies yet, though I'll eventually want to tinker. This VZ.24's a Romanian contract one. It likely saw combat, as they were made between 1937-40, and the Romanians fought as allies of the Germans in the Soviet Union. I think the stock's European walnut, possibly Turkish. It's not as dark as American Black Walnut.

What I did for a sling was to go to Sportsman's Guide and buy a $12.97 repro Japanese Arisaka sling. They're supposed to be identical to the early Czech slings for VZ.24s. I found an original cleaning rod for $10, and I've got an original bayonet on the way too, so I've got a bit more than $75 invested in the whole package but I think I've come out pretty well overall!

Welcome to gun and game - the advantage of loading yourself in these calibers will be in the quality of the ammo you get and the types of ammo you can make. The real value is not having to go through the complete process to make sure you have used an ammonia based cleaner to make sure your barrel is free of corrosive salts.

Ricochet · 07-22-2004, 11:16 PM

Yeah, I'm familiar with all the advantages customizing ammo. I've been handloading for 32 years. I've got several guns in different calibers that have never had a factory cartridge fired in them. I cast bullets for a wide variety of rifle and pistol cartridges, too. But I'm enjoying not having to prepare the ammo and not having to hunt down every last case. (Is that ever a pain with a .45 ACP!) The cheap surplus ammo won't last forever, just like the cheap American milsurp of the 40s-60s disappeared. Enjoy it while you can.

As for corrosive ammo, that's no big deal. There's certainly a lot more effort involved in loading 20 rounds than there is in properly cleaning a corrosive-fired rifle.

I use ammonia because it's a good cleaner and the ammonia helps to remove copper and nickel, but it's the water in the ammonia that removes the corrosive potassium chloride. Anything with water in it will work, as does plain water. The USMC recommended soapy water. Set your garden hose to a brisk trickle, run it into the breech with the muzzle down for a minute, dry it out and oil it, and you've got it done just fine. That's for the lazy man. (Don't forget to clean the bolt face; primers always leak a little.)

But, just like it's sometimes nice to be free of worry about loading and case retrieval, it's nice to know that you don't have to clean your rifle if you don't want to.

Ricochet · 07-22-2004, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale

Rick O'Shay (I'm doing a play on word/name out of friendliness and not out of being a butt head)......

No worries, Dale! I like that twist on it. I get it on other boards from time to time. (I'm not the only Ricochet out there, but I've used that handle on a lot of sites since about 1994.) Glad your test wasn't too bad. I've got a notion what that might've been; I think my wife'll push me into having it in a couple of years. She had to do it, and "Misery loves company."

JAMES · 07-23-2004, 09:05 AM

....started out as a fine story about another old Mauser with character and charm....dipped into the science of reloading and corrosive ammo.......and look where it ended up!

Welcome to G&G, Richochet!

Glad you're O.K., Dale.

Ricochet · 07-23-2004, 12:39 PM

Thanks, James!

A good thread can cover a lot of territory!

(Off topic? What's that?!)

Ricochet · 07-29-2006, 05:37 PM

Ran across this old thread of mine. I still like this old Vz.24 a lot. Only problem it's got is that it came with no cleaning rod, and I got a repro rod for it, which wouldn't screw in. I took it apart and got out the hardest clay I've ever seen that hadn't been fired in a kiln from the rod channel and nut. After a lot of frustrating work trying to get the rod to screw in, I figured out that the rod channel was drilled off center about half the hole diameter so the rod was hitting one edge of the hole and couldn't possibly screw in. These rods are not the least bit flexible, and it's a tight fit in the rod channel. Easiest fix seemed to be to use my Dremel to open up one side of the rod nut inlet to move it over to engage the rod. Slow going, and I had to quit and put the rifle back together before a house cleaning. I'll get back to it before long.

07-21-2004, 12:41 PM	#1
Ricochet Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 166	My "New" VZ.24 Got a VZ.24 yesterday, that I'd bought from an online friend who was "kind of top-heavy on Mausers," had bought this rifle intending to build a sporter but didn't, and had offered it at a very low price to someone wanting to overload it till it failed! It's a very nice rifle, actually. Stock's pretty dinged, but solid, still with oil finish, nice straight grained walnut. Metal looks good, no visible rust (haven't taken it out of the stock yet), only a trace of blue remaining. The metal's basically "in the white," bright and shiny. Whatever crest was on the ring's been scrubbed. It's still got about 2/3 of a CM in a circle on the left side of the ring. The receiver and stock match, but the bolt doesn't. I'll post 'em in the bolt swap thread over on Milsurpshooter.net. (Receiver's FR 378, and I've got the bolt F5 9044.) The bore's got some frost and light pits, but sharp lands. The muzzle's good. It seems to shoot OK, but it shoots so high at 100 yards (with the minimum range set for 300 meters, I'm not sure for what ammo) that I was having to hold well under the target without a definite aiming point. Altogether a mighty fine rifle for $75! I've got to find an appropriate sling for it. I've got a Kar98k sling, but it's made for a slotted stock and this one's got swivels. In fact, four swivels, two on the bottom, two on the left side! I've rubbed a coat of boiled linseed oil in it. Looks spiffier! :ballons:

07-21-2004, 03:55 PM	#2
Dale Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Too Dang Hot, Arizona Posts: 4,284	Congrats and welcome Richochet. Did I speel that reight? Heyall no! Well, get used ot it, lol. Seriously, Ricochet, the 24 is a great little mauser and even a 'decent' one is certainly worth the $75 you paid. I read not too long ago that some mausers are quickly becoming extinct, so to speak, so I'd grab any that was in decent shape and at a price that is worthy of it. I'm gonna get around here soon and buy three or four more M48 Yugos. If you can scrape the money up pick up a few Swede M96s now......going fast...so I hear. Do you reload? Try www.e-gunparts.com for that sling. I have a few more links available and I'll look around for you but, to tell the truth, I'm a little zonked out this afternoon from some pain meds I took for some tests this morning. I'll get back with you later when I have a clearer head. Good luck...and, again, welcome. __________________ "It confuses me how some people can vigorously go against the 2nd. Amendment and still call themselves patriotic"-me

07-22-2004, 03:35 PM	#6
Dale Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Too Dang Hot, Arizona Posts: 4,284	Rick O'Shay (I'm doing a play on word/name out of friendliness and not out of being a butt head).......thanks for the concerns over the tests......it's just a matter of aging and, so far, it's not life threatening so I thank the good Lord for that...yepper....fer sure. Although I erroneously mentioned the medication was for pain (and it was, in part) it was more for relaxation. Can't recall what the people gave me but it works...mmmm. Wife had to go with me and, of course, she drove me home. I like that kinda service, lol. __________________ "It confuses me how some people can vigorously go against the 2nd. Amendment and still call themselves patriotic"-me

07-21-2004, 05:41 PM	#3
Snakebite Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tucson, Mexico Posts: 1,846	$75 is good for just about any decent Mauser! The Vz24's are great shooters. I dont think there is a Mauser out there that doesnt shoot high at 100 yards. The wood on the Vz's is very good quality, not the cheaper stuff the Russians or Chinese used. In fact chances are good that its actually American walnut. It should clean up nicely. The gun store that I go to have been getting fewer Mausers lately and the ones they get are getting very expensive. A beat up one is $200 now. Dale is right about the Swede. If you see one, buy it. You wont be disappointed. Dale, hope the tests came back saying you are healthy as a horse and have another 100 years to live!

07-22-2004, 12:17 PM	#4
Ricochet Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 166	Yeah, I handload, but right now with surplus 8x57 and 7.62x54R so cheap, that's what I'm shooting. Haven't even bought any dies yet, though I'll eventually want to tinker. This VZ.24's a Romanian contract one. It likely saw combat, as they were made between 1937-40, and the Romanians fought as allies of the Germans in the Soviet Union. I think the stock's European walnut, possibly Turkish. It's not as dark as American Black Walnut. What I did for a sling was to go to Sportsman's Guide and buy a $12.97 repro Japanese Arisaka sling. They're supposed to be identical to the early Czech slings for VZ.24s. I found an original cleaning rod for $10, and I've got an original bayonet on the way too, so I've got a bit more than $75 invested in the whole package but I think I've come out pretty well overall!

07-22-2004, 12:22 PM	#5
Ricochet Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 166	And thanks for the welcome, Dale! Hope you get good news from your tests!

07-22-2004, 11:16 PM	#8
Ricochet Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 166	Yeah, I'm familiar with all the advantages customizing ammo. I've been handloading for 32 years. I've got several guns in different calibers that have never had a factory cartridge fired in them. I cast bullets for a wide variety of rifle and pistol cartridges, too. But I'm enjoying not having to prepare the ammo and not having to hunt down every last case. (Is that ever a pain with a .45 ACP!) The cheap surplus ammo won't last forever, just like the cheap American milsurp of the 40s-60s disappeared. Enjoy it while you can. As for corrosive ammo, that's no big deal. There's certainly a lot more effort involved in loading 20 rounds than there is in properly cleaning a corrosive-fired rifle. I use ammonia because it's a good cleaner and the ammonia helps to remove copper and nickel, but it's the water in the ammonia that removes the corrosive potassium chloride. Anything with water in it will work, as does plain water. The USMC recommended soapy water. Set your garden hose to a brisk trickle, run it into the breech with the muzzle down for a minute, dry it out and oil it, and you've got it done just fine. That's for the lazy man. (Don't forget to clean the bolt face; primers always leak a little.) But, just like it's sometimes nice to be free of worry about loading and case retrieval, it's nice to know that you don't have to clean your rifle if you don't want to.

07-23-2004, 09:05 AM	#10
JAMES Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: OKLAHOMA Posts: 575	....started out as a fine story about another old Mauser with character and charm....dipped into the science of reloading and corrosive ammo.......and look where it ended up! Welcome to G&G, Richochet! Glad you're O.K., Dale.

07-23-2004, 12:39 PM	#11
Ricochet Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 166	Thanks, James! A good thread can cover a lot of territory! (Off topic? What's that?!)

07-29-2006, 05:37 PM	#12
Ricochet Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 166	Ran across this old thread of mine. I still like this old Vz.24 a lot. Only problem it's got is that it came with no cleaning rod, and I got a repro rod for it, which wouldn't screw in. I took it apart and got out the hardest clay I've ever seen that hadn't been fired in a kiln from the rod channel and nut. After a lot of frustrating work trying to get the rod to screw in, I figured out that the rod channel was drilled off center about half the hole diameter so the rod was hitting one edge of the hole and couldn't possibly screw in. These rods are not the least bit flexible, and it's a tight fit in the rod channel. Easiest fix seemed to be to use my Dremel to open up one side of the rod nut inlet to move it over to engage the rod. Slow going, and I had to quit and put the rifle back together before a house cleaning. I'll get back to it before long.