Sporting Gun UK – May 2019

92 SPORTING GUN M AY 2019 http://www.shootinguk.co.uk

USEDGUNS

Blast from the past

The Brno Model 2 is a no-nonsense, accurate rifle that

has stood the test of time, writes Charles Smith-Jones

Czech guarantee

Scope rails

Early Model 2

rifl es were fi tted

with non-standard

dovetail rails

Stock dimensions

Stocks can have

low combs so

require low profi le

mounts

for pest control duties and target practice.
The Model 2 was offered in other rimfi re
calibres but is best known as a .22LR, with a
reputation for accuracy.
The military style tangent sight, rather
optimistically marked for range settings out
to 200m, is functional but most users today
may want to remove it to accommodate
a telescopic sight mounted as low as
practicable. Modern scopes tend to have
much larger objective bells than earlier
models, so this little extra space may be
valuable. The job is easily done, if a little
fi ddly, and involves depressing then sliding
the leaf. It ’s also important to be aware
ANDREW that very early Model 2s were fi tted with

SYDENHAM

shooter and they will almost inevitably think

of inexpensive, unpretentious and totally

dependable hunting rifl es.

While Brno other model numbers were

popular, it is the Model 2 or ZKM-452 that

really caught the attention of shooters in

Britain. Intended to update and refi ne the

original Model 1, production started in 1953

and continued until around 2011, with a

few minor changes to the basic design and

a name change to the CZ 452. Owners of a

more modern CZ .22 rimfi re will fi nd that

it has a lot in common with a CZ 452 – and

still shoots just as well. Brno barrels were

made to last and, where they have had only

to cope with soft lead bullets in relatively

low velocities, have stood up to the years

very well compared with faster, ‘hotter ’ .22

centrefi res, which are more prone to wear.

Pest control

Certainly, the rifl e pictured shoots as well

today as it did when purchased second-hand

some 30 years ago and is still in regular use

The forestock has a schnabel tip

A telescopic sight replaced the tangent

T

he second largest city in the Czech

Republic is Brno. It is the home of

the Zbrojovka Brno factory, which

has been manufacturing goods as

diverse as tractors and typewriters, as well

as fi rearms, for over a century. Although

the light-machinegun designed there in

the 1930s and later produced under license

in the Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfi eld,

became a mainstay of the British Army as

the Bren (taking its name from the fi rst two

letters of each factory), mention Brno to any

NEW

SERIES