Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I believe the bolt action rifle reached its zenith in 1898 when the Mauser brothers designed the Model 98. Back in the 1980s I got a hankering for a Mauser in 375 H&H.
I really liked the BRNO 602. A true Mauser 98 Magnum action long enough for the big boy cartridges. At the time it was offered in 375 and 458 Winchester which doesn't even require a long action but that was the American big bore.
Problem was the U.S. had a trade embargo against Czechoslovakia at the time so BRNO firearms could not be imported. I discussed this with my transfer FFL I Used back then (an attorney during the week and PT gun dealer on weekends) and he said that he could get a 602 from a Canadian dealer. The embargo was against Czechoslovakia, not Canada.
So he made contact with a Canadian gun shop and I arranged to buy the 602. At the last minute the Canuck dealer demanded an additional $50 for the gun. I have no doubt this was nothing more than extortion because he figured I was too deeply into the deal to balk at the extra 50. I paid it but I still curse that guy's name to this day.
Anyway, I had my 375 H&H Mauser. Featured a 25" barrel, single set trigger, a folding 3-leaf rear sight and hooded front ramp, and the deep belly stock to allow for a 5 round magazine. The appearance of the stock was a little disappointing. Not very exciting. But a lot of fun to shoot with the 1-4X Leupold. Very European looking. I loaded up some 270 grain lead round nose bullets at 1800 FPS after the silhouette match director said any caliber with lead under 2000 fps was okay. My first shot at the 50 yard chicken cut the steel target in half. It only dented the targets farther out. Sorry.
I wasn't invited back.
I really liked the BRNO 602. A true Mauser 98 Magnum action long enough for the big boy cartridges. At the time it was offered in 375 and 458 Winchester which doesn't even require a long action but that was the American big bore.
Problem was the U.S. had a trade embargo against Czechoslovakia at the time so BRNO firearms could not be imported. I discussed this with my transfer FFL I Used back then (an attorney during the week and PT gun dealer on weekends) and he said that he could get a 602 from a Canadian dealer. The embargo was against Czechoslovakia, not Canada.
So he made contact with a Canadian gun shop and I arranged to buy the 602. At the last minute the Canuck dealer demanded an additional $50 for the gun. I have no doubt this was nothing more than extortion because he figured I was too deeply into the deal to balk at the extra 50. I paid it but I still curse that guy's name to this day.
Anyway, I had my 375 H&H Mauser. Featured a 25" barrel, single set trigger, a folding 3-leaf rear sight and hooded front ramp, and the deep belly stock to allow for a 5 round magazine. The appearance of the stock was a little disappointing. Not very exciting. But a lot of fun to shoot with the 1-4X Leupold. Very European looking. I loaded up some 270 grain lead round nose bullets at 1800 FPS after the silhouette match director said any caliber with lead under 2000 fps was okay. My first shot at the 50 yard chicken cut the steel target in half. It only dented the targets farther out. Sorry.
I wasn't invited back.
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