I would go with the Brno Fox providing it hasn't been abused and the barrel is in good nik. I have 2 Brno ZKW465 Hornets and youngest being made in 1953 and it is still extremely accurate. best regards Mauser410b

 

Hmmm...much as I like my CZ's this would a easy choice for me, Brno= old world craftmanship/no longer made, CZ=new "old world craftmanship"/still in production. I'd buy the Brno first every time.

 

I owned a Fox-2 a few years back.
I now shoot a Savage M40 that will shoot the pants off anything.

A few of the older Brno Hornets that I've seen are in pretty poor rifling condition, esp around the throat,
so take care in buying one, sight unseen.

Shouldn't be anything negative with the new CZ, unless you're nostalgic, and want an older rifle, that goodness knows how many people have used and abused before you.

To me it's a no-brainer.

cheers,

 

You have not picked up on some of the main differences. The action and bolt is similar but that's where it ends. The stocks are quite different as are the barrels. The quality is slightly different but the later Fox models are not too flash. There are the fox and also the 465 models in hornet or you could get a 222 and load down for hornet velocities and stay at full loads when you need the extra.

What about the obvious differences in the trigger, what do you prefer there. I love the double set trigger but some people find it a bit of a stretch to reach. What about the nice combe on the stock of the fox?

For me I'd take a good fox or 465 over the CZ if I could find one but that's only because I have about four of each.

 

or you could get a 222 and load down for hornet velocities and stay at full loads when you need the extra.

Straying a little bit from the OP, but why is it time after time that when people ask about one caliber, someone always chimes in saying you might as well by this and just load it down and than you can load up when needed.

The Hornets been around close to a hundred years, so there is something about it some people like.

If everyone just wanted a hand full of cartridges it'd be one thing, but there's something to be said about a little variety.

Might as well just get a 22 Cheetah and get rid of all the other .22 centerfires. Just load it down if you want a 22 hornet or load it full bore, or anything in between.

Eliminate all the 30 calibers and everyone should just get a 30-378 and load it down to everything else if needed.

Etc. etc. etc.

 

Hehe, thanks Cal

I hear you Dan, personal preference is part of the choice but either are fine by me re triggers, stock etc. which is why I was wondering if there were any things I didn't know about that were important and influence my decision.

Are they on par with accuracy? Are the modern actions better? Common problems...

I am slightly hesitant to pay twice as much for a new CZ when an old fox might do just as well. Are you saying Dan that the ZKW 465 is better than the fox?

Cheers.

 

Here's how I see it if I put cal74's comments aside. Not that he's not completely correct, after all we don't need many different calibers for what's on this planet. But then there are those that like to be different, me included.

Here's what I think and everyone has their own opinion and they will be just as right. If you were shooting paper then there are better calibers than the hornet for accuracy so I assume that your quest takes you towards game.

If I were looking at that caliber range and restricting myself in the number of rifles I was buying then I'd be considering what game was around. Remember that I have a couple around those actions in the Czechs so like cal74 I don't have the same concerns. To date about four 465's, four 527's, five (I think) foxes, and another that has not been mentioned if you extend yourself towards the 222/223 range. The 601, of which I have around half a dozen.

Look at the game you have available in OZ. are you going to extend to deer and pig, if so the hornet is just a little light for most people, the 222 on the other hand is quite good with placed shots and was used for years here by many pro shooters on goat and deer. The hornet is good to the size of goat and fox etc. I've shot deer with the .22LR but I'm not suggesting that it, or the hornet, are the best deer calibers.

So then have a look at the rifles and what's available. You can be pretty certain of what you are getting with a new CZ 527 and they are available in both hornet and 223. The action is similar to the fox.

The 601 is not available in hornet but has both the standard trigger and single set trigger. It is also available in at least four different stocks. Some people don't like the squarer looking set trigger on these but the standard is curved. Older ones have a pop up aperture in the action if you are staying with open sights.

That leaves the fox. It has at least two different actions and also has the butter knife bolt handle option on some. It has separate double triggers for the set trigger. I like the two triggers as I find it easier to simply pull the rear to set the front rather than have to push the trigger forward. Other people think the trigger is too far forward. Some of these actions are pretty loose to work but all seem to lock up well. They are available in hornet and 222. The fox was the second centrefire I ever bought after an old ex army 303. mine has accounted for thousands of poor little and not so little animals.

Now the 465 is the last, and in a my opinion, it could be the best for the hornet. The action is the correct length for the hornet and not long enough for the 222 range of calibers. It's nice and light, everything just feels right. Quality is good and it has the double set triggers that suit me just fine.

And after all the above dribble, you have to choose. The first thing is what is going to be what is available and in what condition, the second is if you want to push into a larger caliber. The third and most important is the rifle you like as they are all good in their own ways.

Good luck

 

In all honesty I don't know much about Brno Foxes, but if it's something that is no longer available and it's something you think you'll be happy with pick it up, especially if it's half the price of a new 527 and than just start saving for a 527 in a different caliber.

I don't even shoot a fraction of what most people do around here, not including quite a number of larger calibers I have

.17 fireball, .204, .22 Hornet, .223, 22-250, and just sold my .220 swift. Hoping to add a .222 and a few other of the odd balls to these. The 22-250 is a heavy barrel, as was the .220 swift. I didn't want to sell the swift, but needed some funds and didn't see myself using it anytime soon.


By the way, thanks to those who supported my previous statement and understood where I was coming from.

 

Fair call Dan, its all about the context the rifle will be used. It is for small game (foxes, rabbits) on semi rural farms under 150 yards and is 100% a hunting rifle - which is why I have chosen the hornet, it is quieter and does the job at these ranges without making a mess of the game. I have no intention of using it on larget game or using the 527 platform to go to a bigger calibre, I have a .270 for that.

The 527 is obviously the easiest because you just order it and know it has never been abused before. Foxes are less common and 465's even less so and would require a bit of looking, especially to find a good one, but they are $500 cheaper.

I'm sure for what I'm doing good examples of any of these choices will do the job, I just want to be sure when I spend my money

Thanks for the constructive input.

 

68561, I know this is an old thread, but I’d be interested in what choice you made and how it turned out. As a huge fan of 465, BRNO Fox and the 527, I bet You were happy with any of them.

 

I hope you get a response, but 68561 hasn't been around RFC since November...2009.

 

Thank you. I didn’t know that.