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The history of the Brno company or Czechoslovak Armory (Československá zbrojovka) as it was known prior to WWI, began in the city of Brno in the Czech Republic, formerly known as Czechoslovakia. In 1918, the Brno Rifles factory was established. Before 1918, Brno Plant was an arsenal located in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Brno started producing Mauser 98 rifles in 1920 after buying excess weapons and equipment from Mauser-Oberndorf. These Brno-produced Mausers had a 98/22 designation stamped onto the receivers marking the year of production.
In the period between WWI and WWII, Brno collaborated with the Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield, England to develop a well-known Bren light machine gun. They produced weapons for the Czechoslovakian and German armies during World War II. After the war, the company was nationalized by the Czechoslovakian government and renamed Zbrojovka Brno. While it was under socialist control until 1989, it switched to the production of sporting weapons which quickly gained a reputation for their reliability. For some time, the company also produced light artillery and several other products such as tractors, typewriters, and early computers.
During the years they presented numerous models of weaponry such as the ZB vz. 26 light machine gun, ZB-50 heavy machine gun, the MG34, several bolt action rifles, ZKM and ZH series, ZKR 551 handgun etc.
The company was privatized in 1990, just three years before Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Zbrojovka Brno was acquired by Česká zbrojovka (CZ) in 2008. With the new ownership, they agreed to a longer lease, which allows the business to continue production in rented facilities. They still make high-end products for hunting and competition, including pistols, single-shot and double rifles, combination rifles, as well as over/under shotguns.
The Brno 722 is a bolt action rifle that was produced in both sporter and full-stock configurations. The production started with a round receiver in the late 40s; however, later versions featured a square bridge with 19 mm dovetails to allow for the use of a scope. There were two barrel lengths available for this rifle.
Unfortunately, there is not much information readily available about this series of rifles. However, we do know that the sporter variants were commonly chambered for calibers such as 7X57, 7X64, 8X57JS, 8X60, .30-06 Spr., and .270 Win. The heavy barrel versions also came in calibers like 8x64, 8x68S, and 9.3x62.
All models of the Brno 722 feature a bolt release lever on the left upper side of the receiver and most models are equipped with single or double set-triggers. The 722 and 721 models were also marketed as the Brno 22F and 21H in North America with the main difference being that the 722/22F models were available as a Stutzen rifle additionally chambered for 6.5x57mm caliber. The acronyms H and F stand for halfstock and fullstock.
The safety on 722, which blocks the trigger, is typically positioned on the left rear side of the receiver on the bolt shroud.
Figure 1: Brno 722/22F, chambered for 8x60 (Source: https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1037/2918/brno-22f-bolt-action-sporting-rifle)
The rifle is chambered for the following calibers:
6.5x57
.270 Win.
7x57
7x64
.30-06 Spr.
8x57 JS
8x60 S
8x64 S
8x68 S
9.3x62
The production of early 722 models started with a round receiver in the late 40s; however, later versions featured a 19 mm flat top dovetail groove used for mounting purposes. There is a square recoil notch on the left rear side of the dovetail which is typical for Brno rifles.
Figure 2: The round receiver of an early Brno 722 rifle (Source: https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/2055/355/cz-brno-model-22f-bolt-action-rifle)
Figure 3: The receiver of a newer generation of Brno 722 rifle with a 19 mm dovetail for scope mounting purposes (Source: https://www.africahunting.com/threads/brno.52919/)
A: /
B: /
C: /
D: 19 mm
BHU: 0 mm
Ø: /
R1: Prisma 19
R2: Prisma 19
For one-piece mounts to fit on a rifle, mounting surfaces on these rifles must match in every dimension. Rifles that have one-piece mounts interchangeable with Brno 722 are the following:
Brno CZ 537
Brno ZKK 600
Brno ZKK 601
CZ 550 Standard
Brunner 19
CZ 557 LA
Brno ZG 47
Brno 721
For two-piece mounts to be interchangeable, the mounting surfaces of the rifle must match in every dimension except the action length which can vary. This is because of the distance between the two pieces of the mount which is not fixed. Rifles that have two-piece mounts interchangeable with Brno 722 are the following:
CZ 550 Magnum
Brno ZKK 602
CZ 557 SA
Please note that the suggestions below apply to the receivers with a double square 19 mm dovetail for mounting purposes. Should you happen to own an early version of the Brno 722 rifle with a round receiver, we kindly ask you to contact us, and our team will help you find a suitable mounting solution for your needs.
We recommend these scope rings with bases manufactured by the Croatian company Rusan. They are made of high-quality steel and come with a ten-year warranty.
Order Rusan Roll-off rings with extension
Detachable scope mounts are quickly and easily installed on the rifle which is especially useful for maintenance purposes. This two-piece repeatable pivot mount made by the German company EAW is a suitable choice for your Brno 722.
Check out EAW pivot mount
If you are considering converting your 19 mm dovetail to Picatinny, this mounting solution might suit your needs. The Rusan Picatinny rail is made in Croatia and comes with a ten-year warranty.
Click here for Rusan Picatinny rail
If you happen to own this or any other rifle, we would appreciate it if you could help us expand our database by sending us some photos of the rifle receiver (the bare mounting surface of the rifle without the scope mounts installed). For your help, our company offers a fair return in terms of practical rewards.
Please send us an email for more information. You can contact us here: [email protected]
