Sort of off-thread: I bought new for $135 and still own a 7 X 57 Brno sporter made in 1950 with exceptional fit, finish, accuracy. Any diminishing quality must have come after that date. Jack O'Connor, who claimed the 7mm "as one of my favourite cartridges" wrote in his Outdoor Life column:
"It's curious how closely the European mountain rifle and the American saddle rifle resemble each other. Two of the best factory jobs I can think of for saddle use are foreign---the Model 1950 Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbine in 7mm, .270 or 30-06 and the 7mm Czech Brno Mauser."
Jack used the Brno while hunting with the Shah in Iran. In his Q&A column at the time, asked for a recommendation for a woman hunting sheep, mule deer, antelope, black bear and maybe Alaska brown, he wrote: "The .270 is a grand cartridge but for your special purpose I think the 7mm has the edge."
Wasn't Jack known as Mr. .270?
