The ZG 49 Sn and the related ZG 51 Sn[1][2] are Czech prototype sniper rifles.
History[]
The ZG 49 Sn was the brainchild of Czech designer Otakar Galaš (1904 – 1968, aged 63/64) who decided to develop his own specialized sniper rifle in 1949; this design would end up becoming the ZG 49 Sn, which used a Mauser-type action and chambered for a proprietary cartridge. Galaš also felt that the Mauser action was the best possible bolt action for a rifle.
While the concept was sound, the idea of the use of a proprietary cartridge was shot down quickly by the new Minister of Defense, Alexej Čepička, who wanted to have equipment that was similar, if not identical, to what was used by the Soviets as the time. As such, development on the ZG 49 Sn halted. The role of a sniper's rifle was taken by Mosin-Nagant rifles procured by the Soviet Army and handed over to the Czech.
In response to this, Galaš produced another rifle, known as the ZG 51 Sn; it was quite similar to the ZG 49 but used a Mosin-Nagant M91/30 action as opposed to a Mauser action. Even though Galaš was still adamant about the Mauser action ZG 49 Sn being the superior rifle, communist politics meant that the ZG 51 Sn was chosen.
This meant that a rifle based on the M91/30 action was to be designed, however, this was not for a brand new weapon like the ZG 51 Sn as the Czech Army required the new rifle to have as many parts from Soviet M91/30 rifles as possible, effectively halting all development of the ZG 51 Sn. However, this led to the design and manufacture of the vz. 54, a Czech variant of the M91/30.[2] Only two of each type of rifle was produced, leading to a total of four rifles.
One ZG 51 Sn, serial number 001, was acquired by the Czech Military History Museum in 1961; this rifle is unique in that it uses a detachable magazine.[1]
Design Details[]
Despite both rifles using slightly different actions (Mauser-style action for the ZG 49 Sn, Mosin-Nagant-style action for the ZG 51 Sn) and are chambered for different calibers, both rifles were functionally identical. Both rifles have wooden stocks of similar design and are capable of using the same 2.5× optics.
The rifles are normally fed with stripper clips with rounds fed into a five-round internal magazine; however, ZG 51 Sn serial number 001 uses a five-round detachable box magazine instead, a design element that was not repeated on the other rifle.[1]
Ammunition[]
The ZG 49 Sn is chambered for a proprietary 7.92×64mm cartridge. It was essentially a 7.92×57mm Mauser cartridge inside an 8×64mm S casing.[1][2] The later ZG 51 Sn is chambered for the far more common 7.62×54mmR cartridge.[1]
Variants[]
The rifle was manufactured in two similar variants.
- ZG 49 Sn
Sniper rfle with Mauser-styled action chambered for a proprietary 7.92×64mm cartridge.
- ZG 51 Sn
Sniper rifle with Mosin-Nagant-styled action chambered for 7.62×54mmR.
Gallery[]
