New or used? 9.3x62

a sauer and a commercial mauser are not even to be compared but to each his own.

Well current production, the Sauer and Mauser buget offerings are the exact same rifle, and are really sad pieces being sold by these names.
I have 2 9.3x62 rifles, one is an early FN military HVA that was 9.3x57 reamed out to x62, it's super accurate, and super smooth.
I tried to build one on a later HVA 30'06, but it had a lot of receiver lug setback, enough that my local Smith said not a good idea. I ended up scrapping the receiver and built one off the HVA part's and used a K98 receiver, Shaw barrel from Tradex.
This one also shoots amazing, and the velocity is pretty impressive with the 26" barrel, I'll probably cut it back to 22" to make it more handy...
 
I'd go with the new Zastava. At least you know that nobody has tinkered with it. Those used HVAs are more or less modified by the former owners and you don't know what was done to them. Lot's have also undisclosed issues...
 
a sauer and a commercial mauser are not even to be compared but to each his own.

The Sauer 100 is only $300 more than the zastava. They are in the same ballpark price range when you’re talking buying a new gun so they are definitely comparable as far as buying one over the other. $700 for a zastava or an extra $300 for a Sauer ?...it’s a no-brainer
 
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Well current production, the Sauer and Mauser buget offerings are the exact same rifle, and are really sad pieces being sold by these names.
I have 2 9.3x62 rifles, one is an early FN military HVA that was 9.3x57 reamed out to x62, it's super accurate, and super smooth.
I tried to build one on a later HVA 30'06, but it had a lot of receiver lug setback, enough that my local Smith said not a good idea. I ended up scrapping the receiver and built one off the HVA part's and used a K98 receiver, Shaw barrel from Tradex.
This one also shoots amazing, and the velocity is pretty impressive with the 26" barrel, I'll probably cut it back to 22" to make it more handy...
Not sure why you’d think the Sauer 100 is a sad offering? The one I bought from Prophet River puts my tikka to shame as far as fit finish accuracy smoothness and quality are concerned. Nothin sad about it at all , especially compared to the canoe paddles that the zastavas are. I’ve owned both , to me the zastava is not worth $700 at all, I’d buy a savage axis before I’d buy another zastava.
 
I would pick the Husqvarna. In my experience the triggers are no worse than the zastava is out of the box.
But actual condition may give the edge to the new Zastava.
 
an extra $300 for a Sauer ?...it’s a no-brainer

You say that like you’re getting a huge bargain on the quality because of the name. I guess you are the target customer of that model.
It’s not really a sauer and the Merkel r15 is not really a Merkel, same for the Mauser m18. It’s roughly Tikka quality and the name doesn’t make it any more of a bargain.
 
I would go with the Zastava if forced to choose between those two... but for myself, I learned long ago, if I am not happy with the platform, I won't stick with the cartridge... personally, I would wait and buy something that you are excited to own and shoot that is available in 9.3X62. My 2 coppers....
 
Go swedish! Hva, stiga,carl gustav, etc. Or even english . Bsa , Parker Hale,midland,etc. They're cheap and fantastic. Zastava is decent for the price though.
 
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The OP is about a choice Zastava vs HVA. I never owned a HVA. I own a Zasatava and am quite happy with it. It shoots 210, 232 and 285 grains at less than 1 moa. Some powders were mentioned earlier. I only use H4895 for all weights in PPU and Lapua brass. Fed 210 primers.
 
You say that like you’re getting a huge bargain on the quality because of the name. I guess you are the target customer of that model.
It’s not really a sauer and the Merkel r15 is not really a Merkel, same for the Mauser m18. It’s roughly Tikka quality and the name doesn’t make it any more of a bargain.

For $999 the Sauer is a bargain considering the quality. Do you own one ? Shot one ? Or just talking out your arse about something you have no experience with ?
I have both tikkas and a Sauer and have hunted with both and taken game with both. In my EXPERIENCE the Sauer is nicer than the tikka and for less money. And both are a lot nicer than a zastava for not much more money.
And yes , I am the target customer of a rifle like that. Because I actually use my rifles for what they are made for , hunting. I hunt hard with my rifles and I don’t want to spend $2000+ on a rifle that I’ll take into the bush but I also don’t want to take something like a zastava into the bush that isn’t up to par. I hunt bear with my 9.3 rifle , I don’t want a zastava that has a sticky bolt and has issues with certain ammunition types and has a rear sight that can’t even be zeroed properly because it has insufficient range of adjustability . A Sauer 100 or a tikka T3 are exactly the type of rifles I want because they have more than sufficient quality and reliability without having to spend multiple thousands of dollars.
I don’t care about the name. I care about a reliable rifle that I can hunt hard with and know when the time comes it will load aim and fire sufficiently for me to take my animal.
What exactly is it you think is sad about the Sauer ? And what exactly are you comparing it to when you say it’s not a bargain?
 
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I didn’t handled a lot of zastava, but the one I had in my hand was a used 9.3x62 a friend bought from PR and I have to say I’d buy one!! I’m really not a fan of the plastic rifles, tikka, sauer etc they can shoot I know that but to me there is more thon that, and as for accuracy, 9.3x62 ain’t along range rifle by any means and unless you don’t plan on hunting with it, anywhere between 1”-2” at 100 m is good(I personally like to be in the 1” groups my self with all my rifles but it is not necessary)
 
I’ll tell you straight right here. The zastava is NOT worth $700 , not when you can get a far better rifle for a little bit more cash. Hell even go used and get a tikka T3 from the EE for the same money. I owned a zastava in 9.3x62mm. It was a canoe paddle. Shoddy fit and finish , sticky bolt , sights that couldn’t be properly zeroed , and it didn’t like to feed the more pointed bullets like the Norma Alaska.
Zastava sounds like their quality control is crap. Some say their rifle is awesome some ,like me, get a junker. Personally I’d strongly recommend you save up a few extra hundred and get a Sauer. It’ll be worth it in the long run , especially if you get a junker zastava. As far as the Husky goes well that’s a roll of the dice with the rifles from tradeex , and considering it has a cracked stock I wouldn’t even bother.
Anyway that’s advice coming straight from a person who has owned the zastava , hunted with it and got rid of it due to its downfalls. Replaced with a Sauer 100 and have never regretted that decision since. Good luck selling the zastava too if you decide you don’t want it , they don’t exactly have a sought after reputation.
Considering that your options for a new rifle in 9.3 are limited , the old adage of Buy once Cry once definitely applies.
 
I didn’t handled a lot of zastava, but the one I had in my hand was a used 9.3x62 a friend bought from PR and I have to say I’d buy one!! I’m really not a fan of the plastic rifles, tikka, sauer etc they can shoot I know that but to me there is more thon that, and as for accuracy, 9.3x62 ain’t along range rifle by any means and unless you don’t plan on hunting with it, anywhere between 1”-2” at 100 m is good(I personally like to be in the 1” groups my self with all my rifles but it is not necessary)
Both my tikka and Sauer are wood stocks. They don’t just make plastic stocks.
 
Seeing as people seem to just want to argue about #### they “think” I’ll tell you straight right here. The zastava is NOT worth $700 , not when you can get a far better rifle for a little bit more cash. Hell even go used and get a tikka T3 from the EE for the same money. I owned a zastava in 9.3x62mm. It was a canoe paddle. Shoddy fit and finish , sticky bolt , sights that couldn’t be properly zeroed , and it didn’t like to feed the more pointed bullets like the Norma Alaska.
Zastava sounds like their quality control is crap. Some say their rifle is awesome some ,like me, get a junker. Personally I’d strongly recommend you save up a few extra hundred and get a Sauer. It’ll be worth it in the long run , especially if you get a junker zastava. As far as the Husky goes well that’s a roll of the dice with the rifles from tradeex , and considering it has a cracked stock I wouldn’t even bother.
Anyway that’s advice coming straight from a person who has owned the zastava , hunted with it and got rid of it due to its downfalls. Replaced with a Sauer 100 and have never regretted that decision since. Good luck selling the zastava too if you decide you don’t want it , they don’t exactly have a sought after reputation.

9.3x62 can be a bit hard to find in a new rifle ,

You are like a dog with a bone...
 
You are like a dog with a bone...

So a guy asks for advice about a rifle. I have owned said rifle , found it to be lacking in all areas for the price , recommend him not buy that rifle and save for a better one, question the validity of advice given here from some others who appear to have little to no actual experience with said rifle. All to help him not go through the expense I did and I’m the “dog with a bone”?
This is the exact problem with this forum. It’s full of blowhards giving advice based on zero or very limited actual experience.
This is a persons money they are spending , if you don’t have relevant experience and actual knowledge of the rifles asked about then don’t influence the guy one way or another.
Personally I know how it sucks to buy something , be dissatisfied then have to go through the bull$hit of getting what you actually should have got in the first place.
So someone with experience in the exact question topic offers advice he is considered a “dog with a bone”. How many people have wasted their hard earned through poor advice in this forum ?
I’ll just shut up then and let the internet benchrest experts help this guy waste his money on a piece of $hit rifle that will no doubt let him down at the worst possible time.
Good luck OP , with advice like this forum gives you , you just can’t go wrong lololololol
One last thing , the reason I’m pushing on the Sauer is that it is pretty much the only new rifle you can get in 9.3x62 that is readily available and relatively in the same price range as the zastava. Anyway good luck with your decision, if you do go with a zastava I hope you get a good one. All the best and peace out.
 
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Its always nice to get feed back from different perspectives...thank you all for your comments.
 
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