zastava opinion

Nothing wrong with those groups that you posted while I was typing - gotta be happy with that for such a "boomer". My 9.3x62 does three shot groups into little triangles about 3/4" centre to centre to centre for the three holes - from when I checked the scope the last few times from sandbags and a bench. Plenty fine for what I would want to do with the 250 Accubonds in this one - chronograph was reading 2650-ish, but that has been some time since I checked it. I would be quite satisfied with double or triple that size, once I move on to the 286 Partitions. I am using loads published by John Barsness - Varget powder with the Accubonds - will be Big Game powder with the 286 grain bullets, I think - seems to work fine!!!

I hope there are two pictures below. First one - an FN commercial mauser, in 9.3x62 - with a Leupold M8-3X - mounting the way that I prefer. That one happens to have Weaver bases and rings - they are cheap and they are lightweight and they work - just a PITA to get that scope sitting "square" to the rifle. The Leupold 2.5x for my Zastava 458 Win Mag is even shorter, but still has the front ring behind the front lens - not around the lens.

Second one is that M8 - 2.5x Compact. Is off the rifle because I intend to replace those old-school big knob Weaver rings with some Warne lever QD rings that are here for it, somewhere.

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"old school look" - yes, for sure. I saw that on some pictures of Finn Aargaard's second M70 Winchester in 375 H&H, and also on pictures of one version of Phil Shoemaker's "Ole Ugly" in 458 Win Mag. Strong fingers and/or use of a coin allowed them to be "QD". Not like there is any hope whatsoever that I will be using a boomer like those guys did!!! Just not seeing Cape Buffalo or Kodiak bear here in West Central Manitoba!!! Although, I do read that about 1,000 km North and East (Churchill, Mb.), will see Polar Bear and occasional Grizzly.
 
Zastava made Mausers were marketed as Interarm Mk. X rifles for quite some time.
The collapse of Yugoslavia with the resulting civil war certainly disrupted things.
NATO bombing of Serbia included the Zastava factory. When production resumed, initial quality control left a lot to be desired when compared to the Mk. X pieces; the rifles looked pretty rough.
Things have improved dramatically.
 
tiriaq - thanks for that - it "connects a few dots". From PM correspondence with Phil Shoemaker, and some posts that he made on-line - his "Ole Ugly" 458 Win Mag started life as a Mark X. Like my Zastava, his did not have the barrel mounted recoil lug - it was his posts that 458 Win Mag will "break stocks", without that second lug, that caused my concern. He fabricated and installed one on his rifle - I wanted to know how he did that - will be what I plan to do, when I "get off me arse"... Pretty certain that was a posted exchange between us on the 24hourcampfire forum..
 
Potashminer said:
tiriaq - thanks for that - it "connects a few dots". From PM correspondence with Phil Shoemaker, and some posts that he made on-line - his "Ole Ugly" 458 Win Mag started life as a Mark X. Like my Zastava, his did not have the barrel mounted recoil lug - it was his posts that 458 Win Mag will "break stocks", without that second lug, that caused my concern. He fabricated and installed one on his rifle - I wanted to know how he did that - will be what I plan to do, when I "get off me arse"... Pretty certain that was a posted exchange between us on the 24hourcampfire forum..
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When Mk. X and Parker Hale (Spanish Mauser) were on the market, I preferred the Mk. Xs.

If you consider the traditional Mauser action, the recoil lug is bedded against a steel crosspiece. That does help with spreading recoil thrust. If the steel crosspiece is omitted, and the recoil lug is bedded against wood, there is the risk that the wood will break through to the magazine well. Not much wood there, and the grain direction doesn't help. And there needs to be a bit of clearance behind the tang.
I prefer a second recoil lug under the barrel, if a rifle is a heavy kicker. I have used screws and a bonding agent - sort of like a scope block. You will also see them dovetailed in, or set in a notch in the bottom of the barrel.
 
Jabol said:
so for guys whose Zastava receivers have base holes drilled off center, how did you remedy this?
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I can think of three ways? Maybe are more? Most expensive would be to have holes welded, then re-drilled & tapped straight in line, then re-heat treat (?), then re-finish - likely the most expensive way? More "red neck" that I have done - file base holes to oblong and insert screws. Also, I suppose, use two piece bases and then the windage adjustable "turn in" type rings like Redfield and Leupold brands?? Kind of depends which of the 4 holes is out of line?? So far as I know objective is to get bases solidly fastened to the receiver, with centre at top dead centre of receiver / barrel, with top plane and side plane of the bases dead straight and more or less parallel with the rifle's bore? One piece bases may or may not be a solution - I have had some that are "humped" or twisted on receiver because holes are not straight and receiver / base not ground to fit each other.
 
The mini Mauser is not a great gun imo

Doesn’t really reflect on their actual 98’s which can be tough and go as well but don’t belong on the trash heap
 
conor_90 said:
The mini Mauser is not a great gun imo

Doesn’t really reflect on their actual 98’s which can be tough and go as well but don’t belong on the trash heap
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It was the fit and finish that I didn't care for.

Every few years it seems I cave to online hype over how great something is and order it online. Unfortunately that is all it ends up being 99% of the time and I am not impressed with it. I seem to forget that my expectations are vastly different than many on this forum
 
I bought mine from Canada ammo for something around 400 bucks back in the day.

Only advantage I can see over the CZ is price and maybe magazine
 
conor_90 said:
I bought mine from Canada ammo for something around 400 bucks back in the day.

Only advantage I can see over the CZ is price and maybe magazine
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I prefer the fit and finish on the CZ, the 16" model is also more handy as is the removable magazine and the set trigger.

If we are ever allowed suppressors it is also ready for that
 
re-drilling in line - how is that done? I envision an open, threaded #6 hole - now want to move over say 1/6 of a #8 hole - won't bigger drill bit just follow that original hole? Not saying it can't be done, just I do not know how to do that?? Do they make chucking reamers or end mills to that precise tap hole size - #28, which is 0.1405"? EDIT - just found a #28 chucking reamer in Canada - $41.83 plus taxes and shipping...
 
I have owned several Zastava's over the past few years and still have a couple in the safe. The only one I was disappointed with was the mini Mauser in 7.62x39. It is not a true Mauser action (push feed). I had one with a gritty action but as described previously, working the action with a light coat of gun grease for a couple of hours in front of the TV sorted that out. They are definitely not a budget rifle as some may think. Very solid construction. All wood and steel. No plastic to be found. Bluing is exceptional . Wood leaves a little to be desired and the stamped checkering looks cheap but no worse than a lot of Remington's I've seen that have been stamped. After market stocks are available for those with discriminating taste. I've never experienced off center mounting holes but did have one rifle show up with a loose front sight. All have been accurate and have very nice adjustable triggers. I personally don't think there is any other rifle that compares for the price. If you want to spend an extra 400.00 for nicer wood and removable magazine then go for the CZ but you won't be buying a more accurate gun. I had a Tikka 6.5x55 that I sold after spending time with my Zastava in the same caliber. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Zastava and would recommend to anyone. It's too bad that we don't get the same options for these rifles as they do in Europe. What do you get these days for 700.00?
 
Not sure what the M85's go for now, $699 last I saw. $899 gets you a CZ 527 which is a far better piece.
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