Zastava .22 rifle; a bit of fun...

M

Meroh

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I figured I needed another project (need?), and I had noticed that Intersurplus had one of these little Serbian rifles with some stock damage at the back of the receiver inletting.

I have always wanted one of these rifles being the owner of one of their model 70s I bought new in 6.5 x 55, but hesitated when they were available, and then they were gone.

The damage is typical of these and the CZ455 due to the way they are bedded. No recoil lug, so when the rifle is dropped on the butt stock, the momentum of the barrel makes it move against the inletting, and a flake of wood shears off. This is only a beech stock so I am going for a useable repair rather than a show room restoration. If I find a stock for one of these (also a Remington 5, CZ99 etc). i will replace this one. I have the big flake fixed, now just the sliver along the left side is the next step.

It is shootable, now so I feel compelled to take it to the range and try it out; I can fix the sliver next week.

The metal work is as nice as my model 6.5, and nicer than anything I have seen sold recently. The wood to metal fit was nicer then the Walnut on the 6.5.
Action is very smooth, and I set up the trigger, which was easy done, and is now much better.

Anyone have and still using one of these?

What are your experiences?

Happy shooting,

MarkIMG_1751.jpgIMG_1752.jpgIMG_1751.jpgIMG_1752.jpgIMG_1753.jpgIMG_1754.jpgIMG_1755.jpg
 
wheelin_ca said:
I have one, its accurate and looks quality.. Mine has trouble with the last round of the magazine, and likes to shave the bullet.

replacement mags are hard to find and expensive
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I have read elsewhere that Mossberg pinkster mags will work, but need a bit of modification.
 
Jay said:
Please do report back if you get it to work!
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Well Jay, that was easy; see photo.

Interestingly, the heel of the follower prevents the bolt from closing after the last shot. Not a bad feature if you are target shooting. I read that some will chamfer the heel as well, but I like it this way. If fits slightly tighter than the original and does not drop free, but still inserts easily and is easy to pull out. I will be picking up a couple more when I get the chance. Canadian Tire only had 1 in stock. I also touched up the bare metal with E-Doat touch up marker.
Screenshot 2025-06-21 181931.jpg
 
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I used to have a rem model 5 ‘rebranded by Remington’ shot plenty accurate and was loads of fun. Only difference I can see is the threaded barrel.
 
Meroh said:
Well Jay, that was easy; see photo.

Interestingly, the heel of the follower prevents the bolt from closing after the last shot. Not a bad feature if you are target shooting. I read that some will chamfer the heel as well, but I like it this way. If fits slightly tighter than the original and does not drop free, but still inserts easily and is easy to pull out. I will be picking up a couple more when I get the chance. Canadian Tire only had 1 in stock. I also touched up the bare metal with E-Doat touch up marker.
View attachment 970788
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Update...

Mag fits fine but the follower needs to be reworked to tip the nose of the bullets up a bit; they won't feed as is. Original 5 shot fed perfectly, and the rifle ejected everything fired. Only shot a hand full of groups with it, with my 452 and my cousins Scorpio, way easier to shoot with the scorpio and it's diopter sights, but the Zastava and the 452 with their factory sights are quite comparable, however, I do prefer the 452 sights. Both the 452 and the Zostava have similar tight chambers. Shot well with TAC 22 and CCI Std. Vel, and surprisingly, also with Remington Golden Bullets. I like it.
 
I had two of these. One in 22LR and the other in 22 WMR. Extremely accurate but the LR did not like certain ammo. It preferred the cheap Federal Challenger’s.
 
444shooter said:
I had two of these. One in 22LR and the other in 22 WMR. Extremely accurate but the LR did not like certain ammo. It preferred the cheap Federal Challenger’s.
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Some guns are very picky. I was at the range with my cousin yesterday, he brought his older Winchester 9422 in perfect condition. I don't think his Grandfather ever shot it much. He had CCI Mini-mag HPs. Not a single one would extract after firing. Seriously, not one. I gave him a box of Tac-22 and the problem was gone. I was running Tac-22 is my High Standard Sharp Shooter pistol, and I had issues with extraction. CCI SV and Federal Automatch, ran fine.
 
Meroh said:
Update...

Mag fits fine but the follower needs to be reworked to tip the nose of the bullets up a bit; they won't feed as is. Original 5 shot fed perfectly, and the rifle ejected everything fired. Only shot a hand full of groups with it, with my 452 and my cousins Scorpio, way easier to shoot with the scorpio and it's diopter sights, but the Zastava and the 452 with their factory sights are quite comparable, however, I do prefer the 452 sights. Both the 452 and the Zostava have similar tight chambers. Shot well with TAC 22 and CCI Std. Vel, and surprisingly, also with Remington Golden Bullets. I like it.
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I have got the Plinkster mag running, it feels just a bit stickier, so I need to determine where it is tight and then follow up with some polishing.
 
Nice little project. I need to find something to play with! I had one of those a number of years ago. Barrel was not threaded and it shot very well. I ended up selling it for some silly reason.

The trigger on it literally broke on half. Waited over a year before finally getting a replacement.
 
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