Zastava 7.62x39 M85?

jhedsy

jhedsy

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Anyone own one? Whats your review?

Thinking of selling some rifles and purchasing one. :rolleyes:

I'd like a CZ 527 in 7.62x39 but those seem to be near impossible to find.
 
I've had both. I now have the M85. I liked the CZ but there were several things about it I didn't like. Primarily the magazine protruding out at the balance point made carrying the rifle awkward. Because of the bolts shape the scope had to be mounted higher.
I just picked up the Zastava and had not had a chance to shoot it. I'm waiting for some ammunition. The metal work is better finished than the CZ. The action seems smoother. I like the trigger better I know some will rave about the single set on the CZ but I adjusted it to eliminate the single set and made it into a 2# trigger. I can adjust the Zastava easier and get the same or less weight. After adjusting the CZ's trigger seemed to wander in weight but the locking nuts on the Zastava will eliminate this. The wood to metal fit on the CZ was better. Neither one has a well finished stock and I had to refinish both. But I don't know how well the Zastava will shoot and that is the telling point.
BTW the CZ is a true mini mauser while the CZ is not. It appears to be a copy of the early Sako vixen.

These are just my impressions.

Neil
 
I have an M85 and love it. Getting 2" groups with surplus ammo and pretty much any hunting ammo I put through it - it's a shooter.Getting 2" groups with a hunting rifle off sandbags might not seem like much, but with the quality of surplus ammo - or the commercial ammo out there for that matter - it's a sign of just how good the barrel is. With handloads (which I couldn't be bothered with for x39), I have zero doubt it would be a 1" shooter.

As mentioned already, the adjustable trigger is a thing of wonder. I have mine set at a clean 2lbs, with no takeup, overtravel, or creep. Absolutely crisp 2 pound break.

I got the Stutzen Stock version of it, it's it's a 6lb, lightweight, easy pointing little carbine. The wood finish could have been better, but this is going to be my go to bush hunting gun, so it will get abused anyway.

So... Given how easy it is to point, and how good the trigger is, those 2" groups off bags on the bench are easily going to translate into a freezer full of meat this fall.

Also - CZ v. Zastava:

The fit and finish on the CZ are better. But the single set trigger just isn't something I'm used to. And as for detachable box mags? It's a hunting rifle. A box mag is just something else to lose. I'd rather have the internal mag on the Zastava.

The Zastava kept an extra $300 in my wallet to blow on other things. The CZ is a good rifle. It certainly isn't $300 better.

zastava_s.jpg


 
Bowie said:
More accurate, better fit and finish, smoother, nicer trigger, intergal bases, and detachable mag.
In short, I cannot think of a single thing the Zastava had which was nicer than the CZ, except price point.

Just my opinion, of course.
Click to expand...

The only thing I can disagree with here is the bit about a detachable mag. For a hunting rifle, I just don't see it as a benefit, more of a detraction, really. But that's a personal preference.

I did think long and hard before going with the M85, though. The adjustable trigger on the M85 is something a lot of people miss out on/don't realize that it's even a thing. It's fine tunable to an unbelievable degree, and you can set it exactly as you like.

And even after buying bases for it (which are dead easy to install), the Zastava cost 2/3 of what a CZ would have cost. I just couldn't justify that big a leap in price for what amounts to fairly negligible practical advantages of the CZ.

If I had unlimited money to spend on these things, would my choice have been the same? Probably not. Probably would have got a CZ.
 
I like mine so much that I am considering buying another full stock in 22-250 and trying to convince Ron Smith to make it into a 259 savage. That would be a Jewel. The only hesitation is that at my age + the time to complete it I may not be able to enjoy it when it is done.

Neil
 
I considered both and went with the CZ because it's a true mini Mauser. I don't like the detachable mag on it but since mine is just a varmint rifle, I can live with it. I wish they made the CZ with the Zastava bottom metal. That would be a perfect mini Mauser then.

Any way, both are decent quality rifles from what I've seen and heard. I don't think you could really go wrong with either.
 
It would be nice to have a bolt gun that fires the M43 round....I have literally thousands of rounds of 7.62x39 in surplus crates, all corrosive, but I always cleaned my SKS's and CZ 858's immediately after firing, and a bolt gun would be so much easier.... I only discovered the Zastava's about 6 months ago, fighting bravely the urge to get one in 6.5x55.... or a spare moose gun/bush gun in 9.3x62....I've heard these rifles are quite good, considering the prices of them....
 
I also have one of these M85. The fit wasn't perfect trying to use iron sights and had it for sale for a little while. Decided to keep it and now looking for a scope. The finish on the wood isn't the best but will do just fine for my bush gun...
 
hmm... well I've sold 2 guns and now have some cash. I already have a Mosin m38, love it to death but the Zastava caught my eye.. now to ponder on a new gun or save up for a quad. Oh' the decisions in life...
 
350tracker said:
I also have one of these M85. The fit wasn't perfect trying to use iron sights and had it for sale for a little while. Decided to keep it and now looking for a scope. The finish on the wood isn't the best but will do just fine for my bush gun...
Click to expand...

Can you elaborate a bit on your fit issues? Were you perhaps unable to get low enough to use the irons?

Thanks,
Cal.
 
350tracker said:
Yeah, that's the problem and I think using a scope will help and make just right.

If any one is interested, Ellwood Epps just listed some CZ carbine in the 7.62 x 39 and I mean more then a couple...
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On the Manlicher (Stutzen) stock, it has a significant cheek swell. It's more suited to scoping than firing with open sights.
 
I had a 85. No way you could shoot it quickly with the irons the way the stock was configured. It just did not line up when aimed without forcing it into your cheek. It also was the roughest feeding gun I ever owned. The little bolt knob was hard on the hand when attempting to shoot it smooth. Finally gave up and got a CZ. Much nicer gun but it had mag problems. Totally disgusted and out a fair bit of cash at this point I bought a good solid old SKS re furb and have not had single issue since. I wanted an iron sighted carbine in 7.62x39 for deer hunting and it seems strange but a 200.00 SKS (west rifle) was the one that worked best for me. As for accuracy all three shot well enough for my plans.

Darryl
 
350tracker said:
If any one is interested, Ellwood Epps just listed some CZ carbine in the 7.62 x 39 and I mean more then a couple...
Click to expand...

I had my eye on these for a bit, and yeah there are quite a few 527's listed on there, but the price is now over $1000 for one. That seems a bit too much money for me.
 
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