Zastava M85 or CZ527? .223 or 7.72X39?

TheCoachZed

TheCoachZed

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Southern NB, aka "Canada's Bible Belt"
I'm really hoping to buy a micro-mauser style rifle at some point this winter. I want carbine length, rugged construction, good accuracy, low recoil and iron sights. I need good metal finish, as it will see use in salt marshes.

It's basically down to the Zastava or CZ527, far as I see.

Zastava pros: typically better bluing, can be topped up/reloaded from the top of the action, no mags to lose. A rep for OK accuracy. Adjustable trigger. Decent price.
Zastava cons: a rep for poor final finishing of the action. Weak extractor.

CZ527 pros: Overall better fit-and-finish. Excellent accuracy reputation. Set trigger. Made in my ancestral homeland!
CZ527 cons: More expensive. Blueing is supposedly not as good.

Anyone who has owned both care to chip in other observations?

Anyone who's owned both in 7.62 and .223 care to say which they preferred? I am leaning towards 7.62, as NB is finally getting rid of its stupid off-season caliber restrictions, and I feel 7.62x39 is more versatile and cheaper, if buying surplus.
 
Ive shot the zastava. Most accurate 7.62x39 rifle ive ever shot. Overall the rifle was sturdy and well put together. If i had a need or want or a bolt action 7.62x39 id buy one without hesitation
 
Maybe slightly depends on what you want to shoot or will shoot with it. I have the cz 223 synthetic carbine with a NeCG peep sight and it’s super accurate
 
Howa, Savage or CZ for x39....the M85 is a pretty sloppy mess of an action. I bought 2 of them when CanAm had them on for $375 a piece. Roughest made rifle I have ever seen.
 
Zastava, used a friends, gave it back fast. Hard to close bolt,762X39. Rough action. Fire pin spring had to be replased for stronger one .NEVER for me.
HOWA 762X39 YES.
 
I've had 2 CZ 527 carbines. One in 7.62x39 and one in 223. Both were very accurate and handy little carbines. The X39 was finished slightly better than the 223 but I think that was just a one off. The only downside I found to them was that, due to the design and placement of the magazine, one handed carry was impossible. It was 2 handed or slung and that was it for ways you could carry the rifle. I absolutely love the set trigger. Tiny little groups at 100 yards were no problem with either gun. The blueing is nice and deep with a gloss finish to it. I don't really regret selling the 223 as I really had no use for it, but I wish I would have held onto the x39 one that I had. It's one of the few that I regret selling.

No experience with the zastava.
 
I have had the Zastava M85 in 7.62x39mm for nearly 4 years. I bought it from Canada Ammo fore slightly less than $550. At that time the CZ 527 was about $300 more expensive. I was looking was a relatively cheap but sturdy, smallish hunting rifle in a cheap caliber.
My M85 has a Vortex Crossfire II 6-18x44 AO on it. With that set up I get around 2MOA sometimes 2.5MOA with Barnaul, PPU and Sellier&Bellot. For me, it's adequate for hunting. I've had no problem with the bolt although in the beginning it was a bit stiff. However, the problem I encountered after 1600 shots was a breakage of the magazine spring. It seemed to be a metal fatigue. Luckily for me, I wrote to Canadian Ammo and the great people there sent me quickly a spare spring for measly $25 plus shipping. Excellent service.
To the best of my knowledge at the moment the only vendor that sells the Zastava M85 in both 7.62x39mm and .223 is Tradex. However, the price is around $670 which is too much for my taste. Personally, I wouldn't buy the M85 for that price. Having said that, the price of the CZ 527 is getting close to $1000. So go figure.
I know that the Howa is also in 7.62x39mm but I've never shot one. Although, a few you tube videos I watched about the Howa were rather positive.
 
I own the CZ in 7.62 It is a superb rifle and I will highly recommend it. That being said, from your spec.. you might want to consider the Ruger Ranch.. has the carbine length you want and the synthetic stock will likely stand up to salt/water better.
 
I have the CZ in 7.62, shoot great. It eats all ammo (I’ve never shot corrosive) and shoots to under 1.5 inch groups.... Wolf, Barnaul, reloads. It has the true mini Mauser action while the M85 is not. Factory irons are excellent but a light scope on top really makes this rifle shine. Set trigger is incredibly light.
 
Ive got the howa mini with the 22' barrel in 7.62x39, only thing they could have done better is the mag release but DIP makes one for 25$ USD awesome little rifle and a ton of fun.
 
Dorian Gray said:
I've had 2 CZ 527 carbines. One in 7.62x39 and one in 223. Both were very accurate and handy little carbines. The X39 was finished slightly better than the 223 but I think that was just a one off. The only downside I found to them was that, due to the design and placement of the magazine, one handed carry was impossible. It was 2 handed or slung and that was it for ways you could carry the rifle. I absolutely love the set trigger. Tiny little groups at 100 yards were no problem with either gun. The blueing is nice and deep with a gloss finish to it. I don't really regret selling the 223 as I really had no use for it, but I wish I would have held onto the x39 one that I had. It's one of the few that I regret selling.

No experience with the zastava.
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I carry a 527 in7.62x39 for deer, i have no trouble one handed carrying this rifle similar to a K98 or slightly slanded with one hand on the magazine. Not to meantion that even with a 2-7x35 scope the rifle only weights about 6lbs....its one of the easiest to carry guns i own. I like the rifle so much i bought a 2nd in synthetic

The Zastava looks great but is very roughly finished and i felt it wouod ve difficult to get follow up shot with the rifle. The CZ527 initially was also somewhat stiff but after aome break in the bolt moves like glass. The CZ synthetic stock 527 in 7.62x39 may be the right rifle for you.
 
I've got a cz 527 in both .223 and 7.62x39. Both are great rifles and I enjoy shooting them both. I would say though that I prefer the 7.62x39 more but that is more about the cartridge I suppose. One thing with the 7.62x39 versions is that some stocks have split or cracked. Mine cracked and I had it repaired, bedded, etc. I would suggest carefully checking any cz carbine and recommend glass bedding for piece of mind.
 
One of the first rifles I bought was thr CZ527 in x39 because ammo was cheap. Still have it and love shooting it. My friend liked it but cheaped out and bought the Zastava, everything about it is cheap. The wood looks like ####, the fit and finish wasnt that great and the action felt like it still have gravel in it after a few hundred rounds. After holding and shooting the Zastava no regrets buying the CZ, everything about it is miles better.

Edit: Ive had my CZ for a couple years and have close to 1000 rounds of corrosive through it, no cracked stock and it still looks brand new. Pretty sure they fixed the cracking stock issue years ago.
 
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