Zastava M85 or CZ527? .223 or 7.72X39?

bssaguy said:
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.
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I bought the Ruger American Ranch in 7.62x39mm a month ago. I love that little carbine. It shoots like a dream. It eats corrosive and non-corrosive 7.62x39mm without any problem. I ordered a scope and in the meantime, just for a fun of it, I mounted a cheap NC Star red dot which I had lying around. The grouping with a no-name non-corrosive Chinese ammo was routinely around 2" (5 shots) at 100 yards. Now I mounted a scope and I'm waiting for a better weather to test the set up on my range. The synthetic stock is excellent. The one thing some people may not like is that the Ruger Ranch comes without iron sights. For me it's not a problem at all.
 
TheCoachZed said:
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.
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Had the zastava, sold it without ever firing a round, didn't like the action. Not smooth and lots of slop compared to my Sauer and steyr rifles when cycling the action.

I also have the ruger American ranch in 7.62x39 bnib unfired.

I think in the end I will end up with the CZ in their supressor ready version. Provided a Canadian retailer decides to bring them in

https://cz-usa.com/product/cz-527-american-synthetic-suppressor-ready/
 
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I have the zastava, I have no experience with the CZ, but it should be a better rifle simply due to the increased cost. I’ve only put a few hundred rounds of cheap non corrosive through my zastava, but I’ve had no issues. I’ve got a 2.5X scout set up on mine. When sighting it in over the hood of a truck I was getting around two inch groups. Since then it’s all been free hand, fast and fun shooting. Plenty accurate enough for blazing at clay pigeons, water filled beer cans, and gongs.
 
I have the CZ, 7.62x39 and have no regrets. One small point is that I don't like the rear sight. Mine is the newer version with a screwed-on rear sight, not dovetailed into a boss on the barrel like the older ones. I removed it and replaced it with a MUCH better NECG ghost ring rear mounted on the rear receiver dovetail. No comparison! It is now more accurate, easier to adjust, has a clearer sight picture, and it teams all with the fiber optic front. Worth the extra $100 or so. I used it to take a whitetail buck this morning, the Hornady SST bullet did a perfect job at about 100M.
 
I have a Zastava x39. I like it. I also have a Norinco copy of a 527 in .223. I like it too. I don't use either one much, so they will do just fine. The little Norinco will shoot, that much I can say.
 
The Zastava rimfires are probably the best rifle they make, followed closely by the M70's. The 70's can be a bit rough, but usually not too bad.
The M85's are in a league of their own, on par with Norinco for internal finish and roughness.
 
Pretty much settled on the CZ, although I see there are some options from Savage now too. Still cannae decide between 7.62x39 and .223. I think .223 is likely easier to source in smaller batches and is still priced well, and better on small game, but not great on deer or bear. Decisions decisions. The 7.62 CZs seem to never come on the EE so they must be very well liked.
 
TheCoachZed said:
Pretty much settled on the CZ, although I see there are some options from Savage now too. Still cannae decide between 7.62x39 and .223. I think .223 is likely easier to source in smaller batches and is still priced well, and better on small game, but not great on deer or bear. Decisions decisions. The 7.62 CZs seem to never come on the EE so they must be very well liked.
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I am sure the usual anti .224 centerfire for big game folks will be along to flame me but having been there and done that with both cartridges on deer and black bear I didn't find them very different in performance. Neither would be my first choice if a big bear was expected or I was unable to resist marginal shots. If shooting factory ammo only, the 7.62x39 certainly has cheaper options. I'd say for your purposes a 7.62x39 would satisfy. Or flip a coin, with heavy VLD or ELD bullets the .223 is very confidence building for developing shooting skills to longer ranges, although mag length can be a challenge, and with a suitable hunting bullet is up to the task you seek.
 
Jim870 said:
I am sure the usual anti .224 centerfire for big game folks will be along to flame me but having been there and done that with both cartridges on deer and black bear I didn't find them very different in performance. Neither would be my first choice if a big bear was expected or I was unable to resist marginal shots. If shooting factory ammo only, the 7.62x39 certainly has cheaper options. I'd say for your purposes a 7.62x39 would satisfy. Or flip a coin, with heavy VLD or ELD bullets the .223 is very confidence building for developing shooting skills to longer ranges, although mag length can be a challenge, and with a suitable hunting bullet is up to the task you seek.
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Ah, you are pretty localish to me, so you know the size of Blackies we see around here. Honestly I have other rifles Incould take out if I had to. Was just thinking of parking the herd down significantly.

From what I see in NB, if you want factory hunting ammo, .223 is USUALLY more available than 7.62, especially in varmint rounds. I daresay the American Eagle FMJ is probably a little better ammo than the ComBloc surplus sold here, too. Partizan is impossible to find these days, and is likely the only 7.62 ammo I'd want to buy for deer hunting in that caliber for CZ527, as the other made-in-America stuff is usually .308 diameter, I think.
 
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