Zastava rifles? Yea or nea.

I've a Zavasta in 22-250, it's not a German manufactured unit... but it functions as it should I think.
I wouldn't rave on about it, but it works.
The comb is noticeably higher so your head postions better than the way it would on a German unit... don't look like a turkey gobbler when you look through the scope.
Decent wood and good bluing, but the fitment of everything isn't there like it is on a Deutschland build unit.
 
Got a few including Rem 798's no issues fine accuracy my .275 Rigby for example -

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I have had a few, I am right handed, they are not really my thing, I don't think you can find a better value in a left hand rifle.
 
When an intererst first developed for me in the 9.3x62, aka;) '.366 Wagner', as something new to try, I went the 'inexpensive' route and ordered one in a full wood M-70 Zastava from Trade Ex. I've mentioned it in previous postsd, although they don't have the smoothnes and degree of finish many other brands on the market have, I was VERY impressed with the accuracy:d, with my handloads using the 285gr PRVI bullets. GREAT bang for the buck so I promptly ordered another of the same, but in 7x57.
 
I have had good ones and a serious lemon. I don’t understand the tendency to shout guys down who have had lemons when these threads come up, clearly it has happened to a few people. This is the nature of budget brands I guess, people seem to take personal offence if someone buys one that doesn’t work.

Generally speaking you get a lot for the price but they are a little crude and the quality control may not be stellar. I can understand why a lefty would be enthusiastic about an affordable left hand Mauser action.

I would probably buy another one if I wanted a certain caliber, but I think I would be more likely to pick up an old husqy for half the price if not. That route can come with its problems as well.

I’d certainly take my chances with Zastava over a savage, ruger American, etc

I will also say having priced out similar builds on different actions. The Zastava represents a good deal for a Mauser action with adjustable trigger, good bluing, side safety, hinged floorplate, scope friendly bolt not requiring high rings, and irons. Not to mention the full stocks. Paying for these features aftermarket to add to a non commercial Mauser would cost several zastavas
 
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I don't think no one here is trying to shut anyone down about their lemon's. Lemons exists amongst many rifle makes and models, it doesn't mean one should shy away from one. The Zastava is a diamond in the rough. Work out any issues and they'll be pretty reliable guns. The ones I still have all have free floating barrels and are bedded. They're work horses/bush guns, a rifle that you don't have to worry about using up, scratching, and running hard. For the current pricing of 695$ they're worth the money based off my experience.

In saying that if one has more money to spend I would look at Winchester m70's/Ruger Hawkeye African's/ cz 550's before buying another Zastava.
 
Fair enough, I feel like I’ve seen it in multiple Zastava threads but I could be reading into things.

Like I said I’ve owned several and I agree with you in general. They do represent a good deal, as with all good deals in the gun world there are improvements that can be done.

Not to mention, the previous availability of a bunch of euro calibers that are hard to find in new production rifles in Canada
 
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I don’t care for them. A Mauser action isn’t worth a poorly finished stock and a gritty action. Buy a Winchester model 70 if you find the need to have a crf IMO.
 
I have friends that have them and have had several myself in the past and currently own 2, my son's M85 in 7.62x39 and a stainless M70 in 7x64. I have never seen one with poorly tapped base holes but the inletting on all of the wood stocked ones I've seen has been horrible. Triggers are typically very poorly adjusted as well. With some minor work such as adjusting the trigger and bedding them they have all been excellent shooters. Many of them were excellent shooters without bedding but it has improved everyone that I did it to. If you want a stainless M98, there isn't much else out there without spending huge amounts of money.

From what I've seen and owned, a lot of the actions made for other brands such as the Mark X, Rem 798 and Charles Daly, seem to be a lot smoother and in some ways nicer machined actions. I had a Charles Daly that was very smooth and nicely machined.

My stainless is probably the poorest machined Zastava M98 I've seen by far. That being said, it operates smooth enough without binding and it feeds and ejects so smoothly you hardly notice you have a round going in or out. It will even chamber empties with zero issue, which isn't a big deal because it's not something you normally would need in a rifle but it just shows how well it feeds. I currently have it all apart to do some upgrades to it and it's definitely on my never sell list.

One thing I really do not like is their .375H&H conversions. I owned 2 and they were very crudely done and not really done the proper way. They work and are obviously plenty strong but they way they grind the lower lug away is a cheap and dirty way of opening up an M98 to handle the H&H length. Of the 2 I owned, one was ground a full .100 more than the other. Not great.

Anyway, my opinion on Zastava's in general is they are a very good value for the money as long as you can do some tinkering and have the skill to bed them if needed.
 
pounder said:
I have one in 9.3x62 overall I like the rifle shoots good , carries nice. The 2 things that I don't like are the floor plate lock up ( although it has never popped open I still tape it shut ) as the rifle is - was carried for bears I didn't want to take a chance. And I could never get it to feed round nose bullets , pointed bullets feed fine never a problem.
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it is a problem for your rifle. mine and this is the one i did all the bullet tests and she fed everything except the strange bullet shape design. we had another one that fed everything as well.
 
Had one of the mini mausers in 7.62x39 and was happy with it. It had a bit of a tight chamber. I had tried a few different types of non corrosive and anything lacquered or steel case lower end cheaper stuff seemed to be a bit tight going in and out.
Had a box of Tula soft points that shot well out of it, but just didn't end up using it that much and it eventually moved on to make room for something else.
 
medvedqc The rnd. nose ammo is - was factory Prvi from Trade x ( I bought 500 rnds yay ) I tried pushing the bullets in for a shorter OAL no luck. I pulled a bunch and reloaded pointed bullets fed like a dream. Also loaded the factory bullets to a longer OAL no luck. So I am just pulling the factory ones and loading my own as I need them.
 
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