The other 7.62x39 bolt gun

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sappyg

sappyg

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Zastava m85

I've been fascinated with the idea of a handy light weight bolt gun chambered in 7.62x39 for quite some time. Up until recently I thought the only option was from CZ.

Enter the Zastava M85 mini Mauser. While in Cabela's last weekend I spied 5 or 6 very plan looking short bolt guns. The stocks were unfinished but with excellent wood grain. Inletting was not perfect but the metal work and blueing looked well done. I liked the price at $450 but they all were in 223/556... Or so I thought. Just next to the Zastava 22lrs was a lone M85 in 7.62x39..... SOLD!

OTB the action is a bit wobbly and stiff. Feeding from the 4 round was very rough but has loosened up from repeated cycling. Charging the mag takes a little getting use to. They don't call this the mini Mauser for nothing. The loading port is small but poking those fat 7.62s in there is no major issue. I did manage to bind up the mag at the range today which is easily cleared through the steel floor plate. Break out the cleaning rod because there will be some shipping goo in the bore and bolt.

While I had the stock off to apply linseed oil I discovered that the trigger is adjustable for weight, slack and over travel! Hell yeah... Things are getting better all the time. Still have some adjustments to make.

Today was the first trip to the range. Open sights at 25 yards.
 

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Meh... For some reason I can only post one attachment at a time. Sorry.... Here's an 8 shot group at 25 yards. Elbows awkwardly resting on a bench.

Recoil is next to nothing even though this is a very light weight little carbine.
 

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M85 extractor is weak and hard to find replacement, watch out especially if you wish to shoot steel case ammo. I had one (Rem 799) and sold it when the extractor chipped only after 50 rounds.
 
Good to know there's another way to go besides the CZ 527 Carbine. Will be on the lookout for the Zastava M85.
 
Not the same gun but some years ago

I had a like new 1895 Spanish Mauser that was chambered for a cartridge very similar to the .308 which I was a little wary of so I bought a chamber insert to bring it down to the M38 cartridge. It won't accept cartridges in the magazine box and feed since they are a little smaller in diameter but it was a fun rifle to shoot singles through. Hardly any recoil and actually pretty accurate at 100 yards.
 
I have an M85 in 7.62 x 39 as well as a Ruger 77 Hawkeye Compact in same caliber. Unfortunately the Ruger is no longer made as it is superior in every way to the Zastava M85, which I also own in .223 as well. The Ruger routinely gives me less than 1" 3 shot groups at 100 yards with almost all ammo I have tried, including the steel cased cheap ammo. The M85 really struggles to get under 2" with any ammo. I typically get 4" groups with it using Wolf or Tula where I get sub 1" with the Ruger with the same ammo. The best grouping ammo that I have found thus far in the M85 that I have is S&B 123 gr SP, which groups at 1.5-1.75" with 3 shot groups at 100 yards. Given that this is a 200 yard rifle at maximum (for hunting purposes anyway) I am not too worried about it as 1.5" or 2" is sufficient for that distance. But what really concerns me about the M85 is as mentioned earlier, and that is issues with the extractor. I have had issues using both steel cased ammo as well as brass cased ammo. It will extract the fired case from the chamber but seems to lose it's grip on the rim before hitting the ejector, leaving the empty case loose in the action without properly ejecting. I sent it back to Century and it was "repaired" and sent back but it is only marginally better than before, with issues still present. BTW, I do not have any issues at all with my M85 in 223 caliber. It works superbly and that is one reason that I bought one in 7.62 x 39.

Based on the extractor issues, I would not recommend this rifle in 7.62 x 39.
 
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I like it. Drift out that rear sight and put a ghost ring sight and you've got a great compact rifle.
 
Back before the import ban on Chinese rifles (how can they be both a "most favored nation" for trade and have restrictions????) They imported a few mini Mausers of their own in 7.62x39. They also imported a very similar rifle in .22LR that looked a great deal like KKW trainer of the WWII era.

Anyone have or have experience with the 7.62x39 model?

Hey Canadians and Ozzies! Are they still available?

-kBob
 
That's good stuff jimbeaux.
I have heard of extractor issues with the mini Mauser going back to the Remington branded 799. I'm hoping I get get lucky with this. Do you think the extractor spring could be weak on your 7.62? Can you tell what CAI did to 'fix' your extractor? This one only has 40 rounds down range but extraction is excellent.

If I get 3-4" groups at 100 yards with open sights I'll be satisfied. 2" I'll be overjoyed. Not planing on scoping it anytime soon and no particular plans to fire anything other than Monarch or Tula at 100 yards or less.
 
I had the Remington 799 and the extractor broke after 50 rds,when I called about getting it fixed no replacement parts. Luckily the shop I purchased it from took it back and I ordered a CZ 527. Now I admit that I'm all that familiar with the different types of rifle actions but the 799 wasn't a mini Mauser action. I've 2 CZs and 2 Rugers and they seem to be closer to the Mauser actions I've seen than the 799/M85.
,
 
sappyg,

I think they changed out the extractor. All groups that I quoted are with a 2 x 7 power scope.
 
Hey Canadians and Ozzies! Are they still available?
Click to expand...

Those lucky Canucks can still get those Australian International M10.
For those who don't know about it, it's an SMLE based design, except scaled down to 7.62x39 and is designed to accept standard AK magazines!

If we could get them here in the USA, I'd probably chop off my own right foot to grab one.

I should add that it is POSSIBLE to get the M10 here in the USA, but because there are so few (i think they were imported for a very brief time and then banned from import or something IIRC) the prices are nuts. For that price, I can get a CZ527 and have a couple hundred left over for rings and glass. Now, if the M10 were available for $450-500 I'd bet they'd sell like mad!
 
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Rather than edit again, I figured I'd put up a new post. Just had a wacky idea. What about an Aussie M10, rebarreled for the 9x39 (7.62 soviet but necked up to use a 250gr bullet at subsonic velocity), with an integral suppressor. 30 round magazines of very quiet, very heavy bullets...
 
I've heard some issues with these rifles as well.

If you really want a 7.62x39 rifle...you could just rebarrel a Savage and consider it GTG.
 
Out of curiousity I emailed CAI the other day and asked where I could buy an extractor. Got a response back stating that they only have parts for warranty work and non are available for sale. They went on to suggest I try Apex, e sarco, rtg parts or Brownells.

Haven't checked these sources but the extractor is fine for now. If it's gonna break it will probably do it in the 1st hunert or two rounds. I'll hang at least another 40 on it tomorrow.
 
aubie515 said:
I've heard some issues with these rifles as well.

If you really want a 7.62x39 rifle...you could just rebarrel a Savage and consider it GTG.
Click to expand...
If you are lucky to find a cheap 7.62x39 Savage barrel!
 
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Those lucky Canucks can still get those Australian International M10.
For those who don't know about it, it's an SMLE based design, except scaled down to 7.62x39 and is designed to accept standard AK magazines!

If we could get them here in the USA, I'd probably chop off my own right foot to grab one.

I should add that it is POSSIBLE to get the M10 here in the USA, but because there are so few (i think they were imported for a very brief time and then banned from import or something IIRC) the prices are nuts. For that price, I can get a CZ527 and have a couple hundred left over for rings and glass. Now, if the M10 were available for $450-500 I'd bet they'd sell like mad!
April 17, 2015 04:53 AM

Is there any new information on that company, the last I had heard their website was over 3 years and and no one had anything on the
 
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