Who can tell me about Zastava 7.62x39mm B/A carbines

[Jason_W]

After way too much overthinking, I decided against a small bore, high speed round for the time being, opting instead for some kind of bolt action carbine chambered in something that doesn't produce murderous recoil (I have shotgun slugs for for when I need a recoil fix).

So, I walked into my favorite LGS today intending to put a Ruger 77/44 on order. Their supplies were all out of this gun.

What the did have and I couldn't resist shouldering were Zastava 7.62x39mm carbines, M85s, I believe. I liked how they shouldered and the trigger is surprisingly good. Cycling was a little rough, though.

To finally get to the point, I think I could have just as much fun with a 7.62x39mm carbine as with a 44 mag carbine. I'm guessing that with good ammo, both rounds will make deer just as dead inside 100 yards in the unlikely event that I see one. The Zastava is a good $200 less expensive than the Ruger which is money that could go towards ammo and extras.

The big question mark is the quality of the Zastava. It's imported by Century Arms and I know that they deal in both decent guns as well as pure garbage.

Anyone have experience with these rifles?

 

[bobnob]

They are a quality firearm. Two friends of mine have them, one in 7.62x39 and the other in 223.

The blueing is great, and they shoot accurately. They are both good for one inch 3 shot groups at 100y. Some would say that's nothing great for the 223 but for the 7.62 perfectly acceptable.

For the money I believe they are worth it. All steel and wood, pretty much a solid firearm that nothing is likely to break or fall off.

 

[Jason_W]

All steel and wood, pretty much a solid firearm that nothing is likely to break or fall off.

That's what I'm looking for most of all. I want something that will offer years of plinking and maybe be good for the occasional medium game at close range.

 

[bobnob]

That cartridge would be great for pigs up to probably 200 yards. Same for smaller breeds of deer. The rifles are certainly capable of accuracy to place shots to that distance. Even a bit further with some practice and patience.

I have two of the big brothers to that rifle; the Zastava M70. I can't see me ever wearing either of those things out either. Really ruggedly made.

Buy it I say. I would sooner the front locking M85 action over the rear locking 77/44 style action of the Ruger, but that is my preference. I think there is greater accuracy potential there and probably greater strength too.

 

[Jason_W]

I do like revolver round carbines for the customizable power range. A cast bullet pushed by trail boss for fun or a premium bullet pushed by Lil'gun for hunting.

I'm sure I could manufacture some very inexpensive cast bullet loads in x39mm as well. I'd just need the molds.

 

[stubbicatt]

Casting for the x39 is easy and you can make your slugs from wheelweight alloy. No need or any of that fancy linotype or anything. If you cast up 150 grain slugs, your muzzle velocity won't be fast enough to cause leading even with plain based bullets. Go for it and have fun.

 

[HankC]

Not sure about part supply availability now but parts were hard to find when I had my Rem 799 and extractor is not robust and may need one if you shoot steel case ammo. I chipped mine only after 50 rounds.

 

[Jason_W]

That is something to keep in mind. I wonder if since century is importing them, if they have spare parts.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Accuracy with the 7.62x39's has been problematic. Not due to the rifle, per-se, but compatibility of ammo to the rifles bore.

IIRCC, the rifles have a metric bore, and can run to 0.312". If you can, slug the bore before aquiring bullets to reload. If the bore is ~0.309-0.310", it'll be easy to use available bullets. You'll need .303 bullets (.311-.312") if it's larger.

An article on the 7.62 had problems with the accuracy. Except for some Lapua and reloads with larger bullets, accuracy was 3"+ at 100yds. With good ammo, about 1.5" or "average" for a production line rifle.

I've always wanted one..... good find!

 

[Jason_W]

I looked around and there are parts available in the US. Everything is sold out, of course, but at least people deal them.

The bore diameter issue would be only a minor irritation since I'm a handloader.

 

[HankC]

When I had my Rem 799, it shoots Wolf 7.62x39 4 rounds touching each other at 50 yds. I sold it for the concern on extractor and I already have couple 7.62x39 mausers built on small ring already. The extractor is not a std mauser extractor but a Sako style tinny extractor. I ordered replacement extractor from EAA which is the repair center for Rem 799 and they were low on it. I ordered 2 and they only sold me one. Numerich has it on catalog but ran out at least for 2-3 yrs now. Century should import spare parts while they are selling it.

 

[Jason_W]

Ok, money is down on the gun and a scope. I should have the small remainder paid off in a couple of weeks.

The bolt is a little rough, but I have read they smooth out a little over time. Besides, it's going to be a plinker/casual hunter and not a battle rifle.

 

[WardenWolf]

Generally speaking, anything made by Zastava is good. Even if it's a .311 bore, don't be afraid to try Western .308-diameter bullets with it if you handload. I've seen plenty of handloaders pull off some impressive feats of accuracy with Mosin Nagants using .308 bullets. The consensus seemed to be that it's not enough of a difference to affect accuracy in most circumstances.

 

[greyling22]

I have one in 223. It's a decent shooter, but I've had a terrible time smoothing the bolt, (it never gets very smooth) scoping it (have to run super high rings to clear the handle), fixing the magazine follower (it was binding badly on the 2nd round), finding an action screw from a company in serbia or wherever that changes it's importer every couple of years (friends don't let friends buy from factories without a stable importer), etc. If I had it to do all over again (and had to stay with x39) I'd get a cz. Easily worth the money. I'd also look real hard at the ruger bolt gun in 357.

 

[4sixteen]

Nice rifle. I have a Remington 799 7.62x39 which is a Zastava mini-mauser barreled action in a Remington laminate stock. Recommend keeping it clean if you are going to be feeding it surplus steel case ammo as it tends to leave lots of residue.

I didn't keep my rifle very clean and I managed to break the extractor. I retrofitted it with a more sturdy extractor from a Sako Vixen rifle. No issues.

 

[greyling22]

cute scope 4sixteen. What is it?

 

[4sixteen]

It's a Leupold Ultralight 2.5x.

 

[natman]

I have one in 223. It's a decent shooter, but I've had a terrible time smoothing the bolt, (it never gets very smooth)

I've had the same experience with my 223 Mini Mauser. I polished the heck out of the bolt, and while it got smoother it never got much lighter. I finally realized that the firing pin spring has to be just as strong as one from any other rifle, but the bolt handle is a good deal shorter. That means you're lifting the same load with a shorter lever and it's just going to be heavy.

 

[HankC]

I've had the same experience with my 223 Mini Mauser. I polished the heck out of the bolt, and while it got smoother it never got much lighter. I finally realized that the firing pin spring has to be just as strong as one from any other rifle, but the bolt handle is a good deal shorter. That means you're lifting the same load with a shorter lever and it's just going to be heavy.

Same experience here. The bolt always bind a bit but will get use to it. The small bolt knob also need to get used to, hard to cycle with scope on it.

I retrofitted it with a more sturdy extractor from a Sako Vixen rifle.

Any particular Sako extractor size? Rem 799 extractors have different ones for different calibers. The extractors are numbered. EAA shipped me wrong one the first time and I had to return it.

 

[greyling22]

I took out the firing pin spring and turned it down on a belt sander. Helped a lot, but it's still nowhere near as smooth as a lot of guns. I flattened the knob, heated and bent the handle down, then polished the whole thing to a mirror because I didn't have a hot blue tank available. It shoots, and it's pretty, but I have hour and hours and hours in this thing and it's probably not a good as a cz, as accurate as a savage, or as slick as a cz. I have too much invested in it to let it go, but I wouldn't do it again.

 

[Jason_W]

I'm certainly looking forward to giving mine a try.

I'm very interesting in working up some good, pleasant shooting cast bullet loads for it.

 

[greyling22]

that's the spirit! shoot it and enjoy. It should have an adjustable trigger in it that can be set to be quite nice.

 

[whetrock]

I've always wanted a CZ 527 in 7.62*39, as a brush rifle, with that being said it looks as if they don't care to import any more of them, or the dealers don't care to stock them, CRF, a mini mauser of a sort, and everything. I know the Zastava is just a push feed, but it looks like a decent value, I especially like the mannlicher stock. I'm trying hard not to purchase one of these in favor of holding out for a 527, but I'm growing impatient. I have a Zastava M70A 9MM pistol, and am favorably impressed with the quality, given the price. Blueing is first rate, and very deep/glossy.