Need Zastava Info

[jeffrefrig]

I think I posted about this back in November or so last Fall. These import surplus guns can be a slight bargain for a shooter. I paid the extra money, maybe $20-30, for the “best of ten” and wasn’t disappointed.
Anyhow, does anyone have a line on where to get a parts/maintenance manual? I tried through Classic Firearms and got a timely answer that was basically “we only sell them”. I give them cudos for a quick and honest response. Never heard back from another joint higher up the chain. I forget who it was.
So, I put the gun in a box in case of flying parts, and glad I did! It was pretty clean so all I needed to do was spray it with cleaner and give it a shot of Ballistol then reassembled.
Those screws have different-to-me heads but I filed an H2 Grace screwdriver to fit right and didn’t mess any screws up.
So as I asked I’d like mainly a source for parts and maybe some literature about parts or anything.
Thanks in advance, I may be able to share a couple pics.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Those little marks forward of the trigger guard on the frame and on the barrel near the frame are stamped somethings; probably something I wouldn't understand or care about. When I got the gun it took two thumbs to cock the hammer, or a come-along. I found a lighter spring from a kit I had and now it only takes one thumb. I'll probably run up to the range next week or so see if it has any accuracy.

 

[Alpo]

I don't know if these people would be any help, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.



https://zastavaarmsusa.com/


I know they didn't make your gun, but maybe they have knowledge of where you can get information or an owner's manual or something similar.

 

[jeffrefrig]

That's who I emailed before. I'll try again. Thanks.

 

[magnum0710]

I was just looking into these myself, I'm a sucker for a vent rib but even still I decided not to get one. I'm still going to want a Python when it's all said and done so no sense in spending the money. Anyway there are a couple that are just parts guns on gunbroker. I was looking at a gunsmith special to see if I could repair it myself and came across this.
Zastava M83s - Album on Imgur

 

[2152hq]

They must have made these for quite a while.
The OP's gun is import marked 'Serbia'
The pistol in the above video is import marked 'Yugoslavia'

Yugoslavia ceased to exist in 2003, and was renamed Serbia (& Montenegro (?) All as a result of war in that area that started in the early 90's.

That link is a good run down on dis-assembly of these revolvers.
Good clear close-up pics.

Sounds like they can use some tuning up and lube when they arrive.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I was just looking into these myself, I'm a sucker for a vent rib but even still I decided not to get one. I'm still going to want a Python when it's all said and done so no sense in spending the money. Anyway there are a couple that are just parts guns on gunbroker. I was looking at a gunsmith special to see if I could repair it myself and came across this.
Zastava M83s - Album on Imgur

This is more info from whoever that is than I hope I'll ever need! I thank you so much for finding that. I'm not on that Imgur; maybe I can think about it, or it just may be like one you can read but not participate in. I can't be the only one on this Forum that bought or is still thinking about grabbing one of these. Even if not, he had a nice pictorial of everything that was written as if he knew exactly what I ran into when all I did was remove the wood and the "side plate from heck!" I don't know why, but I listened to myself and put a decent-sized Chewy box with one of those pet floor pads down. He's right...parts went everywhere but I caught them all. Okay, except for that plunger thing in the cylinder stop spring. I used a cut-off brass furniture tack and the danged thing works.
That was a great pictorial.

They definitely need some trigger help. I think I mentioned I replaced the hammer spring on mine and it needed it! I'll shoot it and may even go lighter yet. Or it could be a geometric thing that I don't want to think about!

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

... These import surplus guns can be a slight bargain for a shooter. I paid the extra money, maybe $20-30, for the “best of ten”

Anyhow, does anyone have a line on where to get a parts/maintenance manual?

Is this just a project to practice or learn gunsmithing?

For people that buy a gun and just stick it in the nightstand. It might be okay but if you like shooting and on a tight budget a used S&W revolver is the best deal.

 

[pharmer]

I reached out to Zastava (Texas) awhile back hoping to fix a 1989 vintage "Mini Mk X" .223 bolt rifle. They were very nice but were adamant that they do not service "vintage" firearms. I sold the rifle with full disclosure of the "light strike" problem. Joe

 

[H Richard]

I'm only familiar with Zastava as in rifles. Bolt action rifles. The quality was good and shot well.

 

[jeffrefrig]

SGT ROCK 11B, that’s kinda what I sound like, reading above! What happened was I saw them on one of the gun selling sites in the surplus section. I went to a Facebook video, you know the warehouse unboxing, etc. The revolver looked interesting for the price. I think I paid everything included $400. It’s just maybe a range toy change of pace shooter just to see how it (and I) can even hit the air in front of us. I took the side cover off and some engineer had a thing for tiny springs and plungers; and the inside was clean, but I didn’t know that.
I have a good assortment of S&W & Rugers, and this gun seems to feel more like a Ruger, but that hammer pull may be more the reason to send it away.

 

[magnum0710]

This is more info from whoever that is than I hope I'll ever need! I thank you so much for finding that. I'm not on that Imgur; maybe I can think about it, or it just may be like one you can read but not participate in. I can't be the only one on this Forum that bought or is still thinking about grabbing one of these. Even if not, he had a nice pictorial of everything that was written as if he knew exactly what I ran into when all I did was remove the wood and the "side plate from heck!" I don't know why, but I listened to myself and put a decent-sized Chewy box with one of those pet floor pads down. He's right...parts went everywhere but I caught them all. Okay, except for that plunger thing in the cylinder stop spring. I used a cut-off brass furniture tack and the danged thing works.
That was a great pictorial.

They definitely need some trigger help. I think I mentioned I replaced the hammer spring on mine and it needed it! I'll shoot it and may even go lighter yet. Or it could be a geometric thing that I don't want to think about!

No problem!
After you work on a Revolver (or really any handgun) once or twice you'll find ots best to take it apart inside of a big zip lock or shopping bag. I lost the cross pin for a front sight once and after that I learned my lesson. Ordered a couple spares just in case, now I always work inside of a bag if I'm dealing with small parts or springs.

Honestly these revolvers don't seem too bad at all, I just don't really have a need for one so I passed. I'm saving to get another Ruger Speed Six so I have a spare in the event something happens to the one I carry. Now if they had a 3 inch round butt I'd probably get one for a beater since it'll be summer soon. Sure I could have the barrel cut and a gold bead put on or something but that seems like more trouble than it's worth.