Zastava 7mm Mauser Rifle

[jimmyj]

Hi:
I have been considering a Rifle in 7mm Mauser caliber, thinking (?) that the recoil would be less than a .30/06 or .308.

Has anyone had experience with "Zastava" Rifles ?

Thanks,
Jimmy

 

[diyj98]

In three identical rifles, the one chambered in 7x57 would have less recoil. Zastava has built rifles for years. Assuming you're talking about the newer rifles, they've been imported by several different companies over the years. They're decent rifles for the money. Not super refined, but serviceable.

 

[brucev]

Zastava rifles are IIRC a produce of Yugoslavia. I have had several Yugoslavian produced M-98 rifles in standard 8mm Mauser caliber. Excellent in every possible respect. If any one of them had been a 7mm Mauser, I'd never have ever let it go. A good Mauser 98 action barreled and chambered in 7mm Mauser is just about ideal for anything that might ever need to be done with a rifle anywhere up to and including Alaska, the dark continent, etc. Load the rifle w/ the lighter weight 7mm bullets and you will have the perfect rifle for deer/antelope. If you decide to take on something that can bite/claw, just load that 7mm up with some of those long heavy 175 gr. round nose 7mm bullets and have at it! Those things have a tendency to penetrate straight and deep! Just what you want when the target is mean and nasty. HTH. Sincerely. bruce

 

[Valmet]

Zastava produced/produces a perfectly fine action and 7x57 is a timeless cartridge that’s been killing things for a long time- and mostly out of Mauser actions.

 

[BB57]

Zastava started making their M70 Mauser in 1970. Herters imported them for awhile.

Interarms imported them as the Mark X until the arms embargo in 1990. They also imported the Zastava M85 Mini Mauser as the Mini Mark X. By the time the embargo was lifted, Interarms was gone. The Interarms rifles were available with a tentite tipped white line spacered monte carlo stock, a mannlicher styled full stock and a more classic American style stock. In the late 1980s, Zastava switched from a floor plate release in the front of the trigger guard to a cross bolt release in the front of the trigger guard.

Remington started importing the M70 as the Remington 798, as well as the Zastava M85 as the Remington 799. Remington only imported them for about 2 years. They took a lot of heat for selling an imported rifle, which was too bad as they were very nice rifles. Remington used a laminated wood stock.

KBI started importing the M70 and M85 under their upscale Charles Daly label as the Charles Daly Mauser and Charles Daly Mini Mauser. They came with composite stocks.

After KBI folded, Century Arms International started importing them as the Zastava M70 Mauser and M85 Mini Mauser and continued to do so until January of this year.

Since January Zastava USA has been the sole importer.

----

I've owned two Mk Xs, one in .243 and the other in .308. Both were solid 1 MOA to slightly sub MOA capable rifles with very stable barrels that didn't change POI as they warmed up.

I also own two M85s, and a Rem 799. Two of them are in .22 Hornet and are half MOA capable rifles, again with very stable barrels. One of them is in .223 Rem and it struggles a bit, but I haven't shot it enough to determine if its the barrel not quite as stable, or just picky about the load.

----

The polish and blue has always been excellent on these rifles, while the stock has always been importer dependent.

Interarms also imported them as barrelled actions and in that form they were popular as a base for custom mauser rifles.

Since it is a large ring '98 Mauser, and has been imported in it's own right more or less constantly since 1970 (with the exception of the 10 year embargo), there are a lot of aftermarket stock options available from a number of stock makers.

-----

The 7x57 Mauser is a great round, somewhat overshadowed by the newer 7mm-08 Remington, which launches bullets about 100-200 fps faster. However it is still very well suited to medium sized game at reasonable ranges and if you handload, it has an excellent bullet selection.

----

Personally, I like the '98 Mauser action in a hunting rifle as it offers controlled feed. You can't short stroke it and leave a round in the chamber, and it'll feed in any position or orientation.

The 1903 Springfield, the P13, P14, P17 and M1917 Enfields, the Winchester Model 54, and the pre-64 Model 70 and the Ruger M77s were all based on the Mauser '98 action. In fact, about 1/4 of the bolt action rifles ever made have been based on the '98 Mauser action. The older M77s were not fully controlled feed, but Ruger corrected this on the M77 Mk II rifles.

 

[Bill Bates]

I'm a real fan of the Zastava M70 rifles. Of course who isn't a fan of a commercial 98 Mauser. They are all steel and walnut. They come with a great adjustable trigger or double set triggers. Most of all of the Zastavas I've had over the years were great shooters.

The metal finish is excellent but the rails can be a bit rough. With elbow grease and rubbing compound can smooth them up.

The stocks are pretty roughly finished. I think they just dunk the stocks in motor oil. With some Truoil and work you can make them look pretty nice. Some even have pretty decent walnut under that mud brown finish.

I bought a couple of 7mm-08 Zastava M70s for some grandsons. I refinished the wood and that improved the looks 110%.

I'm hoping that the new Zastava importer will import some rifles in 9.3x62mm. If they do I'm buying at least two for my grandsons. Better even still would be if they would import some of the stainless steel and synthetic stocked M70PSS.

Zastava M70

Zastava M70 and Zastava 22

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I like. Wish I'd kept my old Golden State Arms Mauser Sporter in .30-06. I also had an Interarms as spoken of here in .30-06. Bought it at a TG&Y for $159 about 1976 or 77. It had a 24" barrel, where most non-magnum chambered rifles have 22" tubes.

 

[Absalom]

The “Zastava” is the product of a Serbian/Yugoslavian manufacturing concern which has been producing Mauser actions and complete rifles first for primarily military, but then civilian uses since the late 19th century.

It’s a solidly built action that has been bought post-war by countless European riflemakers to produce their house brands of custom rifles, everything from target to the heaviest big game applications. As BB57 says, they managed to expand to America, I believe even when they were still Communist. I don’t have hard numbers to back this up, but I believe it’s more widespread than the CZ Mauser actions.

For many years I used a Zastava .30-06 action in a hunting rifle made by the German gun firm Kettner under their name. Great gun, exceptionally well-made hardware.

 

[alwslate]

There isn't going to be much difference in recoil between the .308 and the
7x57 Mauser. Ammo for the .308 will be found in a wide variety of factory
and military surplus loads and will be cheaper than the 7x57. Excellent
used rifles like the Ruger 77 MK2 with Mauser features can be found at
gun shows and shops. Ruger .308s are true short action rifles with
very strong scope mounts. Something to think about.

 

[Texas Star]

I don't think Yugoslavia exists any longer. Serbia was a component state when it did.

Are Zastava actions a little rough, compared to FN or Sako? I think they have a good rep, otherwise. Not sure how smooth they may be.
That .22 looks a winner.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Jimmy, the other day, you were telling us to "Lock up our daughters, because Jimmy is getting an electric scooter!"

IS there a pentel mount on your scooter for a bolt gun?

I would think the rifle barrel sticking out would be a hinderance turning tight corners the get in the bathroom, or around the kitchen. I would opt for a nice leather scabbard!

I do believe 7x57 will handle any wildlife native to Florida, or if you travel back to Connecticut you shouldn't have any trouble with silly laws about magazine capacity or bayonet lugs! Some countries won't allow you to hunt with Military or Former Military Cartridges. I don't think Florida or Connecticut have become completely foreign yet, so this should not be a problem, but you'll need to keep an eye on their national affiliation!

Your days in the Coast Guard, taught you to fire a rifle at pirates from the deck of a pitching ship, so I'm sure nailing tree rats from a moving scooter will be second nature to you and seem like the good old days!

My wife is only 64, but she has a weakness for real men with S&W's revolvers and Black Walnut & Blue Steel rifles! I am sure you will become very popular with the ladies there in Florida!

Ivan

 

[BAM-BAM]

Jimmy before you buy: check out CZ's offerings in their 550 or maybe 527 models. Gunshop prices are in the $600-750 range.

 

[BearBio]

I had a 7x57 Mauser=took several wild hogs.

Shooting both, I can honestly say 308 has MUCH more wecoil (I regularly shoot 348 Winchester, 45-70 Sharps &1886 Win, 45-90 1886, hunt with 300 Win mag and 338 Win Mag. Also 30-06 in an Enfield, Garand and a Enfield). A Mossberg 308 was one of the worst rifles I ever shot!

If you can find it, Norma used to make an Alaskan Special 175 gr round-nosed steel jacket for bears in 7 x57. Have ONE in my collection=haven't seen any since.

 

[Patrick L]

My Interarms MK X .30-06 carbine may very well go in the casket with me, I love it that much.

 

[Erich]

I was amazed at the fine quality of the Zastava M48 8mm that I bought about twenty years ago. Put a good trigger on it and good apertures up top, and am just delighted to own the gun.



That 7x57 is a good caliber - I came mighty close to buying that for my main caliber but wound up going with the 6.5 Swede instead. Use it in good health, amigo.

 

[shocker]

Locally, the 7 mm/308 has eclipsed the 308 in popularity just because it has less perceived recoil while being more than powerful enough for deer/black bear. While I admire the Mauser 98 type action my Ruger M70 has, for a bolt hunting rifle I'm just getting a Ruger American or equivalent.

 

[beagleye]

7x57 is a real winner. In my experience it is easier on the shoulder than 308, but if you get hotter loads, it's the same. The deer won't know the difference, even with watered down american loads, 7x57 is still a wicked killer. I like 175 grain loads, always leave a big gaping exit wound.

7x57 in a Zastava Mauser action, that's a classic package.

 

[walnutred]

I had a Mark X in 375 H&H for several years. If they can make a 375 that holds together I have no doubt they can put together a good 7x57. One of my favorite all purpose rifles was a 7x57 Ackley Improved. My rifle had a 28" barrel and with bullets in the 100-150 gn range I could come within 100 fps or so of 7nn Remington mag with 10% less powder.

 

[Igiveup]

I have a Ruger .308 bought new in 1972. I have shot a lot of game with it, but the recoil is sharper than a Mauser 7x57 I built on a Brazilian military action. I have wacked a couple of 400 lb. hogs with it and it worked quite well with the 175 gr. bullet. Zastava rifles are good. Had a .223 bought in the early eighties and later a Remington 798 in .243. Both great rifles.

 

[mrchuck]

My favorite deer cartridge.
I bought a Venezuelan Military one,7x57, and made it into my personal deer getter.
Put my Remington model 700 in 7 mag, in the closet for good.