Home Forums Hunting & Shooting The Lefty Forum Thoughts: Zastava M85

http://centerfiresystems.com/RI1974K-N.aspx


Thinking of getting one and using it as my backpacking brush gun and maybe close range (<100 yard/91 meter) deer rifle.

Thoughts on the rifle, hunting with a 223 or whatever?

Also if you have one of these, please tell me a little - quality, accuracy, ammo/bullets your gun likes. Also, what twist does it have? Google results speculate a 1:9.5" twist.

EDIT:

Wondering about a lightweight synthetic stock for this gun too. Like a McMillan Edge stock. Any recommendations?

Bunch of info on this on the 24 hr LH forum and Accurate Arm forum LH rifles. Search Zastava

I have a predecessor to this, the Daly Mini-Mauser, and I love it. Unfortunately, mine has a custom barrel, and a home made stock, so all I can tell you is that the action and trigger hold up their end of the shooting experience, and it's likely I'll never get rid of the gun.

Curious if they finally made a CRF bolt for it, or left it the same as the old style with the Sako extractor.

And if you buy one, and get a custom stock for it - sell me the wood one, please.

The action is very similar to a Sako 46 action, which has not been made for left handers. A nicely made strong action. Great adjustable trigger. Finish is a bit rough but can be polished up with relatively little effort. They generally shoot very well for their price.

For your application, I would be tempted to look at the 7.62x39 version rather than the 223, but the 223 with 63gr Sierra Semi Points will work too.

Wish they made it in a no-sights plain barrel version with a classic American styled stock, like the CZs.

I just have a soft spot for traditional Mausers, and I'd love to have a lefty in a scaled down version to fit the smaller cartridges.

Paul

I have a problem with light caliber rifles for big game hunting. The old law of ballistics is, weight in motion will stay in motion. Speed is one thing but you have to have weight behind it to get in where "they live" so to speak. The rifle might be a fine firearm but I would recommend a bigger caliber. Let the bashing begin.

Bash all you want, but you aren't changing my mind until I have first hand experience that changes my mind.

Kinda like trying to change an anti-gunner's mind, you know?



Not interested in joining another forum.

And in the last year (the furthest I could search) only 24 results.

6 from this very topic, 1 unanswered topic, and 16 on a third topic mostly discussing accuracy on the various caliber LH Zastavas.

Most have feeding issues, fairly accurate, and it is a neat rifle that requires some work to get them at there best.

If you want a custom stock there is a stock-maker in Idaho that has a pattern off of my LH stock, check Accurate Arms reloading LH section. Jim In Idaho did several reviews of his LH 223. Both here and on Accurate Arms reloading. Which is why I suggested checking out the other forum.

I had a LH M85 in .223 for a short time but sold it before firing it, so couldn�t answer your questions on accuracy but will give my impressions of the rifle.

It is sized just right for the .223 family of catridges.

The machining on the feed rails and in general inside the action was rough. Bolt cycling was rough and the feeding was rough. It will need to be polished quite a bit. This is not a CRF like the larger Zastava Model 70�s Mauser actions. It has a long rib that looks like a fixed extractor but it�s just a guide rib. It is a push feed with hook extractor but with a fixed blade ejector.

The stock was big and a bit unusual for American tastes but the ergonomics were very good. It has cast on for a leftie and cant and comes to the shoulder nicely. The finish and checkering were so-so.

Mine had a double set trigger and I would recommend not getting one of those. The reach to the front trigger was excessive. The single adjustable trigger on their larger rifles is very good. It can be adjusted down nicely and is very crisp. If their single adjustable trigger is the same one as on the bigger rifles that would definitely be the way to go.

Based on results from my Zastava LH M70 7X57 and reports from others a M85 should be pretty accurate.

Overall:
Needs polishing.
Stock may need work to slim it down some if you want a compact feeling rifle.
Trigger and accuracy ought to be good.
It can work out of the box but from my sample of one it is a project rifle that will need a little work to get it really right.

Jim in ID, thanks for your review. Why did you sell it before shooting it?



Alright, I'll check it out. Google doesn't find "Accurate Arms" directly. Is it accuratereloading.com/ ?

http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/frm/f/837108194

Link to LH Accurate reloading forum

Yes, www.accuratereloading.com Look in the Lefties section toward the bottom.


Bought it because when I saw them offered I thought, �Cool! A LH .223 size Mauser action. Plus I was ordering a LH 7X57 as part of that same group buy. After working with the 7X57 � slimming and refinishing the stock and polishing the action literally for over 2 hours I just didn�t want to go through that again. After deciding to sell it I left it unfired to get a better price for it.

I have a LH Kimber of OR M84 which was going to be retired and replaced by the Zastava but ultimately I ended up getting LH .223�s in a Ruger SS Hawkeye and a Tikka T3 Lite.

I have nothing against the M85 and it should make up into a nice light and handy firearm, I�ve seen some examples in pictures of the nice rifles that others have been able to make it into. But as I get older I look more and more at �plug and play� solutions that don�t need elbow grease to reach their potential.

Much obliged KK Alaska.

Jim, for a lightweight "brush" gun, would you recommend something other (in .223) than the Mauser, or is it still a good choice?

How about a M85 in 7.62 X 39 if they make them.

You might look at the CZ 527, both the Lux & the American come in LH. 1 in 12 twist, but that ought to stabilize a 60 gr Partition or 53 gr Barnes.