Home Forums Reloading 16 Gauge Society Zastava 16Ga SxS

Got a chance to pick up a Zastave M75 SxS in 16 Ga for $250. Don't have any experience with this brand and am looking for input. Want to get back into the 16 GA game since I sold off my Belgian made Sweet Sixteen a few years back. Is the Zastava worth dropping some cash on or should I continue looking elsewhere? I am looking for a casual rig for rabbits and doves here in TX.

It all depends on whether you want just a tool, or a work of art in wood and steel. The zastava will I presume from other examples I’ve had or seen be very crude and about as attractive as a fence pole.

For the finer guns you’re looking at roughly 2k and much higher for new, but you can also find fine SxS’s used for good prices if you keep looking around.

Thanks but I'm not looking for an expensive 16 ga. Just a knock about for rabbits and doves. Not concerned with looks just with function. Anybody got any actual field experience with one?

No actual field experience with one. But I did handle one (in 12ga) at the funstore. Like George said, it handled like a fence post. Also, I couldn't get the lever to actually open the action, effectively making it a club. Be patient.
Look for a decent used gun. I'm finding decent European-made SxS guns in the $500 range - well used, yes, but perfectly serviceable for my shooting needs.You'll thank yourself later......

Kaiser Norton

European 16's are best bang for the buck but many are 2 &1/2 " chambers, if you look at one, the barrel flats will either have 65(21/2) or 70(2 3/4).

And totally not an issue. I buy Baschieri and Pellagri (B&P) 2 1/2 inch F2 Classic loads (by the case) and the #5 load kicks the snot out of our wild ND pheasants and sharptail grouse. Haven't tried them, but RST makes short loads for the 16, including bismuth.

My 1941 vintage Sauer is a sweetheart in the fields, it's short chambers are NOT a problem.... $500 off of gunbroker. Was it pristine...no. Does it kill birds? Wanna guess?

Kaiser Norton

A SXS for $250, seriously?
I can’t imagine that’s a good deal.

There is a Cabelas back east that has one for $199. That is why I started the post. Are they a sleeper for a knock about gun or are they total garbage? Thus asking for input.

I wouldn’t touch one. You mention just wanting a “knockabout” but all aesthetics aside, will it even function? SxS’s are more difficult to produce than single barrel guns, so you can imagine the effort, attention, that goes into these guns.

I would call it false economy and perhaps a waste of $199 or $250. There is an intangible to a good SxS and that is the satisfaction and enjoyment that just carrying a good gun brings.