I’m with those that suggest selling the rifle. I have owned 3, the nicest being Whitworth Interarms Mark X in .375 H&H. Sold it and the .300WM. Still have 7x64. They do not seem to be the smoothest or straightest rifles. The scope base mounting holes may not align with the barrel, the barrel bore itself may not be perfectly lined up with the bolt/action bore, etc. The Mark X was smooth but the open sights were off by easily a foot at 50m and so much so, that moving them would leave the rear sight about half way out of the base dovetail. Could have been fixed but in the end sold it to a guy who did not care as he just wanted an "African rifle" look in his collection. The .300 WM was just very rough and had the cheap plastic stock. Sold it to a guy who wanted a project. I kept the 7mm as it is a stainless action. I smoothed the action with some lapping compound and I have a scope that has enough adjustment to sight it in and the open sights on this one worked as intended. Then the front sight fell off. Don't care. I will leave it off or will solder it on.
I would not lump these into the same category as CZs as I think those are way better made. I also believe Zastava to be an H-ring not a C-ring like military or commercial Muser 98s or Brnos. CZs may be H as well. Not sure, don’t care.
But I would agree that they can be tweaked enough to provide you with very nice, functional, dependable and robust action and accurate rifle overall. Their barrels are some of the most accurate factory barrels I have seen. As good as CZs I think. Took a new .30-06 barrel, had it rechambered to .308 (my son wanted a .308) and it shoots 3/4-1 moa with factory ammo.
This is not meant as a critique or dissing of other people’s Zastavas. Not sure why we always have to even say that these days but here it is. Some were really nice and perfectly smooth and straight out of the factory I’m sure, and the above is just one example of one guy’s experiences and opinions.
In conclusion, if I were to build one, I would not try to make “high end” rifle out of it. Akin to putting lipstick on a pig. I’d keep it cheap and enjoy it that way. They are still better than many other factory rifles out there.
I would not lump these into the same category as CZs as I think those are way better made. I also believe Zastava to be an H-ring not a C-ring like military or commercial Muser 98s or Brnos. CZs may be H as well. Not sure, don’t care.
But I would agree that they can be tweaked enough to provide you with very nice, functional, dependable and robust action and accurate rifle overall. Their barrels are some of the most accurate factory barrels I have seen. As good as CZs I think. Took a new .30-06 barrel, had it rechambered to .308 (my son wanted a .308) and it shoots 3/4-1 moa with factory ammo.
This is not meant as a critique or dissing of other people’s Zastavas. Not sure why we always have to even say that these days but here it is. Some were really nice and perfectly smooth and straight out of the factory I’m sure, and the above is just one example of one guy’s experiences and opinions.
In conclusion, if I were to build one, I would not try to make “high end” rifle out of it. Akin to putting lipstick on a pig. I’d keep it cheap and enjoy it that way. They are still better than many other factory rifles out there.
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