What should I do with this rifle?

[roklok]

The bolt locking extension rides in a slot in the receiver and engages the bolts "safety lug", therefore locking bolt shut on safe. On my newer .375 I had to cut the slot in the receiver to accept the safety extension. The older receivers already have this slot. The easier way to have a bolt locking safety on the newer Zastavas is to install a W70 style 3 position safety like Ontario Hunter did which is great if you like that style safety. I do not, so modified my rifle's receiver to work with the bolt locking safety. I also added a raised nub to the thumbpiece of the safety to make safety manipulation easier and more reliable in high stress situations. Pictured is the slot I cut in receiver, and the raised nub I added to thumbpiece.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

The bolt locking extension rides in a slot in the receiver and engages the bolts "safety lug", therefore locking bolt shut on safe. On my newer .375 I had to cut the slot in the receiver to accept the safety extension. The older receivers already have this slot. The easier way to have a bolt locking safety on the newer Zastavas is to install a W70 style 3 position safety like Ontario Hunter did which is great if you like that style safety. I do not, so modified my rifle's receiver to work with the bolt locking safety. I also added a raised nub to the thumbpiece of the safety to make safety manipulation easier and more reliable in high stress situations. Pictured is the slot I cut in receiver, and the raised nub I added to thumbpiece.

View attachment 656854View attachment 656855

Nice. Curious why you don't like the Model 70 style safety. The only thing I could possibly fault the 2-position side safety is they require loading and unloading the rifle with safety disengaged. Granted this should not be a big deal for an experienced operator who knows basic gun safety. My Springfield was modified to 2-position scope relief wing safety. It also requires safety disengaged to cycle the rifle. Okay if the gun is wearing a scope. Too easily disengaged if the scope is removed to hunt iron sights. I am changing to Model 70 style. Also, many of those wing style safties will disengage if the bolt handle is rattled.

 

[Russ16]

So I pulled it out and looked a little closer. It’s a nicer rofle than I remembered. Bluing is good and even. I’d say better than my nearly brand new Tikka. It doesn’t have the adjustable trigger but I didn’t fool with it the screws are covered in red loctite and I don’t have a bunch of time to fiddle with it. Magazine holds 5 and will still fit one in the chamber. And for you collectors it is a two digit serial number LOL.

Here are some pics for anyone interested.

 

[roklok]

I like it ! Nice deep blue, and if I am seeing correctly it looks like the receiver does still have the bolt lock slot even though it doesn't have a bolt locking safety. So swapping in an older safety would accomplish locking the bolt if so desired.

 

[roklok]

Nice. Curious why you don't like the Model 70 style safety. The only thing I could possibly fault the 2-position side safety is they require loading and unloading the rifle with safety disengaged. Granted this should not be a big deal for an experienced operator who knows basic gun safety. My Springfield was modified to 2-position scope relief wing safety. It also requires safety disengaged to cycle the rifle. Okay if the gun is wearing a scope. Too easily disengaged if the scope is removed to hunt iron sights. I am changing to Model 70 style. Also, many of those wing style safties will disengage if the bolt handle is rattled.

It is mostly a personal preference thing. The M70 style is a good safety, in some ways it could be argued the best. However I don't care for it because it differs from the majority of bolt rifles I hunt with, mostly older Rem 700s, a couple Tikkas, Remington 30 Express, Rem 600, and the aforementioned Rem 798 Mauser. All these have two position safeties that operate in a similar and simple forward motion. I find the side swinging M70 safety not as easy to manipulate quietly with just the thumb. I had one Winchester 70 30-06, the safety was my least favorite thing about it. To quietly release safety I had to remove firing hand from grip, and pinch safety between thumb and finger and ease it forward. If I just used thumb it would tend to loudly snap forward if my technique wasn't perfect.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

I would leave the action as is, clean the trigger and adjust it to suit your likes. A nice timber stock wouldn’t go astray. In regards to, calibre, whilst 30-06 works, I would change it to something more……interesting . A 9.3 x whatever you like, 318 WR, a 338-06, even, dare I say it…..35 whelan.
Gumpy

 

[CBH Australia]

Still a good rifle or a good donor if you are wanting to play.
It gonna cost money if you change it and you wont recover the value but if you make something for you it’s your money.
Myself, I’m a fan of the .280a.i cartridge. It looks neat and has great performance.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Still a good rifle or a good donor if you are wanting to play.
It gonna cost money if you change it and you wont recover the value but if you make something for you it’s your money.
Myself, I’m a fan of the .280a.i cartridge. It looks neat and has great performance.

I dunno. He won it in a raffle so presumably little or no money in it as is. The perfect donor action for a build project.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

It is mostly a personal preference thing. The M70 style is a good safety, in some ways it could be argued the best. However I don't care for it because it differs from the majority of bolt rifles I hunt with, mostly older Rem 700s, a couple Tikkas, Remington 30 Express, Rem 600, and the aforementioned Rem 798 Mauser. All these have two position safeties that operate in a similar and simple forward motion. I find the side swinging M70 safety not as easy to manipulate quietly with just the thumb. I had one Winchester 70 30-06, the safety was my least favorite thing about it. To quietly release safety I had to remove firing hand from grip, and pinch safety between thumb and finger and ease it forward. If I just used thumb it would tend to loudly snap forward if my technique wasn't perfect.

I just checked my 98 Mauser with Parkwest Model 70 safety. Yep, it does make noise but I'm not a treestand hunter so not a big deal. I don't have any problem disengaging the safety with just my thumb. But I have good sized hands. I recently found an outlet for left hand Model 70 bolt shroud and safety and am seriously thinking about one for my Springfield 03A3. Curiously, Winchester shroud threads onto Springfield bolt. Just requires a machinist to make a custom striker. Left hand Model 70 safety on a right hand rifle should be a nice combination. Thumb is over the top of wrist in firing position and should be able to disengage the left hand safety very easily. Right now that rifle has a left hand wing safety with cutout for thumb and it is ideal ... until the scope comes off. However, I did have to remove the knurled knob on the end of the striker.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Opinions wanted.

Cleaning out my g unsafe I ran across a gun in the back I literally forgot I had. It’s a Charles Daly by Zatava in 30-06. I won it at some raffle years ago and threw it in the safe then forgot about it. I not longer have the box but it is unfired.

I don’t know anything about these guns but it is a variant of a Mauser action. Overall the bluing is solid and it’s a nice synthetic stock. The actuon has a little wiggle in it when working the bolt—not the smoothest I’ve used but solid and locks up plenty tight.

I have no need for another 30-06. I looked a bit online, there aren’t many of them for sale but they seem to be listed at $600-700. I’d be kind of surprised if I could sell it for that when a lot more well known brands are in that price point or slightly more.

I could have it rebarreled to a caliber I’ll use more but I’m not sure that putting money into it makes sense.

Does anyone know anything about these guns? Are the actions good enough to be worth building a gun around? Any other thoughts or opinions appreciated.

@Russ16
Send it off to JES and have it re-bored to 35 Whelen and go have fun.
Bob

 

[shark_za]

I'm a Zastava fan, I love my LH 9.3x62 and will be building my dream rifle on a LH magnum action this year.
Leave the rifle as it is, give it to someone starting out in hunting.
Cant go wrong.
I helped a newbie mate win a Zastava synthetic 30-06 on an auction and he came hunting with me last time.

 

[AZDAVE]

The action would be a nice base to build from.but it needs to be a build you really want to do. You will have more dollars invested than you could get in return when selling it. The 4 rounds I would consider 338/06, 35 whelen, 9.3x62, 400whelen. If you are not committed to building and it is just a thought on a maybe idea. Just sell it or trade it form something you need. You will be $$$ ahead.

 

[19_A_CPT]

Shoot it, rebarrel, or donate to a non-profit

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I think they're great rifles
If it were me I'd go the 9.3x62 route... such a cool, capable cartridge.

Russ

@Badboymelvin
You need to use my Whelen then you will understand why I like it. May not be legal for DG but everything else is fine.
Use a Whelen and you will fall in love with it.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Why mess with the best cartridge ever? If you want a shooter, dont change that. However, I'm not a fan of synthetic stocks. Find some nice wood. Lots of options on the net. Usually several on ebay or gun auction sites. Any gunsmith can smooth the action. Didn't take much to make my Springfield and Czech Mauser.smooth as glass.

I'd like to see what you've got.

@Ontario Hunter
He's messing with a ho-hum ought six not a Whelen (the best cartridge ever made)
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I agree. But I already have 3.

Thanks for everyone. Didn’t realize how reasonable it was to have it rebored. I’ll consider that. I had been thinking of going the other way. Rebarrell to a smaller caliber. That’s what’s really missing in my armament. I don’t have much in the way of smaller calibers for targets, varmints, etc.

@Russ16
If'n y'all want to go smaller there's no flies in a 25-06. Load it with some nice 85gn ballistic tips to 3,600fps. Flattens little critters way out yonder.
Then for deer season load up some 119 gn accubond or 117gn SST to 3,000 fps and fo hunt deers for a long ways out .
Can't go past a nice 25.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

The trigger may be good in some of them but the one on this rifle is very questionable.

@Russ16
Nothing a $100 Timney wouldn't fix. As you said the rifle cost you nothing.
Try it before you sell it you just might be surprised.
Bob

 

[Ontario Hunter]

@Russ16
Nothing a $100 Timney wouldn't fix. As you said the rifle cost you nothing.
Try it before you sell it you just might be surprised.
Bob

The going rate for 98 Mauser Timney "deluxe" with side safety is about $150. Might find a used one a lot cheaper. Timney without safety can be got for around $80 but he would have to find another bolt shroud with safety (either military flag style or Model 70 or Buhler scope relief wing style). Military surplus shrouds and flag safeties are easy to find and inexpensive. Buhler safety or clone thereof are $50 to $75. But they're not a good idea for iron sights, even if optional (QD rings). 3-position Model 70 style safety runs about $200 in the white. So it would probably make more sense to go with Timney deluxe if he changes triggers. Changing to standard Timney and 3-position safety would be ~$280 vs $150 just switching to Timney deluxe. I guess the deal breaker for me would be whether Timney deluxe locks the bolt handle. If not, I'd spend the extra money for positive bolt locking Model 70 safety. The bolt did not lock properly with my Springfield's former wing safety. I can't count the times hunting I found the bolt open and cartridge lost (safety had become disengaged when bolt was rattled!)

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

The going rate for 98 Mauser Timney "deluxe" with side safety is about $150. Might find a used one a lot cheaper. Timney without safety can be got for around $80 but he would have to find another bolt shroud with safety (either military flag style or Model 70 or Buhler scope relief wing style). Military surplus shrouds and flag safeties are easy to find and inexpensive. Buhler safety or clone thereof are $50 to $75. But they're not a good idea for iron sights, even if optional (QD rings). 3-position Model 70 style safety runs about $200 in the white. So it would probably make more sense to go with Timney deluxe if he changes triggers. Changing to standard Timney and 3-position safety would be ~$280 vs $150 just switching to Timney deluxe. I guess the deal breaker for me would be whether Timney deluxe locks the bolt handle. If not, I'd spend the extra money for positive bolt locking Model 70 safety. The bolt did not lock properly with my Springfield's former wing safety. I can't count the times hunting I found the bolt open and cartridge lost (safety had become disengaged when bolt was rattled!)

@Ontario Hunter
Forgot about the safety. Only ever bought them for my Enfields so no issues. Push out pin, fit trigger, push in pin and adjust to desired weight. All my triggers are set at 2# from my 22lr to ty Whelen. Got to be consistent. Some say it's to light but when you get used to it. Crosshairs on target, slight touch on trigger
Bob

 

[Ontario Hunter]

@Ontario Hunter
Forgot about the safety. Only ever bought them for my Enfields so no issues. Push out pin, fit trigger, push in pin and adjust to desired weight. All my triggers are set at 2# from my 22lr to ty Whelen. Got to be consistent. Some say it's to light but when you get used to it. Crosshairs on target, slight touch on trigger
Bob

Switching trigger pull weights can indeed be problematic. First morning deer hunting this past season I missed a very fine buck because the trigger on my 30-06 was lighter than what I was used to. For previous twelve weeks I was wingshooting with my A5 shotgun. Like any shotgun it has a fairly crappy trigger. Who notices trigger weight shooting birds? Swing and shoot. It also didn't help that I was shooting at the buck on the run. I shot early and sent the bullet over his back.