Bolt rifles

[JohnR]

I have a hankerin' for a bolt rifle. No reason, I just haven't fired one so it's another box to tick off, I guess. And since I traded my Mini 30 toward an MP15 Sporter I have a thousand rounds of 7.62x39 begging to be disposed of in some fashion.

So...

The CZ 527 is very nice, feels good in the hand, but about $200 more expensive than the Zastava/Century Arms M85. I haven't seen the Zastava in person nor can I find them online, but the reviews are ok.

I figure I can buy the rifle, shoot all the ammo, then sell the rifle once I get the Mini Mauser action out of my system. I can't think of any reason to keep it, since I have a Ruger 10/22, an M1 Garand, and the MP15 for any long range shooting needs.

[b4uqzme]

I can vouch for the CZ. You won't be disappointed.

[Bawanna]

Everybody should have at least one bolt rifle in a real caliber. I'm really still a bolt rifle guy myself.

I only have one CZ, my little 452 Trainer a 22 but you wouldn't go wrong with a CZ.

I'm really impressed with most of the Savage stuff, kindo of economy stuff but it shoots right up there with the big boys.

I doubt the mini mauser action will ever go away for you once you get bonded with one.

[JohnR]

That's what I'm afraid of, an eternal bond. The Ruger bolt guns in the lower price ranges feel kind of cheesy, they don't inspire me.

[Bawanna]

I love Ruger revolvers a lot, I'm not a big fan of their semi auto pistols.

I had a Model 77 bolt rifle which was a nice gun in 338 Win Mag, it was a nice heavy rifle that helped alot with that round.

But I'm not a big fan of many of their models, the American or whatever does not sing to me.

Many of the Remington (also not one of my favorites) and Winchesters (my all time favorites) are kind of cheesy now days too.

Lost of choices out there, only your wallet can limit your options.

[Streetkahr]

I have a hankerin' for a bolt rifle. No reason, I just haven't fired one so it's another box to tick off, I guess. And since I traded my Mini 30 toward an MP15 Sporter I have a thousand rounds of 7.62x39 begging to be disposed of in some fashion.

So...

The CZ 527 is very nice, feels good in the hand, but about $200 more expensive than the Zastava/Century Arms M85. I haven't seen the Zastava in person nor can I find them online, but the reviews are ok.

I figure I can buy the rifle, shoot all the ammo, then sell the rifle once I get the Mini Mauser action out of my system. I can't think of any reason to keep it, since I have a Ruger 10/22, an M1 Garand, and the MP15 for any long range shooting needs.

The Zastava can be had. It is tricky to find online because searches want to pull up the Century PAP M85 AK, so you have to play around with the search syntax.

They are in stock here with limited quantity for $369.95
http://www.jgsales.com/zastava-m85-2...w.-p-6938.html
Impact Guns also has them in stock but they are charging almost $427.
http://www.impactguns.com/zastava-m8...-ri1975-n.aspx

This is a better value than the CZ version, which I have thought about buying. I would prefer the set trigger on the CZ, but I am not sure it is worth up to $250 more, although I know from reviews that the CZ will shoot sub-MOA. Zastava has built Mauser rifles since about 1899, so you probably could not go wrong with one, especially at that price. I found several sites indicating that the .223 version was discontinued, so it is possible that the 7.62x39 might go away leaving only the CZ, so get one while you can. I know some guys that shoot ARs to dual for sub-MOA accuracy. One of them has a farm with a 100 yard rifle range. They do not run their rifles tactically. They are bullseye shooters, and I had considered a mini-Mauser in 7.62x39 Russian to allow me to join the fun and shoot cheap ammo. I'm thinking about it. Looks like jgsales has the best price from what I could find. Hope that helps.

Ferro Veritas, In Steel There Is Truth

[Bawanna]

http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...om-in-the-safe

B4, you still got the CZ listed in this thread, might be a good option for JohnR to consider.
I know I considered it but the money departed me before I could send it to ya. Hate it when that happens.

[JohnR]

Thanks, Street. I bookmarked that JG Sales link. I'm going to see if the LGS has one to look at before deciding.

[JohnR]

http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...om-in-the-safe

B4, you still got the CZ listed in this thread, might be a good option for JohnR to consider.
I know I considered it but the money departed me before I could send it to ya. Hate it when that happens.

That's not a bad price for the CZ, but I'm trying to get it in 7.62. If I end up keeping it, might as well use dirt cheap steel case ammo. That stuff's cheaper than 9mm.

[muggsy]

I own two Mauser Mark X rifles with Leupold Vari-X 3X9 scopes and I can tell you that it gets very boring shooting cloverleafs from the bench at 100 yards.

[JohnR]

I own two Mauser Mark X rifles with Leupold Vari-X 3X9 scopes and I can tell you that it gets very boring shooting cloverleafs from the bench at 100 yards.

Boring can be good!

[Streetkahr]

Bolt Rifles

Thanks, Street. I bookmarked that JG Sales link. I'm going to see if the LGS has one to look at before deciding.

I've never seen it, or the CZ, in any LGS. The CZ version is common online, and there are many reviews, but the Zastava looks to be a rare bird. The more I look at the pic on JG Sales, the more I like it. Looks like nice walnut and old world bluing. From the checkering pattern on the stocks, it looks like it was made for the American market. You might be able to find some reviews. I think the search syntax I used may have been, "Century mini Mauser", but you might also try. "Zastava mini Mauser". If you use, "M85" as part of the search, you will get a bunch of hits for mostly the PAP AK to weed through.

[CJB]

Ruger Gunsite Scout is my next

[Streetkahr]

Everybody should have at least one bolt rifle in a real caliber. I'm really still a bolt rifle guy myself.

I only have one CZ, my little 452 Trainer a 22 but you wouldn't go wrong with a CZ.

I'm really impressed with most of the Savage stuff, kindo of economy stuff but it shoots right up there with the big boys.

I doubt the mini mauser action will ever go away for you once you get bonded with one.

I friend of mine recently went to an estate sale. There was a sporterized Mauser that was dirty and had grimy stocks. He had a strong feeling about that rifle, and picked it up for a song. When he got it home and started cleaning, he learned it had been converted to .270, and that the action and trigger were super nice, far better then anything he had encountered. There was no rust and the bore was excellent. When he got the grime off the stocks he found very fancy checkering and wood inlay. After a bunch of research, he found out it had been built by a defunct European firm specializing in high end custom work on Mauser rifles, and that it was worth at least 5K. His source said it could be worth as much as 15K, but that he might need to value it through some place like Christie's auction. Now he won't shoot it. He just sits and polishes the stock with some kind of fancy wood oil. I saw it and almost fell down. Without a doubt the most beautiful bolt action rifle I have ever seen. Stuff like that never happens to me, but things like this happen to him all the time. Two months prior, somebody walked up to him at a gunshow and asked if he thought he could get $500 for his pistol, that had 100 rounds through it ,at that particular show. The guy opened the box and it was a pristine BHP Mark III Tactical two tone. The owner wanted to buy a used Glock 19 and only wanted $500. My friend wasted no time throwing down $500 cash. I saw two of them on Gunbroker for $1100 and $1200. I think my friend was blessed by gun toting leprechauns.

[muggsy]

Zastava provided me with the barreled Mark X actions upon which my two bolt guns were built. Check out their civilian line of rifles. Mine look like the American Style M-70s.

http://www.zastava-arms.rs/

http://www.zastava-arms.rs/en/civili...american-style