Rifle selection

[Doc25]

Hi all,
Looking for some advise on rifle selection. On a bit of a budget so no double rifles at this point.
I have access to zastava, cz and ruger. In USD the zastava is about half the price of the other two. I can swing one of the three. In Canada ruger has horrible customer service. Not sure about the other two.
I’m guessing most of my hunting would be PG but definitely want to hunt DG. This will be my one rifle for Africa (for now lol).

So what’s the seasoned veterans opinions of these rifles and why they would choose one over the other?

I appreciate and look forward to your replies.

 

[cpr0312]

What caliber are you considering? If going to eventually hunt DG I assume at least .375? I'm unfamiliar with Zastava. CZ has a pretty good reputation and lots of guys use them. Same goes for Ruger's.

 

[Rob404]

Don't be afraid of the Zastava they make a very sturdy rifle, Iv'e owned several including one in 375Caliber. They have a true mauser action. Whitworth, Remington among others have used their actions. Their actions need some smoothing out (so do CZs) and their stocks need a little TLC a little tru oil does wonders. CZs are also nice rifle again I own a few including a 404Jeff.

 

[Graham Hunter]

Good luck if you ever need parts

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

All 3 will serve you well. Personally, I would go for the CZ. In order, CZ, Ruger then Zastava.
I don't own a Zastava, but have heard decent feedback on them.

Take Care,
Marius Goosen

 

[BRICKBURN]

My first CZ 375 H&H did not require any of the headache work guys are always referring to. I wondered if they were nuts or something. The second on in 416 Rigby required a bunch of polishing in the aforementioned places everyone complained about. I got a Monday gun, oh well.
It was not that bad to deal with.
The rifles shoot very well and I have had no issues.

The 375H&H is accurate out to prairie Mule Deer ranges. It will take care of anything you appear to be interested in hunting.

You can get the CZ's for a pretty reasonable price. Plenty of folks seem to buy monster calibers and then want to be rid of them.

 

[Bullthrower338]

In the same price range as the CZ a Winchester M70 safari express can be had, contact @BRICKBURN about his dealings with irunguns for import into canada. It sounds quite painless.
I would not feel inferior with any of your three choices but I would buy them far enough ahead to work out any idiosyncrasies that they may have. Let us know what you go with!
Cheers,
Cody

 

[sierraone]

What caliber are you considering? If going to eventually hunt DG I assume at least .375? I'm unfamiliar with Zastava. CZ has a pretty good reputation and lots of guys use them. Same goes for Ruger's.

Zastava is former Yugoslavia, now Serbia, although they may have factories in other former Yugoslavia republics.

 

[Rob404]

In the same price range as the CZ a Winchester M70 safari express can be had, contact @BRICKBURN about his dealings with irunguns for import into canada. It sounds quite painless.
I would not feel inferior with any of your three choices but I would buy them far enough ahead to work out any idiosyncrasies that they may have. Let us know what you go with!
Cheers,
Cody

Very true both are in the same price range but the Winchester is smooth right out of the box and the CZ needs the action cycled for a while to get it slick.
I own or have owned a CZ an Interarms,, Zastava and a M70 all in 375HH and liked them all. You may be able to find a Whitworth Mauser used on line but the prices over the last few years have increased to the point where a CZ and Winchester would be a better choice, mysef I'll take the winchester over the both of them if a nice used one became available. I sold my Interterms/Zastava at a good price and bought the M70 but sometimes wish I had my old Zastava back

 

[CAustin]

Ruger guy myself. I have model #1 in 300 win mag, 375 H&H and 458 Lott.
M77 Compact in 308 and 7mm08
M77 Guide Gun in 416Ruger
The only problem I have had with any of them is that the 458 kicks the hell out of you.
I also hear good things about CZ rifles.

 

[Ridgewalker]

I purchased a 375 H&H as my DG. This past September I used it on a variety of sizes of game from jackal and duiker on the small size to a fine Cape buffalo on the big size. 300 grain softs and solids worked well on all. Personally any larger cartridge almost doubles shooting costs and with a PH backing you with a heavy gun, more is not needed. IMO. I, myself cannot handle anything larger nearly as well. And I like to shoot a lot. Probably have over 500 rounds through my 375 and will have another 100-200 before I go back in May 2018.
Best of luck in your decision and shoot a lot from sticks. Even using a 22LR over sticks will help a lot.

 

[Doc25]

Thanks for the info so far. I actually have a Zastava 375 here. Had just ordered it and it came with a crack between the magwell and trigger. I’m guessing this was at manufacture. While not a big issue to fix, I expect a new firearm to look new and not be in need of immediate repairs. So off it goes back to the dealer.

I will see what they do with the zastava when returned and will keep you guys posted how it works out.

The Winchester while a nice firearm is actually about $700 more (or the price of a Zastava) than the cz or ruger.

 

[Aaron N]

Look forward to seeing how you like the rifle! I keep seeing a Zastava Magnum action for sale on Tradeex, and have been debating if that’s the platform to build a 300H&H off of or not.

 

[mdwest]

I personally really like Zastavas. Great rifles for the money in my opinion.

Sounds like you got a bum one from the factory, or maybe it was damaged in shipping? That sucks..

That said, if you already own the Z-gun and your dealer is going to make things right with you, I wouldnt hesitate to use a Zastava on a DG hunt and wouldnt be looking to purchase anything else..

 

[mark-hunter]

Zastava rifles made before war (before 1991) are of good quality, and you may take them without a second thought.
New zastava rifles (made after 1991) have suffered in quality and final fit and finish. I've seen two which had misaligned
holes and threads for installation of scope mounts. Bolt might need polishing, etc.

There is also an unconfirmed story that rifles made for export are of higher quality than those made for local market (ex - Yugo market)
Those are older Zastava rifles made under interarms mark X, or Charles Daly should be of higher quality. (but those indeed, are made before 1991).

To establish the date of manufacture, in previous models there was a 4 digit number stamped on the side of receiver.
first two digit are month, and second two digits are year. For example 1088 would mean October 1988 made.

However, I am not sure if they still keep this type of marking on new models for export.
Recently zastava made synthetic stock for their m70 rifle. The stock is good.

In conclusion, if by side stamp, or by info from dealer in LGS is established that model is made before 1991 Go ahead with it. Or if it is Charles Daly, or Interarms mark X.
If date of manufacture is not certain, than you may take a better look at it, or try to test on the range if possible

Regarding CZ 550, it is now discontinued model of control feed action and with good reputation. (except that they keep in production CZ 550 in 375 HH and up)

With ruger I have no experience, and out of this 3 options, most likely I would go with Check CZ 550.

 

[Doc25]

Look forward to seeing how you like the rifle! I keep seeing a Zastava Magnum action for sale on Tradeex, and have been debating if that’s the platform to build a 300H&H off of or not.

Too bad you don’t want a win mag. For about $100 more you can get the complete rifle.

Mark-hunter thanks for that info. My guess is these are Later production. I just boxed it up for the return ride home so can’t check that out right now.

Guess we’ll see what the dealer does and decide from there.

 

[ChrisG]

I don't think you could go wrong with the Ruger or the CZ. Ruger's, in my experience anyway are solid rifles and just plain work. I have a .416 and a 6.5x55 and I haven't had any issues with either of them. I liked my 6.5x55 so much I Rigby-ized the stock a little, put nice express irons on it and a barrel band sling swivel. CZs are really well made for their price. A little polishing is not that big of a deal and if that is the worse case scenario.. I think you came out on top. No experience with a Zastava. Sorry

 

[GuttormG]

Good luck if you ever need parts

Parts for wich of them?

 

[Graham Hunter]

Parts for wich of them?

Zastava

 

[GuttormG]

The Zastava m70 is an exact copy of the FN mauser, there are enough parts available to keep them going much longer then any of us...