As many know, our moderator, George S has been trying to work up a deal for us southpaws to get ahold of some LH Mauser rifles. Specifically, the Zastava Mausers. For those of you who know, what should be done to those rifles assuming we can get the deal done? I've read some places where folks describe them as rougher than a cob. I'm looking at getting a 7 x 57 as the basis for a future walnut stock build using a nice Walther Mauser type repro barrel.

Thanks,

Jeff

I've had MKX, Dalys 798s that have been both smooth and rough. For the most part just some inside smoothing thanks care of it. Never had a factory barreled action that wouldn't shoot sub-moa. All would feed fine from the factory

I've found the factory trigger adjustable and can easily be smoothed for a hunting rifle. Plenty of options to replace the trigger and go to a 2 or 3 position safety. For their price they are hard to beat.

I have several Zastavas. They are definitely not as smooth out of the factory as my Remingtons or Sakos, but not much rougher than the Ruger bolt actions I have handled. They will wear in after a few hundred rounds, but you will definitely to a better outcome more quickly from some smoothing of the bolt, raceways and trigger.

I just had two of the Zastava 98's s imported by USSG come through the shop. Both were .004" off from one side of the boltface to the other. .004" in only a .473" distance is a lot.

The second, a .308, was also short chambered by .006". Truing the boltface resolved most of that. Some judicious polishing of the action resulted in smooth functioning.

when you true the boltface, Mike do you need a new barrel at that time?

Not if the chamber is short.

As long as any metal removal does not result in excess headspace then you won't NEED to adjust headspace.

The first one was a non-issue since it was in for a rebarrel anyway. The second also a non-issue since the metal removal resulted in allowing the bolt to actually close on a go gage.

Thanks, Mike. I'll be very interested to see what happens if we can get this project to fruition. I like the 7mm Mauser but the 318 WR or even the 333 Jeffery really intrigues me.