Recently I came across an absolute steal of a deal online for a rifle I'd never even heard of until I saw it. I quickly sent a message, clinched a deal, and finalized it. The rifle is mine. To fund other projects and restorations I ended up parting ways with my SKS but there was one problem- I still have a ton of ammunition! The only solution to that problem was finding another rifle that could eat 7.62x39. I've known of other rifles on the market for sometime from Ruger, CZ, and Howa- what I didn't know was that there was also a Zastava option. Zastava as far as I'm aware no longer imports due to situations elsewhere in eastern Europe, so I went for that option. So what is it?
Zastava calls it the Mini Mauser. At one point they offered this rifle in 7.62x39, .223 Remington, and a couple other options. Externally, it does appear to look like a scaled down version of their full size offerings... But there are some key differences. The safety is most certainly not a feature you'd find on most Mauser rifles, it seems to lack controlled feed, and the claw extractor is not present on the bolt itself. So is it a Mauser? Visually yes, but not really.
When I got home I quickly settled in and confirmed the function of the rifle. Thanks to my ingenuity I created some dummy rounds some time ago out of live rounds (a simple process that requires removing the primer, bullet, and powder, and then reassembling without any of the boom parts). What I found was surprising... Zastava advertises the Mini Mauser as being able to hold 5 rounds in the magazine, but realistically you can only fit 4. I also found that surplus spec ammo is actually tighter on close and cycling than commercial spec ammo, and that the chamber is more or less tailored for commercial spec, brass cased ammo. Allegedly it is still safe to fire surplus and steel case ammo through this rifle, but for now I'll be sticking to brass cases. The receiver also comes drilled and tapped for optics, which is a nice touch. Maybe I'll top it with a scope, maybe I'll feel an itch for another red dot. We'll see...
Now for the really bad impressions...
Good lord, the machining. If you could go into a time machine and see Yugo workshops cranking out rifle after rifle because Tito and Stalin had a nasty breakup, they'd probably all feel like this. For a country known for some of the best AK variants and Mausers out there, this rifle is not it. Sporting look aside, this is about as rugged, rough, and no nonsense as working a bolt gets. Working the bolt feels like you're dragging it through sand and when opened the bolt just kinda flops around; a far cry from the super smooth bolt actions of today. Allegedly this is common with Zastava rifles- after a generous lubing of the bolt you're supposed to work the bolt around 300 to 500 times to fully "break in" the action and remove any machining imperfections on the guides in the action. Is it fudd lore? Maybe, but I'll have to sit down and work the bolt a bunch to see if it helps. If not, it might be time to go to a gunsmith.
Overall, my first impressions are a little mixed. It's rough around the edges sure, but it's definitely a unique gun in a world where everyone is obsessed with the alternatives in the same caliber. Is it going to be a regular option in my lineup? Find out soon...
