Best work rifle option?

Jeffrey · Apr 28, 2019

Made the right choice

Rob404 · Apr 28, 2019

As soon as you receive it pull it down and clean it, My 7-08 needed a good cleaning, I took some fine grit paper to the stock to soothe it out and gave it a few coats of Tru-Oil

MISportsman · Apr 30, 2019

If I were to buy a gun for the soul purpose of being a."working gun" it would be a ruger american in .30-06. Not flashy or expensive, but reliable and accurate. The biggest downfall is the stock which you want to change. Just my opinion, your choices are both very good as well

bruce moulds · Apr 30, 2019

what does this work rifle have to do?
bruce.

kayaker · May 5, 2019

You made the right choice.

I have shot .308's in the Zastava and out of the box Rem SPS. Also shot other Zastava chamberings (in SA and Canada) and other Rems over the years ( most recently a very disappointing .30-06 CDL that's a 3MOA rifle at its best).

My friends first hunting rifle was a Zastava fullstock .308 and with my 150gr handloads shot consistent sub MOA groups. Its only flaw was the heavy grease they use in the firing pin raceway. At extreme cold temps in Alberta (-20 deg C) the grease would slow the pin down enough that most shots were FTF, cleaning solved that. My friend in SA has an early model Zastava .30-06 with the set trigger - also a very accurate and functional rifle.

Zastava's are a little 'rough' buts that's really minor.

Ridgewalker · May 5, 2019

I believe you made a good choice. I have owned several Remington 700s and they all shot exceptionally accurate! My major, MAJOR dislike is the bolt doesn’t lock closed with a round in the chamber! Example of why I hate this: I was antelope hunting a while back. Stalking a smaller buck when suddenly a fine one came out of the gulley I was in. Threw the gun to my shoulder only to find the bolt open and no cartridge in the bore! Happened on a doe another time. I hate that about the newer ones!
I have two older ones and the 30-06 is this way, but the 222 Rem locks closed. Ugh!

I’ve only owned a Mark X action in 257 Roberts of which I wish I had never sold, but I needed money for my college tuition and it was the easiest to get cash for in 1967.

Please let us know how your new rifle shoots when you get the chance! Again I think you made a wise decision for a “working” rifle. Enjoy!

Mike Van Horn · May 5, 2019

I recently purchased a Zastava in 375H&H. So far very accurate with three different bullet weights shooting in the same group at 50 yards iron sights. It has the double set triggers

JPbowhunter · May 5, 2019

To me all rifles should be working rifles, the idea of a safe queen makes no sense.

If you can afford a fancy rifle and not use it you either have too much money or you're spending it on the wrong things!

CBH Australia · May 6, 2019

I hope the Zastava goes well. I think the price dictates the decision but it’s all relevant.
I’m sure it will smooth up with some use and most new rifles shoot well within reason.
Enjoy

Alexandro Faria · May 7, 2019

Rob404 said:
As soon as you receive it pull it down and clean it, My 7-08 needed a good cleaning, I took some fine grit paper to the stock to soothe it out and gave it a few coats of Tru-OilView attachment 280420

Very nice! I'm going to pull her apart the moment I get her and give her a thorough going over. I want to give the stock a matte finish, so looking into walnut oils. The 7mm looks great, I'd be pretty chuffed with an FA like that.

Alexandro Faria · May 7, 2019

MISportsman said:
If I were to buy a gun for the soul purpose of being a."working gun" it would be a ruger american in .30-06. Not flashy or expensive, but reliable and accurate. The biggest downfall is the stock which you want to change. Just my opinion, your choices are both very good as well

Was definitely a consideration, but I wanted something we could use comfortably from the get go and that stock is just horrible. I actually looked at a Ruger Scout, which would have been choice #1. But at more than double the price of the Zastava, I couldn't justify the purchase for a rifle that was going to spend most of it's time on the passenger seat or being pulled through thick bush.

Alexandro Faria · May 7, 2019

bruce moulds said:
what does this work rifle have to do?
bruce.

Morning Bruce,

I guess nothing too different to any other rifle, when it all comes down to it. I guess the emphasis is affordability, simplicity and reliability. The need is for something the SO and I can both use cheaply and can use on a variety of game where ammo is easily gotten hold of in the middle of nowhere and we're not too worried about wood getting scratched and so on.

The FA is going to get a bit of a hack job in that I will be putting on a suppressor and so on, I can't justify doing that to something "classic".

Essentially it's just a farm gun that will sit along side a 12g pump. Neither are pretty, both are (I predict) very effective. It's a 2 gun battery that gives me the opportunity to deal with just about everything and I REALLY like that.

However, I am aware that it all comes down to preference and is very subjective...

Alexandro Faria · May 7, 2019

Mike Van Horn said:
I recently purchased a Zastava in 375H&H. So far very accurate with three different bullet weights shooting in the same group at 50 yards iron sights. It has the double set triggers
View attachment 281673

Definitely think you need to blood that beauty of a buff or eland here in RSA. Beautiful rifle, congrats.

Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS · May 7, 2019

CZ, will never let you down!!!!
just keeps working, little like a toyota

Best work rifle option?

Best work rifle option?

Remington 700 BDL

Zastava M70

Jeffrey

Rob404

MISportsman

bruce moulds

kayaker

Ridgewalker

Mike Van Horn

JPbowhunter

CBH Australia

Alexandro Faria

Alexandro Faria

Alexandro Faria

Alexandro Faria

Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS

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