Printable View
Hey folks am looking at treating myself a new rifle but have limited funds and not a huge amount of knowledge on said brands.......it is a toss up between a Zastava m85 a Weatherby Vanguard and a Howa 1500 all in .223 calibre. does anyone know much about these? do they have adjustable triggers can the twist rate handle a heavier projectile etc etc.....your thoughts appreciated
Cheers Alp
i thought the howa 1500 and vangaurd were pretty much the same gunski?
"not the zastava"
Because????Quote:
Originally Posted by gimp
They're gross.
Go the howa. The vangaurds have an awefull stock and weigh more
Sent frm my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Agreed, go with the Howa. Looking at one myself in 25-06
Howa or Vanguard same diff, you'll want a better stock anyway
The only I've used was a Vanguard a few years back and we didn't get on - heavy clunky thing, floppy bolt with no half-cock, awkwardly positioned safety that IIRC was too far up and back for my thumb to reach without moving my whole hand (or maybe I just have short thumbs). Haven't fired a Howa, but was unimpressed by one in the shop when it only took mild finger pressure to push the bendy hogue stock onto the barrel.
Worth looking at the cheaper Marlin and Savage options in the same price range too IMO.
Can't go wrong with a Howa. Go 6.5x55 will be nice.
I would go with the Howa also, great gun for the money.
same here, go howa aparently its an old sako action design.
all I know is they are well made and come with a really good trigger
Stay away from the blued Weatherby/Howa's (they are the same rifle just different stock) as they rust!!! This one did this overnight, and they all do it once the bluing wears thin. I guess when they copied the Sako - they also copied the Sako's amazing ability to rust overnight as well...hahaha. The Zastava’s are made with good steel that doesn’t rust the same as the Howa.
http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_0230.jpg
If I were after a new .223 it would be the Zastava, which is basically a copy of the Sako Vixen. The Zastava is not actually mini mauser as its often called. It’s a push feed the same as the Vixen is, and you can literally put a Zastava bolt alongside a Vixen’s and if you covered the bolt handles you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.
The Zastava is also a true small action, whereas the Howa/Weatherby is a medium action...and hence its build to take .308 pressures and hence its weighs a lot more than it needs too when using it for a .223.
Only negative on the Zastava is the tiny wee bolt handle, which can have a thread turned on it and a aftermarket one put on. This would be money well spent.
Note: Not all Zastava’s are built equal and apparently back a few years ago the factory burnt down and they made them in Grease(?) for a while and these were all rubbish! They used softer steel and the throats wore out real fast. A lot of these ones had those repulsive square synthetic stocks that break in half (yuk!!!) or very plain beach stocks. If you’re looking for one, choose carefully and avoid these ones.
kj
Nothing wrong with any of them, down to personal preference really, good option would be to get a Howa barreled action and get a Boyds stock in from the states.
the zastava that I handelled had the mauser type controlled feed and a 7 shot flush floor plate.
I liked it, and even threatened to get one. as a 223 it was light. the howa not so light.
That's interesting, I wonder if there are two models? The ones I've shot have the ''apparance'' of a mauser bolt in the rear housing, but it was for looks only and they were just push fed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill999
http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/a...on/zastava.jpg
Push feed Zastava action (.223cal)
kj
I've not handled a Zastava but I have seen a few around that shoot very well. I once looked at getting a Howa but after a quick look saw that the barrel and stock werent aligned and stock was touching on one side, this could have been fixed ok but I just reached over to the next shelf and grabbed another Tikka. Not much help to you there but whatever your looking at make sure the stock fits well etc or factor in the price of a new stock to your purchase
I would say pretty much whatever 'floats your boat' the most. Get the idea that they can all shoot so best to get whatever suits your purpose and fit the best. Even the plastic stocked Zastava can shoot OK.
One from last weekend.
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps9fe6d808.jpg
Some basic ammo testing:
http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/a...vaAmmoTest.jpg
That bolt clearly has a Mauser type controlled feel extractor!Quote:
Originally Posted by kimjon
My apologies Kimjon, did a bit more research and found they are push feedsQuote:
Originally Posted by Spudattack
Attachment 3404
Just made to look like the mauser action!
hmm I wonder if I am possibly mistaken.
No big deal, we all make mistakes; that's whay they put bumpers on cars and rubbers on pencils.
kj
Go for a marlin or savage, hard to beat for the dosh.
+1 for Howa
Good to see you posting on here matt
i would be going down this road Remington Sps model 700 223 | Trade Me
This package is fantastic for the money too:
11 International Trophy Hunter - 223Rem - Sportways Gunshed
Yeah well I would proly be on here alot more mate if I could find the time to sit down and catch my ass up. went and picked up the howa again tonight and really like the feel of the hogue stock. local shop will wack a banner on her in exchange for the gunbag which I dont really need anyhow, the banner will be a step up from the stirling on it at mo but not so dear as to break the bank. the trigger once you have taken up the slack seems to let go around the 2.5 to 3 lb mark so not to bad for my liking. I still have not picked up a vanguard but this is due to me being in Oamaru and them being in Dunedin and not having any other excuse to trip down to look at one. still up in the air but will most likely go with the howa or vanguardQuote:
Originally Posted by hunter308
those howa triggers are apparently nearly match grade just adjust it to your liking it should be able to at least impress you
Trigger on the Howa is adjustable, but be careful, if you adjust it too light the safety fails to work. Maybe best to take it to Jim
Id atleast wreck something before going to see jim
I've recently been after a new 223 as well so looked at a coupe of these.
The Zatsava I handled was finished terribly. They got a good write up in the latest guns and hunting mag, but I couldn't justify spending that kind of money on a rifle that felt so cheap.
I really like the Howa's I handled. If I were you I'd go for a stainless one of them. $999 with a scope, bag etc is a pretty damn good deal. Apparently the threading for the supressor wont work on most of the nz suppressors. I am not sure if that's bollocks or not so the guy at the gun store could try to sell me a more expensive rifle :P
In the end I coughed up extra and went with a Savage model 14 classic. Bit more money, but it's worth it.
The thread work with most supressors had a dan can and a gunworks. But any competent manafacturer can thread their supressor to fit
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Gun works can whent straight on mineQuote:
Originally Posted by RimfireNZ
Its decent enough, but when you can get a Savage+Weaver combo (though not in stainless) for the same money at the moment I wouldn't be very tempted by the Howa+Nikko.Quote:
Originally Posted by RimfireNZ
Sorry but savages arent my cupa tea ive owned both and the howa has it as far as im concearned. But to be fair it was a weather warrior. The barrel nuts do nothing for me
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Just the look of it? The new ones have a smooth/streamlined barrel nut now.
finally after much deliberation have gone with the howa, locals have been real good and have swapped out nikko scope and crapass gunbag for banner scope not the flashest i know but a small step up, they have even matched gunworks trademe price of 950 so pretty happy with that.......i didnt want to risk buying a gun i couldnt feel, and then not like it.... not gonna throw a can on straight away but wanted the option.....like the whole feel of the rifle and it comes to the shoulder and eye easy.... thanks for all ur input has been great...
cheers Matt
Good choice matt sorry I could not text back yesterday I was at winz when you sent the message through about going for the howa, good that they swapped out the nikko for a bushnell banner I had one for a while and loved it.
