What Would You Do?

Mosin-Marauder · September 14, 2015, 10:16 AM

Okay, imagine you're me. Paid $250 for a used Handi rifle in 300 blackout, someone offers to buy it for $300 with scope rings and some ammo. About a $20 dollar profit or something, all things considered.

Would you sell it to fund a Zastava M85 Mini Mauser in 7.62x39?

Pros of it?

-Basically the same round/ballistics as the Handi, except it's cheaper and more common.
-Wood stock and awesome looking bluing
-Iron Sights (I like to shoot with iron sights)
-20" Barrel so it's fairly handy
-Bolt action, so I would be more comfortable reloading on the bench or prone. Plus the 5 shot mag.

Any reason you wouldn't? I still might keep the Handi, but I'm not sure.

Thanks for any help and advice you can provide.

-Regards,

-Mo.

ligonierbill · September 14, 2015, 10:51 AM

I have been a "don't sell anything" guy for some time, but I recently traded one off with no regrets. I have a Handi Rifle (.44 Mag/30-30/20 ga), and while it's an interesting concept, I'll take a decent turnbolt any day. According to Hornady, you can get a little more juice from the 7.62x39 with 123 or 150 gr bullets. The Blackout, of course, was designed for short range combat using suppressed AR-style weapons. Now, if you were to put a suppressor on that HR barrel, it might be just the thing for quiet hunting. But still a substantial investment in a bargain basement rifle. Buy the Mauser, dump the HR.

DPris · September 14, 2015, 11:33 AM

Knowing that what I'd do is never what you'd do, Mo, I'd still say do the sale.
The Zastava would be an upgrade & the caliber would not be a downgrade, in the grand scheme of things.
Denis

Mosin-Marauder · September 14, 2015, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Knowing that what I'd do is never what you'd do, Mo, I'd still say do the sale.
The Zastava would be an upgrade & the caliber would not be a downgrade, in the grand scheme of things.
Denis

Well, then I probably will do the sale, haha.

Thanks Denis!

DPris · September 14, 2015, 12:34 PM

Good luck.
Denis

Mosin-Marauder · September 14, 2015, 01:02 PM

Thanks everyone!

jmr40 · September 14, 2015, 01:16 PM

Personally I have no use for that particular rifle or chambering. If I could get most of my money back I'd let it go. Someone offer me a profit and I'd sell it quick before they changed their mind.

Jim567 · September 14, 2015, 01:41 PM

See post above --- plus I am craving a Zastava!

T. O'Heir · September 14, 2015, 01:45 PM

Take it and run. There's a BNIB 16", .300 BO, Handi-rifle on hinterlandoutfitters.com right now at $227.36.

Mosin-Marauder · September 14, 2015, 03:31 PM

It will be my second rifle from Zastava, as my M24/47 was made there to some extent.

DPris · September 14, 2015, 04:45 PM

Don't expect it to be made by the same guy....

Denis

Mosin-Marauder · September 14, 2015, 05:02 PM

Dang it, didn't think about that one! Lol

DPris · September 14, 2015, 07:34 PM

Yeah, unfortunately Zastava's experienced a helluva turnover rate since both 1924 & 1947.

Denis

Mobuck · September 15, 2015, 07:41 PM

FYI
The Zastava "mini Mauser" doesn't particularly like el-cheapo ammo(at least mine doesn't). Unless you plan to buy Hornady or one of the expensive brass cased brands or load all your ammo, don't expect stellar accuracy. It's not great at best BTW. Good enough for deer hunting within the range limitations of the 7.62x39 but that's all.
Feeding is rough and hitchy and trigger action could stand a lot of improvement. Mine has been shot about 50 times so maybe I need to wait a while before giving such dismal reports but so far, I'm not impressed.

Unlicensed Dremel · September 16, 2015, 11:15 AM

Sell and upgrade yes. I quit doing centerfire single shot break actions when a stuck shell messed up a hunting day.

WV_gunner · September 18, 2015, 05:57 AM

I've never shot a .300 Blackout but I say keep the New England. A single shot is all that's needed to hunt with. They are short and light compared to most guns. Reloading is about as quick as rechambering most guns. As long as there's nothing wrong with it and you can get ammo for it then keep it.

FrankenMauser · September 18, 2015, 09:32 AM

Sell it.

precision_shooter · September 18, 2015, 09:57 AM

I say sell it and up your budget (save a while) to get the CZ 527 in x39. Better all around rifle than the zastava. My dad had a zastava in x39, but I much prefer my CZ.
The CZ was made to shoot cheap steel cased ammo and shoots it almost as well as the brass cased ammo!
I'm not bashing the zastava, as I'm sure many people have them and like them just fine and it's perfectly serviceable. If you compare it side by side with the 527, It's not near the same quality.

Scorch · September 18, 2015, 02:19 PM

Congratulation on dumping the H&R at a profit. The Mini-Mauser is not exactly a deluxe item, but it is better than a single-shot any day. Couple of future upgrades for the Mini-Mauser:
* Timney makes a trigger for them, much nicer than the factory trigger.
* Better bases and rings will improve look and feel of scope mounting.

And yes, they are kind of rough, but get better with use or polishing. I just sacrificed a Mini-Mauser in 223 to make a 7mmBR bolt rifle (my answer to needing a hunting rifle for my 8-year old son).

September 14, 2015, 10:16 AM	#1
Mosin-Marauder Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2014 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,320	What Would You Do? Okay, imagine you're me. Paid $250 for a used Handi rifle in 300 blackout, someone offers to buy it for $300 with scope rings and some ammo. About a $20 dollar profit or something, all things considered. Would you sell it to fund a Zastava M85 Mini Mauser in 7.62x39? Pros of it? -Basically the same round/ballistics as the Handi, except it's cheaper and more common. -Wood stock and awesome looking bluing -Iron Sights (I like to shoot with iron sights) -20" Barrel so it's fairly handy -Bolt action, so I would be more comfortable reloading on the bench or prone. Plus the 5 shot mag. Any reason you wouldn't? I still might keep the Handi, but I'm not sure. Thanks for any help and advice you can provide. -Regards, -Mo. __________________ Proud owner of three (four-ish) pieces of history! K-31, Mosin-Nagant M91/30, M24/47 Mauser, Norinco SKS. "You might as well appeal against a thunderstorm..." William Tecumseh Sherman

September 14, 2015, 01:02 PM	#6
Mosin-Marauder Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2014 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,320	Thanks everyone! __________________ Proud owner of three (four-ish) pieces of history! K-31, Mosin-Nagant M91/30, M24/47 Mauser, Norinco SKS. "You might as well appeal against a thunderstorm..." William Tecumseh Sherman

September 14, 2015, 01:45 PM	#9
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Take it and run. There's a BNIB 16", .300 BO, Handi-rifle on hinterlandoutfitters.com right now at $227.36. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

September 14, 2015, 03:31 PM	#10
Mosin-Marauder Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2014 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,320	It will be my second rifle from Zastava, as my M24/47 was made there to some extent. __________________ Proud owner of three (four-ish) pieces of history! K-31, Mosin-Nagant M91/30, M24/47 Mauser, Norinco SKS. "You might as well appeal against a thunderstorm..." William Tecumseh Sherman

September 14, 2015, 05:02 PM	#12
Mosin-Marauder Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2014 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,320	Dang it, didn't think about that one! Lol __________________ Proud owner of three (four-ish) pieces of history! K-31, Mosin-Nagant M91/30, M24/47 Mauser, Norinco SKS. "You might as well appeal against a thunderstorm..." William Tecumseh Sherman

September 14, 2015, 10:51 AM	#2
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,448	I have been a "don't sell anything" guy for some time, but I recently traded one off with no regrets. I have a Handi Rifle (.44 Mag/30-30/20 ga), and while it's an interesting concept, I'll take a decent turnbolt any day. According to Hornady, you can get a little more juice from the 7.62x39 with 123 or 150 gr bullets. The Blackout, of course, was designed for short range combat using suppressed AR-style weapons. Now, if you were to put a suppressor on that HR barrel, it might be just the thing for quiet hunting. But still a substantial investment in a bargain basement rifle. Buy the Mauser, dump the HR.

September 14, 2015, 11:33 AM	#3
DPris Member Emeritus Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 7,133	Knowing that what I'd do is never what you'd do, Mo, I'd still say do the sale. The Zastava would be an upgrade & the caliber would not be a downgrade, in the grand scheme of things. Denis

September 14, 2015, 12:34 PM	#5
DPris Member Emeritus Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 7,133	Good luck. Denis

September 14, 2015, 01:16 PM	#7
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,805	Personally I have no use for that particular rifle or chambering. If I could get most of my money back I'd let it go. Someone offer me a profit and I'd sell it quick before they changed their mind.

September 14, 2015, 01:41 PM	#8
Jim567 Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2014 Location: NE FL Posts: 656	See post above --- plus I am craving a Zastava!

September 14, 2015, 04:45 PM	#11
DPris Member Emeritus Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 7,133	Don't expect it to be made by the same guy.... Denis

September 14, 2015, 07:34 PM	#13
DPris Member Emeritus Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 7,133	Yeah, unfortunately Zastava's experienced a helluva turnover rate since both 1924 & 1947. Denis

September 15, 2015, 07:41 PM	#14
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	FYI The Zastava "mini Mauser" doesn't particularly like el-cheapo ammo(at least mine doesn't). Unless you plan to buy Hornady or one of the expensive brass cased brands or load all your ammo, don't expect stellar accuracy. It's not great at best BTW. Good enough for deer hunting within the range limitations of the 7.62x39 but that's all. Feeding is rough and hitchy and trigger action could stand a lot of improvement. Mine has been shot about 50 times so maybe I need to wait a while before giving such dismal reports but so far, I'm not impressed.

September 16, 2015, 11:15 AM	#15
Unlicensed Dremel Junior member Join Date: February 13, 2014 Location: Flathead Valley, MT Posts: 2,187	Sell and upgrade yes. I quit doing centerfire single shot break actions when a stuck shell messed up a hunting day.

September 18, 2015, 05:57 AM	#16
WV_gunner Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2011 Location: WV Posts: 938	I've never shot a .300 Blackout but I say keep the New England. A single shot is all that's needed to hunt with. They are short and light compared to most guns. Reloading is about as quick as rechambering most guns. As long as there's nothing wrong with it and you can get ammo for it then keep it.

September 18, 2015, 09:32 AM	#17
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Sell it. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

September 18, 2015, 09:57 AM	#18
precision_shooter Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 2,475	I say sell it and up your budget (save a while) to get the CZ 527 in x39. Better all around rifle than the zastava. My dad had a zastava in x39, but I much prefer my CZ. The CZ was made to shoot cheap steel cased ammo and shoots it almost as well as the brass cased ammo! I'm not bashing the zastava, as I'm sure many people have them and like them just fine and it's perfectly serviceable. If you compare it side by side with the 527, It's not near the same quality. __________________ "Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes...Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." - Thomas Jefferson, 1776

September 18, 2015, 02:19 PM	#19
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Congratulation on dumping the H&R at a profit. The Mini-Mauser is not exactly a deluxe item, but it is better than a single-shot any day. Couple of future upgrades for the Mini-Mauser: * Timney makes a trigger for them, much nicer than the factory trigger. * Better bases and rings will improve look and feel of scope mounting. And yes, they are kind of rough, but get better with use or polishing. I just sacrificed a Mini-Mauser in 223 to make a 7mmBR bolt rifle (my answer to needing a hunting rifle for my 8-year old son). __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services