Zastava M85 Conversion

[aaronraad]

Considering converting Zastava M85 223 Remington to 300 Whisper. Obviously a price orientated conversion as the Zastava retails for less than $600 AUD so its a bit of a wife winner. Here is the site for those of you interested in the base rifle:

http://www.zastava-arms.co.yu/english/civilni.htm

Australian law prohibits silencers on firearms, unlike our New Zealand cousins, so I'm looking to use the firearm primarily as a low noise alternative with subsonic loads. Does anyone have some audio on the 300 Whisper firing unsilenced as a subsonic round? I still think it will be a worthwhile project for use on small hunting properties but I've been wrong before.

So does anyone have any opinions or experieces on the proposed project?

[blackwinch]

There are a number of US manufactures that make 300/221 uppers for the AR.
http://www.pac-nor.com/
http://www.olyarms.com/
http://www.model1sales.com/
http://www.ar15barrels.com/
If you can get lowers in Australia then the upper should something easier to get imported. Of course I know nothing of importing and exporting of gun parts but, you can always ask.

[Quarterbore]

I am not an expert on Aussy laws but I believe semiautos are a huge issue there! I also don'y know much about your rifle of choice but it is a slick looking bolt action!

[aaronraad]

Thanks to a couple of individuals with some metal health issues we've lost the right to own semi-automatic shotguns and rifles (centrefire and rimfire), and pump action shotguns without special permits. Basically you need to be a land owner showing need for destructive pest/extermination or physically unable to operate a firearms unless its semi-automatic. Not to mention that the anti-gun lobby in Australia is strong, which is backed by the animal welfare lobby, which is covering for the UK vegetarian society...don't get me started...we can't even hunt with handguns! I think there are even agreements in the Kyoto Protocol regarding phasing out civilian ownership of firearms if we ever sign.

Hence firearms like the Browning BLR/Dualis, Sommer-Ockenfuss Shorty, and the Remington 7600 and other lever actions and pumps have found a new found niche. So now we rely mainly on the humble bolt action, or for those of us with the extra mula a good break open double rifle for the quick follow-up shot when you come across the mob of pigs or a grumpy buffulo.

Back to the Zastava...its by no means a piece of art but they have respectfuly copied the mini-Mauser action made popular by CZ. I figure by the time I get the action tricked out, the extra I paid for a CZ would not have been realised. I guess its the same as getting a gunsmith to blue print a 700 ADL action or a 40-XB, they'll still charge you the same. I also like the internal magazine with floor plate on the Zastava as opposed to the detachable single stack on the CZ, though I do believe CZ have now released a 3 shot flush fitting version. If I had the money I'd start with a Sako 75 in 223 or a Quadlite Repeater Action from RPA (http://www.rpa-eng.com/rifles.htm). I can get my hands on brand new Remington 700 SPS rifles for about $820 AUD and the CZ is about $1000 AUD but as I said I can't see the point, and there still don't seem to be a lot of Remington's made up on the 300 Whisper. I guess 'cause everyone's lovin' there AR's!

[blackwinch]

I guess I should have clicked on your link... sorry.
Too bad CZs in the US are considerably less expensive more in the $450-$500 US. And like new used ones can be found much less...

http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/1800/1828.htm