Zastava M85 Conversion
 

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?

Why not an AR?
 

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.

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!

No Go for Semi-autos in Oz
 

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!

My mistake thought this was the M85 you were doing.
 

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.../1800/1828.htm