help identifiying my rifle

[eisenberg316]

hey yall! new to this forum and trying to find out what model of rifle i just bought today. when i bought the rifle all the tag said was 22-250 CZ Custom. The dealer said he didn't know anything about it and that he was selling it for a friend. the barrel has no markings except for the caliber. the receiver is stamped on the right side with serial# 45 034 and at the end of the serial# there is another stamp with either a J or 1 inside of a circle. there is another stamped symbol on the left hand side of the receiver but i cant make out what it is. im gonna try to post some pics for yall. thanks guys. i have always loved Mauser actions and this rifle is in excellent condition and couldn't pass it up.

 http://imageshack.us/a/img209/2010/dscf0146q.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img826/7623/dscf0135z.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img685/957/dscf0129ii.jpg
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/6835/dscf0137.JPG

[ZG47]

It looks more like a postwar sporting Zastava action to me. Was it made without the thumb cut or has a piece of metal been welded in? Also, does it have the full mauser collar to control escaping gases or the post-1948 FN commercial machining as seen on the later Zastavas?

Read  Bolt action Rifles by de Haas if you have trouble understanding my questions.

[eisenberg316]

ZG it definitely doesn't have the cut out or a welded piece to replace it. i am not sure about the collar your speaking of but the bolt does have to slits in it where the firing pin can be seen through them. sorry im not more knowledgeable. pics posted

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/1168/dscf0156g.jpg

[ZG47]

eisenberg316
The bolt has the standard oval gas escape holes, therefore came from a factory making military actions. The receiver serial number is in the right place for a Zastava sporter made for Herters. The stamp on the left receiver ring does not show up clearly but is most likely ZCZ inside a circle, for Zavodi Crvena Zastava. The safety button appears different from what I recall but that may not be significant. Zastava rifles and actions have been imported to the U.S.A. by Herters and Interarms.

The rifle looks nice and so long as it is safe and puts the bullets where you want them you probably know all that you need to know about this rifle.

Have fun shooting it.

[eisenberg316]

ZG, thanks for your help! i really appreciate it sir. with your knowledge i found my rifles history. Model J9 Mauser imported by Herters in 1967. heres the site i found the info on: http://books.google.com/books?id=xm2xIevYNswC&pg=PA346&lpg=PA346&dq=j9+rifles+yugoslavia&source=bl&ots=cikf5CN2wA&sig=Hcw1wWqmxkDyMdYR8V1C-kO8xdQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=m7QXUaH3IIvzqAHM-YCIBw&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=j9%20rifles%20yugoslavia&f=false

[AZ_CZ]

That is sweet!  Love the lines on the stock.  I wander into gun shops looking for gems like these. Let us know how it shoots.

[eisenberg316]

It is a sweet rifle. I'm picking up some ammo today for it and hope to get out today b4 dark to c what kind of groups it will shoot.

[eisenberg316]

Well got the scope mounted and some ammo. Went and shot it b4 dark and was cutting bullet holes at 100 yards 1.5 inches high dead center. It's one hell of a shooter. This won't b my last cz u can bet on that. Thanks for the help y'all.

[ZG47]

Well got the scope mounted and some ammo. Went and shot it b4 dark and was cutting bullet holes at 100 yards 1.5 inches high dead center. It's one hell of a shooter. This won't b my last cz u can bet on that. Thanks for the help y'all.

Good to hear about the accuracy but ... your rifle is actually a Zastava and not a CZ. Still a good rifle but from a different manufactory in a different country. Please let us know how you do with it in the field.

[eisenberg316]

so why does the stamp on the receiver look like a cz stamp? just curious if the markings changed through the years?

[ZG47]

so why does the stamp on the receiver look like a cz stamp? just curious if the markings changed through the years?

1. Intertwined initials were a  popular format for printing and stamping because the block (or rubber stamp) or metal punch was smaller and cheaper to make and less vulnerable to damage.

2. Polishing of the metal, possibly for rebluing, may have removed some of the detail on your rifle.