Zastava "M85" .22 Hornet Rifle

The Zastava M85 .22 Hornet rifle offers a solid platform for a lower-end price point. The traditional looking rifle feels good to shoot however it is a bit rough when cycling the bolt and due to the high bolt throw, some optics can get in the way, so high rings are a must. Accuracy was good with the Winchester 46grain Hollow Point factory ammo and the .22 Hornet is a calibre which offers low recoil and relatively low noise for a centre fire cartridge.
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[@scottedwards9626]

The rifle arrived today and I dialed in the scope just a couple hours ago kzbin.infoUgkxQt2uORDRfFOVSrO4idv4B90ThT6EOnEL . I haven’t shot with a scope in probably 25 years. The X on the left was my target. (the shot almost in the bullseye on the right X was my father in laws first shot after I made adjustments) The two shots circled are my first 2 shots. Then I brought it down - shot once. Then brought it over to the left. From there zeroed it in to dead center. This all was from 25 yards out. Follow instructions carefully when mounting the scope. So far I'm very happy with the purchase.

[@sjt275]

My father Jack Bradey was a pro roo shooter on Woolcunder station 1962 to 1970 he used a 22 hornet built by Authur Langford of Broken Hill it was built on an SMLE MK 4 action with a Lithgow arms heavy barrel low recoil low cost and the most important thing , low noise the mob might only move 100 yards after a shot let loose with a 303 and they would be gone for the night as Dad held Regimental records for marksmanship in WW2 the small caliber was not a problem he used a 4x 40 nikko scope, the folk around the West Darling area always said that Dad was the best shot in the District but the gun might have had something to do with that

[@michaelguerin56]

In regard to the ring mount height for the Zastava Model 85 rifle … when you have a small diameter receiver you need taller rings than you would for a Winchester Model 70, Remington Model 700 or a Brno ZG 47, Brno ZKK, CZ 550, Parker Hale, Voere, etc. You need to think in terms of Rimfire/Airgun Ring-mounts. Rimfire and airgun ring-mounts are always one step higher in size (give or take 0.5mm or so) than typical centrefire ring-mounts i.e., Small Rimfire ring-mounts = Medium Centrefire ring-mounts in height; Medium = High; and High = Extra High.

[@deezeed2817]

Love this rifle. My one is chambered in 7.62x39 though, Because this gun comes with front sights i often don't bother putting a scope on it.

[@ozziereviews]

Yeah I can understand that...

[@gambekapula3761]

I love Zastava and review is really good

[@ozziereviews]

Thanks, I appreciate you watching

[@adrianotero7963]

I have a Remington 798 in 270 love it.....thinking about one in 22 Hornet.

[@WoodyedPS3]

Another quality video, Cheers Ozzie!

[@ozziereviews]

Thanks buddy!

[@OldManMontgomery]

November 2023: I do approve of the .22 Hornet. I have one, but it's a Ruger 77/22 bolt gun in .22 Hornet. I have a Zastava bolt rifle, in .22 Long Rifle and I find the fit and finish rather well. I looked on the Zastava website and the .22 Hornet is no mentioned, I have to think they've likely discontinued that rifle. Like I need another .22 Hornet rifle.

[@2clicksup910]

Just put a deposit down on one of these. It was the last one I could find anywhere in captivity. They are a nice rifle, to say the least. Hopefully get good accuracy with some hand loads. I must also admit there’s something about that “old school” look that just screams quality. And, the European gun makers have turning out quality product for years, but, unfortunately, they are not that well marketed around the place, resulting in some brands becoming something of a mystery or “something my grandfather had back in the day”. Godd review, as usual. Cheers.

[@davidinghram2494]

I have a CZ 527FS in the .22 Hornet, and a beautiful old Savage 23D. My load is a Sierra 45 grain bullet with LilGun powder.

[@jeffthomas5459]

Absolutely love the .22 Hornet and you're right, a great round to reload. I load on a Forster Co Ax using several diff heads. My best load is 12.4 grains of LilGun over CCI small pistol primers. Bullet is seated .003 off the lands of my Anschutz 1730KD. 1/4 MOA all day long @100 yds. Just beware of necks, very thin brass and easily crushed if you don't chamfer the inside neck when seating flat based bullets. With an occasional annealing I can get up to 12 loads on a case. 1 lbs of powder will give me 564 rounds.

[@ozziereviews]

You have my pick of any 22 Hornet right there - the Anschutz 1730! Doesn't surprise me with the accuracy you achieve, it's a great cartridge when the rimfire calibres just aren't enough and the 223 is too much :)

[@bmxking6582]

Jeff Thomas 12 loads a case is really good for hornet brass.

[@benelliott1938]

With a little tweaking that rifle would probably shoot a whole lot better. The "flyer" in most of those groups was immediately after the change of ammo which could have been a factor. It may have also been a cooler barrel ( but it didn't look like you gave it enough time so that may not have been it). Every Zastava I've come across has been a 3/4 inch rifle or better with tweaking and reloads. Actions are often a bit rough, triggers are easily adjusted to acceptable (or can be swapped out for a timney) and they are a very under rated rifle. I just picked up another m70 in 6.5 for just over $700.

[@ozziereviews]

Naturally with editing of videos I'm not going to let the review run while I change ammo or patch out a barrel etc...

[@EnkeiTenjin]

I find it to be a fucking joke how the comments section has literally bullied you into always clearing the rifle on film. It doesn't matter whether viewers at home see that it's clear or not. You obviously have cleared the gun. FFS.

[@ozziereviews]

I'm hearing you, there's a lot of keyboard experts out there and funny enough when they have a go at me over something, I ask them to do a video to show me hows it's done and then nothing but crickets... As for the clearing, yeah I'm just in the habit of doing it on film now...

[@j.ongman5512]

i read a big online talk about it and they say it's more Sako in nature and the CZ series is more straight forwardly Mauser

[@chiphood2966]

With the exception of the mag and mag release, it looks like a mini version of my Parker-Hale Safari Deluxe

[@magaman6353]

If I'm changing ammo type, I always clean the barrel in between, and then fire a couple of fouling shots. Particularly if the bullets are of dissimilar metal.

[@13conair]

get some hand loads thru it and you will be looking at single hole groups at 200 (thats me cz527) i found grouping with factory ammo was not so good, 35gr vmax winchester brass 12.8gr lilgun cci small pistol primer turns it into silly accurate. Good vid as always you do have a good channel :-)

[@ozziereviews]

Thank you mate, appreciate your comment.

[@exposingthedarknesswiththe9190]

. *I'm surprised the bolt has to be lifted so high; it will need higher mounts, but the bothersome issue is the results of its accuracy.* *So you know, I ended up putting my Redfield on my pellet rifle because it's not very accurate.* *However, with a Leupold varmint scope, you'll be putting bullets inside of bullet holes!* *The .22 Hornet is that accurate!*

[@AussieDazza]

Great video . Thank you Ozzie

[@ozziereviews]

You're welcome Daz, I appreciate you watching :)

[@anthonyfoster8072]

oz I found when I was shooting 22 hornt years ago Winchester and sako was the only factory amo to use

[@ozziereviews]

Yeah I really wanted to try the Hornady 35gr v-max but no-one had it unfortunately... but the Winchester did do well, so can't complain :)

[@my1956effie]

Nice review, you did well to find that much ammo, its not the easiest to get.

[@ozziereviews]

And at over $2 a shot for some of the ammo made this an expensive review!

[@jrdeckard3317]

7:16 Second shot seemed to have a lot of gas escaping past the cartridge case, through the receiver vent!

[@oncall21]

Great review Ozzie. I'm sure with the trigger adjusted down those groups would shrink a tad more. Thanks for sharing!

[@ozziereviews]

I reckon so too mate, cheers

[@mikedee6173]

You are so fortunate to have a range on your property. So jealous!

[@ozziereviews]

It's just part of some of the roads on my place, just has a nice back stop making it suitable for sighting in :)

[@mikedee6173]

+ozziereviews you're lucky to live in what we call the "country". If I want to go outdoor shooting at a decent range I have to drive 3.5 hours, and a couple of hundred miles. I live in SoCal.

[@ozziereviews]

SoCal? Well we share something similar there, it takes me a few hours to get to a good range too hence why I rarely go to them...

[@mikedee6173]

+ozziereviews SoCal = Southern California. Specifically Orange County, California. The closest decent outdoor range close to me is named 5 dogs Range in Bakersfield, California. It's fantastic, but quite the drive.

[@ozziereviews]

Ahh ok I understand now

[@pierrotgodot]

I had one of the 7.62x39 versions. Good shooting rifle, but primer strikes were light when using berdan primed ammo (just don't buy the cheapest garbage ammo and it's fine) Overall, for the price its a good looking gun that shoots ok

[@ozziereviews]

Yeah I agree, for the price it's ok

[@pierrotgodot]

notice i said "had" though =)

[@ozziereviews]

yup :)

[@MRxr400]

Nice honest review. I did notice ejection was a bit iffy. a mate has a 22 hornet and I think he's regretting it now. If you reload, no drama, however, he's having trouble getting factory ammo availability and accuracy. When we site in his anshultz 22 hornet and my 223 tikka, both cost the same, the tikka just smashes it for accuracy and ballistics and nicer trigger.

[@ozziereviews]

The Remington Accuptips that I bought in this reviews were over $2 a shot! So I feel his pain in that department...

[@oncall21]

They look like Millet rings? This would be the perfect fox rifle either to whistle up or spotlight. With a trigger job and bedding job I reckon those groups would halve. Thanks for sharing!

[@Minecraftstanley]

Great review once again. love these mini Mausers. if you could do a review cz527 that would be fantastic.

[@ozziereviews]

Yeah getting to it sometime soon :)

[@leonardvorhis9514]

Note barrel length is 20"

[@farouk5252]

Could you review the CZ 527M 22Hornet??? I have a CZ 527M 7.62x39 and it shoots. Would love to get the same rifle in 22 Hornet. Cheers mate.

[@babaybluegill3273]

great review, not a bad piece for rabbit or gopher

[@ozziereviews]

Or coyotes, foxes etc...

[@gambekapula3761]

No probs mate, keep doing this 👍

[@ShiftyBigmac]

Ive just purchased a Interarms/Zastava that was finished in England, absolute beaut rifle but funny that the rings cause the same problem with me, I dont cycle the bolt with my thumb and index, I cycle with a pinky pull and a normal palm push and it stops the rifle locking up sideways

[@Alan.livingston]

Love the tactical potato stands.

[@ozziereviews]

They work a treat ;-)

[@Frambhueee]

What's tatos precius? PO-TA-TO'S!!

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Shame it's not a proper Mauser type action. Maybe the full size version would be better.

[@seamusryan1994]

G'day ozzie ,great review ,I'm having trouble finding a dealer here in Queensland, can u put on the right track to buying one ,cheers Seamus...

[@gtgodbear6320]

I'd like to build an AR15 in .22hornet.

[@BhamJames]

Interesting video, thanks. I don't really like the clip not sitting flush against the stock, to be honest, though. Perhaps I'm just used to my Ruger 77.

[@jrdeckard3317]

In 2019, unable to find one of these for sale anywhere in USA.

[@goran77ish]

Try this. I am not from USA but seems like Zastava is importing stuff directly over there zastavaarmsusa.com/product/sporting-rifle-lk-m85/

[@danwalters9781]

action wise bolt handle close to scope very similar to my cz 22hornet stock looks like an old parker hale stock

[@ozziereviews]

Yeah it does doesn't it...

[@lockesnode1477]

Is that really a mini Mauser? I don't see the claw extractor, it looks more like a push feed. I am debating between this and Ruger's offering.

[@j.ongman5512]

i read a big online talk about it and they say it's more Sako in nature and the CZ series is more straight forwardly Mauser

[@lechefy1413]

Wonderful video and I found a new caliber aha

[@ozziereviews]

Just get into reloading because the cost of factory 22 hornet ammo is more than 223! :(

[@lechefy1413]

Yeah i was just having a look pretty expensive i think i will stay with a 9mm and 308 aha

[@ozziereviews]

Unless you reload, it's an expensive calibre to own...

[@lechefy1413]

I can't reload wear i live atm so boxed ammo for me

[@jrdeckard3317]

Good luck finding one of these in the United States.

[@alexwalsh31]

That 1st grouping you did was off because you cycled the rounds way to slowly. You were too worried about the cases going on the floor rather than the job in hand. I noticed you cycling quicker on the second grouping and hey presto a much tighter grouping. How come you were so worried about the cases going on the floor? Licensing reasons perhaps (having to account for every round fired)

[@OccamsToyota2]

14:39 most replayed LMAO

[@iraq03to04]

easy use

[@serverlan763]

For the money it's kinda rough, you might as well buy a second hand Anshultz, Weirauch or even Sako and get a much better rifle

[@yeahbee8237]

do you think you got an especially nice "reviewers" example? because people in other videos are complaining about fit and finish (on .223 and 7,62x39) or have they shapened up? there aren't many options out there for us lefthanded shooters if we want a mini action .223 ): it seems like this or the CZ

[@ozziereviews]

As I said in the final thoughts "it's a bit rough around the edges"

[@timfletcher2138]

Love the vids keep em coming .The only criticism I have is having to watch you reload and fire so many times from the rifle end Maybe could have target footage as a split screen at the same time remember quality not quantity.Great work mate can't wait for the next one

[@ozziereviews]

Can't please everyone... I have had people complain that they just want to see the rifle being shot and requested more footage of that side-on footage, so no matter what I do, I will always have people criticising unfortunately

[@ozziereviews]

and having the target split means buying another camera to get both footage simultaneously which I don't have the money for as I have just purchased a heap of other gear to keep the reviews coming...

[@Madkent94]

ozziereviews i love seeing the side on footage to get a good idea of how smooth the action is and how well it ejects. Your reviews are perfect as they are, Keep up the good work!

[@ozziereviews]

Thanks mate, I appreciate that!

[@thesheepman220]

Ozzie ,what's the twist in the rifling,I'm thinking 1in 14 , I only say this because the Cz hornet I had never shot the heavy bullets well ,loved 40 grn and below ,even my reloads were 34 to 40 grn and that was a 1 in 16 twist ,just out of interest atb Steve

[@ozziereviews]

It's a shame that their manual doesn't have that but after some searching a suggestion was it is 1"16, but I can't confirm because Zastava don't have the information listed anywhere...

[@coreystewart1604]

Looks similar to my Walther

[@gradyhernandez4699]

22 hornet

[@tims001]

hey Oz, you mentioned that 22H is a good round for reloading... any other calibers that would be good also? i dont reload at all and would like to give it a go one day.

[@ozziereviews]

Good in the sense of not much powder required to reload it, if you want to start out reloading, stick to something easy and plentiful like 223 or 308

[@Raz.C]

In the 2nd round of shots, you seemed to be shooting up and to the right of the target. I think the easiest way to solve this is to send the gun to me in Brisbane, along with about 50 rounds of ammo. You can drop it off to me, if you prefer. I'll use it to -murder- FIX the problem and have the gun back to you in just 1 week, or DOUBLE your money back!!

[@CrazyDog651]

Is there any chance that you can use a rimfire optic on the rifle?

[@sedighsalehi4237]

👍

[@hankhames9260]

Great bud, how can I order one of these in oz?

[@nathanpisa7304]

Hey Ozzie is 22. Hornet ammo bit pricey or is it a decent price in Australia

[@WayStedYou]

Expensive but its about 50 cents to reload and much more accurate

[@ivanrakic6604]

For spare magazines contact someone in Serbia. You can find on youtube a serial about guns with English subtitle named "Dum dum". Many gun lowers are folowing this serial and I am sure you can find someone who can help you.

[@brucejohnson7630]

On your first round of 5 shots second round has blow buy on the bolt .. check your rifle. Have a gun smith view this and have it fixed

[@bmxking6582]

Anybody in the usa know where to get an extra mag for this exact rifle? M85 22 hornet. Great video btw. I'm still working on some loads for this rifle.

[@michaelguerin56]

Interarms was the principal US importer. Remington may also have imported this rifle when selling the full size rifle as the Remington 798. This info might help with your Internet searches. Have you tried Numrich?

[@bmxking6582]

@@michaelguerin56 the 799 is the model offering a hornet chambering. The 798 I believe is a long action and more of a true mauser action. My father has a 799 in 22 hornet, its almost the same rifle. Zastava made it for remington. If my memory is correct the action is exactly the same but the rem comes with a laminate stock and no sights. Dude this magazine is impossible to find. I tried everywhere for a couple years now. I still have mine but a backup can't hurt to own.

[@michaelguerin56]

@@bmxking6582 I am aware of the difference between the two actions but could not remember the Remington designation for the Model 85. I suspect that Remington chose that name to dissociate their rifles from the Interarms imports and possibly to link the smaller rifle with the Zastava Model 99 which was always made with good steel and is one of the nicest .22 Rimfire sporters I have ever come across.

[@bahaderkhan6507]

Wt prs

[@bmxking6582]

I have the same rifle anybody know where I can find spare mags in the states?

[@Gehrt]

I'm in the same boat as you. I've been looking for spare magazines since purchasing this rifle with no luck. If the U.S. begins trading with Russia again hopefully they will become available in the States.

[@bmxking6582]

Gehrt century arms gave me a list of phone numbers to call and all of them came to a dead end. I guess if the mag gets messed up or lost it will become a single shot rifle.

[@devilsgarage7726]

Not Russian made.. its made in Yugoslavia and was also sold by Remington as the 799.. just got a timney trigger for mine and mags shouldnt be that hard to find. cheers

[@gradyhernandez4699]

Lithgow 303

[@regsparkes6507]

Ozzie, I'm puzzled,...510 millimetres is just a tad over 20 inches, and the weight is 2.7 kg which again , according to Google 's conversion is 5.95 pounds, so the weight is not that much off, but the barrel length is two inches over, ...how come ? Now Ozzie, I'm not trying to be a smart ass here, but where did the error come from ? I have an M85 but mine is chambered in 7.62 x39 mm, and I have problems with my rifle's bolt action, and apparently, so do a lot of other folks ( on KZbin ). This rifle is a nice looking one,...but that bolt ( in mine ) is a pig.

[@ozziereviews]

Hmmm just checked, yes the manual says " Caliber: . 22 Hornet, Capacity: 5 rds. , Barrel Length: 22. 04”, Overall Length: 41. 53”, Weight: 6. 4 lbs" but the website says "2.7kg and 510mm barrel" so definitely off... funny because normally I manually calculate it too because I either have one or the other, but in this case I had both but it's not 100%...

[@regsparkes6507]

O.K. then Ozzie, as i mentioned my M85 is in 7.63x39mm, and as a 'basic' but nice looking rifle, t's right up there in the 'good looks' department. Mine has a rough bolt action to say the least. I found that loading a cartridge into the chamber, if I pushed directly on the end of the bolt it loaded clean and smooth; but try using that little and clumsy bolt handle and It will get jambed up and I have to cycle the bolt a couple of time, before it loads. Shooting with my M85 with the iron sights, carefully, I can get around 1.5 to 2.0 inch groups at 100 yards easily. Would I buy another one ? Yes, if I could find one in a smaller caliber, like the 22 Hornet or even .223; but I'd be aware of the crappy bolt action. Thanks for the reply and the review. Cheers.

[@ozziereviews]

Sure no problem

[@yeahbee8237]

what kind of accuracy are you getting?

[@hnangell]

22 inches is not 510mm! 20 inches equals 508mm. careless careless

[@carba8606]

AAA...video mate

[@johnhodgson1735]

Very useful review. Thank you. it would be nice if you didn't say "guys" with every breath lol

[@carlannerstedt6796]

impossible accent