Zastava .357 ???

[bensdad]

$299 at Cabelas. Somebody talk me into or out of this. I'd like it just to carry around the farm and plug the random can/ground squirrel/kunk/etc.

I know it's not a Ruger or a S&W, but is it a serviceable sidearm?

[Spartan]

no get a Ruger or SW

[BemidjiDweller]

That revolver is the only firearm out of Zastava that I'm not excited to get. If they came down in price then I'd maybe grab one for my Zastava collection.

[Seismic Sam]

Here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=jyGNgKP8p3c

The reviewer doesn't sound all that knowledgeable about guns, the review is very cursory, sounds like the grip is uncomfortable, trigger is heavy, can't be modified, and check out those funky hex slot screw heads on the frame, if that's what they really are. If it was a Serbian AK then it would probably be pretty good, as the Serbs were a Soviet bloc nation. But Serbs trying to imitate S&W?? If it looks to good to be true, then it usually is. If PT Barnum were alive today, he'd be selling overly cheap guns to all the roobs too...

[bensdad]

Thanks guys. I don't know what a "roob" is, but I sure don't want to be one. I"ll take a pass.

[Seismic Sam]

Thanks guys. I don't know what a "roob" is, but I sure don't want to be one. I"ll take a pass.

Alternate, more traditional spelling is "Rube"

[LePetomane]

I would hold off for the S&W or Ruger. Buy it "nice" or buy it twice. I don't know or want to know your finances but i think it is a gamble. If you buy it and it turns out to be crap then you are out $300. My dad would say, "I'm too poor to be cheap."

[Erik_Pakieser]

You can find a nice used .357 S&W or Ruger in the $300 range, if you shop around.

[BemidjiDweller]

You can find a nice used .357 S&W or Ruger in the $300 range, if you shop around.

I'd like to know where all those $300 Rugers are hiding, I found one last winter.

[bensdad]

You can find a nice used .357 S&W or Ruger in the $300 range, if you shop around.

I'd like to know where all those $300 Rugers are hiding, I found one last winter.

I got a spectacular condition Security Six for $199 at Gander a couple winters ago. It must have been priced wrong. Still, I'll be darned if I'm gonna carry that beauty around the farm - thus the question about the Zastava.

[Vashjir]

Since I haven't heard anything bad about these from someone who actually owns one, I grabbed one today for $270 at cabelas. I find it comfortable in my hand, and although the trigger pull is heavy, it's not terrible. It definitely appears unfired, and in excellent shape for a gun that been sitting in a warehouse for 21 years. Not a showpiece gun by any means, but hopefully a good workhorse, and cheap enough that cosmetic wear from actual use won't bother me a bit.
The grips are raw (i think walnut) out of the box so I'm applying several coats of tung oil before taking it out to the range.
I'll let everyone know how it shoots after this weekend.

[Eleanor08]

On armslist right now there is a Ruger SP101 .357 for $450.

Spend the extra $150 and have something nice.. that's what I would be doing.

[Vashjir]

Got up to bill's for a bit today and put about 70rds of .38 and another 40 of .357 through the zastava. It shot well through everything, and smoothed out a bit by the end of the session. No issues with either single or double action shooting, or with case ejection, even when I got the gun pretty hot. Accuracy was as good as can be expected given my mediocre aim.
Overall I'm very happy with the purchase and would recommend the m83 to anyone looking for a very affordable, highly functional .357.

[Vashjir]

On armslist right now there is a Ruger SP101 .357 for $450.

Spend the extra $150 and have something nice.. that's what I would be doing.

Thats a little snubnose, not exactly apples to apples. I've yet to see a comparable gun at anything less than %175 of the zastava's price.