Aaah yes, but the Zasty M85 hornet action is a push feed, and not a true CRF M98 action, scaled to a similar size as the small L series Sakos. The diminutive L46 Sako action was developed in the '40s and specifically scaled for the little 7x33, then with minor modifications to the DBM was chambered for the .25-20, .218 bee, then the .222. The small action was then updated and lengthened slightly to cater for the .222mag as the L461 action, and the hornet chambering was dropped. I'm not sure when the Interarms mini Mauser/Zastava M85 first became available, but guessing the late 1980's or early 1990's? It becomes difficult to determine who has cross pollinated who after a while.
I don't have one, and have only shot Camel's once or twice at Yass, but understand that the main differences between the M85 and a Sako L461 are that the M85:
- is more roughly finished but can be smoothed up with work
- has a bolt handle that is too short and is fiddly to use. A common fix is to cut off the grasping ball, thread the end, and fit a custom longer handle. Even our very own RAF productions has modified his
- has arguably a slightly better standard trigger
- has a full size Mauser type bolt shroud
- is available in both RH and LH models
- is available chambered in 22h (the earlier L46 was chambered in 22h) as well as the .222/.223 family of cartridges
- is generally less expensive to pick up second hand
A good thread here:
https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthrea ... ype/thread
In relation to continuing to work every time regardless of how tough the conditions, there are an awful lot of L461/A1 Sako actions out there that have been well used and abused by pro roo shooters, have rebarrelled multiple times, are worn and look like shit, but still get the job done with no fuss. Chris (Piper) had a classic at Yass recently that he picked up from an old pro shooter - rebarrelled with a Savage barrel (still had the barrel nut thread - ahead of the action shoulder!), home made pine stock, worn bolt lugs, fully free floating stock (I.e. around the barrel, action, trigger guard - I'm not sure there was any surface that didn't have a substantial gap
).
Anyways, I think the little Zasty will make a good base for Dash's project, and should look pretty schmick with that stick of wood.
"Zastava - the action preferred by RAF productions for custom rifle builds"
Marcus