Zastava has been building Mauser-style rifles for more than a century and brings them to the U.S. market through Zastava Arms USA.
Cold-forged barrels, controlled-round-feed actions, and old-school walnut or modern polymer stocks create a lineup that makes sense for North American hunters rather than just for spec sheets.
Think of this North American game guide as a menu. You pick a Zastava bolt-action that fits your terrain, your shoulder, and the size of the animal, then you build a simple, rugged setup around it.
Know Your Zastava Bolt-Action Family
Zastava gives you a small but focused family of bolt-action rifles that cover almost every reasonable hunting task on this continent.
- MP22 Smallbore Rifles – MP22 models use bolt actions in .22 LR and .22 WMR, with 22″ barrels and compact overall length. For small game and training, you can start with the rifle and add spare magazines like the MP22 WMRF Magazine
- LK M85 “Mini Mauser” – Light, handy, and built on a scaled-down Mauser action. Hunters use it in calibers such as 7.62×39 and .223 Rem and routinely report excellent practical accuracy. ZastavaArms USA even runs a dedicated blog post, Hunting with the Zastava LK M85, that highlights its sub-MOA potential and field manners.
- LK M70 “Classic Mauser” – The full-size Mauser action with a chrome-vanadium, cold-forged barrel and calibers that range from .243 Win and .308 Win to .30-06, .270 Win and the magnums. Fancy versions such as the LK M70 Exclusive add engraved walnut and big-bore options like .458 Win for truly heavy game.
- M07-AS Precision Rifle – Zastava bases the M07-AS on the Mauser M98 action, adds a heavy cold-forged .308 Win barrel, an integrated Picatinny rail, and an adjustable stock. It fits hunters who want long-range practice on steel and the occasional deer or antelope at extended distances.
- Black Arrow M93 – The Black Arrow M93 uses a Mauser action and a heavy fluted barrel with a big muzzle brake and adjustable bipod. North American hunters mostly treat it as a specialty rifle for extreme-range target work or very large, tough targets where local law and common sense allow.
You can browse the whole bolt-action section on Zastava Arms USA and then fine-tune your setup with bolt-action parts when you want extra magazines, small parts, or upgrades.
Match Caliber To Game
A North American game guide lives or dies on caliber choices, so let’s map typical quarry to specific Zastava options.
Small Game And Rimfire Fun
For squirrels, rabbits, grouse (where legal), and backyard marksmanship, the MP22 platform covers almost everything. The .22 LR version handles classic small-game work; the .22 WMR variant adds extra reach and punch for tougher critters.
A simple MP22 with a 2-7× scope, a pile of MP22 magazines, and a brick of .22s gives you a training tool and meat-getter that you can carry all day without back pain.
Deer, Antelope, And Hogs
When whitetails, pronghorn, or feral hogs dominate your season, the LK M85 and LK M70 shine.
- The LK M85 in 7.62×39 or .223 works great inside 200 yards on deer-sized game, as long as your state allows those calibers and you use proper hunting ammo.
- The LK M70 in .243, .270, .308 or .30-06 covers every realistic deer or antelope shot on the continent, from tight timber to open prairie.
If you want a single “do-almost-everything” North American game guide choice, an LK M70 in .30-06 or .308 with a sturdy 3-9× scope fits that role with style.
Black Bear And “Maybe Elk”
Step up in bullet weight and penetration, and the LK M70 line answers again. With chamberings like .30-06, .300 Win Mag, and 7 mm Rem Mag, you get enough energy and sectional density for black bear and elk at sensible ranges.
If you hunt in heavy timber where shots stay short, a .30-06 LK M70 with a low-power variable optic works nicely. In open country, a .300 Win Mag version stretches things further while you still enjoy that classic Mauser feel.
Moose, Big Bears, And “I Want Serious Thump”
For the heaviest jobs, Zastava leans on large-bore LK M70 variants such as .458 Win and on speciality platforms like the M93.
- A LK M70 Exclusive in .458 Win suits hunters who plan serious trips for big, tough animals and want a bolt-action with authority.
- The Black Arrow M93 offers a long-range, heavy-recoiling option that uses a large-caliber cartridge with a 1,600 m effective range rating in its original role.
You probably will not drag an M93 through alder tangles on a spot-and-stalk bear hunt, but you can use it for extreme-range practice before that trip and for special situations where local regulations approve such setups.
Optics And Zero That Fit Real Hunts
A North American game guide looks nice on paper, but your zero decides hits. Simple rules help:
- MP22 rifles: a 50-yard zero keeps shots on small targets out to around 75–80 yards with minimal holdover.
- LK M85 in 7.62×39: a 100-yard zero fits most woods hunts; you hold modestly high at 150–200 yards.
- LK M70 .308 or .30-06: a 200-yard zero gives you a “center-of-mass” hold on deer out to roughly 250–275 yards with common hunting loads.
The M07-AS with its 26″ heavy barrel and 1:10 twist in .308 Win favors fixed 10× scopes or 4-16× optics and more precise dial-or-hold solutions for steel and distant game.
Pick sturdy rings, double-check torque on base screws, and run a few cold-bore shots before the season so you know where that very first shot lands.
Field Setup, Parts, And Practical Comfort
One joy of Zastava bolt actions comes from their simplicity. A solid rifle, a good sling, and a pouch with ammo and small parts often cover everything.
You can:
- Fit quality slings so the rifle rides comfortably on long hikes.
- Add bipods to rifles like the M07-AS or M93 for prone or bench shooting.
- Keep spare mags and wear items
Zastava sporters use robust Mauser-style extractors and forged receivers, so they tolerate real mud, rain, and truck-gun abuse as long as you clean and lube them with basic discipline.
Wrap-Up
A realistic North American game guide does not chase every obscure cartridge. It focuses on rifles that you actually carry, shoot, and pass to the next generation. Zastava bolt-actions hit that sweet spot.
Browse the bolt-action lineup and the blog post Hunting with the Zastava LK M85 for deeper dives, then shape this North American game guide around your own seasons, tags, and dream trips.
