Last year I bought my left handed Zastava and just wasn't happy with it. So I sent it to John at Eagle Machine in Corrales, New Mexico for some modifications.

I asked John to replace the lightweight (.660" muzzle) barrel with a .750" diameter barrel because the gun balanced almost at the grip. I also wanted a banded front sight, a barrel band swivel mount and the action glass bedded. John gave me a great estimate for this work so I sent him my rifle and told him that I was in no hurry for it so he could take his time finishing it.

I received the gun last week just before a business trip to New Zealand and I couldn't be happier with it. John does outstanding work.

I mentioned how disappointed I was with the stock work from Zastava so John decided on his own to strip off all the muddy stain, re-point some of the checkering and refinish the stock. He also decided that it needed a barrel mounted recoil lug and another crossbolt so he did that too.

Even with all that extra work, the whole job came in right at what John estimated for just the barrel and barrel channel work. Even then he wouldn't take any payment until after I received the gun and had inspected it.

John really impressed me with the quality of his work and the great customer service and he'll get all of my hunting rifle work from now on.

Here's a "before" picture of the gun:

Here's what it looks like now: