Any experience with Zastava M70's

evil72 · #1 01-03-2014, 03:29 AM

Hello fellow outdoors Persons:
Thinking of a 3 gun battery in Zastava M70's Left Hand! Possibles would be 223 Rem., 6.5x55 Swed.,& 9.3x62. Any one with experience with this rifle ? Would like to hear from you. You know fit and finnish, handling, accuracy,and the likes. Handled one years ago , when they were Remington M798's. Not a bad rifle I thought . Never fired it though! Any info would be great!
Thanx: Evil72

Shoot Lots & Shoot Well

Big Daddy Badger · #2 01-03-2014, 11:39 AM

I have two.
The only reason that more guys don't own em is because the big box stores don't stock em.

Whats not to like?
Descent wood.
A large ring mauser action built by the same people in the same plant that produced most if not all of those mauser actions the German Army used... the same ones later used in countless Parker Hales and other post war rifles...pricing that is competative with the best selling North American bolt actions and all available in both popular European and popular North american calibres.

I ahve two and the only thing I could knock about em is the actual wood finish.
It is a bit rougher than some might wish for but... a guy can strip the lacquer off and give em a hand rubbed oil finish very easily.
I'm slipping my second one into a high grade M-70 Winny stock as we speak.

Do a thread search... there are a couple reviews I think....and IO know that I posted pics of my fist one...with a mannlicher stock.

vcool · #3 01-03-2014, 12:26 PM

I've got 2. One in .375 H&H and one in .458 Win.

Both are quite similar to my FN Made Browning .30-06 Safari as apparently they are made on the same tooling. Surprisingly nice wood for the price, but could use a refinish as BDB said. Action was a little rough at first but cycling it a bit smoothed it out, but others have also mentioned some polishing to smooth it up.

I haven't fired the 458 yet (xmas gift), but one thing that does stand out for DG cartridges is that the front sling mount is on the stock, rather than a barrel band, so watch the hands if you're buying it in something big and nasty.

If buying it in a lighter cartridge, it is a pretty heavy rifle (8 lbs in a ..308) for carrying around all day, like most commercial mausers, and if buying it in a heavy hitting cartridge it is a little light (8.5 lbs in 458) if you're doing much shooting with it.

That being said, it's a great gun for the price and I've been eyeing up a 9.3x62 with the mannlicher stock as my next purchase.

evil72 · #4 01-03-2014, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evil72

Hello fellow outdoors Persons:
Thinking of a 3 gun battery in Zastava M70's Left Hand! Possibles would be 223 Rem., 6.5x55 Swed.,& 9.3x62. Any one with experience with this rifle ? Would like to hear from you. You know fit and finnish, handling, accuracy,and the likes. Handled one years ago , when they were Remington M798's. Not a bad rifle I thought . Never fired it though! Any info would be great!
Thanx: Evil72

Shoot Lots & Shoot Well

Thanx: Guys. That give some good food for thought!

Regards:Evil72
Shoot Lots & Shoot Well:

C-GMIC · #5 01-03-2014, 04:02 PM

Have to agree the wood finish is somthing to be desired, I find the cast off on my hand a tad different, the wood at the pistol grip is a little thin. I have the mannlicher in 7x57 but it is what it is,an economical mauser. If I new a reputable stockmaker Id have a new stock put together, but for the price, its a heck of a good gun. Zastava has been under many names the first that comes to mind is interams, many where imported through virginia, quality was a bit better back then but again its not the most expensive rifle on the market. Best place I found to purchase was tradex out of Bantario

quasi · #6 01-03-2014, 05:06 PM

I do not think Parker Hale used Yugo Mausers, I believe they used surplus K98's for a while and then Spanish made 98's.

Big Daddy Badger · #7 01-03-2014, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quasi

I do not think Parker Hale used Yugo Mausers, I believe they used surplus K98's for a while and then Spanish made 98's.

Zastava made the M98 actions for the German Military until 1941.

I am assuming that some of those actions ended up being bought up by Parker Hale and others after the war.

Other than that all I can tell you is that there appears to be very little difference between my Zastavas and my Parker Hales.
The bolt handle is slightly different but otherwise... its pretty much a carbon copy.

Dean2 · #8 01-04-2014, 06:48 AM

Good rigs for the price and come in left hand. Bought my 7x57 from Tradex too but have since found that Gagnon out of Quebec is about $150 cheaper. They also carry synthetic stainless models but only in right hand, if that is what you are into.

http://www.gagnonsports.com/index.ph...family=Zastava

greylynx · #9 01-04-2014, 12:18 PM

I would not mind giving one of their small bores a try.

Any one try a small bore?

gitrdun · #10 01-04-2014, 02:37 PM

I don't own one, but had a lefty come to my work bench to shorten the stock and fit the recoil pad. I must admit that I was pleased with the gun and it's functionability. The wood wasn't the nicest nor the worse considering price. I could not truly evaluate the fit as I shoot RH. But the owner who is a lefty did express issues with the stock fit in regards to te cheek piece. Othewise, these appear to be a decent value gun providing that they shoot straight of course.

evil72 · #11 01-04-2014, 06:47 PM

Thanx: Dean2
That info is much apreciated!!
Regards: Evil72
Shoot Lots & Shoot Well!

evil72 · #12 01-04-2014, 06:51 PM

Thanx: Gitrdun
I assume it was a monty carlo style cheek piece. They also have a straight stock as well.
Regards: Evil72
Shoot Lots & Shoot Well!

CheeseBurger · #13 01-04-2014, 11:13 PM

The rifle that gitrdun mentioned is mine. I find the Monte Carlo when trying to use the iron sights very uncomfortable. I have mounted a scope on it and the Monte Carlo is fine with that but there is not much point in back-up irons if you can't use them. I will most likely be removing the Monte Carlo and and reprofiling the stock. As mentioned it had a very long length of pull of 15" so I had gitrdun cut it down to 14 1/2".

Alberta Bigbore · #14 01-05-2014, 12:01 PM

I believe P&D has one in .375 H&H for just over $700. It doesnt look like a bad rifle for the price if someone is wanting a big moose masher for less money.

CheeseBurger · #15 01-05-2014, 12:50 PM

Another thing I should have added is that with it being a Mauser action, if you want to mount a shorter scope such as a 2-7x33 Leupold or something similar it is a bit of a nightmare due to the length between the bases. I would suggest sticking to scopes with longer tubes if you want to avoid using a rail.

evil72 · #16 01-07-2014, 07:18 PM

Thanx:CheeseBurger
That info is great! I like the 2-7x33's, bummer. I will look for the rifle(s) in the Hogs Back, con. fig. then. No cheek piece. I like iron sights.
Regards: Evil72
Shoot Lots & Shoot Well!

LeonH · #17 01-07-2014, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alberta Bigbore

I believe P&D has one in .375 H&H for just over $700. It doesnt look like a bad rifle for the price if someone is wanting a big moose masher for less money.

Not too long ago they also had 270, 308 and 30-06 in Zastava M70 (if memory serves me correctly) for the same price.

For those that might be interested.

LeonH · #18 01-07-2014, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evil72

Hello fellow outdoors Persons:
Thinking of a 3 gun battery in Zastava M70's Left Hand! Possibles would be 223 Rem., 6.5x55 Swed.,& 9.3x62. Any one with experience with this rifle ? Would like to hear from you. You know fit and finnish, handling, accuracy,and the likes. Handled one years ago , when they were Remington M798's. Not a bad rifle I thought . Never fired it though! Any info would be great!
Thanx: Evil72

Shoot Lots & Shoot Well

Never fired one but from what I read on them they should be very nice and reliable rifle.

CheeseBurger · #19 01-07-2014, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evil72

Thanx:CheeseBurger
That info is great! I like the 2-7x33's, bummer. I will look for the rifle(s) in the Hogs Back, con. fig. then. No cheek piece. I like iron sights.
Regards: Evil72
Shoot Lots & Shoot Well!

If you want to go with a 2-7x33 you need extension rings. I went with Weaver's and found that medium's worked best.

I'm working on trying to get a Boyd's stock for mine. An easy task if you are shooting right handed but I shoot left handed.

Sashi · #20 02-04-2014, 10:15 AM

Very accurate for a hunting rifle, sub MOA out of the box is awesome. Stock is walnut utility grade but very nice for tramping through the bush, oil finish not lacquer, Great bluing.
I have the Z98 in 270win and the M70 in 375 H&H, I also purchased the MP22 in 22LR, I am very pleased with them all.

Big Daddy Badger · #21 02-04-2014, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greylynx

I would not mind giving one of their small bores a try.

Any one try a small bore?

Define small... I have one in 6.5x 55 and am happy with it.... thats smallish...sort of.

greylynx · #22 02-04-2014, 11:48 AM

Sorry.

I was thinking of a rimfire in .22 or .17.

dgradinaru · #23 03-31-2014, 08:31 PM

they are decent guns. Strong mauser 98 action, and shoot accurate but the actions I really rough.

spinningchain1 · #24 03-12-2016, 03:06 AM

I had a m70 in 375h&h shooting 300gr, i fount it nicer then shooting a browning with the same rounds and no jams or any other problems, now im looking at getting one in 308win from a friend of mine since i miss my 375.

ForwardBias · #25 03-12-2016, 05:54 AM

I like my lefty in 30 06. Get alot of rifle for the price.

Rugersingle · #26 03-12-2016, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CheeseBurger

I'm working on trying to get a Boyd's stock for mine. An easy task if you are shooting right handed but I shoot left handed.

Boyd's does make a LH Zastava stock but with the crappy $$ they are a little dear... however...only required some minor fitting prior to bedding and free floating. I ordered direct and it was here in less than a month. I bought btm metal to fit a commercial 98 and with again some minor fitting it looks good. The action was a little rough but after.....a lot of cycles...it smoothed out pretty good

I did tune the bolt sleeve lock a bit and used the factory trigger adjustments to get a great crisp, no creep, no travel, 3 lb trigger.

Now if would just warm up I can start load development.

gitrdun · #27 03-12-2016, 09:43 PM

That is very nice bottom metal Rugersingle. May I ask where you purchased it?

Rugersingle · #28 03-13-2016, 07:34 PM

Tradeex has them..same place I bought the rifle.

Demonical · #29 09-30-2016, 02:32 PM

What about the safety? It's not the traditional Mauser 3-pos safety is it?

bobinthesky · #30 10-01-2016, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CheeseBurger

Another thing I should have added is that with it being a Mauser action, if you want to mount a shorter scope such as a 2-7x33 Leupold or something similar it is a bit of a nightmare due to the length between the bases. I would suggest sticking to scopes with longer tubes if you want to avoid using a rail.

Just use offset bases.