Zastava rifles in 458 wm

[francois_458]

Good day all
I am considering getting a 458wm as my next rifle. The problem here in South Africa is that such rifles are hard to come by and end up being rather expensive when found. Recently zastava rifles are becoming available and are quite affordable compared to the alternatives. I am considering getting one before their prices too go through the roof
Any thoughts on the zastava m70 rifles would be much appreciated

TIA

 

[mark-hunter]

Any thoughts on the zastava m70 rifles would be much appreciated

Zastava is facing some serious financial and labor challenges recently. I put an article about it on the forum, try search option). I am not sure if they are producing new rifles at all (especially in 375 or 458). It could be some old stocks getting to market? Or export from old factory stock? Or it could be new production? I really dont know.

They are goverment owned factory, they will never go high on pricing.

Newer production has occasional quality control issues, like miss aligned drilled and tapped scope base, or occasional feeding problem. But in the worst case scenario, nothing that a good gunsmith cannot debug.

Bottom line, buy while it is available. The last affordable Mauser on a worlds market.

 

[spike.t]

Gun shop here I use had quite big delivery earlier this year...some 375s and 458s in it....and my 22 hornet was in the delivery....but he had been waiting 2 years I think for them to arrive....I would go for it....my hornet needed bit of sanding to stop barrel touching stock and trigger adjusted...which friend did quite quickly after using Mr google..trigger now great...obviously not a 458 but am impressed with it....so as said if you like it after checking it out buy it...not many choices new out there at decent price....and who knows when they will get another shipment

 

[Shootist43]

I have a couple of them. IMHO they are not the best looking or the smoothest operating, but they are generally robust. With a little TLC and or light gunsmithing, you will wind up with a reliable "working rifle."

 

[cajunchefray]

I have a couple of them. IMHO they are not the best looking or the smoothest operating, but they are generally robust. With a little TLC and or light gunsmithing, you will wind up with a reliable "working rifle."

I handled a Zastava M70 in 9.3x62 that my gunsmith worked up for a good customer. These are built on the FN M98 Sporter configuration post WWII.
As he tells me, the steel is good, most need some polishing on the under and top rails, bolt raceways, extractor, and removing the machine marks.

After that, they are good to go.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

The Zastava Model 70s in .458 Winchester Magnum were solid working man’s rifles. I have only three negative observations from personal experience in the field:

1) The barrels are far too thin and recoil can be quite heavy (this is coming from a man who considers shooting a .600 Nitro Express to be “Fun”). Please consider rebarreling it with a heavier barrel from Safari Outdoor in South Africa.

2) The stocks WILL inevitably always end up splitting. Please consider rebedding the stock with fiberglass and reinforcing them with dual crossbolts.

3) The feeding ramp needs to be smoothed out by a competent gunsmith in order to ensure reliable feeding with flat nosed solids (like Rhino, DZOMBO, Northfork or Cutting Edge)

 

[rdog]

I have 3 LKM70 Zastavas a 8x57, 6.5x55 & a 375 H&H they were a bit gritty on bolt operation but are easily smoothed up, great bluing & hammer forged bbls ,they have poorly finished stocks & chequering, the stocks are finished in a brown mud oil type finish . I reshaped & refinished the stocks sanded off the checkering on the 6.5 & 8 mm it was that that bad, there is enough wood to do that & not have a skinny stock, the wood is walnut & good grain. Fitted steel grip caps & Pachmyer recoil pads & glass bedded & free floated the bbls. End results all shoot 1 MOA 3 shot groups & look good . they are good rifles & great value for the money & true modern M98s with a good adjustable trigger why any body would want to fit an after market trigger is beyond me its fully adjustable. The rifles are all steel no alloy or plastic. the 375 has a good heavy 24 inch bbl, the 8 x57mm & 6.5x55 are 23.5 inch long & light profile. i would recommend the Zastava to anybody They will work as the come, but if you have the ability clean them up the are great.

 

[Uncharted_NT]

Have spent some time with a 458 model. There is quite a few things lacking. As mentioned above, the light weight barrel, combined with a slim synthetic stock makes for an unpleasant rifle to shoot. This particular one was also lacking open sights as a back up. Personally I wouldn't be rushing out to buy one.

 

[D.M.V]

I had one in 300 win mag a few years ago. I really liked it I thought for the $ it was a good rifle I would buy one again it the need were to arise

 

[mark-hunter]

Just for those who dont know, LKM70, stands for "lovacki karabin m 70", or hunting carabine model 70.

 

[benchracer]

I consider the Zastava commercial mausers to be the most under-the-radar rifles out there. I LOVE the Zastava mausers. However, I see them as an excellent base for a semi-custom rifle build. If a person is looking for something that is serviceable as is, out of the box, they are not a good choice. IMO, if you are looking for something ready to go out of the box, that really puts you in a different class of rifle. In such a case, I would be looking for a Winchester Model 70.

 

[mark-hunter]

For the information of interested, company "N Delta Custom" from Serbia makes backmarket parts (safety), for upgrades

 

[russ473]

1 of the outfitters i hunt for got 1 at the beginning of the season, after doing a few buffalo hunts he was well impressed with it and said great value for money, all he did was polish up the action a bit. He did put roughly 150 rounds through it, getting used to it and during the season

 

[Badboymelvin]

I love Zastava's!
I've owned 3 so far, 2 being .458WM and one being a .375 that was later made into a .375Wby...
I loved all of them and all fed well from the box, were all really accurate and affordable.
I do agree about the wood stocks splitting though and I fitted Hogue stocks to my .458's and loved them.
My current 425Express is a Zastava - but being a custom rifle, it probably doesn't count...

I would recommend without hesitation buying one if one come up and the price was right.

Russ

 

[sgt_zim]

Good day all
I am considering getting a 458wm as my next rifle. The problem here in South Africa is that such rifles are hard to come by and end up being rather expensive when found. Recently zastava rifles are becoming available and are quite affordable compared to the alternatives. I am considering getting one before their prices too go through the roof
Any thoughts on the zastava m70 rifles would be much appreciated

TIA

I have one in 9.3x62. Like CZ, you'll want a gunsmith to give it some TLC. I'm not sure what barrel profile they use on 458, but it's a light profile on my 9.3x62. As mentioned, the bolt rails are a little gritty, and there was a high spot on the claw extractor that needed a bit of polishing down. Otherwise, the bolt wouldn't fall completely open with gravity.

And yes, even on my 9.3x62, the stock cracked right in front of the trigger. I replaced it with a Boyd's laminate and had it steel bedded.

Out of the factory, my trigger pull was 5 ounces.

My biggest issue was stock fit, but I have that issue with all factory rifles since my LOP is 14.75, and the comb was too low.

 

[Piet-Vis]

Good day all
I am considering getting a 458wm as my next rifle. The problem here in South Africa is that such rifles are hard to come by and end up being rather expensive when found. Recently zastava rifles are becoming available and are quite affordable compared to the alternatives. I am considering getting one before their prices too go through the roof
Any thoughts on the zastava m70 rifles would be much appreciated

TIA

Middag

If I were you I'd buy something on the Clasic Arms auctions.

There is a semi-custom Lott on the next auction. I got myself a Win Mag buildt on a Mauser Banner action for R15 000 earlier.
I'm busy fitting a custom stock and then I'll end up with a real nice gun that was fun to buildt.