Zastava rifles

Just picked one up off the EE. A Z98 with US import markings on it so I'll see in a few weeks when it gets here what it's like.

With regards to the M70/M98 debate if you look at Zastavas website (www.zastava-arms.co.rs/) the Model 70 is what appears to be the ones branded Z98 in north america. The Model 98 on their website has a safety on the rear of the bolt rather than the right side of the action and as far as I can tell this is the main difference(as stated above). Not much to go on other than pictures however and the fact that the Model 70 is the only one that comes in magnum chamberings.
 
I just bought one in .375H&H the other day. It's a bit rough and un-refined but for the price I really couldn't complain. It's nice and handy too with the 22" barrel and iron sights. Mine has the USSG markings on it. It is definitely what Zastava calls the M70 on their website...doesn't much matter to me though.
 
drbnsn said:
I just bought one in .375H&H the other day. It's a bit rough and un-refined but for the price I really couldn't complain. It's nice and handy too with the 22" barrel and iron sights. Mine has the USSG markings on it. It is definitely what Zastava calls the M70 on their website...doesn't much matter to me though.
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it didnt last a long on the shelf ....
 
Here is a Factory cert. from one of the 300 mags w/polymer stock. Model shown is Z98 (and it's a commercial mauser)

They called them M70, Rem798, Z98...hell if I would buy enough of them, they would call it the TEC98 :)


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Seems they call their M70 Z98 when proofing - at least for export. This shows they still consider the M/70 a M/98....
 
My Zastava .22 Hornet with the "mini Mauser" action/bolt also has the safety on the right side. Nothing rough about this rifle. The bluing is deep and shiney, the stock is a nice dark oiled walnut, and it never skipped a beat. I just ordered a Bell & Carlson Carbelite stock to make it more functional and field worthy.
 
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drbnsn said:
I just bought one in .375H&H the other day. It's a bit rough and un-refined but for the price I really couldn't complain. It's nice and handy too with the 22" barrel and iron sights. Mine has the USSG markings on it. It is definitely what Zastava calls the M70 on their website...doesn't much matter to me though.
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If I'm right your Zastava is a standard 98 action not a real magnum? I have read on many forums it's not the ideal combination, cartridges too long for the action.
 
Buster95 said:
If I'm right your Zastava is a standard 98 action not a real magnum? I have read on many forums it's not the ideal combination, cartridges too long for the action.
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I've read the same thing and decided to disregard it. I think it was more a problem with old actions that were modified by gunsmiths and not new production ones designed for the task with modern metals(especially not war time metals).

Lets face it...they've been producing these for a long time now(at least 30-40 years) and all I've heard of is speculation by people on forums. I have yet to read a firsthand account where this was a problem.

:cheers:
 
who sells these things in Canada. There is a beautiful 7x57 on the Zastava website that I'd love to get my hands on. M98 Manlicher with a set trigger.
 
There are plenty of old Holland & Holland Mausers in 300 and 375 H&H still in use today.

The "weakness" thing is based on the statement of F. de Haas, wich said that a rifle he made on a No. 5 FN Mauser (the factory FN Magnum action) developed set-back. Note that it was chambered in .300 H&H Improved and he says himself that the loads were HOT.
He also states he feels that the M/98 actions are good to go with any H&H factory loads.

Dumoulin also made numerous rifles based on the No. 5 action and chambered in H&H calibers, and I never heard of any creating setback.

We know that old Mausers will sometimes create lug setback when the lugs are lapped and not re-carburized, often even with standard calibers. This is due to the thin layer of hardened steel being removed by abrasion, leaving the soft core without protection. Mauser, from the first M/92 through M/98 used quite soft low carbon steel as a safety feature in his design. This was to avoid shattering of the action steel, wich would throw little shrapnels when failure occured. Instead, his design permitted the steel to tears in big chunk. It is still known as "soft core". Today, the steel used in most modern firearms is of the Chrome-Moly type, wich is much stronger than the the original one.
My opinion is; if you respect the beast, and don't use overpressure handloads, it will last for a very long time.
 
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They were not imported in Canada, not since a while, if ever, and this goes for the caliber AND for the Manlicher trim, and there were very few imported with the set triggers (in the '80s...).
 
Buster95 said:
If I'm right your Zastava is a standard 98 action not a real magnum? I have read on many forums it's not the ideal combination, cartridges too long for the action.
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I don't know, hasn't killed me yet! They've been sold a long time in the US as the interarms mark x, and so on...and Zastava has been around a long time. I'm going to assume there's big differences in metallurgy etc. If it blows up i my face, you will all be the first to know!

I just threw a synthetic stock on mine, since I feel less bad about running around in the bush with it and dinging up the wood. Doesn't help the attractiveness that's for sure but, hey we can't all be loved for our looks...
 
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