Zastava LMK70SS 9.3X62 review

bat119

bat119

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
27   0   0
Location
On the border
I searched the net for any kind of review on this rifle and came up empty so I decided to do a review myself.
Zastava LMK70PSS $689
Caliber 9.3 X 62
Barrel length 22"
Weight out of the box 7LB. 1 OZ.
LOP is 13 3/4"
OAL is 43 3/8"
The rifle has a Mauser 98 action with no thumb cut or stripper notch, it uses a side safety and a trigger guard that opens with a side push button. The rear bolt shroud is made of steel as are all the other parts on the rifle(except the stock). Mine came with William's type open sights and a hooded front sight, the sites are good quality very easy to swing a bead.
The exterior action finish is very good however the bolt, follower and extractor show tool marks and looks to be unfinished. The bolt throw is far from glass smooth more muddy and Labored, reminds me of a military German 98 made in 1941-42 just before they started getting bombed and the quality really fell off.
The stock is a production line synthetic very similar to a Remington 700, as a matter of fact a Rem. Limb saver screws right on with no alterations required. The "polymer" to metal fit around the top of the action is very good a dollar bill slides under the barrel back to the chamber indicating an attempt at a floated barrel. The fit around the trigger guard leaves something to be desired, gaps around the guard are very noticeable.
The rifle has a Interarms type trigger, out of the box is set to a brisk 72 oz. I was able to adjust mine down to 48oz. using Interarms instructions. The trigger feels sort of gritty the internal trigger parts could use a stoning.
Mounting a scope turned into a small nightmare, I used Leupold FN Mauser two piece mounts with Med. extension rings however the front ring was .0312 low. I did a search for scope bases shims unfortunately there seems to be a North American shortage. In a desperate attempt to get shooting I used some quick steel in the bottom of the front ring (uncle Bubba would be so proud). The quick fix worked, I have contacted Leupold for a more substantial solution.

At the shooting range
I sighted in using factory Lapoua 286 gr. 2237 FPS. shooting an impressive 1" group at 100 yds. later I worked up my own load using IMR-4895 and Woodleigh 250 gr. RN bullets 5 shot average was 2617 FPS. all shots were in a 1 1/2" group. I sighted in 2 1/2" high with my 250 gr. load at 100yds. at 200yds. my group was around the bulls eye indicating my scope was perpendicular to the bore, the Bubba fix seems to be working.
Overall I'm happy with the purchase, the rough action and bolt can be cleaned up with a bit of elbow grease, I should be able to smooth up the trigger with some stoning and polishing.
View attachment 6640View attachment 6641
 
Last edited:
Got one too, and just for the sake of it, I checked how the SS Zastava fitted with an array of FN-Mauser bases / mounts.
Actually, I tested bases / mount by; Burris (2 pces), Buehler (1 pce), Leupold (2 pces), Weaver Grand Slam (2 pces) and Tasco (1 pce). All of them fitted like they do on FN or Santa-Barbara actions. They also fit the older, Yugo era Zastava actions. I don't know what's wrong with the bases you tried, but for me, they all worked (so they do with my remaining older Zastava).

This picture shows Redfield 2 pieces FN bases;
P1010070_zpse5136488.jpg


The bead balsted finish is very consistent and as pointed, the sights are better than average for that range of price (actually, they are Lyman style and identical to the used on pre-Serbia Republic rifles). I do not see the toolmarks you are withnessing on the bolt and I can say the bolt face, while showing the usual end mill marks is much better finished than the one Yugo-era I still have.

Regarding the stock, while I am not a "polymer lover", I also prefer the European style of comb over the American style (flat, straight comb), so, if I had something to complain about that would be this.
As for the action roughness, a little lubricant and normal cycling of the action usually cures it pretty easily. Zastava actions always got the reputation of being a little "gritty" when brand new.

The picture below is a side-by-side with an original FN Supreme fitted with the Sako trigger. You can see how similar the actions are.
P.S. The size difference is just an optical illusion (perspective)
P1010066_zps06be469b.jpg
 
Last edited:
Good review bat 119! Below is a link to the review I did on my Zastava M70PSS in 7x64, although I still intend to update it once I have developed the hunting load.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?939361-Zastava-stainless-7x64-Brenneke

I had no trouble mounting a scope on mine using Talley rings recommended for the large ring M98. Bore sighting and actual live firing required very little scope adjustment.

Good info you provided on the Limbsaver recoil pad fitting from a Remington stock. My 7x64 doesn't kick hard but for you guys with the 9.3x62 it might be a great benefit to be able to replace the factory Zastava pad since it's harder than a hens face.

Accuracy on mine has been pretty good and well withing my acceptable hunting accuracy requirements. Velocity had been my main issue as the rifle has a generous chamber and extremely long throat. I'm getting pretty close to what it should be producing now and just need a bit more time to work out a few details on my load.
 
Last edited:
Great info gents, thanks for posting. I think Zastava makes one of the best bang for you buck rifle if you're looking for cheap rifle without compromise for reliability. I don't own one yet but I was pleasantly surprised whit the one I handled.
 
After comparing my bases to the ones in Baribals picture I saw my front base is wrong!

Somehow it got into the wrong package the number on the underside of the base is 116549 I don't know the correct number I need But I found my 1/32"

View attachment 6677
You can see in this picture my front base is lower than the one in Baribals

Thanks for posting that picture!
 
BTW,

I must say that the recent imports use a safety that does not lock the bolt when on, resulting of Zastava's cooperation with Remington (we all know the locked bolt lawyers issues Remington went through...).
The original Zastava safety usually locks the bolt's third lug plus the trigger.
You can see the cut in the receiver and stock. They only removed the projection that goes in the slot.

An unlocked bolt is another weak point for my type of hunting, anyways.
 
Good post! I was looking at the tradex site today and was beguiled by the 9.3 X 62 full length stock model. Has anyone tried one of these? I hear that full stock/mannlicher style rifles are sometimes afflicted with accuracy issues and/or wandering zero. I emailed tradex to ask about this. They got right back to me and said they hadn't received any negative feed back on these rifles. Anybody have one? Add to this review please!
 
Wandering zero is pretty frequent with Fullstock rifles, it's related to barrel heating. Letting it cool down to "normal" temperature usually solves this. If this happens, I'm afraid this would be a matter or trial and error.
But usually, if the barrel tension have benn well take care of prior to leaving the factory, this shouldn't occur before your rifle well hit the Canadian forest moisture....
 
I've said it many times here, my take on them is crude and highly functional, 350 Chevy rifles.

I used a PH's .458 Zastava briefly in Africa once, he wished he'd bought a Ruger in his own words. That said, it worked and didn't fail me, or him in a good few interesting exploits (his, my experience with it was tame).
 
Baribal said:
BTW,

I must say that the recent imports use a safety that does not lock the bolt when on, resulting of Zastava's cooperation with Remington (we all know the locked bolt lawyers issues Remington went through...).
The original Zastava safety usually locks the bolt's third lug plus the trigger.
You can see the cut in the receiver and stock. They only removed the projection that goes in the slot.

An unlocked bolt is another weak point for my type of hunting, anyways.
Click to expand...

I totally agree with this. I was a bit disappointed when I found the bolt didn't lock with the safety on. I would imagine it would be easy enough to swap in a trigger assy from an older Zastava if a guy could find one. I have also been considering installing a Winchester style 3 position safety on it. I wish I would have bought one from Gentry back when they were still making the stainless steel version.
 
kferguson said:
Good post! I was looking at the tradex site today and was beguiled by the 9.3 X 62 full length stock model. Has anyone tried one of these? I hear that full stock/mannlicher style rifles are sometimes afflicted with accuracy issues and/or wandering zero. I emailed tradex to ask about this. They got right back to me and said they hadn't received any negative feed back on these rifles. Anybody have one? Add to this review please!
Click to expand...

don't know in 9.3x62 but my wife 30-06 is making well with factory ammo for now. just don't shoot too fast between two shots as the barrel is thin ....
 
Baribal said:
BTW,

I must say that the recent imports use a safety that does not lock the bolt when on, resulting of Zastava's cooperation with Remington (we all know the locked bolt lawyers issues Remington went through...).
The original Zastava safety usually locks the bolt's third lug plus the trigger.
You can see the cut in the receiver and stock. They only removed the projection that goes in the slot.

An unlocked bolt is another weak point for my type of hunting, anyways.
Click to expand...

never bother me as I don't trust safety at all ....

when I had my "old" 7x64 left handed Zastava I never used the safety so I cant compare with the one I have now ... on the other side anyone can have a three positions one installed if they really prefer ...

all the best.
 
Ardent said:
I've said it many times here, my take on them is crude and highly functional, 350 Chevy rifles.

I used a PH's .458 Zastava briefly in Africa once, he wished he'd bought a Ruger in his own words. That said, it worked and didn't fail me, or him in a good few interesting exploits (his, my experience with it was tame).
Click to expand...

It wont won a beauty prize except if im the only Jury and president lol but they re well known to be a workhorse what else can you ask for a hunting rifle?
 
medvedqc said:
never bother me as I don't trust safety at all ....

when I had my "old" 7x64 left handed Zastava I never used the safety so I cant compare with the one I have now ... on the other side anyone can have a three positions one installed if they really prefer ...

all the best.
Click to expand...

Well, it's not that i "trust" safeties, but when I have to walk in dense brush / wood following an animal, loaded or not, I don't want the bolt to open and lose a round or worse. I always lock the bolt cocked on an empty chamber so the bolt stays closed.
 
Baribal and medvedqc,
Thanks for your thoughts on the fullstocks. I am aware of the barrel heating effect from multiple shots. For a hunting rifle though, first shot accuracy is my main concern. So Baribal, your comment "Canadian forest moisture" (a polite way to put "pissing rain"?) was what I was wondering about.
 
It's quite new, the first SS Zastava rifles were made with the help of Remington machining technologies in 2007. They did not really show here before this year.

The calibers selection is 22-250, 6mm Rem, 6.5X57, 65.X55, 7X57, 7X64, 8x57, 9.3X62, 25.06 Rem, 30-06 Springd, 270 Win, 308 Win, 243 Win, 300 WM, 264 WM, 7mm RM.
The imported calibers for now are (those I'm aware of, anyways) ; 270 Win, 6.5X55, 30-06, 9.3X67 - at least one in 7X64 :) - and .308 Win, maybe there was more, I'm not sure.

As for price... they vary quite a lot, so youbetter shop round...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom