Zastava M70 stock finish

vmax204 said:
I've had several Zastava's over the years. I stripped every one of them and refinished with oil. Bedding the action will eliminate any movement which is usually a contributing factor in cracked stocks. I happen to have a Zastava stock on the bench right now that needs several more coats of oil to complete it. Some come with nicely figured wood but the cheesy stamped checkering and low quality varnish leave a lot to be desired. There are lots of options when it comes to aftermarket stocks so it's up to you as how much love you have for your rifle. I love my Mauser actions and for the price, the Zastava's are a bargain.
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The manual that came with mine stated that it is a linseed oil finish, and that touchups could be done with linseed oil. I wiped mine down with menthol hydrate, and then applied tong oil directly to the stock. Great results. Regarding the checkering; I may get a tool and simply recut the checkering if I can find one the right pitch; sharpened up with an oil finish would add a lot to the looks.
 
I've had good results with 50% BLO/50% Miniwax Antique Oil

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bearhunter said:
kjohn, Zastava stocks often leave a lot to be desired, IMHO.

Over the years, I've owned and sold a half dozen of them. All shot very well.

Every single one of them needed the stocks repaired. IMHO, the wood the Yugoslavians use for those stocks isn't cured properly.

The wood is quite porous as well and again, IMHO should be much denser for all sorts of good reasons.

I've had to glass bed every one of the ZM70 rifles I've had, to stop them from splitting and stay accurate.

Zastava has come a long way as far as quality control goes on their rifles. Sooooo if that were my rifle, the first things I would do with it is to open up the barrel channel, then glass bed the action, from the king screw/recoil lug, all the way to the rear receiver tang.

I found out the hard way that soaking the stock in oil really didn't help.

They're good rifles that get better, with a laminated replacement stock.
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kjohn said:
bearhunter: I won't be using this rifle very much, but I appreciate the heads up on the bedding etc. The stock isn't exactly a work of art, but neither am I. :p
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while i may disagree on many advices given on the political side of bearhunter i have to admit the way to go with left handed stock for a zastava is a laminate stock: i put one on my left handed 9.3x62 and it is night and day.
 
medvedqc said:
while i may disagree on many advices given on the political side of bearhunter i have to admit the way to go with left handed stock for a zastava is a laminate stock: i put one on my left handed 9.3x62 and it is night and day.
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We likely disagree on other things than politics but at the very least we do it with full respect. That's all we can ask.
 
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