Zastava M70

[Potashminer]

I've got the .458 as well, but I haven't shot it yet ...because I'm having a heck of a time finding brass or dies. Anybody have a lead on where I could find some?

I had hoped to shoot 45/70 cast loads too, luckily, it's not overly difficult to find bullets, it's just the other stuff that's been a pain

So get some previously fired 7mm Rem Mag brass, or 300 Win Mag - say about 14 grains or less Unique or equivalent - then look up what is COW fire forming - I do use actual "Cream of Wheat" brand cereal to do so. Fire the concoction in your rifle, and close to a 458 Win Mag brass comes out - sizes up nicely in the 458 Win Mag RCBS dies - load with your cast bullets, reduced loads, and go blow a bunch of gopher dirt mounds - as I do. Nothing like a 100 rounds or so of 480 grain cast 458 Win Mag brass in a 458 Win Mag Zastava, in a prairie gopher patch!!! Not as if we get to play like the old time dudes did in African countries, in the 1920's or so... But I do have about 25 old school W-W 510 grain factory rounds, and a few more than that of the original W-W 510 soft nose to reload, in case us folk in Western Manitoba have to start dealing with Cape Buffalo, or such...

And, to be "fussy" - the throat on a 458 Win Mag is much different than on a 45-70, so the design of the cast lead bullets is different - not to say that a 45-70 bullet will not go "bang", but something to concern yourself about if you are not actually hitting those gopher mounds!!!

 

[riversrest]

While older, this is the same action, a Mark X Mauser.

Or for that matter Remington 798. Don't quite get what you want to say though.

Maybe they all have issues?

 

[medvedqc]

I've got the .458 as well, but I haven't shot it yet ...because I'm having a heck of a time finding brass or dies. Anybody have a lead on where I could find some?

I had hoped to shoot 45/70 cast loads too, luckily, it's not overly difficult to find bullets, it's just the other stuff that's been a pain

pm me for the brass i may have 100 for you.

 

[Johnn Peterson]

I've got the .458 as well, but I haven't shot it yet ...because I'm having a heck of a time finding brass or dies. Anybody have a lead on where I could find some?

I had hoped to shoot 45/70 cast loads too, luckily, it's not overly difficult to find bullets, it's just the other stuff that's been a pain

PM concerning the availability of a set of new dies, and possibly brass on the way as we speak.

 

[buckbrush]

my .458 just arrived from Tradex. The barrel is very light in contour. The checkering is horrible, I think I will either scrape it off or stipple over it. It is very good value for the money for a .458.

My rifle appears to have been modified for .375 length cartridges. They probably use the same Receiver for all the Magnums.

 

[saskgunowner101]

My rifle appears to have been modified for .375 length cartridges.

How would a guy figure this out? I have the .458, and I wouldn't know the difference to be honest. I thought the 458 was just a normal long action.

 

[medvedqc]

my .458 just arrived from Tradex. The barrel is very light in contour. The checkering is horrible, I think I will either scrape it off or stipple over it. It is very good value for the money for a .458.

My rifle appears to have been modified for .375 length cartridges. They probably use the same Receiver for all the Magnums.

well the modifications on a zastava to have a 375 are huge and you will notice them.

 

[buckbrush]

How would a guy figure this out? I have the .458, and I wouldn't know the difference to be honest. I thought the 458 was just a normal long action.

on mine, the front of the magazine has a block inserted that is .300 thou or so back from the feed ramp. A .375 cartridge will fit thru the receiver bottom opening, but is too long to fit the magazine. I assume they blocked the magazine for a .375 to standard magazine specs.

I don't have any .458 ammo or components yet, for all I know it might not feed.

 

[Hitzy]

I would sure like to try the m85 in 22 Hornet!

I would avoid the M85's, pretty sloppy built, had a couple and they are the worst Zastava rifle available, the 22's and 98 mausers are ok.

 

[The Kurgan]

I would avoid the M85's, pretty sloppy built, had a couple and they are the worst Zastava rifle available, the 22's and 98 mausers are ok.

I owned one made in the late 80's in 22 Hornet. It was an excellent rifle.

 

[buckbrush]

well I stuck a pin punch up against what I thought was a magazine block and it was magnetized. It stuck to the pin punch and pulled right out. I think maybe it is a factory guage of some kind. The magazine takes my .375 loads now.

 

[Meroh]

Or for that matter Remington 798. Don't quite get what you want to say though.

Maybe they all have issues?

The "Mark X" mauser actions were highly regarded in my part of the country, and still are. The modern M70 '98 Rifle actiions are as nice, or nicer than the Mark X actions of the '70s and '80s. The wood to metal fit could be better, but I'm sure that would drive the cost up too.

 

[The Kurgan]

well I stuck a pin punch up against what I thought was a magazine block and it was magnetized. It stuck to the pin punch and pulled right out. I think maybe it is a factory guage of some kind. The magazine takes my .375 loads now.

That's a first. Glad you got it sorted.

 

[bunny]

My new 6.5x55 shoots the 140 Speer hot core or the 139 PRVI into about an inch (5 shot group) with a fixed 4x mounted, the even newer .458 shoots nice 50 yard groups with the 350 Hornady going 2300. Both rifles feed and function flawlessly. I am very happy with both purchases.

 

[riversrest]

^ Who does factory hot cores? Or do you have load data for them?

 

[buckbrush]

That's a first. Glad you got it sorted.

thanks. Me too.

 

[4fifty8]

Got 458WM, 7x57 & 308 sure like these.

 

[conor_90]

Zastavas in right hand have been absolutely cleared out from trade ex.

Hopefully in the future they will bring in more, and if not hopefully they don’t start going for “collectable” prices on the e.e

 

[buckbrush]

Marstar may still have some

 

[The Kurgan]

Zastavas in right hand have been absolutely cleared out from trade ex.

Hopefully in the future they will bring in more, and if not hopefully they don’t start going for “collectable” prices on the e.e

Still 3 right hands in stock, two in 8x57 and one in 300WM with a synthetic stock.