They are not bad if you want a new 98 based rifle, I have a pair, blued/walnut MC in 7x57 and SS in 7x64. I like the SS one it's a keeper, the syn stocks are pretty decent, I think I paid $499 for it from Gagnon's on clear out. It shoots good and is fairly smooth.
The 7x57 is a little rough in the action, has nice wood though, also shoots pretty decent, but I got a Win M70 FW in 7x57 so I will probably take this to consignment.
If you can live with used, Parker Hale's are decent, I prefer them to the Zastavas by a wide margin for their smooth actions and more ergonomic stocks. Plenty of options with them too with lightweights, euro chamberings, etc, on the used market for less then a new Zastava. Good triggers with side safety, proper LOP stocks, usually nice wood on them too, and they shoot good.
There are also the HVA FN98's that are also very decent guns but basic 98's with the vertical flag type safety's, not great triggers (I usually replace them with 2 stage military triggers) and mostly not so pretty Beech stocks.
Then there is the HVA 1600's, nice hybrid 98 small ring type rifle, light, accurate, pretty wood, side safety, trigger is meh but tolerable, very smooth actions.
So yeah...if you can live with used, lots of better options then the Zas M70.
Had a couple of M85's...not a fan, poorly machined & bindy bolt with terrible extractor design that likes to break, bolt handle is too small, got rid of them.
Still have one rimfire, one of the 22 mags, really decent little guns for the price, they make these properly, like these guns.
The 7x57 is a little rough in the action, has nice wood though, also shoots pretty decent, but I got a Win M70 FW in 7x57 so I will probably take this to consignment.
If you can live with used, Parker Hale's are decent, I prefer them to the Zastavas by a wide margin for their smooth actions and more ergonomic stocks. Plenty of options with them too with lightweights, euro chamberings, etc, on the used market for less then a new Zastava. Good triggers with side safety, proper LOP stocks, usually nice wood on them too, and they shoot good.
There are also the HVA FN98's that are also very decent guns but basic 98's with the vertical flag type safety's, not great triggers (I usually replace them with 2 stage military triggers) and mostly not so pretty Beech stocks.
Then there is the HVA 1600's, nice hybrid 98 small ring type rifle, light, accurate, pretty wood, side safety, trigger is meh but tolerable, very smooth actions.
So yeah...if you can live with used, lots of better options then the Zas M70.
Had a couple of M85's...not a fan, poorly machined & bindy bolt with terrible extractor design that likes to break, bolt handle is too small, got rid of them.
Still have one rimfire, one of the 22 mags, really decent little guns for the price, they make these properly, like these guns.
