Zastava M70 Sporting Rifle

That is a beautiful classic looking rifle. Great choice in caliber. Again, a nice looking rifle and a steal at the same price of a Ruger American or Savage

Let us know how it fires, been thinking of picking one up in 30-06.

The one in picture is a Century import that was selling at $400 at one time probably 6 yrs ago. You will like it. I was going to buy one at Cabela's but they were out of 308.

I have the mini-mauser, and while I have some complaints about the design of the gun, the blueing is excellent. Some of the guns imported over the years have nice wood, but are not properly finished. It's like the factory managers acked the workers, "how long do you need to do a stock" and the workers said, 8 coats, 5 hours. And they were given 1 hour and 2 coats.
They were much improved with some sanding and linseed oil or something.

Is this company in anyway affiliated with CZ?

They've been around forever and sold under several names. They are generally rugged reliable rifles, but can be a little on the rough side. Some importers did a better job of finishing them than others. They were sold as Remington 798 for a couple of years and after that were not imported by anyone for several years. I haven't seen a new one in a while. Accuracy of the ones I've owned and shot was always acceptable for hunting, but not spectacular.

They used to be pretty commonly used by gunsmiths as the basis for custom rifles. It hasn't been too many years ago that you could buy just the actions and then have a gunsmith build whatever you wanted. I bought a used custom built on one of their actions in 338/06 at one time. I've also owned 308 and 7mm Rem mag sold under the Interarms MK-X name.

I have several Zastava / Interarms Mark X / Whitworth rifles. There's been a flood of Zastava M70 bolt action rifles recently, guessing these were confiscated after some of the Balkan wars, with individual spinoff countries later tightening private firearms ownership. The only thing you *might* dislike is felt recoil with that Bavarian / "pig back" stock design. You can find Monte Carlo stocks on auction sites occasionally including eBay, and there are other aftermarket stocks available.

The extra drop in the heel in that stock is more suited for European driven hunts, to quickly align the iron sights. But the felt recoil may be higher than more straight line stock design. No way to know until you shoot it for your own tastes.

My rifles have been plenty accurate feeding typical factory ammo (I'm not a reloader). As in not particularly finicky. Scope bases and other accessories are widely available keeping in mind generally interchangeable with commercial large ring controlled round feed actions. Keep in mind these have been marketed under several brand names as mentioned.

Zastava M70
Interarms Mark X
Whitworth
Remington 798
Charles Daly

They have a traditional deep satin blue metal finish not found on other rifles in its price range today. Factory wood stocks are walnut.

The Interarms Mark X owners manual is the best IMO for these rifles as that manual includes instructions on how to adjust the single adjustable trigger many of these rifles were equipped with. I haven't found a set of instructions on how to adjust the two trigger set trigger system many of the Zastava M70 rifles recently hitting the market but I have several shops with gunsmiths stating they have the experience and expertise to adjust those twin trigger systems.

Here's a link to an electronic copy of the Interarms Mark X owners manual.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw2Fmsy8C-Nf6suP8x4yKpJV

Hard copy version of that manual is available for purchase on eBay and various internet gun auction sites. There are electronic copy owners manuals for other names (Remington Model 798 and USSG Z98) on the internet as well, and as Zastava LK M70.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAGegQIBRAC&usg=AOvVaw04rwr2N_PN-zvRzpHdf8In

Century Arms International version

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAFegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw1uQuD6tHOFoDw2tQ12zxhN

Current USA new production importer's version

https://zastavaarmsusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/LK-M70-LK-M85-manuals-ZA-USA.pdf

Current USA new production importers website

https://zastavaarmsusa.com

I like these rifles' features and price points. The current USA new production importer is only importing a limited selection of cartridge chamberings compared to the whole list available from the factory in Serbia, and available as pre-owned of course. For example I've picked up a couple in 7mm-08 Remington and 7X64mm Brenneke pre-owned; one of the 7X64mm I snagged is a 20" barrel full stock (Mannlicher style) but it needs a little rehab such as a new recoil pad.

I've found 2 different Picantinny style scope bases available for these rifles. One is aluminum made in USA and the other is steel made in Slovenia, in addition to the widely available Weaver, Leupold, etc scope bases. These give more options with balancing scope clearance issues for the bolt handle and objective bell. Let me know if you want hyperlinks to those.

Post up a review after you get delivery on yours and have a chance to take it to the range.

Here's the Made in USA rail, it's available in 0 MOA (which is what I bought) and 20 MOA. I bought mine on eBay for a little over half this cost but I haven't seen such deals recently.

0 MOA

https://www.egwguns.com/scope-mount...g-picatinny-rail-scope-mount-0-moa-commercial

20 MOA

https://www.egwguns.com/scope-mount...-picatinny-rail-scope-mount-20-moa-commercial

Steel 0 MOA is Rusan, they're on eBay also. The standard $9.90 shipping took less than 2 weeks including clearing US Customs. My credit card added a 3% fee as it was probably charged in Euros.

https://www.optics-trade.eu/us/rusan-picatinny-rail-crvena-zastava-m70.html

Enjoy your new rifle!

Here's my most recent Zastava acquisition FWIW; $449 and zero shipping or FFL transfer fees, and a foam lined plastic rifle case and cable lock thrown in when I picked it up after having it shipped to my local Bass Pro.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...-m70-7mm-08-rem-like-new.cfm?gun_id=101377276

I plan on mounting a Sig Sauer Whiskey3 2-7X33mm Hellfire IR scope on it.

i bought one at a flea market for 200.00 with a American style syn stock in 3006, used but not abused. its my loaner-bad weather rifle, I mounted a older 4x leupold scope and with factory 150 gr shells its a solid 1.5" rifle.

Mr. Zorg said:

guessing these were confiscated after some of the Balkan wars, with individual spinoff countries later tightening private firearms ownership

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Do you have a source for this assumption? Most that I have seen are new in box with manuals and appear to be produced for hunters.

I have one in 308 in the Charles Daly trim. It has a boyds stock and a 2 position wing safety. I wish it had a 3 position safety.

Do the current imports with the side thumb safety have a provision to lock the bolt?

I have a lefty version in 7mm Mauser. Very nice and practical rifle!

HB said:

Do you have a source for this assumption? Most that I have seen are new in box with manuals and appear to be produced for hunters.

I have one in 308 in the Charles Daly trim. It has a boyds stock and a 2 position wing safety. I wish it had a 3 position safety.

Do the current imports with the side thumb safety have a provision to lock the bolt?

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If you haven't been watching Gunbroker.com for these rifles in particular in the last several months, use the word Zastava in a search of completed transactions in the last 90 days for bolt.action rifles and you'll see what I've seen, and purchased perhaps. My last such purchase is a 7X64mm Brenneke carbine with 20" barrel and full stock (Mannlicher style). One seller in particular "ammo-arms" has the most listed now, I've purchased from this seller as well as "sreisel".

As far as a source goes, no I'm not an importer nor merchant but as I posted speculation with a colleague currently living in Croatia who grew up in Yugoslavia. TBH I really don't care what the origin is of these rifles. Can you tell us what info you have available for a different hypothesis? And once you see the various importer's marks, do you plan to contact them to get more concrete info?

It's quite obvious these are all civilian rifles with M70 actions and predominantly with two triggers. But Cabela's used gun library has a number built on M48 actions with various degrees if being "sporterized" as well (and have sold numerous such rifles). Some have the sliding thumb safety on the side (M70) some have the safety on the bolt (M48) and some are an amalgamation of different features. You'll see for yourself if you go look. The LK (bolt action) Zastava M70 has *always* been a civilian market firearm.

Based on the image the OP posted, and cartridge it's chambered for, I'd say that rifle was most probably purchased from seller "ammo-arms" on Gunbroker.com.

.308 Winchester is a cartridge chambering I've chosen not to purchase as the Zastava standard rifling twist rate used in their factory barrels is 1:12 inches vs the 1:10 inches used for their .30-06, .300 Win Mag, and 7mm-08 factory rifle barrels.

Here's a reference chart FWIW.

http://www.gsgroup.co.za/faqtwistratebymanuf.html

HB said:

I have one in 308 in the Charles Daly trim. It has a boyds stock and a 2 position wing safety. I wish it had a 3 position safety.

Do the current imports with the side thumb safety have a provision to lock the bolt?

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A three position bolt mounted safety is only a matter of $$$ for any traditional Mauser action rifle. NECG is one source for such parts, there are others including eBay.

https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ALeKk01OE_cVju73Ga1TsizAkEymDEHFkA:1583281325387&source=hp&ei=rfReXuPLFMiytgXI-4bQBA&q=necg+mauser+safety&oq=necg&gs_l=mobile-gws-wiz-hp.1.2.35i39l3j0l3j0i10j0.14174.16599..20475...1.0..0.102.365.3j1......0....1.......8..35i362i39j0i131i155j46i131j46j0i131j0i131i67j0i67j46i67.3LUbT-KS_rk

My Zastava M70 in 308 is actually a home built rifle on Zastava barreled action with a military lower metal and a Boyd's adjustable trigger. It shoots fine but not as accurate as my other 308 bolt guns, maybe is the sporter barrel while my other 308s have heavy barrels, one Howa, the other is a home built mauser.

The Zastava M70 LK actions and barreled actions were sold individually and en masse over the years since initial production in 1970 (hence M70). So there's individual custom rifles and mass produced rifles using these actions and barreled actions. Remington used their chosen list of chamberings in barreled actions for their 798 rifle, purchasing laminated stocks and synthetic stocks from other sources. I don't know if the walnut stocked Remington 798 rifles wore Zastava furniture or sourced somewhere else.

I have a .338-06 that's a rebarreled Remington 798 (I purchased it that way).

The full stock (Mannlicher style) are rifles I like in certain chamberings. I have .243 Winchester, .270 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, and 7X64 Brenneke full stock 20" barrel carbines. I've seen that style chambered in 7mm Remington Magnum and .300 Winchester Magnum but passed on purchasing those 20" barrel full stock carbines. I bet those are real flamethrowers at least when shooting factory ammo!

Here's a couple of full stock examples in .270 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, and 7X57mm Mauser for reference.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/855747617

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/859551933

https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...s/zastava-mark-x-7x57mm-.cfm?gun_id=101380953

And a simple single trigger action example.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/859540767

Examples with Monte Carlo stocks

https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...mm-08-rem-like-new.cfm?gun_id=101377276#mob-1

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/853378560

Example with American style stock (I've only seen a few). Note how straight the lines are from the action through the buttstock. I've seen both half stocks and full (Mannlicher) stocks of this style.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/859553050

redneck2 said:

Is this company in anyway affiliated with CZ?

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No.

CZ is in the Czech Republic, formerly a part of the Czechoslovakia.

Zastava (ZCZ = Zavodi Crvena Zastava, now Zastava Arms) is in Serbia, which was formerly part of Yugoslavia.