Question About Zastava M70 Rear Sight Base

SwampTrooper · Jul 1, 2026

I have been doing quite a bit of amateur gunmaking lately and have the chance to acquire a Zastava M70. I find the rear sight to be not the most elegant and would love to replace it with a NECG rear express sight if I pull the trigger on the purchase. My question is whether the rear sight base on the M70 is soldered on or if it is drifted into a dovetail cut onto the barrel. From all the photos I have found I cannot quite tell so I hoping to ask someone who has physically dealt with the rifle. It makes or breaks the decision because I cannot solder a new base over the void of a dovetail cut and it would look quite ugly. Thanks for the help!

Ontario Hunter · Jul 1, 2026

Zatava M70 is an assault rifle.

SwampTrooper · Jul 1, 2026

Ontario Hunter said:
Zatava M70 is an assault rifle.

You are correct sir! It is the same name for their AK pattern but run it in google and you’ll see it’s also the same name for their bolt action sporting rifle.

SwampTrooper · Jul 1, 2026

Here is a link to their catalog: https://zastava-arms.rs/en/hunting-rifle-m70/

Ontario Hunter said:
Zatava M70 is an assault rifle.

V42 · Jul 1, 2026

The barrel is drilled and tapped, it's a metric thread. M3 IIRC.

Ontario Hunter · Jul 1, 2026

SwampTrooper said:
Here is a link to their catalog: https://zastava-arms.rs/en/hunting-rifle-m70/

Thanks. Very strange they would give their assault rifle and hunting rifle the same name. Looking at several images, the base to rear sight is not dovetailed into the barrel. The leaf is dovetailed into the base. Hard to tell if the base is soldered on or screwed on. Given this is a manufactured rifle vs custom, I would bet the rear sight base is held on with one screw underneath the leaf dovetail. Can you contact their support and ascertain?

Edit: I see the question was just answered. It's as I suspected.

SwampTrooper · Jul 2, 2026

V42 said:
The barrel is drilled and tapped, it's a metric thread. M3 IIRC.

Drilled and tapped is fine! Thank you so much for letting me know!

roklok · Jul 2, 2026

Yes, it is secured by two screws. I have a Remington 798 which is just a Zastava M70 rebranded by Remington. It had the same rear sight you pictured. I removed it and installed a ERA sight from NECG.

Here are pictures of the factory sight:

The ERA sight base from NECG is only designed to be retained by one screw. I drilled a blind hole into underside of the ERA base to line up with the second screw. I then cut the head off the second screw, so that the base with drilled hole would sit over the threaded screw shank in second hole. I filled the drilled hole on underside of base with epoxy, placing the threaded cut off screw into hole filled with epoxy, then screwed the sight base on with the remaining screw through the factory installed screw hole which is located under dovetail for sight insert. The net effect is the sight base is retained by both screws, not just one. If I ever need to remove the base, I will have to add heat to soften epoxy to release the second screw. Here is a pic of upgraded base on my rifle:

SwampTrooper · Jul 2, 2026

roklok said:
Yes, it is secured by two screws. I have a Remington 798 which is just a Zastava M70 rebranded by Remington. It had the same rear sight you pictured. I removed it and installed a ERA sight from NECG.

Here are pictures of the factory sight:View attachment 774372
View attachment 774373

The ERA sight base from NECG is only designed to be retained by one screw. I drilled a blind hole into underside of the ERA base to line up with the second screw. I then cut the head off the second screw, so that the base with drilled hole would sit over the threaded screw shank in second hole. I filled the drilled hole on underside of base with epoxy, placing the threaded cut off screw into hole filled with epoxy, then screwed the sight base on with the remaining screw through the factory installed screw hole which is located under dovetail for sight insert. The net effect is the sight base is retained by both screws, not just one. If I ever need to remove the base, I will have to add heat to soften epoxy to release the second screw. Here is a pic of upgraded base on my rifle:

View attachment 774375

Clever way to do it! Looks very sharp. I was going to use silver solder but your way seems to be a bit easier with less to go wrong.

Ontario Hunter · Jul 2, 2026

I have Winchester Safari Express sights on both my rifles. They are attached with only one screw underneath the adjustable leaf. These had flip down leaf but I think the newer variety is permanently upright. The base easily would cover second screw hole. I would plug it with blind screws which are available from any gunsmith supply ... wait, those are metric. Might be a bit harder to find metric blind machine screws. These sights come up all the time on eBay.

rdog · Jul 10, 2026

SwampTrooper said:
I have been doing quite a bit of amateur gunmaking lately and have the chance to acquire a Zastava M70. I find the rear sight to be not the most elegant and would love to replace it with a NECG rear express sight if I pull the trigger on the purchase. My question is whether the rear sight base on the M70 is soldered on or if it is drifted into a dovetail cut onto the barrel. From all the photos I have found I cannot quite tell so I hoping to ask someone who has physically dealt with the rifle. It makes or breaks the decision because I cannot solder a new base over the void of a dovetail cut and it would look quite ugly. Thanks for the help!
View attachment 774245

It is screwed on but its not the usual 6x48 thread its metric & appears to be a little smaller than 6x48. i have 4 of these rifles in 375 H&H, 6.5X55 , 9.3X62 & 8X57 they require a little work to clean them up but could not be happier with the results, all steel construction, hammer forged bbls true M98 actions adj triggers. the stocks are walnut but a gamble some have good fit & grain & other are fence posts i re stocked my 9.3 x62.

Question About Zastava M70 Rear Sight Base

SwampTrooper

Ontario Hunter

SwampTrooper

SwampTrooper

V42

Ontario Hunter

SwampTrooper

roklok

SwampTrooper

Ontario Hunter

rdog

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