Advice for .375H&H Zastava

[Rohan]

Hi hunters,

I recently purchased a brand new .375H&H Zastava, think the model is something along the lines of the m70...there's nothing written on it that says "model anything' so I have not even been able to fill this out on the SAPS 271 application form (doesnt matter). Cannot get to the Zastava website from my side and from what I have seen from other sites selling Zastavas it looks along the lines of m70ish etc The very standard model. Essentially its another commercialised M98. The safety is on the right side as a switch that you press forward as opposed to the normal flag-type on the left on the 'normal' military type M98, but same thing really...

Anyway, it was either this rifle or some other that I have never tested or used in the field at all, so I chose this one. My original dream was the Winchester Safari Express of the same calibre but hadnt enough dollars. Went for a FN but found out about their payment 'issues', so left that idea, plus no shooting range at their shop and very very far from home and more expensive than the Zastava, and quite possibly over 20 years old. I skipped on the CZ, because I have some unkown thing about owning a CZ (as ive used this particular brand all my life), so opted for the Zastava...a cheaper model in all sense of the word.

Before I purchased this rifle I promised myself to be content with it and use my resources to build it up properly, but I am already eyeing the 9,3 x 62 Obendorff Mauser and a .270 Musgrave with Brno barrel and M98 military....im an addict, simple.

What do you guys think I can/should do to it?

My research on the Zastava points to two important things:

1) Float the barrel
2) Embed the action

These two things based on what I have picked up from individuals who have owned Zastavas. Said the Zastavas tend to need this in the first order, but I wouldnt know, never owned one, and not experienced with floating barrels and embedding actions etc and thats why I need your advice. Also dont know about trigger jobs or the Zastava trigger...and all that, please share your knowledge.

From what I have seen, the recoil pad I am going to definitley change to something more substantial as the rifle itself is relatively light...so I will be doing a change on that definitely, they defintely cut back on that one to save costs! Buying a pack of 20 x 300gr cartridges (solids) to test-run at the range and im 90% sure the recoil is going to be a problem. Ive never been squeemish about recoil ever, but I foresee an issue with the little piece of thin rubber something something they put on the butt.

The fit is perfect, when I lift it all points meet and are comfortable etc the front and rear sight line up quickly and I can see myself at the BASA shoots. But the rear sight is very blockish, the front sight is black as night and sometimes hard to distinguish where EXACTLY the bead is ie I sometimes just see a huge black block... when the light of the gunshop shone on top of the sights it was easy but otherwise, though it lines up nicely when I lift it, I feel like putting at least a brass bead in front. Any suggestions?

Its a good rifle to build from as everything is standard and there is a lot of room for improvement. Zastava is not the worst company around either, in fact they have quite a rich history and make even finer rifles, however the one I have purchased is at the bottom of their range. I can picture a good looking AND good working rifle in the making. At the moment its no oil painting. Im not one to waste cash on gimmicks and stuff, I just want the rifle to be as accurate as it can be after I pull the trigger and do my best to shoot it straight

Any suggestions from anyone about this particular rifle or about when/how/why to make changes in general will be highly appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[35bore]

There are a lot of great reviews and some not so great reviews on the Zastava when they were being built for Remington, the Remington model 798.

Without knowing which model you are buying, afraid there is just too much random information on their website, too relay back to you here. Their website shows a lower end rifle all the way up to engraved with gold inlay M70's

Know that's not much help, but you have a good plan of action, tinker with it until it shoots and looks the way you want it to. Keep us posted on the outcome.

 

[Rohan]

Just got off a site now, it is definitely the Zastava M70 Standard.

There seems to be a problem with connecting to Zastava Arms website from here, have been trying for weeks.

Anyway, got it off this site: www.berettaaustralia.com

This is the weapon I bought, except that the stock I have is not the same, mine is the dark rosewood type. My recoil pad also seems much thinner towards the centre ie it hugs the shoulder, and is not as flat as the one in the picture.

View attachment 10677

 

[Rohan]

There are a lot of great reviews and some not so great reviews on the Zastava when they were being built for Remington, the Remington model 798.

Without knowing which model you are buying, afraid there is just too much random information on their website, too relay back to you here. Their website shows a lower end rifle all the way up to engraved with gold inlay M70's

Know that's not much help, but you have a good plan of action, tinker with it until it shoots and looks the way you want it to. Keep us posted on the outcome.

Thanks 35, I will get a pic of the actual one I bought, I spoke to the gunsmith he says its ok to take a few snaps in the shop then I will post it.

 

[enysse]

The recoil pad I see on the website...looks bad, not much support. Maybe I'm wrong. But a good recoil pad, to me is worth it's weight in gold if you are shooting the gun a lot.

 

[Rohan]

The recoil pad I see on the website...looks bad, not much support. Maybe I'm wrong. But a good recoil pad, to me is worth it's weight in gold if you are shooting the gun a lot.

I agree fully. My view on that recoil pad is that it is simply too 'light'. I imagine after 20 rounds at the range my shoulder will be hurting. Definitely going to make a change there.

 

[Rohan]

.375H&H Zastava M70, Leupold VX-1 3-9X40, Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad(slip-on)



The best I can do for now.

 

[35bore]

Nice looking, clean rifle, cross bolt is a plus. Not too much drop in the comb. Congrats, hope you harvest a lot of animals with it.

 

[sestoppelman]

Its basically the Mk X Interarms type Mauser as used on Mk X and Whitworth and Remington 798 rifles, no problem there, a fine action. Later type push button floorplate release, my older Whitworth has the Oberndorf style in the trigger guard bow. I had a very similar rifle for a while in 9.3x62 and it shot very well, had the same sights too. Have you had it apart yet? You might find the recoil lug already bedded and perhaps a second lug on the underside of the barrel possibly. If not, you will likely want to bed it to save stock splitting in the future. Glass bedding seems daunting the first time but if you are at all handy with tools and patient, you can do it. Or have a smith do it. Floating the barrel may not need to be done, depends on how it shoots. If it throws unexplained flyers, the first thing I do is float the barrel which simply means opening up the barrel channel so no wood touches the barrel past the front of the action. If the trigger is the same as most Mk X's it is fully owner adjustable. Did you get a manual for the gun? Worst thing about the pad is the extended bottom which will hang up on your shirt for sure at the wrong time, change it, and round off the bottom edge on DG rifles. Keep us posted on progress, I think you will like the rifle.

 

[enysse]

Nice gun, looks well built!

 

[Rohan]

Thanks gents!

Sest, I havent had it apart yet... The left fore-end of the stock is touching the barrel a bit, the rest is floating all the way down to action - I slid a piece of paper between barrel and stock to check. At the point where it is touching I had to just move the barrel so the paper could go past that point, so I just have to sand away the part where it is touching (very little) and buy some coating. Otherwise I fired twenty rounds so far and zeroed it at 25 meters, it took three or four shots to do this. After that it stayed on point until the pain of the recoil set in, then I started to flinch (after about round 15). So the next day I bought the recoil slip-on. Havent used it yet with the slip-on. The recoil without the slip-on bruised my shoulder, the two points of the factory recoil pad bit into my shoulder and left impressions of the pad on my shoulder, quite painful. Going to get it bedded also, not sure if I should attempt my first bedding on this rifle, maybe I will use my .303 as a guinea pig for these things. And I have already experienced that problem of the bottom of the pad sticking to my shirt(with the original factory pad). In the pictures the slip-on is on over the original factory pad, so you can see how it is very "pointy" at the bottom, but I have sinced removed the factory pad and put the slip-on over the butt, now it looks a bit flatter and feels easier to hold, but it still catches on my shirt, the rubber is a bit 'sticky' anyway...the slip-on is just temporary though. I want to get a fixed pad on there so that I can have it round off nicely at the bottom as you have said. And I did not get a manual.

The action was a bit "scratchy" and rough so I just cleaned it as soon as I got it out the shop and then oiled it nicely, and then worked the action naturally and consistently for a few minutes every day for a few days, but not too much, just enough to get rid of the points that resisted smoothness of the action. Now the action is smooth. At first the bolt handle feels a bit small and awkward but im already used to it, I think this rifle will serve its purpose well.

Going for my first Blue Wildebeest (and a couple Warthogs and Impala) end of June, so naturally the days are getting longer...:huntingrifle:

Will keep you up to date with the rifle's progress.

 

[peras]

Real good working rifle,value for money.Have had one in the company for a few years now,no problems.
Enjoy the rfle.

 

[Rohan]

Real good working rifle,value for money.Have had one in the company for a few years now,no problems.
Enjoy the rfle.

Thanks Pieter, I like your website! All the best for you and the team!

 

[Kent]

I just purchased a Zastava model M70 in 375HH
1" accuracy out of the box, no modifications.
Recoil is no problem. a 12 gauge shotgun hurts much worse.
Very very satisfied and happy with it.

 

[Rohan]

I just purchased a Zastava model M70 in 375HH
1" accuracy out of the box, no modifications.
Recoil is no problem. a 12 gauge shotgun hurts much worse.
Very very satisfied and happy with it.

Kent,

Your rifle clearly never had the 'piece-o-crap' rubber something recoil pad that my rifle had. Take a look at the pics of my rifle with and without the pachmayr slip-on recoil pad. You will note the factory pad is pathetic and thin. The stock is light and slender. I have fired a few 12 guage shotguns in my life-time and if you fired your .375 with the same factory recoil pad as mine had then I salute you if you never experienced any recoil issues(discomfort and pain). I agree that it shoots tight groupings straight out the box as I discharged three or four rounds to zero it on 25 metres then it stayed tight until the recoil became a problem and I started to flinch. I have been using Winchester M70 Pre 64 and CZ 550 in .375H&H for the last ten years and never experienced any recoil problems on the range or in the field... The factory Zastava make-up for the M70 in .375H&H is much to be desired but with a few tweeks here and there it is the perfect rifle and easy on the pocket.

 

[Kent]

I'll attempt to send a few pics of mine.
my first loads were 220 gr. hornadys with 75 grs of H4895, 3000fps.
I started with small bullets as I was worried about recoil.
I have developed a load for the 270gr hornady that produces 1" groups at 100yds with 76.5 grs of RL15. allthese shot from a sand bag rest.View attachment 11472View attachment 11473View attachment 11474

 

[Rohan]

I'll attempt to send a few pics of mine.
my first loads were 220 gr. hornadys with 75 grs of H4895, 3000fps.
I started with small bullets as I was worried about recoil.
I have developed a load for the 270gr hornady that produces 1" groups at 100yds with 76.5 grs of RL15. allthese shot from a sand bag rest.View attachment 11472View attachment 11473View attachment 11474

That may also be a factor, the cartridges I used were 300Gr Highlands(factory loads) that I bought straight out the gun shop. I am still getting into reloading myself. A friend of mine told me to rather start using the lighter bullets and to load down...Maybe the loads I used were hot. BUt that pad needed to be changed. I cant open your pics, ask Jerome the forum moderator to help if you are still struggling.

 

[spike.t]

hi rohan just been looking at the photos of your rifle. i would say the style of the stock is a major contributor to the felt recoil. it has a monte carlo style stock with what from the pics looks like ending in quite a bit of drop. this will magnify the felt recoil considerably compared to the same rifle with a more straight stock, with less drop. i had a rifle with similar type stock in .300 win mag and after 5 shots my shoulder was finished. it had the worst recoil by far compared to any rifle inc 470 nitro, .416, .458 i had fired. i wasnt happy as it was brand new. i was going to get rid, but i thought i would get it restocked similar to my .416 rigby ,and when i shot it next time it the difference was amazing. it ended up being my most used rifle at one stage, so zero to hero by changing the stock.

 

[Rohan]

hi rohan just been looking at the photos of your rifle. i would say the style of the stock is a major contributor to the felt recoil. it has a monte carlo style stock with what from the pics looks like ending in quite a bit of drop. this will magnify the felt recoil considerably compared to the same rifle with a more straight stock, with less drop. i had a rifle with similar type stock in .300 win mag and after 5 shots my shoulder was finished. it had the worst recoil by far compared to any rifle inc 470 nitro, .416, .458 i had fired. i wasnt happy as it was brand new. i was going to get rid, but i thought i would get it restocked similar to my .416 rigby ,and when i shot it next time it the difference was amazing. it ended up being my most used rifle at one stage, so zero to hero by changing the stock.

Hi Spike,

A few guys have suggested I just get a new heavier stock fitted with a nice recoil pad, or buy the remington 798 stock. I think its a good long term plan...

 

[EDD]

Hi there Rohan. Ive had my Zastava for almost a year now and have hunted Kudu, Gemsbok, Springbok and Warthog since the begining of the seoson. I will be hunting Giraffe next week and cant wait to see how the rifle will perform on this magnificent animal...? I also had to do some homework before purchasing the rifle and also couldn't decide what make to go for... in the end i choose tha Zastava because of the price and the action(M98) and i havent regret my decision since!!! The rifle is very accurate and the recoil manageable! The only problems i encountered with my rifle is that the action was very rough and that it struggled to eject spent casings but only in the beginning, and this was sorted out by working the action when ever i had the chance. Today its performing like a gem and i am extremely HAPPY with this rifle!!! In my opinion a great rifle!!!!!