Zastava M70A Safety Problem

[Panzerschwein]

While I just got the gun back together and tried it.

MY GOD. IT WORKS!!! !!!! X1000!!!!

The trigger bow notch now clears the sear lever when the safety is on, but when the safety is off they contact just right. No doubt that was the issue. I'm going to clean this lil' bad boy up, give him so oil, and take him to the range tomorrow!

Brin, I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH. It's people like YOU that really make a difference and make these boards so helpful for everyone. I hope anyone else out there with an M70A, or M57A, can look at this thread if they have the same issue and be able to remedy the problem.

 

[Brin]

I am glad you are happy, this is all the thanks I need.

 

[jhb]

So we can assume it came from serbia with the issue/problem prior to the mod(s) done to it..... correct?

 

[Panzerschwein]

So we can assume it came from serbia with the issue/problem prior to the mod(s) done to it..... correct?

Yes, I think it's safe to assume that.

I shot the gun at the range today. Went well for the most part, but did have some failures to feed with some cheap Brown Bear 115 grain lacquer coated ammo. I think it's probably due to how weak this ammo is loaded, and it's bullet weight. I'm going to try some brass cased 124 grain Winchester or likewise next time. Also, it didn't want to chamber some Federal HST 147 grain loads. I think the hollow point meplat is too aggressive.

But, the safety issue is 100% resolved much to my relief.

 

[jhb]

^understood. Thanks for the follow up.

 

[Brin]

Sometimes, even the expensive auto loaders need a little gunsmith work to fix issues or make them reliable. For a little over $200 you can’t beat the Zastava M70-A or my favorite the M-57. I would bet the M70-A would function better with hotter ammo. I would try some Federal HST 147 gr and see how it functions.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Sometimes, even the expensive auto loaders need a little gunsmith work to fix issues or make them reliable. For a little over $200 you can’t beat the Zastava M70-A or my favorite the M-57. I would bet the M70-A would function better with hotter ammo. I would try some Federal HST 147 gr and see how it functions.

In my post that's the other load I said I was trying in the gun LOL! It didn't like to chamber on the first round on most magazines (I've got six, all brand new), and would sometimes nose dive. It was MUCH hotter than the 115 grain Brown Bear.

If I can't get this gun to run with brass cased 124 grain Winchester, perhaps the NATO variety, I think I'll probably sell it. As cool as I think the gun is and as much as I want to love it, I just don't have any use for a problematic pistol. I understand others have had glorious success with the Zastava M70A, but I haven't been so lucky. I must have gotten a Friday afternoon gun, or a lemon by any other name.

Again, I'll try it with some better quality heavier weight ammo. If it runs with that, I'll probably look for some hollow point that will feed in the gun and if it proves reliable will press it into service as a car/travel defense gun as that's what I originally bought it for (plus range shooting).

 

[Brin]

I would spend some time searching nose dive. Gun’s like this help you learn to be a good gunsmith. Nose diving cartridges are most often caused by magazine issues. With the hammer down’ how hard is it to pull the slide back and how far does it eject brass? Whatever you do, don’t remove any metal from the ramp.