Zastava M85 bolt lever clearance.

[AlHow]

G’day Guys,

I bought a Zastava LKM85 .223 and the bolt only just clears the scope. It’s a pain to operate. Is there a ‘skinny’ scope to create more clearance or has someone modified the lever?

Onya’s.

[bladeracer]

G’day Guys,

I bought a Zastava LKM85 .223 and the bolt only just clears the scope. It’s a pain to operate. Is there a ‘skinny’ scope to create more clearance or has someone modified the lever?

Onya’s.

Try taller rings or offset the scope to the side.

[Billo]

I had my Zastava M85 bolt handle removed and a longer more tapered Bolt knob put back on, they really are child sized bolts

[AlHow]

G’day Guys,

I bought a Zastava LKM85 .223 and the bolt only just clears the scope. It’s a pain to operate. Is there a ‘skinny’ scope to create more clearance or has someone modified the lever?

Onya’s.

Try taller rings or offset the scope to the side.

Blade, I considered both those options. I don’t think higher rings will get me there. Off setting, I’m not sure how I would achieve that.

[AlHow]

I had my Zastava M85 bolt handle removed and a longer more tapered Bolt knob put back on, they really are child sized bolts

Yeah I’ll look into it.

[deye243]

Simple get a leupold at least they know how to make a "hunting" scope ...... the ocular bell is one of if not the smallest in the industry.

[in2anity]

Taller scopes create problems in other areas if you don’t have a cheek riser solution. Get a machinist onto it i say

[AlHow]

I have a Bushnell elite 3200 5-15x40 that was bent. I have managed to straighten this out. Works perfect. It is very slim at 40mm. It has given me more room. I will still have to do a ‘cut n shut’ on the lever.

[AlHow]

Taller scopes create problems in other areas if you don’t have a cheek riser solution. Get a machinist onto it i say

Yeah mate, it does have a reasonable cheek weld. It won’t give the clearance required, but thanks for the thought Blade.

[AlHow]

Fixdit.
I cut n shut the bolt lever on an angle. Works perfect.

[in2anity]

Well done mate looks good. As a regular service rifle competitor, having the bolt turned down such that it is comfortably close to the grip/trigger is to me crucial. From a tight single point sling prone position, the higher you must lift your trigger hand to work that bolt, the more awkward and strained the motion is. For this reason, I find it rather uncomfortable to work a straight bolt handle like on a Swedish mauser or mosin or g98. Designs roughly post 19th century like the SMLE, k98, p14, springfield all feel natural and facilitates quick fluid motion. To demonstrate clearly what i'm talking about, this is me on the p14:

https://youtube.com/shorts/YHf3ASPjyBM? ... 0UCinnM0vA

and another example, a fellow clubmate on his Springfield 03A3:

https://youtube.com/shorts/rC9u2MBvnXg? ... nDmB1V7zLT

The point is, having a really high bolt throw just makes it awkward, not to mention issues arrising from piss poor scope clearance.

TLDR: with your rifle, you've made it way more ergonomical and practical to run. Well done better outcome than stupidly high rings - they are counter productive to good marksmanship.

[AlHow]

Well done mate looks good. As a regular service rifle competitor, having the bolt turned down such that it is comfortably close to the grip/trigger is to me crucial. From a tight single point sling prone position, the higher you must lift your trigger had to work that bolt, the more awkward and strained the motion is. For this reason, I find it rather uncomfortable to work a straight bolt handle like on a Swedish mauser or mosin or g98. Designs roughly post 19th century like the SMLE, k98, p14, springfield all feel natural and facilitates quick fluid motion. To demonstrate clearly what i'm talking about, this is me on the p14:

https://youtube.com/shorts/YHf3ASPjyBM? ... 0UCinnM0vA

and another example, a fellow clubmate on his Springfield 03A3:

https://youtube.com/shorts/rC9u2MBvnXg? ... nDmB1V7zLT

The point is, having a really high bolt throw just makes it awkward, not to mention issues arrising from piss poor bolt clearance.

TLDR: with your rifle, you've made it way more ergonomical and practical to run. Well done better outcome than stupidly high rings - they are counter productive to good marksmanship.

Thanks mate. The difference it has made is awesome. I couldn’t even extract properly prior. It may look close when closed but absolutely no issue whatsoever.

Yep, that was fast on the reload. Also impressed with the loading.