New Arrivals from Ex Yugoslavian Army Stocks

LSB said:
Any idea of manufacturing date
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Nope, I asked them that too, and they couldn't tell me. I have no idea where Zastava puts their date marks, or even if they do. Perhaps there IS date info on them, and TEC simply is not familiar with where it is on that pistol. :confused: Or maybe it's only discernible from the serial # ?, who knows.
 
El_Monty457 said:
I talked to a fellow at TEC on the phone and was told the Yugo M57's are NOT NOS, and NOT refurb either. They apparently are simply used military surplus in grease, I am guessing "lightly used" (hopefully). Supposedly heavier feeling than the civvie/commercial Zastava versions. I always like to know the condition of the bore on these things, as they've usually had corrosive ammo shot through them, but with the grease, they say they cannot verify the bore condition, so IMHO this seems to be a bit of a roll of the dice. One good thing, FWIW, I was also told these mil-spec versions were made prior to the import marking rules, so they have NO export markings on them.
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Good news on the markings, not new but they say excellent condition so I would take a chance on the bore being good!
 
Prairie Plinker said:
Well, here it is, in all it's gooey glory! I snapped a few pics with my phone, not the best but it'll give you all an idea of what they look like. First off, a big hat's off to TradeEx! The boxes were taped up real nicely, it arrived very quickly considering the long weekend, oh yeah....the rifle is pretty nice too! ;)

So this is just the unpacking:

eOQf0ce.jpg


Double boxed!

UPjS0s5.jpg


And drum-roll please!

kFHLp3M.jpg

l8B2I1J.jpg

x0MsW2S.jpg

NOjBYOV.jpg

BxE9vQB.jpg

5XXAuFT.jpg

BIgcyUD.jpg

2HO9Whj.jpg


I'll start off by saying I'm no expert on anything, but this is BY FAR the greasiest mil-surp I've ever bought! It's not greasy either, I should stop saying that, it's like glue. Super glue, that's semi-malleable. That paper that's stuck to the end of the stock I suspect is now part of the rifle! Seriously though, I'm sure if I cleaned it up it'd be a brand new gun! Numbers matching, the bluing is superb, the grain on the stock is beautiful, honestly the couple pictures don't do the stock any justice at all. The only thing I could see that was a little marked was the bottom of the mag. I forgot to take a picture of the sling and ammo pouch, but they're nothing fancy, definitely used. All in all, I'm very happy I jumped on these!

Now I'm faced with a serious problem. I bought this with the intention of having a really nice shooter, but it's almost too nice! I shoot my guns, always have, but this may end up being my first "collectable". Hmmmmm....... :HFU:
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Awesome, looks great, no markings either, looks new, are they all M48A or are some M48. Thanks for the pics and info, now you need to shower in varsol for an hour to get the goo off!!
 
bobdbldr said:
Awesome, looks great, no markings either, looks new, are they all M48A or are some M48. Thanks for the pics and info, now you need to shower in varsol for an hour to get the goo off!!
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Tha pictured rifle is either a transition gun as m48 production transitioned to m48a, or its a refurb. The receiver is marked m48A and the front band looks stamped and welded, but the bottom metal is clearly m48 milled.

Either way, I'd be happy to own that rifle.
 
Prairie Plinker said:
Well, here it is, in all it's gooey glory! I snapped a few pics with my phone, not the best but it'll give you all an idea of what they look like. First off, a big hat's off to TradeEx! The boxes were taped up real nicely, it arrived very quickly considering the long weekend, oh yeah....the rifle is pretty nice too! ;)

So this is just the unpacking:

eOQf0ce.jpg


Double boxed!

UPjS0s5.jpg


And drum-roll please!

kFHLp3M.jpg

l8B2I1J.jpg

x0MsW2S.jpg

NOjBYOV.jpg

BxE9vQB.jpg

5XXAuFT.jpg

BIgcyUD.jpg

2HO9Whj.jpg


I'll start off by saying I'm no expert on anything, but this is BY FAR the greasiest mil-surp I've ever bought! It's not greasy either, I should stop saying that, it's like glue. Super glue, that's semi-malleable. That paper that's stuck to the end of the stock I suspect is now part of the rifle! Seriously though, I'm sure if I cleaned it up it'd be a brand new gun! Numbers matching, the bluing is superb, the grain on the stock is beautiful, honestly the couple pictures don't do the stock any justice at all. The only thing I could see that was a little marked was the bottom of the mag. I forgot to take a picture of the sling and ammo pouch, but they're nothing fancy, definitely used. All in all, I'm very happy I jumped on these!

Now I'm faced with a serious problem. I bought this with the intention of having a really nice shooter, but it's almost too nice! I shoot my guns, always have, but this may end up being my first "collectable". Hmmmmm....... :HFU:
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Can you clarify that is your rifle M48A or M48, some one said it is M48A on the receiver, but I can't see there is A on the receiver.
 
I think the one he has is M48 B. model B was marked as A as well the only difference is the trigger guard.

M48 = Milled trigger guard/magwell, magazine floor plate, follower, forward band & H-band. All parts milled.

M48A = Stamped magazine floor plate, this is the only alteration to the first model.

M48B = Stamped trigger guard* & magwell are a stamped and welded assembly, magazine floor plate, follower, forward band, H-band. Bands are stamped, formed and welded. Branko's book also includes the butt plate in the partial list provided as part of the model 'b'. but this is somewhat confusing since by it's nature, the cupped butt plate is traditionally a stamped part.
* This is the most easily recognized and defining part since barrel bands are so commonly swapped around on
these rifles.
M48-A-Bcomparisonb-1.jpg

M48-A-Bcomparisona.jpg
 
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Markzdb said:
I think the one he has is M48 B. model B was marked as A as well the only difference is the trigger guard.

M48 = Milled trigger guard/magwell, magazine floor plate, follower, forward band & H-band. All parts milled.

M48A = Stamped magazine floor plate, this is the only alteration to the first model.

M48B = Stamped trigger guard* & magwell are a stamped and welded assembly, magazine floor plate, follower, forward band, H-band. Bands are stamped, formed and welded. Branko's book also includes the butt plate in the partial list provided as part of the model 'b'. but this is somewhat confusing since by it's nature, the cupped butt plate is traditionally a stamped part.
* This is the most easily recognized and defining part since barrel bands are so commonly swapped around on
these rifles.
M48-A-Bcomparisonb-1.jpg

M48-A-Bcomparisona.jpg
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Now that you mention it, if I peer past he goo, I can make out now that it's a stamped set of bottom metal, so it's likely a B model. Serves me right for responding on a damned iPhone.
 
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GUB said:
Do we have a choice? Or is it a mix of M48's and M48A's?? And luck of the draw??
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From Tradex itself, looks like Luck of the Draw, but I just noticed that P&S is a listing dealer that now has these in stock and they are offering a choice of M48 or M48A. I don't see a M48B on their site, so likely they are lumping A and B models together through looking for stamped floor plates past all the storage goo.

If I'd known P&S would stock these, I'd have bought there instead of ordering from Tradex like I did, because Jean will usually take requests on things like type of stock wood, model, etc.

Too late now though...

For what it's worth, I've owned probably a half dozen M48 series rifles over the years (and stupidly sold them all over time). This time I won't be selling as this is perhaps the last batch of matching unissued Yugo rifles we will ever see. Most more recent imports have been well used and import marked examples for the same prices Tradex is charging for unissued matching guns. But I digress...

Of all the examples I've had, the M48 B's had noticably smoother actions and shot better. My unscientific assessment is that production quality control and parts standardization likely improved at the factory as production went on and the workforce became more skilled. Some of the milled M48's I've had cycled like there was fine gravel in the action and while they shot OK, they were nothing to write home about. Some of the M48A and M48B rifles I've had were as tight and smooth as an early German gun and shot really tight groups. We're talking all unissued rifles here from back in the days of Master's initial imports of Yugo rifles.
 
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If you can pick, which one would you like to have 48,48A, or 48B?
Claven2 said:
From Tradex itself, looks like Luck of the Draw, but I just noticed that P&S is a listing dealer that now has these in stock and they are offering a choice of M48 or M48A. I don't see a M48B on their site, so likely they are lumping A and B models together through looking for stamped floor plates past all the storage goo.

If I'd known P&S would stock these, I'd have bought there instead of ordering from Tradex like I did, because Jean will usually take requests on things like type of stock wood, model, etc.

Too late now though...

For what it's worth, I've owned probably a half dozen M48 series rifles over the years (and stupidly sold them all over time). This time I won't be selling as this is perhaps the last batch of matching unissued Yugo rifles we will ever see. Most more recent imports have been well used and import marked examples for the same prices Tradex is charging for unissued matching guns. But I digress...

Of all the examples I've had, the M48 B's had noticably smoother actions and shot better. My unscientific assessment is that production quality control and parts standardization likely improved at the factory as production went on and the workforce became more skilled. Some of the milled M48's I've had cycled like there was fine gravel in the action and while they shot OK, they were nothing to write home about. Some of the M48A and M48B rifles I've had were as tight and smooth as an early German gun and shot really tight groups. We're talking all unissued rifles here from back in the days of Master's initial imports of Yugo rifles.
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Markzdb said:
If you can pick, which one would you like to have 48,48A, or 48B?
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Given a choice, I'd take a B with a walnut stock. The b models are rarer in non-BO versions with yugo crests, they are usually smooth actions and they are lighter by a few ounces over the other models. YMMV.

They also have a better sight hood design.
 
Claven2 said:
Given a choice, I'd take a B with a walnut stock. The b models are rarer in non-BO versions with yugo crests, they are usually smooth actions and they are lighter by a few ounces over the other models. YMMV.

They also have a better sight hood design.
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Good to know, I have a refurbished m48 receiver with m48b stamped parts, and I can tell it is very light weight.
 
Claven2 said:
Tha pictured rifle is either a transition gun as m48 production transitioned to m48a, or its a refurb. The receiver is marked m48A and the front band looks stamped and welded, but the bottom metal is clearly m48 milled.

Either way, I'd be happy to own that rifle.
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Yep, stamped bottom metal. I didn't look close at the trigger guard or the front band, but either way I am happy to own this rifle. :)

Markzdb said:
Can you clarify that is your rifle M48A or M48, some one said it is M48A on the receiver, but I can't see there is A on the receiver.
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It is stamped M48A on the receiver, the phone picture doesn't show the A at all, but it's there, stamped just as deep as the other lettering. Filled with cosmo.

Markzdb said:
Good to know, I have a refurbished m48 receiver with m48b stamped parts, and I can tell it is very light weight.
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I was very surprised by the weight actually! When I picked it up from the post office I noticed that, and when you consider there was a pound of cardboard and a pound of cosmo in there, quite light indeed!

I've been cleaning up the reloading press and cranked out a few .357 to try out, and realized what the texture and stickiness of that cosmoline on these rifles is like. If you've ever had to set up one of those fly sticks, or fly tape....that stuff!

I also quickly came to the conclusion that this rifle is going to get cleaned up and shot. It's just too pretty to stay packed away in a box, covered in cosmo, never to be shouldered or fired....nope, not this one!
 
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