The Yugoslavian SKS

TRaTSeRiF said:
Gonna have to ask a few people I know who fired live ones.. Must have been a blast (pun intended) :cool:
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Here's a big shirtless American and his daddy, with a M70AB2 launching with what looks to becthe proper charge.


I have read that you can use a once fired steel case modified for boxer primers with pistol powder.
 
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A few pics of both models. Some I have sold as I had too many to shoot.
The M59 is real tough to find in the states also. We think only 20,000 came in years ago.

M59 #1


M59 #2


A couple of M59/66 A1 series rifles. New and never fired except for arsenal test. Bought these years ago when the actual new from Zastava inventory arrived. These are not easy to find in this condition. They have a thin film of some type of preservative. Stocks are totally dry. Older guns did have como on them very heavy.






A family group.


Now you have an idea of what they are. The third M59/66 in the family pic is Elm stocked. Those were the early made ones. No new ones with Elm that we know of.

Prices? These are $500 to $600 easy. Used ones that look well used are still in the $300 to $350 range easy.

Not much different it seems in Canada or here in US.
 
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I have an M59/66. My parents bought it for me as an early birthday present during the summer Marstar had them, I believe that was 2012. I like it, but I would say that unless you REALLY want one for the history or novelty, you may be better off with a normal Chinese or Russian model, of which I have five or six in different flavors and have been failed by none of them. They also balance a lot better and are more handy.

The Yugo models however, the 59/66 especially, have a history of being somewhat less handy, and even on occasion reliable. They're front-heavy, the barrels aren't chrome lined (although the gas piston is), sometimes the gas shutoff is either worn or not done correctly causing some of them to bleed enough gas for them to have the occasional cycling issue. I don't have my stoppages with any of my SKS rifles, but I will say that my Yugo is the least reliable despite having fired the least amount of ammunition. Four stoppages in say, 1000 rounds at the most. Not bad, but my Chinese one didn't malfunction at all until we reached 10k rounds and hasn't done so since.

I love the history of that part of the Balkans, and I really don't regret owning my M59/66 and it will never be sold, but I do feel that I should tell people that they'll be paying a premium for a rather quirky, try-hard rifle.

If you really want one, I don't think you'll regret it. If you're not too sure about it, consider what I've told you before choosing. Either way, I do like seeing more of these in the hands of Canadians.
 
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Andurp. If you see a regular M59 up there, buy it. They are really accurate. Just check the barrel first. But I shoot corrosive M67 Yugo Military surplus in mine. I just clean it right away. My M59 rifles are more accurate than any of my Russian, Chinese, and Romanian SKS.
I know some of you guys here have some really beautiful M59 up there.
 
Old Outlaw said:
Andurp. If you see a regular M59 up there, buy it. They are really accurate. Just check the barrel first. But I shoot corrosive M67 Yugo Military surplus in mine. I just clean it right away. My M59 rifles are more accurate than any of my Russian, Chinese, and Romanian SKS.
I know some of you guys here have some really beautiful M59 up there.
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I was actually going to get one the last time they were imported, but alas, the funds weren't there at the time and they're now sold out. I've heard they're very accurate and I believe I'll look for one when I'm more secure in funds. I shoot Corrosive M43 surplus from a variety of nations in my SKS rifles, mostly Chinese made stuff from the 60's but Czech and Ukrainian are also very good loads considering what they are and what we pay for them. After getting a M59, I'll likely import an Albanian and a Romanian model from the states if possible - I would like to have a representative collection of every SKS made that are relatively available. So, no East German or North Korean specimens for me. :(

Cheers from Ottawa, humid and full of politicians. I'm sure I'd prefer Iowa.

I like that AK of yours, by the way.
 
That is an M70 from Zastava. Brand new one. The scope and mount are not original. But is is a real shooter. Bought it in 1990 I think it was. Grand total of perhaps 300 rounds max through it. It's my favorite little guardian of the safe. Keeps some other guns in line. lol
 
Old Outlaw said:
A few pics of both models. Some I have sold as I had too many to shoot.
The M59 is real tough to find in the states also. We think only 20,000 came in years ago.

A family group.


Now you have an idea of what they are. The third M59/66 in the family pic is Elm stocked. Those were the early made ones. No new ones with Elm that we know of.

Prices? These are $500 to $600 easy. Used ones that look well used are still in the $300 to $350 range easy.

Not much different it seems in Canada or here in US.
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...OO you just had to throw the pic of the AK in there to rub it in didn't ya...:nest: ;)
 
Sorry to open a pretty old thread. But, I just aquired a beautiful Zastava M59/66A1 with the elm stock and tritium night sights. And of course the launcher. It has only had approximately 120 rounds fired. It still had some cosmo on it internally. It hadn't been fired in over 15 years. The stock has only two very small imperfections that need close scrutiny to be visable.

I spent a few hours totally disassembling the rifle and cleaning what was left of the cosmo. Treating the wood with linseed oil. Lubing and function testing the action. The firing pin was seized and needed thorough cleaning. And the bayonet was seized in the locked down position with dried cosmo. The bore had never been cleaned and had some copper fouling and lots of soot. It is now shiny. I looked at the barrel with my boroscope and it looks new. The lands are nice and deep with no frosting or pitting. This barrel is pristine. But with only 120 rounds fired, it should look this way. Even though the last time it was fired was over 15 years ago. (And no, these did not have chrome lined barrels.)

Unfortunately, it didn't come with a sling, or any accessories. Being a safe queen for so long makes accessories vanish it seems. I have a genuine Yugo leather sling and a field cleaning kit sourced.

So when I get a chance in the next few weeks to get it out to the range, I will report back with my review and plenty of pictures. And yes, I did get it off the EE.
 
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Well right now, without firing it, it feels heavier. And it actually is heavier. The balance is more towards the muzzle.

When I range test it I'll report on the differences between it and my Russian example.
 
Old Outlaw said:
A family group.


Now you have an idea of what they are. The third M59/66 in the family pic is Elm stocked. Those were the early made ones. No new ones with Elm that we know of.

Prices? These are $500 to $600 easy. Used ones that look well used are still in the $300 to $350 range easy.

Not much different it seems in Canada or here in US.
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I'll borrow this picture of Stevan's from above. Mine looks like the one above the AK.
 
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