A buddy is thinning the herd.
He's been collecting for a touch over 50 years, and is downsizing in preparation for a move.
He has a bunch of us over for a yard sale and cookout.
Probably 10 SKS's he'd dug out of his storage containers, and I got the nicest one of the bunch, although I wanted the ugliest one, too.
Lotsa cosmoline to clean off. A bit of surface rust on the handle of the carrier.
Since this is my first Yugo, what am I looking for?
Taking a break. It's hot outside here in Arizona!
All the blued parts are exceptional.
Bolt and carrier have some surface rust that needs some oil and steel wool. Bayo is unmolested. Trigger group is great. Top cover looks good. Gas tube and piston are excellent.
Cleaning rod is definitely not original to the rifle, and will need to be replaced. It's bent in two places, really dinged up all over, and the threaded end is peened to the point of being unsalvageable.
I'll also need an original sling and likely a cleaning kit.
Is it an M59 (standard configuration SKS), or an M59/66 (grenade launcher equipped)?
If it's the latter and you say the gas piston and gas tube are good, then the only other thing to be concerned with (besides bore condition) is the gas block. Need to disassemble that and clean the block and make sure the gas port is clear of carbon.
Stay hydrated out there. Looking forward to some pics thumb1
It's a 59/66 and it appears to have been fired very little.
The gas block was clean except for cosmo. Bore is very nice as well.
Quote from: Larry D. on July 15, 2019, 10:12:53 PM
It's a 59/66 and it appears to have been fired very little.
The gas block was clean except for cosmo. Bore is very nice as well.
Sounds like a winner!
Agreed, sounds like you got a good one. Woukd definitely like to see her in all her glory when you're able! Bores are the biggie when it comes to Yugos it seems.
Quote from: Larry D. on July 15, 2019, 04:21:52 PM
Since this is my first Yugo, what am I looking for?
A: A good deal on bulk ammo, and an better excuse to take a day off of work.
A word of advice on ammo: Try out a bunch of different kinds in smaller quantities first. Modern Russian/Ukrainian steel case, berdan primed ammo has a reputation for pierced primers when fired out of the sks.
Check spent casings regularly for any deep strikes and pierced primers, as well as any deformations to the casings.
Quote from: Boris Badinov on July 16, 2019, 08:08:58 AM
berdan primed ammo has a reputation for pierced primers when fired out of the sks.
Uhmm... think1 don't you mean boxer primers have that reputation, considering most all commie military ammo and commercial combloc ammo is....berdan primed
I'll beat the drum again for the best ammo choice for your new acquisition: Yugoslav M67! Get an original "oiler" and put some Ballistol in it-all's well. And enjoy it! I didn't plan it this way, but over time, I've ended up with more Yugoslav SKS rifles than any others. They're great!
Quote from: Greasemonkey on July 16, 2019, 12:39:13 PM
Uhmm... think1 don't you mean boxer primers have that reputation, considering most all commie military ammo and commercial combloc ammo is....berdan primed
No, I suspect Boris is talking about popped primers in new production steel cased Berdan stuff that seems to give everyone the worst headaches. You never heard about popped primers with 70's Chinese surplus or Yugo M67 (or original Russian M43 for that matter), but the past 15 years to current production Wolf, Tulammo, Red Army Standard, and even Golden Tiger and the Bear flavors to some extent have many documented issues. Of course, they are all contracted to four or five ammo plants and production shifts around every once in a while, so there may be a common denominator there Maybe the primer alloy is too brittle, or it's too thin, or the energetic inside the primer cup is more powerful? dntknw1
I do know the Murray's 'neck and throat' procedure allows a bit more room before the bullet contacts the lands, so it appears internal pressure or perhaps the pressure change rate has something to do with it. I also know that the Sino-banian I had major popped primer issues with resolved itself when I took a stone to the end of the FP and rounded it off a bit as it was very square with a flat face and sharp corner.
It's one of those mysterious issues that come along and bite you in specific guns once in a while.
Well..that kinda make sense I guess, considering I haven't shot one in about 4 years and any x39 ammo in my pile is.... at least 8 years old. At least there is an explanation behind the reasoning now.. :o chuckles1
Too busy and to many other toys to play with :). Maybe... I will go buy a box or four of this newer modern stuff and see what happens. Eehh.. one day.
Quote from: running-man on July 15, 2019, 11:54:04 PM
Would definitely like to see her in all her glory when you're able!
I'll take some pictures pretty soon. Not sure if I'm smart enough to post them..... nea1
I have some of my Chinese rifle too. I need to get these into the serial data base.
Quote from: Boris Badinov on July 16, 2019, 08:08:58 AM
A: A good deal on bulk ammo, and an better excuse to take a day off of work.
A word of advice on ammo: Try out a bunch of different kinds in smaller quantities first. Modern Russian/Ukrainian steel case, berdan primed ammo has a reputation for pierced primers when fired out of the sks.
Check spent casings regularly for any deep strikes and pierced primers, as well as any deformations to the casings.
I have some different types around, but it's mostly newer Russian stuff. I have a small quantity of Chicom stuff, too.
Quote from: jmaurer on July 16, 2019, 09:03:42 PM
I'll beat the drum again for the best ammo choice for your new acquisition: Yugoslav M67! Get an original "oiler" and put some Ballistol in it-all's well.
I actually have 3 of the round, brass oilers with leather cases. Why Ballistol, as opposed to something else?
On another note, I sent the guy I got it from a text and asked if the beat up one with the trench art sold. If not, I think I'm gonna see what I can do.
He had several SKS's out for sale, and the most expensive one was $275.00
Some were neutered due to the ban, but 3 or 4 weren't.
IF you’re going to shoot military surplus ammo with corrosive (potassium chlorate) primers then you need water for clean up of the bore and gas system (followed by a water displacing light lubricant and oil).
You can use 10% Ballistol in water but the active ingredient for dissolving the potassium chloride residue is water. I guess the idea behind using the Ballistol water emulsion is that the mineral oil (lubricant) and isobutanol (emulsifying alcohol) helps dissolve the carbon residue and it leaves behind an oily film. You still need to make sure all the water is wiped out and all metal is dry.
I just use water (hot if I’m at home) with a few drops of liquid laundry detergent (low-foaming surfactant; wetting agent), patch until dry, WD-40, patches, oil. The Ballistol:water 1:9 emulsion is a fine substitute for the water:detergent solution.
https://ballistol.com/faq/do-i-need-to-mix-ballistol-with-water/
Many moons ago when I had a few black powder guns, I was advised to keep a small bottle of Windex in the range bag to kill the corrosive stuff.
I don't know if that would work here or not.
I'll definitely look into Ballistol.
Windex works. The active ingredient being the water to dissolve the potassium chloride.
The "use windex to remove corrosive salts" is one of the more pervasive internet myths in the firearms world. It works of course, so nobody really pays much attention to it. I'd rather use hot water myself, the less chemical residue that comes in contact with my firearm, the better. thumb1
Hi.
My name is Larry, and I'm an SKS-a-holic.......
Yugo #2 followed me home today. And a Marlin 81DL.....
This second one is battle worn, and has graffiti scratched into both sides. And it has the flip up night sights.
A perfect match for the first one.
Quote from: Larry D. on July 21, 2019, 01:07:41 AM
Hi.
My name is Larry, and I'm an SKS-a-holic.......
Yugo #2 followed me home today. And a Marlin 81DL.....
Thats a good first step admitting you have a problem and an addiction, baby steps man. Question is... is the addiction a problem or is the problem your addiction. :)
QuoteI said I was an addict. I didn't say I had a problem. I pay my bills, I make my meals. I function
thumb1
Addiction..I've been busy the past month and a half.... really busy.. 2 .45 acps, another dang .32 acp, a .25 acp a .22 revolver....
Now get some pictures to post......... of both the Yugo and Marlin.. thumb1
nice going Larry. thumb1 ...... you got them from same guy I guess. :)
Quote from: carls sks on July 21, 2019, 08:49:29 AM
nice going Larry. thumb1 ...... you got them from same guy I guess. :)
I did.
$225 & $250 respectively. I was happy to get them for those prices. If any of you are in Arizona, I could arrange a meeting if he has any left.
I have 2 Yugo cleaning kits on the way. I need 1 Yugo SKS cleaning rod for the nice rifle, and 2 original slings.
I'll start a thread about the Marlin in the appropriate forum.
Congrats and welcome to the Yugo club :) You of course 'stole' them for that price! Crazy good prices in today's market. I would love to see pics of them when you can, especially the trench art one. I can translate for you.
I have a 1989 with tritium sights I posted here and also have a trench art stock for collection sake.
Got my Yugo cleaning rods in today.
Slings are due in Tuesday.
BTW, I have 1ea extra rod that I'll give to anyone that will pay for shipping. This rod is well worn, and the threads are pretty messed up.
All that aside, if you have a well used rifle that's missing the rod, drop me a line.
nice of you Larry. thumb1
Quote from: carls sks on August 25, 2019, 09:17:12 AM
nice of you Larry. thumb1
No. Not really.
Just paying back a favor I received being a member here.
I might wind up with an extra Yugo sling, too, but not sure yet.
Bit of an update:
I wound up getting everything I wanted for the pair.
Slings, oilers with leather pouches, cleaning kits, and ammo pouches. I even scored a small quantity of M67.
Since I can't really go anywhere, I decided to put everything together yesterday.
The slings I got were all the canvas/web variety with metal tabs and clips to attach. One of them has a name on it, so that went on the trench art rifle.
All went according to plan until I went to install a sling on the pretty rifle. The rear swivel is smaller and the tab on the sling won't go through it. I assume that this means I need a leather sling for it.
That's gonna be a problem, I think. I can find leather Yugo slings here and there, but this rifle is near mint. Finding a leather sling to match the condition of the rifle is gonna be impossible, or dang close to it. I suppose I could just change out that swivel, but I really don't want to.
I have a friend who's a wizard with leather, but I really don't want a repop in this gun.
Anyway, that's the update.
Oh, and I have an extra web sling up for grabs now if anyone needs it. Maybe two if I go with a leather sling.
Still have that cleaning rod, too.
If you have the sling I need, we should talk.
Hey Larry! I just ran across your post. Where's the pics? :) I have a hard time getting pics together, myself.
Do you have a picture/s of what the Yugo 59/66 leather slings look like? I have a bunch of leather slings that I've accumulated over the years. I may have a nice one you could use, if you have a picture that I could use to match it up. I should have marked them all as I got them. Hindsight...yay! I know the leather slings for the SKS were thinner in width, but the ends are what I need to see. Let me know unless you've already come up with one.
My computer's graphics card is shot and overheats when looking at the larger pics for more than a few seconds. Otherwise, I'd search the net for pics to figure it out myself. About time for a new computer.
firstchoice
Hi L,
Does your buddy still have any SKSs left? PAX
Quote from: firstchoice on April 03, 2020, 06:31:57 AM
Hey Larry! I just ran across your post. Where's the pics? :) I have a hard time getting pics together, myself.
Do you have a picture/s of what the Yugo 59/66 leather slings look like? I have a bunch of leather slings that I've accumulated over the years. I may have a nice one you could use, if you have a picture that I could use to match it up. I should have marked them all as I got them. Hindsight...yay! I know the leather slings for the SKS were thinner in width, but the ends are what I need to see. Let me know unless you've already come up with one.
My computer's graphics card is shot and overheats when looking at the larger pics for more than a few seconds. Otherwise, I'd search the net for pics to figure it out myself. About time for a new computer.
firstchoice
Here's a link that Echo1 sent me:
https://www.libertytreecollectors.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=6065
Quote from: echo1 on April 03, 2020, 09:47:28 AM
Hi L,
Does your buddy still have any SKSs left? PAX
He was gonna have another sale, but this Flu-Manchu put a halt to it.
He had a neutered Chicom that I want for a project, but I don't know:
A: If he still has more. I'd guess that he has some squirreled away.
B. If he will ship.
Quote from: Larry D. on April 04, 2020, 05:39:19 PM
Quote from: echo1 on April 03, 2020, 09:47:28 AM
Hi L,
Does your buddy still have any SKSs left? PAX
He was gonna have another sale, but this Flu-Manchu put a halt to it.
He had a neutered Chicom that I want for a project, but I don't know:
A: If he still has more. I'd guess that he has some squirreled away.
B. If he will ship.
You happened to mention if someone was going to be in the Phoenix area, I might be. PAX
Quote from: Larry D. on July 22, 2019, 07:52:58 PM
Quote from: carls sks on July 21, 2019, 08:49:29 AM
nice going Larry. thumb1 ...... you got them from same guy I guess. :)
I did.
$225 & $250 respectively. I was happy to get them for those prices. If any of you are in Arizona, I could arrange a meeting if he has any left.
I have 2 Yugo cleaning kits on the way. I need 1 Yugo SKS cleaning rod for the nice rifle, and 2 original slings.
I'll start a thread about the Marlin in the appropriate forum.
I don't know how nice they are, but I found a 59/66 cleaning rod here:
https://www.tickbitesupply.com/skspart.html
I just ordered it tonight for my gun.
Hope this is some help.
Quote from: Tbone13 on May 14, 2020, 09:39:31 PM
Quote from: Larry D. on July 22, 2019, 07:52:58 PM
Quote from: carls sks on July 21, 2019, 08:49:29 AM
nice going Larry. thumb1 ...... you got them from same guy I guess. :)
I did.
$225 & $250 respectively. I was happy to get them for those prices. If any of you are in Arizona, I could arrange a meeting if he has any left.
I have 2 Yugo cleaning kits on the way. I need 1 Yugo SKS cleaning rod for the nice rifle, and 2 original slings.
I'll start a thread about the Marlin in the appropriate forum.
I don't know how nice they are, but I found a 59/66 cleaning rod here:
https://www.tickbitesupply.com/skspart.html
I just ordered it tonight for my gun.
Hope this is some help.
That's where I got mine.
That's also where I got the AK poster set I mentioned in another thread.
Seems to be a good place to deal with, and they have some interesting items at good prices. On the other hand, some of their stuff seems high.
Quote from: Larry D. on May 15, 2020, 01:43:55 AM
Quote from: Tbone13 on May 14, 2020, 09:39:31 PM
Quote from: Larry D. on July 22, 2019, 07:52:58 PM
Quote from: carls sks on July 21, 2019, 08:49:29 AM
nice going Larry. thumb1 ...... you got them from same guy I guess. :)
I did.
$225 & $250 respectively. I was happy to get them for those prices. If any of you are in Arizona, I could arrange a meeting if he has any left.
I have 2 Yugo cleaning kits on the way. I need 1 Yugo SKS cleaning rod for the nice rifle, and 2 original slings.
I'll start a thread about the Marlin in the appropriate forum.
I don't know how nice they are, but I found a 59/66 cleaning rod here:
https://www.tickbitesupply.com/skspart.html
I just ordered it tonight for my gun.
Hope this is some help.
That's where I got mine.
That's also where I got the AK poster set I mentioned in another thread.
Seems to be a good place to deal with, and they have some interesting items at good prices. On the other hand, some of their stuff seems high.
I know what you mean. I thought maybe, at a fair price, his cleaning rod will have most its bluing left and decent threads. What was that old saw... 'you get what you pay for.'
I can't get out to the gun shops like I would like, so I just do online searches for odd surplus parts. Saves gas and time, too.
The one I got was actually pretty nice considering the age.
It's not like I'm going to be using it.
Quote from: Larry D. on May 15, 2020, 01:55:47 AM
The one I got was actually pretty nice considering the age.
It's not like I'm going to be using it.
:) I don't think anybody could. Dern thing is 15 1/2" while the barrel is 20.. I read somewhere they expected soldiers to team up, join their cleaning rods and get both rifles swabbed out.
We Amuricans are an "Army of One" and the rod is just too short. The story of my life. rofl
Quote from: Tbone13 on May 15, 2020, 02:00:59 AM
Quote from: Larry D. on May 15, 2020, 01:55:47 AM
The one I got was actually pretty nice considering the age.
It's not like I'm going to be using it.
:) I don't think anybody could. Dern thing is 15 1/2" while the barrel is 20.. I read somewhere they expected soldiers to team up, join their cleaning rods and get both rifles swabbed out.
We Amuricans are an "Army of One" and the rod is just too short. The story of my life. rofl
I've heard that about a bunch of Euro rifles, but it doesn't make sense.
If true, you'd wind up with a 31 inch cleaning rod.
Pretty sure the Commies wouldn't want to waste that much steel.
I think the answer lies with the cleaning kit.
There has to be a definitive answer, though.
Necro post alert!
Talked to the guy I got these from.
He's not sure if he has any left - BUT!- he's gonna start going through containers and have another sale next month.
I'm hoping he's still got the beat up, neutered, Chicom SKS. I have a project in mind for it if I can lay my grubby little hands on it.