First time Yugo buyer

[hawkeye5906]

Hi everyone, potential first time yugo buyer here. I've had a SKS before, it was a chinese norinco and I loved it. However, I traded it for a S&W 459 a while back. I'm thinking of picking up a yugo SKS from classic firearms in the next week or two when income tax comes back. My question is, is there anything I should know about yugo SKS' specifically before I buy one? Pros and cons? Etc..
https://www.classicfirearms.com/yugo-sks-semi-auto-excellent

[Loose}{Cannon]

59/66 are heavier, have a gas valve that can give cycling issues, and no chrome bore.  Otherwise great guns and very well built.   

[Phosphorus32]

They have these high condition Yugoslavians over at SOG too.

http://www.southernohiogun.com/longguns/sks-rifles/sks-rifles-7-62x39-cal.html

[carls sks]

hi Hawkeye and welcome. good to have you here. another rifle that's on my wish list. 

[hawkeye5906]

They have these high condition Yugoslavians over at SOG too.

http://www.southernohiogun.com/longguns/sks-rifles/sks-rifles-7-62x39-cal.html

Do you think it would be better to buy from them or Classic firearms?

[Greasemonkey]

It's a matter of preference, personally I'd go SOG, only cause Classic was flaky back when I dealt with them. Yup, I carry a grudge, even after 8 years.

I'm sure either way, you will get a very respectable Yugo, hopefully loaded with......grease. 

My take on the M59/66  it is slightly heavier, and a little nose heavy. The elm wood stock can have a funky smell, usually worse when warm and adds a bit to the heft when compared to a Chinese. The gas valve and gas tube can be an issue if you abuse it, don't clean it, and are exclusive to this weapon, you just cant throw a Chinese or other part at it and try it. But, being these are like new/refurb units and I highly doubt you will have an issue with it. The barrel isn't chrome, whoopee.. you won't wear it out in you lifetime, I mean unless you go to war, don't clean it, again, keep it cleaned. I have hammered on one for about 18 years, it was not refurbed, looked like they boxed it as they picked them up off the ground. It ain't wore it out, she slaps, clanks and rattles, but goes bang everytime. It looks like the accessories are included as well, that even better, no scrounging around for the fun bits.  It's a like new SKS, what's not to love.

Did ya buy one yet....    and ....Welcome

[running-man]

Welcome to the boards, hope you enjoy it here! 

My first SKS was a Yugo back in 2002 from J&G.  Fair condition at best, ugly as snot, heavy, not a single number matching, a bit of trench art on a very rough stock.  It was reliable though, filthy, but reliable!  I eventually was persuaded to trade it to a board member here for some 7.62x39 golden tiger ammo + cash.   I sort of miss that gun, but I did get a much nicer replacement on armslist a few years ago to fill the gaping hole in my collection.

Here's the original one:


and the replacement I got for $300 back in 2014:


I don't think you can go wrong with these new PW Arms Yugo imports.  All the guns I've seen have been in VG condition.  I'm partial to SOG over Classic myself (different reasons than GM, I'm not a fan of their "boutique" offering of outrageously priced not-so-hard to find guns), but in a pinch I would buy from Classic if I really had to...

Others have these as well at varying prices in varying condition. AIM Suprlus, J&G Sales, or Centerfire Sytems

[Greasemonkey]

Fair condition at best, ugly as snot, heavy, not a single number matching.  It was reliable though, filthy, but reliable!

Whoa   You described mine A Numrich special... I kind of want one of the pretty ones offered, but I ain't giving ugly Betty up

[Phosphorus32]

I'm partial to SOG too, though I've dealt successfully with both.  Classics recent approach with their 2-3x market value sales of their small batch offerings of Mausers etc. has turned me off.

I like Yugoslavian SKSs too and agree with others about potential problems.  They aren't problems on well maintained Yugos. I used to have a problematic M59/66 that I got operating well, but then I sold it when I found a nicer refurb...

[Loose}{Cannon]

Getting a little fancy with the photos eh Phos.....

[Greasemonkey]

Getting a little fancy with the photos eh Phos.....

Must be a long harsh boring winter... First he Enables...now he is dabbling with Photoshop

[Phosphorus32]

Getting a little fancy with the photos eh Phos.....

Must be a long harsh boring winter... First he Enables...now he is dabbling with Photoshop

GM and LC you give me too much credit...I don't know how to work in Photoshop...but I can paste stuff into PowerPoint and save as a picture   

[Direct Connection]

I didnt know they had a photo shop in VA,   But I do agree with all the comments posted. Nothing more to add except somewhere you could find one of them tennis ball launchers for your 59/66  to play fetch with the dog

[Greasemonkey]

I didnt know they had a photo shop in VA,   But I do agree with all the comments posted. Nothing more to add except somewhere you could find one of them tennis ball launchers for your 59/66  to play fetch with the dog

Come on man, we aint that backwoods.....Hightech hillbillys how else do you make livestock look phat and plump, ever seen a holstein with a J.Lo. rump, works great before auction season... Or make roadkill recipes look tasty or make your tractor sexy

[armedhippie]

I didnt know they had a photo shop in VA,   But I do agree with all the comments posted. Nothing more to add except somewhere you could find one of them tennis ball launchers for your 59/66  to play fetch with the dog

Come on man, we aint that backwoods.....Hightech hillbillys how else do you make livestock look phat and plump, ever seen a holstein with a J.Lo. rump, works great before auction season... Or make roadkill recipes look tasty or make your tractor sexy

"Hightech Hillbillys"  You got that right, good stuff right there. Been in my sexy orange tractor most of the night unloading hay, so got a kick outta that. For instance...every1 knows how fishing line makes great tripwire for booby traps, well....so does the safety laser sensor for a garage door opener. Put at about chest height, a lil ways off from the 'ole still.... well, you can do all sorts of things with a tractor battery and some scrap metal 

Hawkeye, I say jump on a yugo while there here man. Every 1 should have at least 1. This batch are some beauty queens from what I've seen and the Yugo's are built tough as nails. Yeah they are definitely heavier but come on....its got a 'flipping grenade launcher   While I may never need to take out a tricked out Mad Max car at distance...Its nice to know I have that option . Plus, it really helps rationalize your upcoming SKS addiction, when you just have to get 1 from every country that manufactured or year or letter block or....well you get the idea 

Since every 1's whipping out the yugo pics, I aint gonna feel left out. My cherry's import 59/66al

[newchi]

Plus, it really helps rationalize your upcoming SKS addiction, when you just have to get 1 from every country that manufactured or year or letter block or....

Yep, never understimate the need for that.
constructing a seemingly good or logical reason, as an attempt to justify the act after the fact (for oneself or others).

[hawkeye5906]

Any thoughts on these serbian police SKS'?
I called classic today and the lady said that in her opinion she thought the serbains police ones were in better shape than the Yugo's.

https://www.classicfirearms.com/yugo-sks-semi-auto-762-39-original-condition-pti

[Loose}{Cannon]

Police... Lol.  Maybe so, but all I see is a......   Yugo

[Greasemonkey]

In the first Classic link....description says those are quoted good to very good, and very good to excellent condition in handpick..and or possibly refurbed.

The second Classic link.. Serbain police hand in's... Description claims they are in the same condition the "police" handed them in.. Could have wear and use.... Its a used Yugo thats good, but maybe close to excellent, again with handpick, But, it includes a free Serbian cop bedtime story included with every one.

I bet they is all the same rifles outta the same crate... One generic Yugo branded, other. Serbian Police branded. A side by side comparision...possibly no difference. Typical Classic... and people wonder why I have an attitude with them and their 7 and some hundred dollar MAS36...

SOG baby..... No fluffed BS, no goofy made up story time, no church prayers.. Just surplus rifle goodness, as is, where is. 

[Loose}{Cannon]

How's that public security eh charle...