Scored My First Yugo!

[Larry D.]

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?

[Larry D.]

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.

[Phosphorus32]

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 

[Larry D.]

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.

[Phosphorus32]

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!

[running-man]

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.

[Boris Badinov]

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.

[Greasemonkey]

berdan primed ammo has a reputation for pierced primers when fired out of the sks.

Uhmm... don't you mean boxer primers have that reputation, considering most all commie military ammo and commercial combloc ammo is....berdan primed

[jmaurer]

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!

[running-man]

Uhmm... 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?   

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.

[Greasemonkey]

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..  


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.

[Larry D.]

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.....
I have some of my Chinese rifle too. I need to get these into the serial data base. 

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.

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.

[Phosphorus32]

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/

[Larry D.]

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.

[Phosphorus32]

Windex works. The active ingredient being the water to dissolve the potassium chloride.

[running-man]

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.   

[Larry D.]

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.

[Greasemonkey]

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.

I said I was an addict. I didn't say I had a problem. I pay my bills, I make my meals. I function

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..

[carls sks]

nice going Larry.  ...... you got them from same guy I guess. 

[Larry D.]

nice going Larry.  ...... 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.