Yugo AK

[B.FRANKlin]

Recently found a really nice "as new" Yugo AK-47. Several foibles about it though. The comb of the stock sets too high and I have to squish my cheek into it to see the sights. Does anybody else have that problem? Also, no bolt hold open, no storage in the stock and the rear sling hitch is on left the side of the receiver end, not on the stock. Where could I find a nice wooden stock with a low, or no, comb on top? (the Yugo AK has no metal out over the stock for a top screw like the Chinese do.)
But the only major gripe is the high comb. Otherwise, it's a primo example of the breed. Found what is supposed to be a Russian(?) bayonet with scabbard, but no frog, in a friend's BudK knives catalog. $14.95 + shipping and it came with a Russian(?) two pocket magazine pouch (and a little grease on the blade)! It has the reddish bakelite handle, saw-back blade w/wire cutter feature. Good enough!
Have you seen the prices for 7.62X39 ammo lately? Wolf has changed the name of it's green cased military surplus ammo to "Military Classic" and doubled the price! It seems there is a big demand (BY OUR ENEMIES!) for this ammo "world wide". and exports to the US have been cut back.......or is it just greed taking over the world markets? :uzi:

[Gecko45]

The bolt hold open is a function of the magazine, not the rifle. The bolt slides forward when the Yugo BHO magazine is removed.

[B.FRANKlin]

I forgot to mention the grenade launcher sight that cuts off the gas port when you raise it.

[fffg100grns]

That Wolf did go up, sad but still one of the cheepest, Brown Bear is like $5 less /500 is all. I like the SKS and I am not happy with the ammo price increase.

[Gunners762]

The bolt hold open is a function of the magazine, not the rifle. The bolt slides forward when the Yugo BHO magazine is removed.
I think the Bulgarian Waffle mag followers are designed the same way?Its been a long time since I had any Waffle mags. I sold them all off with a SAR-1 rifle to sweeten the deal.

[Magnum88C]

Have you seen the prices for 7.62X39 ammo lately?
Sure have. Still cheaper than .223 or .308 surplus.
Buy it while you can, the price goes up again Jan 1. Pretty soon, we'll be bitching that it costs as much as other ammo and the $150/1000 were the "good ol' days".

[Gunners762]

7.62x39 ammo deals still can be found. Like Magnum88C said, still better then mil-surp 7.62x51 or 5.56x45 mm prices. I like to practice alot with my K98 and M44 rifles. You get alot of bang for the buck range time using the 7.62x54R and 7,92 x 33 mm rounds.

[Flinter]

I think the Bulgarian Waffle mag followers are designed the same way?Its been a long time since I had any Waffle mags. I sold them all off with a SAR-1 rifle to sweeten the deal.
Nah, Yugo is the only type I know of with the hold open feature.

[bthest]

My Yugo has another hold open feature. It took me a while to figure it out.

(1. Pull the bolt back. (2. Line up the charge handle with the saftey switch dimple. (2. Squeeze trigger and the bolt should stay in place.

To release it just pull it back and let it go.

[Flinter]

(1. Pull the bolt back. (2. Line up the charge handle with the saftey switch dimple. (2. Squeeze trigger and the bolt should stay in place.
I'd like to see what's going on internally there.

I know of guys who have cut a slot in their safties so that they can hold the bolt open, this is the first I've heard of your method though.

Interesting...

[bthest]

As far as I can tell, when I squeeze the trigger (with bolt pulled back to certain spot) the sear releases the hammer which catches the bottom of the bolt keeping it from moving foward.

It took me a while to figure it out but it works 100% and doesn't seem to damage anything.

Now its a habbit.

Whenever the magazine empties and catches the bolt I just bring my left hand over, pull the bolt back a little and squeeze the trigger and the bolt holds fast while I reload another magazine. Then I pull it back to engage the sear and let it chamber a round.

Now if another Yugo AK owner would confirm that this isn't a fluke.

I can send a video of it if anyone wants to see what I'm talking about.

[neolithic hunter]

well the first time you hold the bolt back that way, remove a mag put a fresh one in, drop the bolt chambering a round, and have it go off, because the hammer follows the bolt home you'll quit doing that. that is a very dangerous way to hold the bolt back, the rifle was never designed for the bolt to be held back for mag changes. just shoot your last round, change mags and pull the charging handle to the rear and reload the rifle. its not really complicated to use it the way it was designed. as for the bolt hold open mags, its the mag follower thats holding the bolt open. the yougoslavs wanted to know when a rifle was completly empty, it was the simplest solution to there problem. when you pull the empty yugo mag the bolt will close on an empty chamber, without the mag holding it open. still not the nicest way to do it but functional. as for the bolt being stuck back by the hammer it will quit doing it after the rifle is broken in, the parts will smooth up. have fun and be safe:cool:

[bthest]

Why? Is such operation detrimental to the trigger assembly?

[neolithic hunter]

its not that it will harm the trigger and sear system, its that it is a very dangerous practice. if you hand slips off of the charging handle befor the hammer is locked back it can case the rifle to discharge when you don't want it to. :cool:

[Gunners762]

I just duplicated (bthest) method using a Mak90 made in 1990 and a Polytech Legend made in 1988. I also tried a Romak WASR10 made in 1999. It doe's work ! Half assed... If you jar the rifle in any way the bolt & Bolt Carrier/piston will fly forward . The hammer doe's not engage bolt face and stays in a cocked/locked position. It doe's not travel with the bolt unless the the trigger is pulled causing the Sear/disconnector to disengage the hammer. You would have to pull the trigger after you released the bolt Carrier, bolt carrier has come full forward for the hammer to come forward. You can hold the trigger down and (Charge weapon) charge/pull back charging handle (Trigger held down) and release charging handle and the hammer will stay cocked until you release trigger and pull trigger again.(Semi Rifle) I can get the bolt to hang up without Actuating the trigger. When he pulls the bolt back he is still recocking the weapon. When the bolt carrier is released with magazine inserted or not the hammer stays in place until trigger is pulled. Just alot of nothing for nothing. Buy the Yugo mags and be safe. Or mod your current followers with roto tool.

[bthest]

@Neolithic Hunter

Oh I see. Note that the actual "bolt locking" takes place with an empty magazine after the follower has stopped the bolt. Yes its more complicated than simply allowing the bolt to slam home between mags but it is fun to chamber a round from an open bolt on an AK-47.

Of course the rifle is always pointed downrange during mag changes anyway. :)

@gunners

Hmmm maybe it is just a fluke with my gun then. My bolt stays back pretty securly. I've tried pushing it back and jarring it but it stays put until I pull it back and release it.

But I think I will stick to traditional mag changes since I don't want to trust a "fluke" to stay put 100% of the time.

[Gunners762]

its not that it will harm the trigger and sear system, its that it is a very dangerous practice. if you hand slips off of the charging handle befor the hammer is locked back it can case the rifle to discharge when you don't want it to. :cool:
This can happen also...Any time you release the charging handle you run the chance of a slam fire.( A round fire's before the bolt is locked ) Caused by dirt and dried grease inside bolt. Allowing the firing pin to stick.

[Flinter]

This can happen also...Any time you release the charging handle you run the chance of a slam fire.( A round fire's before the bolt is locked ) Caused by dirt and dried grease inside bolt. Allowing the firing pin to stick.
Which is one of the many reasons why I prefer Bulgarian AK's. They are the only AK that I know of with a firing pin return spring.

Now you may have just thought "one more thing to break"....but if it does, then you are right back at standard AK firing pin set up.

[Urban Hillbilly]

Which is one of the many reasons why I prefer Bulgarian AK's. They are the only AK that I know of with a firing pin return spring.

Now you may have just thought "one more thing to break"....but if it does, then you are right back at standard AK firing pin set up.


is this firing pin return spring setup to function like a standard firing pin return spring, as in say a 1911 for example?
if it is, and it breaks, becareful as it can actually cause a bind with the spring peices and the firing pin inside the bolt. if that happens and the firing pin is sticking out of the bolt alittle.. that could be very bad news. 30 rounds of slamfired 7.62X39 being hosed all over the place uncontrollably just doesnt sound like a really good time to me.

im not trying to sling poop at your weapon, just askin a question and if it is the same as the 1911, offering up something to be aware of.
im a BIG fan of the simple 1911, and i love simple. on the bright side... if that spring did break you COULD remove it and still have a standard, nice and normal, AK. wich i absolutely LOVE the AK for being so rugged and simple!! i just wish i never sold mine... :-(

[Flinter]

is this firing pin return spring setup to function like a standard firing pin return spring, as in say a 1911 for example?
Yep, same basic set up.