So I was never really into the AK platform. I owned various AKs but never really put in any time with them. I currently own an SGL 21 and 31. Bought in 2012 before the ban. Never fired. Boxed up and put away for investments. Enter my friend’s grandson who was selling his new Zastava M70 because he was low on funds. New in the box, never fired….$800. I like this rifle. Very smooth action……much more accurate than I was expecting. It looks like it has a much heavier barrel and those bulged trunions of course. It was shooting 2” groups off of sand bags. Weight also wasn’t too bad. At 7.9 pounds it’s only about 10 ounces heavier than a standard akm. I’m going to invest in some ammo and really shoot it.
So my question for you guys……is anyone using the JMAC handguards and stocks? I’m not interested in keeping the walnut furniture on it. I want a modern folding stock and mlok handguards. If not JMAC what are ya’ll running for modern furniture?
Sadly I’m not bro! :sad: I have the wooden stock, the Galil-like side folder, and the Zastava underfolder setup (the latter being on it currently). I too bought it for an investment and it has not been fired.
If I was gonna modernize another AK I’d use the Zhukov stock Magpul makes; not sure about the forearm.
Like I said it is unfired, and no there is no modification needed if you buy the underfolder from Zastava. I gotta say though, they look cool as hell, but are not remotely comfortable when actually firing (I used to have a ChiCom underfolder years ago). That strut is in no way compatible with a cheek weld that you’re gonna want to hold for more than a couple rounds!
Yah….I’m sure that’s something you could overlook in a firefight but on the bench you’d be done in ten seconds. I’m going to buy one just to have with the rifle……when they come back in stock that is. That must be a hot accessory.
I’m sure it is. The simplicity of the design and ease of installation, as well as “the look” no doubt make it popular. Seriously, that was a rather ingenious design and the tolerances so close that you can’t really tell it’s not going through the receiver
I am impressed with the Zastava product. I tempted to pick-up one of those DIY M70 kits, since I took the wood furniture off the M77. Would save me like 200$ bucks…
Zastava’s quality is right up there with Arsenal in my opinion…
I’m right there with you. The other import that I have seen in person that got my attention is that Polish WBP Jack rifle. I got to handle it and it had an excellent fit and finish. Seemed to run well……but it wasn’t as accurate as the M70. Shooting them side by side is when I noticed how much heavier the M70 barrel is over an AKM. It surprised me.
Yeah the M70 and M77 both use the “RPK” trunnion with receiver bulges. The M70 is indeed a little heavier of a barrel.
IMHO the Yugos----or Serbs to be correct----might just be turning out the best new-production AK’s on the market, if not in the top three. The fit, finish, and quality are there as well as CHF chrome lined barrels. To me the chrome lining is the biggest improvement over otherwise well-made Yugo AK’s of years past.
Agreed….that and ditching Century in order to do their own conversions.
I watched a very detailed video that TFB put out showing the full Zastava USA conversion process on the M70 and it was impressive. They invested a TON of capital in order to do it right.
Yeah, I had an original M70 from the $299 days at Century, it was built well enough but was a tad heavy for my tastes and honestly I had 30+ AK rifles, the only difference being this one is representative of this country and this one is representative of that. So during the Great Obama Gun Sale of 2008 when they were all selling for $1,200 I sold off the vast majority of my “imported and made compliant CAI” variants.
I was under the assumption January 2012 was an even better time to sell. $100.00 AR-10 Pmags. Nick at CDNN mentioned he watched a buyer at a gun show plunk down $3,800 cash for a Colt Magpul edition M4 :). The Magpul edition M4 was not popular. I dumped my NIB SCAR17 for around $4800 at the end of March 2012. Waited too long to sell. If I sold thirty days earlier I would have obtained a lot more. Freak luck I purchased the FN during the middle of Dec 2011. Amusing how the gun store was trying to twist my arm to sell it to them when it came time to fill out the papers and perform the transfer.
Not trying to nitpick but the Sandy Hook thing was in December of 2012, if that’s the timeframe you’re referring to. So early 2013 was when some people made mint selling “assault rifles” they already owned. You were only a year off.
Yeah but in 2008 I didn’t know Sandy Hook was coming and honestly $1,200 for $300 AKs was more than fair to me, especially since I was keeping my Polytechs, Nodak builds and Arsenals.