Got the latest AIM catalog in the mail, and I'm looking at the M70AB2 (CIA Yugoslavian). Can any of you AK guys chime in and tell me if this is any good?

Chris

 

Personally I stay away from Century products.

 

Chris,
Funny you ask about the Century Yugo AK's...

I have 2 of the Century Yugo underfolders. The first one I bought is an absolute beauty of a rifle. Great finish, perfect action, shoots great etc.

The 2nd one I bought is somewhat of a problem child. It is a crude representation as I would put it. The sight base was canted (I fixed), action is kind of rough but works. The magazine sat too low and I had to send it back to Century to get it fixed. They sent it back and the mag was so tight I had to go in there do some fitting work.

Overall I would advise that you go to the larger gun shows and hand pick your own AK if its from Century. I would check how the mag sits and also make sure the sight and gas block is not canted.

AR's just dont have this kind of character:


On second thought I forgot to mention that the Yugo AK's that Century produces are made from Yugo AK kits that are in used condition. Overall the guns are represented as excellent and that is an honest representation.

The Yugo's from Century come with a new US non-chrome lined barrel. The original Yugo AK's did not have a chrome lining either come to find out.

The advantages of the Zastava (Yugo) AK is that it is the heaviest made AK out there. The receiver is spec'ed on the heavy side at 1.6mm thickness. The trunnion area has side reenforcements also. The barrel is also RPK heavy even on the short models.

You can tell the difference when you shoot it verses standard stamped AK's the Yugo has much less recoil and just feels better.

 

Chris,

Some of these things have stamped receivers and some have forged, big difference in the quality. Like it was already suggested, you are better off not buying a pig in a poke

 

Thanks for the input, guys. I really appreciate all the detail, Justin. So are these reasonably accurate for AK's? Are there any other AK's you would recommend over these? They've also got GP-WASR ($320) and WASR-2 ($290) Romanian stuff, and Romanian STG-2000 ($350). When I bought my Mosin Nagants at AIM, they let you hand-pick for $5 extra - maybe I'll see if they let you do the same on these. Thanks again, guys.

Chris

 

Yeah, they are probably more accurate than the average AK.
As far as recommendations go, for the money the Yugo's from Century are hard to beat.

You might check out www.gunbroker.com and type in SLR 95, SA 85M, MAK 90, NHM 91...those are some old "post ban" Ak's with the funky thumbhole stocks that can be bought for a fair amount of money. The advantage to the old thumbhole guns is that they were factory made and not made here from parts so they usually do not have any issues that the new "parts" guns might have.

Check out www.akforum.net

 

I picked up a nice stamped underfolder from Vector for ~$600. A little pricey compared to the Century stuff but definitely better quality.