Yugo vs Russian

I have a Russian on the way but prior to getting it off of Gunbroker I kept on comparing the two. From what I read on many-a-boards, the Yugo is more readily available today, comes with a threaded barrel, is usually unissued and still in cosmoline. The only negative is that it doesn't come with a chrome barrel.

The Russian comes with a chrome barrel, and is a real Ruskie :-). Negative is that it's more expensive and a tad harder to find in a non-rearsenaled condition.

What are others' opinions?

I picked up a Yugo last year before the price's went stupid. I lucked into a good one with a nice bore and coated in cosmoline. The stock had a crack in it above the recoil pad, But other than that it was perfect. I kept the original stock and did the bubba Tapco conversion. I really like the way it handles and shoots, But man is it a heavy sucker with the bayo and grenade launcher.
I also picked up a Russian Tula about the same time. And can you believe I haven't even shot it yet! Dad picked one up to and we are waiting to shoot them until we can both get together. He would get pissed if I shot mine without him. So like you say the Russian is the real deal, But I love them all, Romy's, Yugo's, Norinco's, Russian's. If it is an SKS I like it!:wink_smal

Most Yugo rifles have been refurbed as well. They just do not show the more obvious traits that a refurbed Russian type 45 does. There is nothing wriong with a refurbed Russian SKS.
Yugo SKS rifles can and do have more potential to be finicky about cycling. The grenade launch gas system can create cycling isues. Most are remedied with gas valve replacement.
Either rifle is a good choice. Both high quality. Just epends on price and condition and persnal preference.

A careful inspection of my NIB M59/66 revealed a lot of cosmoline.... and some refurb evidence. It makes it no less of a firearm.

I'm a bit more impressed with my two M59's, though. They seem to have much cleaner milling and workmanship than the later Yugo versions.

All three of my Russians are beauties. '53 Tula in original arctic birch, '52 Tula with black bolt and lam stock, and the unfired (by me, at least!) '54 Izhevsk with no refurb stampings.

The two Russians that I shoot group better than my Yugos. But my M59/66 is the only one that can brag about dropping a deer!

The solution, Mide, is to buy a whole mess of 'em from every country and configuration imaginable. I have as many as I have fingers and toes, and I'm only 1/2 way there!

The key.... have fun with them.

lol well said Martin. I'd love to begin a collecting spree of all kinds of sks's from all different countries but I may be forced to sleep on the couch.

lol well said Martin. I'd love to begin a collecting spree of all kinds of sks's from all different countries but I may be forced to sleep on the couch.

Alas, I fear it is late in the game.

I used to see the Yugo's and the Russians going cheap and I always thought ah, what's the diff in those and a Norinco...I wish I would have paid more attention back then because I can DEFINITELY see a difference.

But now you don't see them all over the place and guys are wanting 300 and up for these guns with maybe a decent bore, maybe a sewer pipe. Damn sad because you know there are still THOUSANDS if not MILLIONS of the things overseas, waiting for a good home in USA.

Oh well, hind sight is 20/20