Still not sure, but probably the yugo, I just like the idea of the grenade launcher(even though...). Any suggestions/advice?
I got the Yugo because it was in fine condition --looked like it had been issued to someone behind the lines and never used and it had a "nice" hunk of wood on it... very few dings and a crisp bore. I put a sprung firing pin in it from Murray's Gunsmithing out of Bowie, Texas. (
Link) The grenade launcher appealed to me also, as well as that enormongous grenade sight.
But recently I also got a beat-up Norinco for $100 --almost the equivalent of a "ranch rifle" or cowboy special, stripped down to Just Plain Gun. Rusty bolt handle and carrier. Had to completely clean it and it worked fine after that. Enough carbon came out of it to cook an eight ounce steak.
Medium well.
I prefer the Norinco for its "handiness" ... seems reasonably accurate, but I like the gas valve cutoff on the Yugo for the simple reason that I don't have to chase brass with the gas shut off.
Actually, I like both, but the Norinco is more "wieldy," if I can put it that way.
Tell the truth, if I still had my machine shop, I'd try to 'jin up a gas shutoff for the Norinco. I'm also toying with the idea of just pulling the bolt carrier tappet out of the Norinco for the same purpose, but I don't know how that would work, or even if it would be safe. Maybe I can stick an undersized gas piston in there that did not seal in the cylinder or something.... maybe pin it in place or whatever... but just for the range, and then undo my modifications to return it to semiauto status.
Sort of a work / thought in progress, I guess.
HINT: And this goes for any time you're gun shopping. Bring a BoreSnake along in whatever caliber you're seeking, and a flashlight or borelight and a case to cart it out of the store with. The case is optional, but I always run the BoreSnake through the gun in question (slightly dampend with Hoppe's or whatever) so I can inspect a wiped-out bore.
Terry, 230RN