YUGO m57 Tokarev - good gun?

[Snowdog]

The triggers on both my M57s are quite acceptable. They're no 1911, but they are both good enough that I never had even the slightest complaint about the trigger.

My first M57 was obviously issued and had likely seen some use. It wasn't loose by any means, but it seemed to be more worn-in and functioning as intended. The trigger, from a guess, it around 6 pounds whereas the 2nd M57 (handpick fee) appears to have been unissued (mint) and the action was a bit rougher and trigger I'd estimate around 8 pounds, heavier but still good.

I guess I've been lucky with my M57s. They have been great in every way other than the frosted bore of the first (that doesn't seem to affect accuracy).

 

[doc540]

Jeez, doc, you sure saw him coming. Good deal. Congratulations.

Maybe it was closer to 1,000 rnds of Polish which is now bringing a premium.

He sure did want it, so I sure did sell it all to him.

 

[vellocet]

Those safetys are awful, but they don't look as bad as a hole in the gun(in the wrong place) I ground down the cam surface on the piece so it no longer contacted the trigger group in any way and stuck it back in. Just use half-cock, like the commies intended, for safety and no butt-ugly hole. Looks normal, or as normal as a tok can. Good deal, doc 540. Two happy people.

 

[Dentite]

I just picked up a second M57 in pretty good condition + 600rds of Yugo surplus, 2 mags with a mint surplus holster for $160. Only catch is the seller says the gun has an issue cycling. Cleaned it up well tonight and all seems well but until I test fire who knows. Not much risk at that price considering how hard it is to find surplus and I paid less than what I would have paid for 600rds of commercial ammo.

 

[GBExpat]

Sounds like an outSTANDing deal. Congrats!

 

[Dentite]

First the good news...turns out it was 700rds. Paying $15/50 for commercial rounds would cost $210+tax. So I got the pistol and the rounds for $160.

Cleaned it up and there was some cosmoline and it was a bit dirty.

Now the bad news...the seller had told me there was an issue, and there after cleaning it all up there is still an issue.

Chamber a round, pull the trigger, round fires, slide comes back, ejects round, strips another and chambers it. Only problem is that the hammer followed the slide to the half-cock position requiring me to thumb it back to fire the next round.

I took the hammer assembly from my other M57 and put it in the new one and the gun wouldn't fire...pull trigger firmly and it wouldn't drop the hammer. (That may not be all that conclusive though because my original M57 was doing that a couple times when I first got it. After thorough cleaning it seems to have resolved but it's still a 10lb trigger pull).

Didn't have time to remove the grips to remove the import safety but I did when I got home. I'm going to try it without the import safety (although I'm not all that optimistic that it will solve the problem).

If that doesn't work I dunno...maybe try a replacement hammer assembly.

It's gotta be a safety/sear/hammer/disconnector problem right?

Any words of wisdom would be appreciated.

 

[Nushif]

I have a Chinese Tok made by Norinco that is in 9mm..

Me too! Great gun, for sure. Can't comment on the ones you are looking at though. 8)

 

[vellocet]

Hey, # 56, just send me some of the ammo and I'll tell you how to fix the pistol. Don't feel bad; Yugo 57's have more problems than any other Toks. The crap of the type. Just kidding about the ammo. Try using the primary pull-down, just remove the slide, and remove the safety. The trigger asmbly will move around, don't worry. Just jerk the safety around till it pulls out. Then try the pistol without the safety. If it works, then that is your and many other 57 owner's problem. Please understand that if you use it later, this site and myself are not liable for any problems, from the removal or latter use of the pistol. Mod, if this is wrong please remove it.

 

[KC913]

As far as magazines go, KeepShooting.com will be producing their own M57 specific magazine soon. Their CZ-52 magazines work great in the M57 once you add the notch for the mag catch, but they will have an M57 specific magazine soon. Just a heads-up to everyone before stocking up on a bunch of modified CZ magazines. There are also rumors from a couple of distributors / importers that newer surplus 7.62x25 will be here soon.

And I have no complaints or regrets about the hard chromed M57 from ClassicArms.

 

[jmace57]

I pray you are right about the surplus ammo KC913! Also interesting info on the mags.

 

[Shadow 7D]

While your at it, check out Zastava's site, I wish EAA would import the M57 Lux in both 9mm and x25, and while they are at it, they could bring in the M70 again.

 

[KC913]

jmace57- I have spoken with Century and was told that their new shipment of 7.62x25 will be available in just a few weeks.

Shadow 7D- I've also spoken with EAA and they have made it clear that they have no plans of importing anything to do with the M57. No parts, no magazines, no pistols. It's too bad, too. I was told by Zastava that they have an exclusive deal with EAA and they won't deal with any other U.S. importer. Sadly, it's all up to EAA. I was attempting to work out a deal for a large order of parts and magazines, but, no-go without EAA. :banghead:

 

[Shadow 7D]

yeah, I unfortunately know, wonder if they would do a special run? You would think EAA would be happy to make money on presold guns.

 

[7even6ix2wo]

I paid $200 for mine, it's a cheap, fun gun.

 

[Shadow 7D]

I wouldn't call it cheap, it's inexpensive, you are paying 1950's eastern Europe prices on the machining

 

[Dentite]

I had mentioned a few posts up that my new M57 was having some problems with the hammer following the slide to the half cock notch. Well I ordered a replacement hammer assembly and installed it today and that remedied the problem. Put three mags through it tonight without a hitch.

Even after buying the replacement hammer assembly I'm still only into everything you see here for $200. Not bad considering the surplus stuff is no longer $0.11 a round anymore (if you can find it at all). 700rds of Yugo, a sweet dark holster with contrast stitching, and pretty good condition pistol:



With my other M57 that is near mint condition:



Note the differences in the shape of the import safety:







My only complaint is that the both guns have a pretty stiff trigger. Measures nearly 10lbs with a very non-scientific fishing scale (I have tested the scale with weights and it actually seems pretty accurate).

 

[Shadow 7D]

Take the safeties off and see how much of an improvement you get

 

[Dentite]

Thanks for the thought but I actually just put the safeties in for the photos haha. In my new one the gun won't even fire with the safety in the gun with the new hammer assembly. I see D. Marschal now makes a grip that extends to where it would cover the safety hole but it's for the regular TT-33 size frame. Something like that would be a simple way to cover the holes drilled for the safeties.

I'm also tempted to try the "wrap around grips" he makes for the M57. That extra contour low on the back of the frame might make the pistol point a bit more naturally.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Yeah, check the trigger, MUCH of the weight is actually from a leaf spring behind the mag well, so you can pull the hammer pack (actually easier than the trigger) and see what the sear pull is and then what the trigger pull is with the pack removed.

Some people have said that you can improve the pull with some stoning, but I'd be more inclined to just let the hammer pack soak in solvent overnight and see how much cosmo and gunk comes out.

 

[GBExpat]

...but I'd be more inclined to just let the hammer pack soak in solvent overnight and see how much cosmo and gunk comes out.

Or disassemble the hammer pack, clean/inspect the parts, stone any surfaces requiring it, lubricate and reassemble.

One of my first 2 M57s required a sear spring replacement ... the trigger was HARD to operate. It looked to me like someone reversed it in an effort to get more mileage out of the obviously worn-out part. After replacing that and touching up the surfaces, the trigger is fine now.

 

[Snowdog]

Dentite, good looking pistols and holsters.

Those boxes of ammunition look good too. Much of the Yugoslavian surplus ammuition that was availible came in boxes in rough shape.
Half of the Yugo ammo I received came in boxes that would nearly fall apart at the slightest touch (with the rest looking like yours). Fortunately, the ammunition looks and functions fine.

Both my M57s work wonderfully with the safeties installed.