Yugo M70 Question

[AZ]

I had always been under the assumption that Yugo M70s have a bolt hold open feature but have been told recently that it is the magazine and not the rifle that holds the bolt open. Is this true, and if it is will the bolt stay open when you remove the magazine? These may seem like obvious questions but I've never owned an AK platform rifle before.

 

[Jet-mech]

Every AK that I've owned or handled had no hold open feature. Just wasn't included in the rifles design. I've seen a few mags that have a tang on the follower that acts as a hold open but they release if the mag is removed. They are more for letting the shooter know he's empty than aiding reloading. I'm sure some enterprizing gunsmith could come up with a way to do it, but I have yet to see it as a feature of the rifle itself. I guess the easy answer is to to pay a visit to a lgs and check it out for yourself.

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

It is the Yugo magazines that have a raised surface on the rear of the follower that acts as a bolt hold open device. The rifle does not have any provision to hold the bolt open after the last shot.

 

[gatorjames85]

Mikee is correct, it is limited to that specific magazine design. Pull the magazine out and the bolt will close into battery.

 

[Ian]

The early threaded-in barrel milled Yugo rifles (typically called M64s) had actual hold-open devices built into their receivers. The standard Yugo AK does not, though.

 

[Buck Kramer]

As usual everyone else beat me to it. Just certain magazines, bolt closes when the mag is released.

 

[SpentCasing]

The early threaded-in barrel milled Yugo rifles (typically called M64s) had actual hold-open devices built into their receivers.

This.

I have one and the button is still there. However I have yet to see one in the US with this part actually functional.

 

[gatorjames85]

The early threaded-in barrel milled Yugo rifles (typically called M64s) had actual hold-open devices built into their receivers. The standard Yugo AK does not, though.

I did not know that; cool info.

 

[Rob G]

Every AK that I've owned or handled had no hold open feature. Just wasn't included in the rifles design.

Interestingly enough the Saiga rifles and shotguns have a bolt hold open feature but when you convert them over to standard AK design the feature is lost. I've always wondered if there was a way to retain that function but everybody I've talked to says no.

 

[Jet-mech]

I think it's always possible to add a hold open to the standard design. The thing with that is that it would likely require special mags or mag followers.

 

[animator]

I think it's always possible to add a hold open to the standard design. The thing with that is that it would likely require special mags or mag followers.

The M64 used a proprietary magazine to work with its bolt-hold-open feature. Basically there was a little window cut on the side of the mag, and the follower would trip the lever and hold the bolt open. The lever itself was nothing more than a small bar that pivoted with a small spring that held it down.

It was dropped so that a standard magazine could be used.

 

[JohnnyK]

@ Rob G... I have converted 2 Saigas... a 12 guage and a .308 and they both still have the bolt hold open... it's just a matter of reinstalling the spring and bolt hold open lever... which took a few minutes but was worth the effort. who ever told you you lose this feature was wrong.

 

[highpower]

My Zastava PAP (basically an M70 variant) came with a safety that has a notch cut in it. Works with the Yugo BHO mags.

Note the notch in the safety:

 

[SpentCasing]

I think it's always possible to add a hold open to the standard design. The thing with that is that it would likely require special mags or mag followers.

Not really. The tricky part is how are you gonna keep the bolt open after the mag is removed? Sure you could rig up some kind of extended follower but it you drop the mag and the bolt shuts whats the point?

 

[highpower]

Not really. The tricky part is how are you gonna keep the bolt open after the mag is removed? Sure you could rig up some kind of extended follower but it you drop the mag and the bolt shuts whats the point?

See the post just above yours. Note the notch in the safety.

 

[SpentCasing]

i was referring to mag mods for BHO.

The real question is.. Are these mods necessary? Is a BHO on an AK an advantage?

Ill start: No and no.

 

[highpower]

I personally like the BHO feature of the Yugo mags. No more pulling the trigger on an empty chamber. A quick inspection of the open bolt to verify an empty chamber, pull the bolt back slightly and engage the safety to lock the bolt back, drop the mag and reload. Disengage the safety, the bolt strips a fresh cartridge from the mag into the chamber and you are ready to go. It takes longer to read it than it takes to do it.

That being said, millions and millions of AK's have been made without the feature and it doesn't seem to affect their effectiveness.