Yugoslavian M24/47

[traveler106]

Hello,

I just purchased a Yugoslavian M24/47 8mm WWII surplus rifle (I'm on my first day of the annoying 10-day waiting period).

Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for me before I take it to the range. The bolt and the action don't have any rust on them, but I will need to clean off all the grease. The other metal work is a little tarnished, but not bad. The stock doesn't have any damage, because it wasn't used, but it is old, so it's showing signs of age.

Is there anything I need to know before I try to fire it, as far as making sure it's safe and firing it won't damage it?

Even if it turns out that I shouldn't fire it, it's still a good buy. It cost $100, and it comes with the original accessories (the bayonet, cartridge case, etc.), all wrapped in old Yugoslavian newspaper.

Thanks!

 

[mrmeval]

If you bought it from a dealer ask them if they've checked the headspace. I assume that a gun store would do at least a minimal safety check but it can't hurt to ask and their response will reveil a lot about the dealer.

Learn how to disassemble it and clean it then do so. Be sure to fully disassemble the bolt and make sure all of the grease is removed and then apply lubricant.

If you look to the subjects on the right it has bolt and rifle disassembly
http://www.surplusrifle.com/yugom48/index.asp
It's a good site for an enormous amount of information on surplus riles, the owner Jamie Mangrun is ill and has turned it over to Tn Gun Parts who've been a good sponsor so it will continue.

There are many options for lubrication. I have had good luck with CLP as a light cleaner and a good lubricant. Ask the dealer to recommend a cleaner and a lubricant and try them.

Once it's fully clean check the operation without ammunition and see if it feels smooth and doesn't bind. Check that the safety works.

 

[traveler106]

Thanks!

That is a great site.

I noticed that the rifle they're talking about looks exactly like the one I bought, but its model number is M-48, while the place where I bought mine (Big 5) calls it an M24/47 (which I haven't been able to find a reference to anywhere else).

Does anyone know why that is?

 

[mrmeval]

Opps, I just grabbed the first information on the Yugo I could find. I was unaware of all the variants. As to it's operation, mausers are fairly consistent in dissassembly and cleaning, the saftey usually operates the same on all of them. If you cannot find a specific manual the M48 below should work. I had an FR8 and have two different turk mausers that all worked the same. Parts interchangability is not guaranteed.

Everything you could want on it's history.
http://carbinesforcollectors.com/yugo_serb.html

Yours is probably worth more than an M48.

M48 manual, scroll down to the download link.
http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl02-e.htm

Good write up on the confusion.
http://www.marstar.ca/yugo-M1.htm

Brief quote

- The differences between the Model ‘1924’ and the ‘M-24’ Mausers are so minor it is quite difficult to tell them apart (which explains why some people argue about the M-24 being either pre-war, WWII, or post-war, and either refinished or not). The truth is these people are mistakenly lumping the Yugoslavian 1924, M-24, M-24/47, and M-24/52 into a single designation when there are in fact four distinct variations thereof, each produced at a different time.

- Others mistakenly confuse the Yugo M-48 designation (post-war mfg.) with the Yugo M-98 (remarked German K-98) and so on ad nauseum until the information available on the Internet is a tangle of conflicting views (some correct, some partially so, and some incorrect). .....continued

The wikipedia article on mausers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karabiner_98k

Here's some pix of some M24/47 and M24/52C Yugo's, they do look the same
http://www.samcoglobal.com/rifles.html

If they are this nice I want one.
http://www.theothersideofkim.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/9210/

M48 Yugo picture from Oleg Volk
http://www.olegvolk.net/gallery/technology/arms/mauser/M48mauser.jpg.html

 

[traveler106]

Thanks again!

These links are great! I'm looking forward to getting started on cleaning it up and getting it ready for the range.