"New" Yugo M48

[BJames]

I waited my 11 Days (Big 5) and finally made it to the range today...but, my "new" to me Yugo M48 Mauser failed to fire!

Here are a couple of the rounds showing that the pin struck, but apparently not hard enough to discharge the round.


Is this a "Head-space" issue that I've read about? I was so looking forward to firing this today. But, it did give me some good flinching practice!

Does anyone know a good gunsmith in LA (Southbay) area who works on C&R rifles etc?

Here are some pics of the rifle:

[Carsgunsandchics]

Did you detail strip and clean the bolt? Might have grease in and around the firing pin causing it come up short.

[stevie]

Did you detail strip and clean the bolt? Might have grease in and around the firing pin causing it come up short.

If that does not work, get a new firing pin spring.

[yellowsled]

sounds like someone didnt open the bolt up to clean it out.

Yugos have a very strong firing pin spring. This enables them to shoot surplus Yugo from the 50's as that ammo has very hard primers. 50/50 shot that yugo suplus will fire in other mausers.

This is why I doubt its the spring, I think the bolt is loaded with cosmo.

[BJames]

Thanks! I was "afraid" to open and clean the bolt! I did see some more cosmo coming out of it today when I got to the range. I cleaned everything else really well (I think)! I will have to find a video to see how to do the bolt now. But, that's half the fun.

[Pete1979]

Same thing happened to me with My father's Brazilian 1908. It sat for probably 30 years and the grease inside the bolt turned to glue. Strip the bolt, wash with solvent, dry, oil and you're good to go.

[BJames]

Ok. Took it apart and it was full of cosmo all over the spring. I cleaned it all up and test fired and it sounds like it's a lot stronger. Hopefully, that's the issue. I have a sneaking suspicion you guys are right.

[Carsgunsandchics]

For some of the small intricate parts I also soak them in mineral spirits to dissolve the grease. Works good for all the little nooks and crannies.

[kermit]

Here's a link that may help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLo20OiyWSg

He was also getting light strikes due to cosmoline.

Once you get it firing the surplus ammo, feed it some new commercial stuff and you'll see how it really shoots. 1950 ammo is not very uniform.

[BJames]

I have another question. I mainly cleaned the cosmo off the stock with a hair dryer - heating it up a little at a time and wiping it off. That seems to have worked well on a Mosin I did a while back. I guess I'll see when I shoot and the rifle heats up if there's a ton more oozing out. I don't have an industrial oven handy. Anyone have any other tricks for this?

[CEDaytonaRydr]

I have another question. I mainly cleaned the cosmo off the stock with a hair dryer - heating it up a little at a time and wiping it off. That seems to have worked well on a Mosin I did a while back. I guess I'll see when I shoot and the rifle heats up if there's a ton more oozing out. I don't have an industrial oven handy. Anyone have any other tricks for this?

You ever seen those 1 gallon chem dip tanks that you can buy at most auto parts stores? I used one of those to do all of my metal parts when I got my 24/47s and M48As from Sarco. Let the bolt soak for a couple days and then clean the excess off with aerosol carb cleaner. Worked great!!!

[7.62x63mmUS]

Every Yugo mauser I've bought has been slathered in and out with cosmoline. Even a captured K98 that was owned by someone before me had crap caked between the stock and the gun.

How smooth is your action? My M48 has a pretty clunky bolt lock up and even gets so stiff you can hardly open it after firing. I think I may need to clean the chamber and locking lug recesses out better... or it could be that the bolt is mismatched

[capricedanny]

big 5 crap ! and u had to wait 11 day for a c&r rifle ,sorry !

[paul0660]

big 5 crap ! and u had to wait 11 day for a c&r rifle ,sorry !

What do you mean, Danny? Looks nice to me. He has the usual issues to work out.

[CEDaytonaRydr]

What do you mean, Danny? Looks nice to me. He has the usual issues to work out.

I got an unissued M48BO for $140 from Sarco. Most other sites have them available for around $200, or slightly more. I'm not knocking the OP's purchase but there are some definite advantages to having an 03FFL...