Yugo M59/66 / 66A1 SKS questions

[aghauler]

So how do you make the M59/66's legal in Komiefornica? What are the options with the greande launcher? Are these just held on by a pin? Is there a muzzle brake available? I can have it shipped to a NV FFL for pickup using my 03 FFL in CA correct? But would have to do something with the GL before bringing it into CA? Looking for advice and this seemed like a great place to start. Are the M59/66A1s a better deal than the M59/66's? I sold all my Norincos years ago now looking to get C&R SKS's.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

If you want C&R SKS, look at the Russians or Romanians if you can find them.

The Yugo M59/66 is not C&R eligible in California.

CA-legal Yugos have a sleeve spot welded over the GL for compliance.

They are great shooters.

[emcon5]

I don't see why you couldn't.

I looked in to this a while back. The SKS Guys can confirm but if I remember correctly the grenade launcher is screwed on and pinned in place. You punch out the pin, and take it off with a pipe wrench.

According to the flowchart a threaded barrel is not an evil feature on a rifle, so you can probably just leave it, or maybe put on a muzzle brake, Tapco used to make one that looks just like the grenade launcher, but I don't see it on their web page any more.

http://www.thecountryshed.com/sks_accessories.htm

You best bet would be to find a FFL willing to receive the rifle and pull the brake off for you. Might have to be an 07 to do it legally though.

The Yugo M59/66 is not C&R eligible in California.

Maybe you ought to re-read the question. C&R Eligibility in CA isn't at all relevant.

[aghauler]

Bobby & emcon5
Thanks for the info and link to the muzzlebrake and other goodies. If push comes to shove I can have it delivered in NV and pick it up there. The GL would be removed before bringing it into CA.
Looking to get a different C&R than the M59/66. Want the 59/66 for a shooter based on good reviews for that model.
Re: the C&R issue, I know we can't have C&R longuns less than 50 years old shipped into a CA 03 FFL, but I though it was legal to purchase/take possesion of this type of C&R while out of state, then log it in when you got home as it is "on the BATF List" as a C&R. No??
I think this changes end of next year anyway, but who knows what will be available then!

[Mssr. Eleganté]

...Re: the C&R issue, I know we can't have C&R longuns less than 50 years old shipped into a CA 03 FFL, but I though it was legal to purchase/take possesion of this type of C&R while out of state, then log it in when you got home as it is "on the BATF List" as a C&R. No??
I think this changes end of next year anyway, but who knows what will be available then!

Yes, while outside of California a C&R FFL can acquire C&R handguns and C&R long guns of any age and bring them back home to California. And yes, starting in 2014 a California C&R FFL can have C&R long guns of any age shipped to them in California as long as they have a COE. The "50 year old" restriction is going away, but it's being replaced with the "must be a C&R FFL with a COE" restriction.

[aghauler]

Yes, while outside of California a C&R FFL can acquire C&R handguns and C&R long guns of any age and bring them back home to California. And yes, starting in 2014 a California C&R FFL can have C&R long guns of any age shipped to them in California as long as they have a COE. The "50 year old" restriction is going away, but it's being replaced with the "must be a C&R FFL with a COE" restriction.

That's what I thought thanks for the confirmation!

[JLMXD]

[QUOTE= And yes, starting in 2014 a California C&R FFL can have C&R long guns of any age shipped to them in California as long as they have a COE. The "50 year old" restriction is going away, but it's being replaced with the "must be a C&R FFL with a COE" restriction.[/QUOTE]
oooh this sounds cool.

[emcon5]

Re: the C&R issue, I know we can't have C&R longuns less than 50 years old shipped into a CA 03 FFL, but I though it was legal to purchase/take possesion of this type of C&R while out of state, then log it in when you got home as it is "on the BATF List" as a C&R. No??

Correct. If it is on the federal C&R list, you can buy it when you are out of state regardless of age. California recognizing it as C&R doesn't enter in to it.

As long as it is legal when you bring it in to the state, i.e. not an AW, like for example, a SKS with a grenade launcher, it is perfectly legal. If it is a pistol, you need to register it when you bring it in to the state and send in the fee.

I think this changes end of next year anyway, but who knows what will be available then!

Aside from the COE change, another change is that people buying rifles out of state will need to send in the registration form and fee, in addition to pistols.

oooh this sounds cool.

No it doesn't. It sounds like more hassle, more expense, and more fear of prosecution for paperwork errors, which will make even more dealers stop selling to California.

Even if that wasn't the case, what potential long gun additions to the federal C&R list can you see coming that are less than 50 years old?

Only thing I can think of is some former com-block .22 training rifles. Not much else milsurp will be coming, pretty much everything beyond the SKS is select fire, except the SVD, and that would be a hard sell as it is still current inventory in some countries. Not to mention the AW problems in CA.

[NOTABIKER]

to make my 59/66A1 legal in calif they cut the barrel at the end of the threads and put on a slip on flash suppressor. looks like crap but otherwise i love it.

[hifiguns]

Removing the grenade launcher may remove the C&R status of the Yugo 59/66. Removing the GL can be difficult. You need a bench with vise, propane torch, etc. Century still has some Yugo M59 (no GL) in stock. Good cond cracked stock for $249.87 and U-Fix-Em for $219.87. Here's one Century U-Fix-Em. M59s can't be shipped directly to CA FFL03 holder. You need to pick it up in LV or Reno, or shipped to CA FFL01.

[hifiguns]

Even though they're listed, Century may not have any M59s available. It says "Sorry, the item Yugoslavian SKS MDL 59, Cal. 7.62x39mm is currently temporarily Coming Soon
"Temporarily" means that the product has been added to someones shopping cart, but they have not checked out. If they do not complete the purchase, the product will be free in 1 minute, so please check back." So you may need to call.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Maybe you ought to re-read the question. C&R Eligibility in CA isn't at all relevant.

I read the question just fine the first time. Indeed the OP could purchase a C&R M59/66 out of state and physically bring it into California.

However, most C&R purchases here in California are done through face to face direct sales or through online FFL03 purchases (i.e. Mosin Nagants from J&G, etc).

The Yugo M59/66 qualifies for neither type of transaction in California. Hence, my previous post.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

So how do you make the M59/66's legal in Komiefornica? What are the options with the greande launcher? Are these just held on by a pin? Is there a muzzle brake available? I can have it shipped to a NV FFL for pickup using my 03 FFL in CA correct? But would have to do something with the GL before bringing it into CA? Looking for advice and this seemed like a great place to start. Are the M59/66A1s a better deal than the M59/66's? I sold all my Norincos years ago now looking to get C&R SKS's.

OP:

I bought both of these Yugos here in California and they were already 100% compliant.

[emcon5]

Removing the grenade launcher may remove the C&R status of the Yugo 59/66.

Yeah, if you follow the idiotic "one missing part is not original configuration" interpretation of the law ATF ruling on importation that was blanketly applied to all C&Rs.

However, even if it did, the C&R status of the rifle after he takes possession is completely irrelevant.

Once he owns it, he can do whatever the hell he wants, C&R status only applies if he tries to sell it, and even them it won't matter in any way shape or form in California. It will have to go through an 01 FFL regardless, as the long gun registration law will be in place before the last 59/66 is over 50 years old.

[a1c]

I don't think the grenade launcher ("destructive device") feature on some rifles has ever been tested in California. That said, I have made sure all my rifles are in compliance with CA law, since some of them - Yugo SKS, MAS 36/51, MAS 49/56, etc. - are originally equipped with a grenade launcher ring or device. Fortunately, in most cases, it's a reversible tweak.