Yugoslavia never received a technical data package or license for the AK; they reverse engineered the system themselves in the 1960s. In the process, they created a version of the AK noted for its ruggedness. In addition, they added a number of features to facilitate rifle grenade usage. Over the course of many iterations the rifle remained designated the M70, leading to a lot of confusion about what models are what. Today we are going through the whole series of changes.
M70 – Original milled receiver, with bolt hold-open, fixed stock, and screwed-in barrel
M70A – Underfolder version of the M70
M70B – Milled receiver, pinned-in barrel, standard magazines, fixed stock
M70AB – Underfolder version of M70B
M70B1 – Stamped receiver (1.5mm), bulged trunnion, fixed stock
M70AB1 – Stamped receiver (0.9mm), flat trunnion, underfolder
M70AB2 – Stamped receiver (1.5mm), bulged trunnion, underfolder
Thanks to Zastava USA for making this video possible!
Erm, and while the Yugo were huffing-and-puffing over the M66 AK, what rifles did the Yugo Army had? Are you like totally sure M70 was the first chambered in 762×39 and firing rifle grenades?
I don’t think so. Nope, the army rifle at that time was the SKS, or PAP 58 rifle which was the really first Yugo weapon in 762×39, and the palpable token of detente between Yugoslavia and the rest of the Soviet Bloc. AND, in its PAP 58/66 variant this was the first weapon to introduce the rifle grenade capability (other than 1000s of captured German Gewehrgranatgeraet (GGG), able to top each 98k weapon (including the Yugo first postwar infantry weapon the M48 short-action Mauser by Preduzece 44 (aka Kragujevac). Then the PAP came up with screwed-on grenade spigot, together with the combined gas valve / grenade sight, that later came hook, line and sinker for the M70.