ZPAPM70 Serbian Red Side Folder Rifle

[Bret]

I have about ten Zastava rifles and like them a lot. At $1300, this one is overpriced, even with the chrome lined bore. There’s nothing military about the stock.

[SteyrAUG]

These have the chrome lined bores.

Wondering if that is a factory barrel or a US barrel added after importation as a 922r part.

[ABNAK]

Wondering if that is a factory barrel or a US barrel added after importation as a 922r part.

Good question.

I do have to say though, it is advertised as CHF and chrome lined so even if it was made here that is a good combo to offer on a barrel (I'll bet they're European barrels). Much better that "U.S. made nitrided" or other gimmicky sales pitch.

[Circle_10]

The barrels are made overseas at Zastava. The 922r parts that are added are the furniture, the muzzle device and the FCG I believe.

Price is hard to swallow but I do still kind of want one.

[SteyrAUG]

Good question.

I do have to say though, it is advertised as CHF and chrome lined so even if it was made here that is a good combo to offer on a barrel (I'll bet they're European barrels). Much better that "U.S. made nitrided" or other gimmicky sales pitch.

A lot of import AKs featured US barrels and often they were very inferior to a foreign factory barrel.

The barrels are made overseas at Zastava. The 922r parts that are added are the furniture, the muzzle device and the FCG I believe.

Price is hard to swallow but I do still kind of want one.

Good to know. But that is just what AKs cost. 20 years ago there were still factories loaded with parts from the days of communism so putting them together didn't amount to much, especially with wage expectations of countries who had only recently shed communism.

But if you build this rifle from the group up, need to import it and rebuild it along 922r rules, well this is what it costs and it costs more than a domestic rifle that is simply built as it has been for the last 50 years.

[ABNAK]

....But that is just what AKs cost. 20 years ago there were still factories loaded with parts from the days of communism so putting them together didn't amount to much, especially with wage expectations of countries who had only recently shed communism.

But if you build this rifle from the group up, need to import it and rebuild it along 922r rules, well this is what it costs and it costs more than a domestic rifle that is simply built as it has been for the last 50 years.

Absolutely, the "salad days" are mostly over with.

These guns strike my "kinda cool, might want" nerve and the specs are, well, quite acceptable. I like the CHF Chrome lined barrels. I like them even more so since Circle_10 said they were made in Mother Yugoslavia! I like the side folder (really), much more stable and comfortable than the dual-strut under-folder. I like the RPK-ish receiver. The Yugo handguards are also a wee-bit longer than standard and allow for that extra inch or so of extension on the support hand. So overall it is desirable if I was actively seeking an AK.

I'm not in that search however......but then there's the "don't care, want one anyway" factor. I might be tempted at $1000-1100 but not $1300.

[Circle_10]

A lot of import AKs featured US barrels and often they were very inferior to a foreign factory barrel.



Good to know. But that is just what AKs cost. 20 years ago there were still factories loaded with parts from the days of communism so putting them together didn't amount to much, especially with wage expectations of countries who had only recently shed communism.

But if you build this rifle from the group up, need to import it and rebuild it along 922r rules, well this is what it costs and it costs more than a domestic rifle that is simply built as it has been for the last 50 years.

Yeah, I get the reality of modern AK prices. It’s not really because “it’s an AK” per se that I have a hard time with the price, it’s more just because I’m trying to figure out how best to allocate limited funds before an import ban or something drops. So right now anything in this price range is going to make me balk. Do I get this? Or since I have several AKs already, do I get a PCC? Which one? Or is a PCC going to just be a burden when currently I can barely maintain enough 9mm on hand to keep up weekly pistol practice? Decisions...decisions...

[SteyrAUG]

Yeah, I get the reality of modern AK prices. It’s not really because “it’s an AK” per se that I have a hard time with the price, it’s more just because I’m trying to figure out how best to allocate limited funds before an import ban or something drops. So right now anything in this price range is going to make me balk. Do I get this? Or since I have several AKs already, do I get a PCC? Which one? Or is a PCC going to just be a burden when currently I can barely maintain enough 9mm on hand to keep up weekly pistol practice? Decisions...decisions...

Ironically if we lifted certain trade sanctions with China, they would be the remaining commie AK producer who could give us products at favorable prices. AKMs and 74s and all the rest would probably be in the $650 range. But you'd have to accept that like nikes and iphones they were probably made by political prisoners who got 10 years in a labor factory for saying the government took too much of a hard line on Hong Kong protestors. In fact a lot of the AKs would probably be made by Hong Kong protestors, assuming they aren't on the "made to order" organ donor list.

[TBAR_94]

I bought one as my first AK. The fit and finish is really nice. The folding stock feels ok but it doesn’t latch in a folded position, it seems solid enough but I have only shot a couple of mags thru it at this point. The gun seems straight enough and the bolt and trunnions look well made.

[utahjeepr]

The proper side folder and front latch can be installed semi easily.

Of course you would have to make up for them with other US parts to stay 922 compliant. Wink wink.