The Next-Gen AK47: The Zastava M19 MCS

[titsonritz]

Here is what happens when AK gets drunk at the bar and an FN SCAR is the last chick standing.

I guess Serbia didn't get the memo that Keymod is dead. Not sure about the AR style charging handle. Improved safety. The quick change barrel feature is pretty cool.

[SteyrAUG]

Isn't the entire point of the SCAR that it has a piston like a FNC / AK? Not sure why they wouldn't knock it off completely. But honestly Serbia is a bottom feeder of the AK world, using a heavy trunion (M70) has no benefit that I can understand and might as well have just stayed with a Type 3. They'd have also been better off chroming their barrels.

I think the only attraction is Iraq used a nearly identical AK so anyone who fought in the Iraq war and went looking for a 1:1 copy as a war trophy. I had one back when I felt like a needed a representative sample from every country I could, but when my $350 AK began to sell for $1,800 it went out the door with most of my other "built by century" rifles.

[Bret]

My guess is that they went with the AR15 style rear charging to help the structure of the redesigned top cover. Though the top rail is a definite improvement, the rear side charger isn't. They're calling it a multicaliber system, but I'd say it's only sort of one. That will only run 7.62x39 and 6.5Grendel. I imagine that they'll have a 5.56x45 version that will run 300BO. I'm in for one if they ever come to the US, but I'm an AK whore. I wonder if they'll skip past importing the 5.56x45 chambered M21. Why does Zastava go down with their model numbers?

[The Dumb Gun Collector]

Looks pretty neat. I would definitely pick one up as long as it was sub 2k

[SteyrAUG]

Looks pretty neat. I would definitely pick one up as long as it was sub 2k

It's hard for me to wrap my head around a $2000 AK that isn't a Polytech or an original Type 3.

[OGmechanic]

Isn't the entire point of the SCAR that it has a piston like a FNC / AK? Not sure why they wouldn't knock it off completely. But honestly Serbia is a bottom feeder of the AK world, using a heavy trunion (M70) has no benefit that I can understand and might as well have just stayed with a Type 3. They'd have also been better off chroming their barrels.

I think the only attraction is Iraq used a nearly identical AK so anyone who fought in the Iraq war and went looking for a 1:1 copy as a war trophy. I had one back when I felt like a needed a representative sample from every country I could, but when my $350 AK began to sell for $1,800 it went out the door with most of my other "built by century" rifles.

The barrels are cold hammer forged and Chrome lined now....Yugo AKs are hard to beat. and they are not built or assembled or converted by CAI anymore. all are made in zastava factory. Zastava cut ties with CAI a few years ago. 10,000 plus rounds though my 2021 production m70 and runs like a sewing machine. its been through several hard running classes.

[SteyrAUG]

The barrels are cold hammer forged and Chrome lined now....Yugo AKs are hard to beat. and they are not built or assembled or converted by CAI anymore. all are made in zastava factory. Zastava cut ties with CAI a few years ago. 10,000 plus rounds though my 2021 production m70 and runs like a sewing machine. its been through several hard running classes.

But aren't they still about 2 lbs. heavier than the other AKM pattern rifles? Again for the weight I think I'd rather have a Type 3.

[m4brian]

This always seems to be the problem with the AK vice the AR. Although one CAN make the AR heavy, its harder.

Throw a light and optic on the AK and you feel like its enough. Go 'back' to a heavy trunnion and it all gets crazy with weight and then I don't want it regardless of the 'features'. If it gets heavy enough then I think Galil - but again, it is heavy. But I think I can get enough accuracy out of my VZ or AKM, and don't get the weight.

[SteyrAUG]

This always seems to be the problem with the AK vice the AR. Although one CAN make the AR heavy, its harder.

Throw a light and optic on the AK and you feel like its enough. Go 'back' to a heavy trunnion and it all gets crazy with weight and then I don't want it regardless of the 'features'. If it gets heavy enough then I think Galil - but again, it is heavy. But I think I can get enough accuracy out of my VZ or AKM, and don't get the weight.

Even with the recoil, I love my VZ58.

[m4brian]

So I had a Krebs KCIMS installed on mine (VZ 58), and when I use the brake the recoil goes away. Thanks for acknowledging the recoil - it seems to be denied by many. Not a big deal, but snappier than an AK, and thus more noticeable.