Yugoslavian M57 Tokarev hammer group quirk!

Shadowsix · 07-10-2012, 01:51 AM

Actual I could imagine Kmart selling them but I don't know of any that have sold handguns in a long time. Perhaps Kmarts in Texas might still have a broader range of what they can sell still.

Can you imagine Kmart having a blue light special on them with all the housewives running and dashing through the aisles to get one!

sheepherder · 07-31-2012, 05:57 PM

After reading shadow6's writeup here, I was interested enough to go to several sites and read up on the Yugo M57...I was intrigued by the statements that the original Tokarev TT-33 (and TT-30) design was slanted towards minimal manufacturing machinery...IOW, made simple to manufacture...And that the Yugoslavs had made the grip frame/magazine longer to accommodate an extra round in the mag...And that it was being offered on GB, GA, and AA at prices starting at $149...

So, I found one...and got outbid...Found another (there were dozens listed)...and got outbid...After about three weeks of being outbid, I finally [grudgingly] upped my bids...but still under $200...and finally got one...

It came in to my LGS two weeks ago, but I couldn't get to it until today [vacation]...Liberally packed in Cosmoline as shadow6 stated; drawing the slide back and releasing it, it slowly oozed forward...

I stripped it down (no problem with the hammer group), cleaned the Cosmoline out, oiled it, and put it back together. It looks almost new - no mechanical wear, minimal finish wear, no grip dings, no scratches...Bore looks great, although the whole pistol has a crude look to it...Magazine is worn and scratched and also was full of crud...

One thing...I had wondered why the guys on Gunboards were taking the thumb safety out and plugging the hole...Now I know: If I rack the slide (magazine inserted), put the thumb safety on 'fire' position, and squeeze the trigger...Nothing happens...Until I reach my thumb up and just lightly touch the safety...*Then* it fires!!!

I'll have to look into that more closely...

It does feel pretty good in the hand though...The longer grip is a must...

I can just see Tito executing captured SS troopers with his M57...

Shadowsix · 08-01-2012, 12:02 PM

Rich it looks in excellent shape. Maybe yours didn't go into service (or at least not for long) like mine must have.

If you want additional mags Wideners are selling factory made ones still sealed in oil for $25 each!

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.c...m_id=100000331

I ordered two & received them in just a week and they work beautifully!

Actually mine actually doesn't have the safety issue most talk about but maybe it was from the amount of use it got before

I am at present rehabilitating mine cosmetically starting with Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish, & then Brownells oxpho blue & buffing with 0000 steel wool and it is looking better with each subsequent treatment. I'll put up new pics when I'm done.

It may only be a .30 cal but I've come to respect the Tokarev round with it's 1645 fps 85 gr bullet!

For the price you can't beat it! I know you'll enjoy yours!

SIGP2101 · 08-01-2012, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadowsix

It may only be a .30 cal but I've come to respect the Tokarev round with it's 1645 fps 85 gr bullet!

:

... 7.62 is an excellent round, if we could only find accurate platform to shoot it from...well.

sheepherder · 08-01-2012, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadowsix

Actually mine actually doesn't have the safety issue most talk about but maybe it was from the amount of use it got before...

I did a bit of filing & stoning on the safety surfaces; also stoned the sear engagement surfaces. They were pretty rough...I have it functioning correctly now. Still has an awful trigger pull; I'll work on that next.

ETA: "Slick" posted the fix for the safety in this thread...

I punched out the magazine disconnect, I loathe those things. Pic attached if you feel the urge as well...

sheepherder · 08-01-2012, 09:58 PM

Check out this sight alignment...

The top of the barrel at the muzzle is .175" below the top plane of the slide...The barrel hood [at breech] is .040" below the top plane of the slide...and the rear sight is .280" above the top plane of the slide...

That's some locking lug engagement!!!

I also measured the trigger pull with my spring gage...It was a bit over 9 #...

Shadowsix · 08-02-2012, 04:24 PM

Excellent work! Before you know you'll have it functioning better than the Soviets ever had!

Thank you for the info on the magazine disconnect. Next chance I get I will knock that out of there on mine!

sheepherder · 08-08-2012, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadowsix

Rich it looks in excellent shape. Maybe yours didn't go into service (or at least not for long) like mine must have.

If you want additional mags Wideners are selling factory made ones still sealed in oil for $25 each!

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.c...m_id=100000331

I had already ordered a pair of used magazines from AIM Surplus before you posted that...They came in today. Serviceable, and with a certain 'ambiance' that only well used magazines have...

(Actually, one looks almost new and the other isn't all that bad...Plus they were cheaper...)

07-31-2012, 05:57 PM	#2
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,197 Thanks: 1,416 Thanked 4,462 Times in 2,336 Posts	After reading shadow6's writeup here, I was interested enough to go to several sites and read up on the Yugo M57...I was intrigued by the statements that the original Tokarev TT-33 (and TT-30) design was slanted towards minimal manufacturing machinery...IOW, made simple to manufacture...And that the Yugoslavs had made the grip frame/magazine longer to accommodate an extra round in the mag...And that it was being offered on GB, GA, and AA at prices starting at $149... So, I found one...and got outbid...Found another (there were dozens listed)...and got outbid...After about three weeks of being outbid, I finally [grudgingly] upped my bids...but still under $200...and finally got one... It came in to my LGS two weeks ago, but I couldn't get to it until today [vacation]...Liberally packed in Cosmoline as shadow6 stated; drawing the slide back and releasing it, it slowly oozed forward... I stripped it down (no problem with the hammer group), cleaned the Cosmoline out, oiled it, and put it back together. It looks almost new - no mechanical wear, minimal finish wear, no grip dings, no scratches...Bore looks great, although the whole pistol has a crude look to it...Magazine is worn and scratched and also was full of crud... One thing...I had wondered why the guys on Gunboards were taking the thumb safety out and plugging the hole...Now I know: If I rack the slide (magazine inserted), put the thumb safety on 'fire' position, and squeeze the trigger...Nothing happens...Until I reach my thumb up and just lightly touch the safety...Then it fires!!! I'll have to look into that more closely... It does feel pretty good in the hand though...The longer grip is a must... I can just see Tito executing captured SS troopers with his M57... Attached Thumbnails __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter... Last edited by sheepherder; 08-01-2012 at 09:23 AM.

08-01-2012, 12:02 PM	#3
Shadowsix User Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 106 Thanks: 56 Thanked 26 Times in 18 Posts	Rich it looks in excellent shape. Maybe yours didn't go into service (or at least not for long) like mine must have. If you want additional mags Wideners are selling factory made ones still sealed in oil for $25 each! http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.c...m_id=100000331 I ordered two & received them in just a week and they work beautifully! Actually mine actually doesn't have the safety issue most talk about but maybe it was from the amount of use it got before I am at present rehabilitating mine cosmetically starting with Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish, & then Brownells oxpho blue & buffing with 0000 steel wool and it is looking better with each subsequent treatment. I'll put up new pics when I'm done. It may only be a .30 cal but I've come to respect the Tokarev round with it's 1645 fps 85 gr bullet! For the price you can't beat it! I know you'll enjoy yours! Last edited by Shadowsix; 08-01-2012 at 01:27 PM.

08-01-2012, 09:58 PM	#6
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,197 Thanks: 1,416 Thanked 4,462 Times in 2,336 Posts	This is bizarre... Check out this sight alignment... The top of the barrel at the muzzle is .175" below the top plane of the slide...The barrel hood [at breech] is .040" below the top plane of the slide...and the rear sight is .280" above the top plane of the slide... That's some locking lug engagement!!! I also measured the trigger pull with my spring gage...It was a bit over 9 #... Attached Thumbnails __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

07-10-2012, 01:51 AM	#1
Shadowsix User Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 106 Thanks: 56 Thanked 26 Times in 18 Posts	Actual I could imagine Kmart selling them but I don't know of any that have sold handguns in a long time. Perhaps Kmarts in Texas might still have a broader range of what they can sell still. Can you imagine Kmart having a blue light special on them with all the housewives running and dashing through the aisles to get one!

08-02-2012, 04:24 PM	#7
Shadowsix User Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 106 Thanks: 56 Thanked 26 Times in 18 Posts	Excellent work! Before you know you'll have it functioning better than the Soviets ever had! Thank you for the info on the magazine disconnect. Next chance I get I will knock that out of there on mine!