Any experience with the CAI Zastava Tokarev M70A Semi Auto Pistol, 9mm

[Jim NE]

CAI Zastava Tokarev M70A Semi Auto Pistols -

I've seen these on the net for in the 250 ish range new. They're in 9x19, w/ two 9 round mags. Looking for a fifth 9mm for not much money. The Eastern Europe vibe is kind of cool.

Here's a link:
http://www.classicfirearms.com/hand-guns/zastava-m70a

Any opinions? Experiences? Thanks

 

[Jim NE]

Okay...how 'bout any experience with Zastava pistols in general? Are they good/average/junky?

 

[Wilbert]

Sorry, I can't help ya. I would be interested to find out the same thing. That is a very interesting pistol at a very attractive price. I've wanted one of the tt33's, but the 7.62x25 ammo is getting very scarce around here. One in 9mm would be very tempting

 

[Jim NE]

7.62x25 ammo is getting very scarce

I know what you mean, Wilbert. I saw a very cool "new surplus" CZ-52 in that chambering at a LGS for $299, but only found one source for ammo on the net. I'm sure there are more, but it's not going to be common. Seems like there was more 7.62x25 ammo a few years ago, but less now for some reason (ban paranoia aside.)

Think I'd much rather have a CZ than a Zastava, but I suspect the low CZ price has mostly to do with low ammo availability.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Um, Zastava is the OTHER 'CZ'
as for the pistol, it's the 9mm version of the M57, it's a Tokarev
if you want a Tok, it's for you, with out the trouble of finding x25...

As for build, all of my have been flawless, they are Serb, so 'Yugo' quality, it isn't finished as good as a top end German K98K, but it's better than most stuff that's done by Remchester these days
Oh and the 799,798 mini Mausers are just rebadged Zastava's so the quality is there.

 

[mgmorden]

I've got the M57 Tokarev which is the same gun in the "original" chambering.

Overall its a good gun. Looks odd, but its reliable and decently accurate. If you want a nice plinker or a home defense gun I'd say go for it. Also probably would suffice for open carry, but I wouldn't conceal carry it.

 

[Jim NE]

Thanks Shadow 7D and mgmorden. The information is helpful and much appreciated.

 

[Wilbert]

If they're anything like their older brothers, I would expect them to be just fine. Just the fact that it's in 9mm is appealing. Hopefully some 9mm ammo will show up on some shelves somewhere someday :fingers crossed:

 

[marklmurray]

I noticed they are starting to import these new in 7.62x25 (M57), and 9mm now. I have a very old 7.62 one and I like it. It shoots great and is very, very easy to work on. Breaks down just like a 1911 and the entire trigger group just lifts out and is interchangeable with any other Tokarev (reportedly).

I haven't carried it concealed, because I have better options for that, but one thing to note is that this gun is extremely thin. I've tucked it in my pants experimentally and It seems like it would carry and conceal quite well.

Now that the 9mm is coming, I hope I'll be able to get a 9mm barrel, bushing, and spring to shoot 9mm from mine.

 

[Wilbert]

Did you get one yet Jim?

 

[gatorindy]

I just received mine

Put 100 rounds down the pipe at the range where I picked mine up. Nice gun, just like it's older brother, except in 9mm. Had a little more kick than I expected but not bad at all. It's a military based piece, so don't expect glass trigger or a light pull. I like it. It will share company with it's older relatives in 7.62X25. Now I just need to find a couple more magazines......

 

[Wilbert]

Pictures or it never happened!

 

[PabloJ]

Why buy large (ok it is slim) "steel club" with magazine that only holds nine cartridges?
REAL firearm like second-hand S&W 5906 can sometimes be found for <$100 more.

 

[whetrock]

I snagged one yesterday from JG sale for 260 $. For that price I couldn't really resist. I've got other 9's that are smaller and of higher capacity (like my S&W M&P9C), but have always been interested in Tokarevs in general after purchasing a Romanian TTC 3 or so years ago. I remember seeing 9 MM Norinco Tokarevs at gun shows in the past and they seemed to ask around 200 or 250. I always respected Norincos and believe they were/are fine pieces, though I like the thought of being able to buy something comparable, brand new for the same price. I'm a bit low on 9MM right now, but will follow up with my opinion of this pistol after I receive it. Not looking to carry it, though I'm sure it's more than serviceable, but rather wanted a fun and interesting plinker. It's interesting that Zastava still manufacturers new Tokarevs as well as M48 Mausers. Stuff that's "outdated" by our standards. 7.62 * 25 isn't the bargain it used to be IMHO and is kinda fiery if you catch my drift. Not abandoning the cartridge, but looking for different offerings in the world of Tokarevs. Still have that TTC and a CZ-52 that I'm still very happy with.

 

[wolverine_173]

Where can I get mags for the 9mm m70a?

 

[UnitMaster]

I just got one of these a month ago. My experience has been mixed. When I got the gun, I broke it down and cleaned it, then headed off to the range. The fit and finish seemed adequate for a $239 pistol, although the plastic grips were rough and the ridges were deformed.

The pistol experienced no failure to feed issues, however it did have 4 problems ranging from severe to annoying.

1. Terrible hammer bite.
2. The one of the magazines locked in a position so that it would not drop from the gun. This requires that the gun be disassembled to remove the mag, which is itself a difficult task as the gun wants the mag to drop first before being disassembled.
3. The slide doesn't stay locked in always in the open position when the magazine is empty.
4. It ejects spent brass directly rearward so that it continuously hits me in the forehead.
5. Its a good thing there is both a trigger safety and a hammer block safety as 50% of the time, the hammer will drop while the safety is on when the trigger is pulled!

I took it back to my shop and went to work.

1st. I bobbed the hammer on my belt sander and polished with my dremmel, finishing with a little cold blue. Problem solved.
2nd. I realized one of my magazines had the follower bent at the factory which was preventing the mag release button from deploying. I disassembled the mag and bent back into shape. Problem 2 solved.
3rd. The slide release seems to either be to short, or there is not enough tension on it to lock the slide back when the mag is empty. Unresolved at this point.
4th. spent shells still hitting me in the forehead every other round. Still unresolved at this point.

It is an interesting gun. But there are no aftermarket mags for it anywhere. I guess you get what you pay for.

Not a perfect gun out of the box, but serviceable. Way to unreliable to consider as a serious carry gun.

 

[Jim NE]

Thanks for the input everyone. I should mention that I bought the gun and was not pleased with it, so I sold it. Reliability was not good, but I suspect a break in period would've helped. Regardless, the recoil and report was much greater than any other 9mm I've shot. Less pleasant to shoot than my .40's and '45's, in fact. Kind of wish I'd bought it in 7.62x25 instead, but I wasn't looking to get into a new caliber.

I'd recommend that cartridge to others interested in this gun, though. Gun looked and felt cool, and was inexpensive and quite accurate.

 

[Lj1941]

Just wondering?

Does anyone know if the M 70A uses the same magazines as the M 57? If they are the same that would simplfy the mag problem. Mags for the M 57 while not cheap are readily available.

 

[il.bill]

Does anyone know if the M 70A uses the same magazines as the M 57?

Different magazine dimensions that make them NOT interchangeable from the way they look. If I remember correctly there is a spacer that is located on the frame in the mag well inside the back strap on a 9x19mm Zastava M70A.

 

[Pilot]

Are these newly made guns, or new, old stock surplus pistols?

 

[krupparms]

I have owned quite a few Tokarevs. So far all have been NORINCO made in both 9mm& 7.62×25mm. Most of them shot fine &were good pistols. I would use any of the ones I had as a S.D.weapon . They are very reliable & accurate. I have not shot any other models than NORINCO . But as these are copies of a well proven design they should be working better! I think I will just keep my NORINCOS & be happy!

 

[hariph creek]

I would like to, someday, convert one over to 9x23 Win. Mag...someday...

 

[il.bill]

Are these newly made guns, or new, old stock surplus pistols?

Brand new from the factory (in Serbia, I believe).

 

[JasonC1]

I have the 9mm version, the M70A model. It needed a little attention when I got it, but it is a solid pistol and great value for the low price.

The attention was the sights. It comes with a simple metal front blade and rear ears in flat black, not so easy to pick up. Mine were also not aligned properly, seated way off to the right for the front sight. I had it replaced with a properly centered front blade with red dot, polymer - wasn't expensive, but was needed.

It comes with 2 9 round single stack magazines. Note this is one round more than the older Russian TT-33, and it means you don't want to mix the two when looking for extra mags.

The trigger is surprisingly good in single action (which is the normal mode, since racking cocks it etc), and the accuracy (once I got the sight correctly aligned) is very good. It is also slim, barrel heavy, a natural pointer that feels comfortable for me. I normally prefer 3.9 inch barrel compacts over full sized, but this one is so slim (single stack mags do that) that even with a 4.6 inch barrel it feels as small as a compact pistol.

Mine has been 100% reliable - literally not a single failure in at least 500 rounds. 10 round capacity rather than 15 is about its only drawback IMO - the rear sights could be a bit better too I guess, and the original sights are not something I bet my life on. (With the upgrade, no problem). Tolerances are tight and this is a metal pistol, no flimsy about it anywhere. For under $300 delivered it is a lot of pistol.

Just as background, I own 5 different 9mm autos counting this one, to give you a sense of what I comparing it with.

 

[normslee]

I bought a new production Yugo M57 in 7.62*25 from Centerfire Systems last July and I've put 100 rounds of PPU ammo through it. The gun is being sent back for repairs already.

What it does well:
1. It feeds and extracts properly.
2. The trigger is a bit heavy but smooth.
3. Overall, cycles very well

What it won't do:
1. Hit point of aim. At 10 yards it hits 6 to 10 inches low.
2. Even with the front sight post sighted completely above the top of the rear sight, it still shooting way low.

Why it's being sent back:
1. When last cleaning I found a crack in the barrel that goes 3/4 of the way around the chamber portion of the barrel.

Conclusion:
Zastava Yugo makes a inferior, 2nd rate product. If a new production pistol can't fire standard PPU 7.62*25 ammo without cracking the barrel, don't buy anything they make.