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

[marklmurray]

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.

Keep in mind the barrels on these are "two-piece" barrels. I've had a 7.62x25 M57 for a couple years and just this year I noticed that 'crack' too. I took it to my gunsmith and he immediately id'd that as the seam for the two barrel pieces. This may be what you're seeing also.

 

[Beaux Nehr]

I had a Norinco Type 213, and it was a lot of fun to shoot.
If you have larger hands, the Tokarev will give you some hammer bite.

Sold off mine because it would simply lock up sometimes, and I didn't trust it.

Why buy...

The start to every useless post on gun forums everywhere.

"Why buy X.
X is bad
buy Y instead.
hurr"

 

[mec]

I tried one a few years ago. It became reliable with ball ammunition after considerable lapping of the rails and a couple of hundred rounds. May have eventually become reliable with jhps also. It was solidly made and all steel. The company that imported it at that time was problematic but I understand that somebody else is bringing it in now.

 

[normslee]

Keep in mind the barrels on these are "two-piece" barrels. I've had a 7.62x25 M57 for a couple years and just this year I noticed that 'crack' too. I took it to my gunsmith and he immediately id'd that as the seam for the two barrel pieces. This may be what you're seeing also.

Thanks for your input. At first I thought it was just a machining mark as the machining is rough to say the least. Using a high power magnifying glass I could see a very faint "V" type notch in the crack or seam. When I drug my finger nail across it, the nail would catch going in both direction. That's when I new the crack or seam had a little depth to it.

Also the crack or seam goes in a straight line around the barrel. I thought that was odd to find a crack that formed a straight line. I believe your right about it being a seam line but I got to admit I'm a bit hesitant to fire it again.

 

[RonJon]

For those who own a M70A 9mm...

.... are these primer strikes normal looking on yours? It looks like the firing pin drags on the primer as it's being extracted.



Otherwise, my Zastava M70A 9mm works perfectly!

RonJon

 

[mec]

That is pretty common with 40 s&w pistols. the usual explanation is that the slide velocity is high enough that the inertia firing pin is still against the primer when the barrel tilts down to unlock. Ive seen glock-fired cases with a straight line from the center of the primer to the edge. I don't think it's a problem.

 

[RonJon]

Thanks MEC - I was hoping for that answer!
Ronjon

 

[PabloJ]

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

I put around 1400 Ruag 9x19 rounds through my Chinese version of this gun which was called Norinco 213 (same gun but with rudimentary lever safety mounted at rear of the frame). Pretty accurate and very reliable gun with ball ammo (very unreliable with JHPs) I would think Serbian made gun would be at least as good as Chinese. When I was a kid I played with some Yugo toys and boy they were real nice.