So yes, let’s start off by getting this out of the way. Yes, AKs are the “bad guy” rifles in the eyes of most of the Western world, but let’s put this aside and look at the Zastava M70 pattern rifles. First, let’s explain the difference between standard AKM rifles and Yugo patterns.

The terms “AKM” and “Yugo rifle” refer to different types of firearms, primarily associated with the AK (Avtomat Kalashnikova) platform and Yugoslavian military firearms, respectively.

Yugo on tree

AKM Rifle:

The AKM is a modernized version of the original AK-47, developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. As you would expect, the AKM typically fires the 7.62x39mm cartridge. It features a stamped receiver, making it lighter than the original AK-47, which had a milled receiver. The AKM also includes design improvements like a slant muzzle brake and a more efficient gas system. The AKM has been mass-produced in many countries and is known for its reliability, ease of use, and effectiveness in various combat situations.

 

Yugo Rifle (often refers to the Zastava M70):

The Yugo rifle typically refers to the Zastava M70, developed in Yugoslavia. It is based on the Soviet AKM design but has distinct features. Like the AKM, the M70 also chambers the 7.62x39mm cartridge. The M70 has some modifications compared to the AKM, including a heavier barrel, a bulged trunnion, a different stock design, and features like a grenade launcher capability and a reinforced receiver. The M70 often has a wooden stock and a distinctive folding design in the case of the M70B. The M70 was produced in Yugoslavia and later in Serbia, and it shares some construction methods and components with the AKM but has unique characteristics influenced by the needs of the Yugoslav military.