The only ak varrient rifle to be produced with a bolt hold open device was the Zastava M70 manufactured in the former Yugoslavia. This feature was a function of the magazine follower and had no other bearing on the weapons operation. Once the magazine was removed from the rifle the bolt would reciprocate freely. After market safety levers have been made with a cut out to hold the bolt to the rear when engaged. Many times bolt hang up due to the flange of the meeting between the gas piston and bolt carrier group dragging on the gas tube is to blame.

I think there should a short series of “this old gun” style but “guns of the world” or something on American Rifleman.

Ok the best tip for the m70 yugo or any ak type rifle is to see if it has a bolt hold open feature and if it is reliable. To do this empty the chamber and magazine. After this is done and verified empty slide the bolt all the way to the rear and hold. While holding bolt fully open press trigger all the way back then slowly release the bolt slowly forward. If it closes you don't have the ability. If it stops over the hammer you may. If it stopped over the hammer you need to confirm you have the feature. Take your free hand and smack the other side of the rifle and above the bolt as hard as you can with your bare hand. If the bolt does NOT CLOSE, then take your hand and slap the rear of the charging handle in a forward motion. If the bolt still wont close grip it with your hand and try pushing, moderately, in a forward direction to close the bolt. If it will Not close then you have a reliable bolt hold open feature for the range. To close the bolt simply pull the charging handle back a quarter inch and release. IF SIDE SLAPPING WONT CLOSE IT BUT SLAPPING THE CHARGING HANDLE DOES CLOSE THE BOLT THEN DO NOT USE TBE FEATURE AS IT IS UN RELIABLE. Only use if it locks in place and STAYS there after slapping the rifle and charging handle then shoving the charging handle. If it stays close after all that you are good to go. Please note that this feature is unique to each indvidual rifle not nessecarily to each rifle in a line...like all WASR's or all yugo's.

Good, but too short!

I own a Lee Enfield no.4 mk1, and I find that it's actually faster to use the stripper clip to load the rifle so long as there isn't a scope above the action. The stripper clips are smaller, lighter, and lighter means that more rounds can be carried. It's a very accurate rifle. I purchased an X-S scope mount and put a weaver 4x scout scope on mine with see through rings so that I can use the iron sights, and because the scope is farther down the barrel, I can also use stripper clips.