I've had a Yugo M48 for about a year now. A GPC import I picked up at Big 5 for (I think) $159 on sale. Quality is great - hard to beat for the money. It's a shortened 98 action, with (I've read somewhere) improved steels - so, yes, it's strong. Where else are you going to find one of those in like-new condition for under $200? Yes, they're safe to shoot. There's tons of surplus 8 mm out there, but I've stuck to the Hirtenberger NC stuff, which the rifle seems to like.