Zastava M91
| Zastava M91 | |
|---|---|
|
Zastava M91 | |
| Type | semi-automatic Sniper rifle/designated marksman rifle |
| Place of origin |
 FR Yugoslavia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1992-Present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | Yugoslav wars,[1] Kosovo War, Syrian civil war |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1991 |
| Manufacturer | Zastava Arms |
| Number built | 4,000 |
| Variants | Zastava M76 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 5.15 kg (11.4 lb) (with optical sight) |
| Length | 1,195 mm (47.05 in) |
| Barrel length | 620 mm (24.41 in) |
|
| |
| Cartridge | 7.62x54mmR |
| Caliber | 7.62 mm |
| Action | Gas-operated |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Muzzle velocity | 790 m/s (2,592 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 1,000 m (1,094 yd)[2] |
| Feed system | 10 round detachable box |
| Sights |
backup iron sights adjustable to 1,000 m (1,094 yd) optical sights can be mounted on a rail |
The Zastava M91 is a semi-automatic sniper/designated marksman rifle chambered in 7.62×54mmR developed and manufactured by Zastava Arms company in Kragujevac, Serbia. Like its predecessor, the Zastava M76, the M91 is internally based upon an elongated version of the Avtomat Kalashnikov 1947 AK-47 design, but the M91 features more external similarities with its Soviet counterpart the SVD Dragunov sniper rifle.
Like the SVD, the M91 is chambered for the 7.62x54mmR cartridge, and in service of the Serbian army. It replaced the Zastava M76, which was chambered for the 7.92x57mm cartridge.
History
Zastava's website claims that the M91 rifle was designed after a long and careful study of combat tactics and experience of military and police special forces worldwide; and that its development has been carried out under supervision and in close cooperation with some of the most experienced and capable special and anti-terrorist units.[3]
Current modernisation of Serbian forces is proceeding on the basis of a plan designed during the late 1990s known as Model-21. It envisages upgrading personal equipment in 26 different categories, of which only five will be imported from abroad. One of the important new developments is the introduction of a series of domestically developed systems such as M91 7.62x54mmR sniper rifle (a requirement resulting from the decision to withdraw the 8x57mm IS chambering used in the Zastava M76 sniper rifle and SARAC M53 machine gun).[4]
Design details
The M91 is a semi-automatic, air-cooled, detachable 10-box magazine-fed firearm with a fixed stock. In concept, it is similar to the Sovietn Dragunov sniper/designated marksman rifle. While the design of the M91 is based upon an elongated version of the Avtomat Kalashnikov 1947 AK-47 design just like its predecessor, the Zastava M76, the rifle features several modifications, bringing it closer to its Soviet counterpart, the Dragunov sniper rifle that unlike the Zastava M76 an M91 rifles is not internally based on the AK design. The separate stock and pistol grip used on the M76 have been replaced with a thumbhole combination stock made of synthetic polymer material resembling that used on the Russian Dragunov rifle. The 7.62x54mmR chambering of the Zastava M91 is the same as used in the Dragunov. The 7.62x54mmR is suited for long-range use, and replaced the 8x57mm IS round in Serbian service.
The barrel profile is relatively thin to save weight and is ended with a slotted flash suppressor. The barrel’s bore is chrome-lined for increased corrosion resistance, and features 4 right-hand grooves with a twist rate of 240 mm (1:9.4 in).
Overall, the design of the flash suppressor, the detachable box magazine, the simplified PSO-type rangefinder reticle used in earlier Zrak telescopic sights, the thumbhole combination stock and modified bolt carrier as well as a milled receiver strongly point at the Dragunov as the M91 design template.
A side-rail on the left wall of the receiver accepts various telescopic sights and night optics. The standard daylight telescopic sight for the M91 is the ON-M91 6 x 42.[5][6] For low light conditions the rifle can also be equipped with PN 5 x 80 passive sights of the first and second generation of Night vision devices. The optical sight can be removed from the rail and reinstalled without loss of zero.
The rifle features adjustable backup iron sights with a sliding tangent rear sight which can be adjusted from 100 m (109 yd)1 to 1,000 m (1,094 yd). These can be employed when the primary optical sight is damaged.
Performance
The best results are obtained at ranges up to 800 m (875 yd). The maximum aiming distance offered by the optical telescopic sight and iron sights is 1,000 m (1,094 yd). For 30 cm (12 in) high targets (head silhouette), the effective range is approximately 320 m (350 yd), for 50 cm (20 in) high targets (chest silhouette) the range is 450 m (492 yd) and for a 150 cm (59 in) high moving silhouette the effective range is 650 m (711 yd).[7]
Users
See also
- Dragunov sniper rifle
- PSL (rifle)
- Zastava M76
- Zastava M93 Black Arrow
- Zastava M07
- List of sniper rifles
References
- ↑ "UN judgement dealing with sniping during the Yugoslav wars". Retrieved 16 November 2014.
- ↑ "Zastava Arms, M91 Sniper Rifle". Retrieved 2012-02-23.
- ↑ "Zastava Arms website". Retrieved 16 November 2014.
- ↑ Conflict Studies Research Centre Balkans Series 04/05
- ↑ "ZRAK factory website". Retrieved 16 November 2014.
- ↑ "US ZRAK factory optics importer website". Retrieved 16 November 2014.
- ↑ "Zastava arms company website". Retrieved 16 November 2014.
- ↑ "Current armed forces sniper rifles at www.snipercentral.com". Retrieved 16 November 2014.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zastava M91. |
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