Zastava M70
Encyclopedia
The Zastava M70 is a 7.62mm
assault rifle developed in Yugoslavia by Zastava Arms
. The M70 was designed on the basis of the AKM
and became the standard issue assault rifle in the Yugoslav People's Army
in 1970. The M70 is air-cooled, magazine-fed, selective fire
rifle. It is informally referred to as the Yugo M70 or Yugo AK.
In 1970, a second opportunity emerged, and Zastava was given the go ahead to begin with army funded mass production of the AP M70 and M70A series of which the M70A was the folding stock version.
Before the larger models of these rifles were made, cost cutting measures in production resulted in the removal of the internal bolt hold open, and relocation to the magazine follower. In addition, the usual placement of the barrel through threading into the receiver was replaced by the cheaper method of pressing and pinning the barrel into the receiver. Rifles produced with these new features were known as models AP M70B (fixed stock version), and M70AB (folding stock version).
As with the M-70 series of automatic rifles, these models failed to be produced in larger quantities before further cost-efficiency production measures gave way to yet another model. This time the milled receiver was replaced by a stamped receiver of 0.9mm thickness, a firing rate reducer was added to the trigger group, and the muzzle brake replaced the muzzle nut that originally came on the two prior models. Yugoslavian AKs produced with these features were named models AP M70B1 (fixed stock) and M70AB1 (folding stock).
These models eventually failed to mass-produce as well, before final alterations to the M70 rifle design resulted with the AP M70B2 (fixed stock) and M70AB2 (folding stock) models. These last two models featured a thicker 1.5mm stamped receiver and bulged front trunnion, which was intended to strengthen the rifle in order to make it more suitable for frequent grenade launching. These two models would become the most widely produced of the M70 series, and in turn the most widely used model used by the YPA, as well as the various armed groups fighting in the Yugoslav wars
of the 1990s. Parts kits imported into the U.S. however, show markings that appear to contradict the final fixed stock model name. On these kits the bulged, thicker stamped receiver model is actually the M70B1 model.
All of the M70 models share the grenade launching ability with gas cutoff, the lengthened handguard with 3 cooling slots, iron sights with flip-up illuminating elements, initially filled with phosphorus and later with tritium, to improve aiming at night; the plunger that keeps the receiver cover in place during grenade launching, and a non-chrome lined barrel. Fire selectors have R markings for automatic fire (The R stands for "rafalna", "burst fire") and J for semi-automatic fire (The J stands for "jedinačna", "single").
sight on the gas block and the black rubber buttplate on fixed-stock M70s.
The receiver of the M70 is 1.5mm thick, compared to the receiver of the AKM
, making it more rigid. Likewise, the barrel is not chrome
-lined, making it more accurate than a standard AKM, but at the cost of increased susceptibility to corrosion.
7.62×39mm
The 7.62×39mm round is a rifle cartridge of Soviet origin that was designed during World War II. It was first used in the RPD machine gun. Due to the worldwide proliferation of the SKS and AK-47 pattern rifles, the cartridge is utilized by both militaries and civilians alike.The 7.62×39mm...
assault rifle developed in Yugoslavia by Zastava Arms
Zastava Arms
Zastava Arms is a Serbian manufacturer of firearms and artillery. It was founded in 1853 when it cast its first cannons. It is currently the leading producer of firearms in Serbia and is a large contributor to the local defence industry...
. The M70 was designed on the basis of the AKM
AKM
The AKM is a 7.62mm assault rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is an upgraded version of the AK-47 rifle and was developed in the 1950s....
and became the standard issue assault rifle in the Yugoslav People's Army
Yugoslav People's Army
The Yugoslav People's Army , also referred to as the Yugoslav National Army , was the military of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.-Origins:The origins of the JNA can...
in 1970. The M70 is air-cooled, magazine-fed, selective fire
Selective fire
A selective fire firearm has at least one semi–automatic and one automatic mode, which is activated by means of a selector which varies depending on the weapon's design. Some selective fire weapons utilize burst fire mechanisms to limit the maximum or total number of shots fired automatically in...
rifle. It is informally referred to as the Yugo M70 or Yugo AK.
History
Initial development of a domestic AK variant began c.a 1959, and the first models submitted by Zastava for military field trials were with the early M64 series of rifles with milled receivers, threaded barrels, familiar Yugo handguards, gas cutoffs for grenade launching, and several other diversities from the mainstay AK design, such as a bolt hold open device on the right side of the receiver, and a charging handle that appeared different from other AK models. Though performances were satisfactory, the Yugoslav military did not adopt the rifle as the standard infantry armament.In 1970, a second opportunity emerged, and Zastava was given the go ahead to begin with army funded mass production of the AP M70 and M70A series of which the M70A was the folding stock version.
Before the larger models of these rifles were made, cost cutting measures in production resulted in the removal of the internal bolt hold open, and relocation to the magazine follower. In addition, the usual placement of the barrel through threading into the receiver was replaced by the cheaper method of pressing and pinning the barrel into the receiver. Rifles produced with these new features were known as models AP M70B (fixed stock version), and M70AB (folding stock version).
As with the M-70 series of automatic rifles, these models failed to be produced in larger quantities before further cost-efficiency production measures gave way to yet another model. This time the milled receiver was replaced by a stamped receiver of 0.9mm thickness, a firing rate reducer was added to the trigger group, and the muzzle brake replaced the muzzle nut that originally came on the two prior models. Yugoslavian AKs produced with these features were named models AP M70B1 (fixed stock) and M70AB1 (folding stock).
These models eventually failed to mass-produce as well, before final alterations to the M70 rifle design resulted with the AP M70B2 (fixed stock) and M70AB2 (folding stock) models. These last two models featured a thicker 1.5mm stamped receiver and bulged front trunnion, which was intended to strengthen the rifle in order to make it more suitable for frequent grenade launching. These two models would become the most widely produced of the M70 series, and in turn the most widely used model used by the YPA, as well as the various armed groups fighting in the Yugoslav wars
Yugoslav wars
The Yugoslav Wars were a series of wars, fought throughout the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1995. The wars were complex: characterized by bitter ethnic conflicts among the peoples of the former Yugoslavia, mostly between Serbs on the one side and Croats and Bosniaks on the other; but also...
of the 1990s. Parts kits imported into the U.S. however, show markings that appear to contradict the final fixed stock model name. On these kits the bulged, thicker stamped receiver model is actually the M70B1 model.
All of the M70 models share the grenade launching ability with gas cutoff, the lengthened handguard with 3 cooling slots, iron sights with flip-up illuminating elements, initially filled with phosphorus and later with tritium, to improve aiming at night; the plunger that keeps the receiver cover in place during grenade launching, and a non-chrome lined barrel. Fire selectors have R markings for automatic fire (The R stands for "rafalna", "burst fire") and J for semi-automatic fire (The J stands for "jedinačna", "single").
Variants
- M70 – milled receiver, fixed stock
- M70A – milled receiver, underfolding stock
- M70A1 – milled receiver, underfolding stock, mount for night or optical sights
- M70B1 – stamped receiver, fixed stock
- M70AB2 – stamped receiver, underfolding stock
- M70B1N – stamped receiver, fixed stock, mount for night or optical sights
- M70AB2N – stamped receiver, underfolding stock, mount for night or optical sights
- M70AB3 – stamped receiver, underfolding stock, rifle grenadeRifle grenadeA rifle grenade is a grenade that uses a rifle-based launcher to permit a longer effective range than would be possible if the grenade was thrown by hand...
site removed and replaced with under-slung grenade launcherUnder-slung Grenade Launcher- Examples : M203 AG36 GP-25/30 wz. 1974 GL1/ M320...
Design and features
The M70 can easily be told apart from other AK rifles by the three cooling slots on the foregrip, the light-coloured teak furniture, the grenade-launchingRifle grenade
A rifle grenade is a grenade that uses a rifle-based launcher to permit a longer effective range than would be possible if the grenade was thrown by hand...
sight on the gas block and the black rubber buttplate on fixed-stock M70s.
The receiver of the M70 is 1.5mm thick, compared to the receiver of the AKM
AKM
The AKM is a 7.62mm assault rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is an upgraded version of the AK-47 rifle and was developed in the 1950s....
, making it more rigid. Likewise, the barrel is not chrome
Chromium
Chromium is a chemical element which has the symbol Cr and atomic number 24. It is the first element in Group 6. It is a steely-gray, lustrous, hard metal that takes a high polish and has a high melting point. It is also odorless, tasteless, and malleable...
-lined, making it more accurate than a standard AKM, but at the cost of increased susceptibility to corrosion.