Zastava M91
Encyclopedia
The Zastava M91 is a modern military semi-automatic sniper rifle
developed and manufactured by Zastava Arms
, Serbia
.
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).
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. 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 SVD rifle. The chambering is the Russian 7.62x54mmR cartridge which is the same used in the Dragunov SVD. It is suited for long-range use, and replaced the 8x57mm IS round in Serbian service. Overall, the design of the flash suppressor, the magazine used, the simplified PSO-type rangefinder reticle used in earlier Zrak telescopic sights, even the distinctive shape of the pistol grip and modified bolt carrier (as well as a milled receiver) - all these attributes strongly point at SVD as the design's template.
A side-rail on the left wall of the receiver accepts various telescopic sight
s and night optics. The standard daylight telescopic sight
for the M91 is the ON-M91 6 x 42 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 to a 1,000 m. These can be employed if the primary optical sight is damaged.
For targets of height of 30 cm (head silhouette), the effective range is approximately 320 m, for chest silhouette (height 50 cm) the range is 450 m and for a moving silhouette (150 cm) the effective range is 650 m.
Sniper rifle
In military and law enforcement terminology, a sniper rifle is a precision-rifle used to ensure more accurate placement of bullets at longer ranges than other small arms. A typical sniper rifle is built for optimal levels of accuracy, fitted with a telescopic sight and chambered for a military...
developed and manufactured 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...
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
.
History
Zastava website claims that 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. Nevertheless, the rifle's layout and design features closely mirror the Soviet SVD rifle, first fielded in 1963 and widely used throughout the Warsaw Pact countries.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
MG42
The MG 42 is a 7.9mm universal machine gun that was developed in Nazi Germany and entered service with the Wehrmacht in 1942...
machine gun).
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 Russian Dragunov SVD sniper/designated marksman rifle.While the design of the M91 is based upon an elongated version of the Avtomat Kalashnikov 1947 AK-47
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
design just like its predecessor, the Zastava M76, the rifle features several modifications, bringing it closer to its Soviet counterpart, the Dragunov sniper rifle. 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 SVD rifle. The chambering is the Russian 7.62x54mmR cartridge which is the same used in the Dragunov SVD. It is suited for long-range use, and replaced the 8x57mm IS round in Serbian service. Overall, the design of the flash suppressor, the magazine used, the simplified PSO-type rangefinder reticle used in earlier Zrak telescopic sights, even the distinctive shape of the pistol grip and modified bolt carrier (as well as a milled receiver) - all these attributes strongly point at SVD as the design's template.
A side-rail on the left wall of the receiver accepts various telescopic sight
Telescopic sight
A telescopic sight, commonly called a scope, is a sighting device that is based on an optical refracting telescope. They are equipped with some form of graphic image pattern mounted in an optically appropriate position in their optical system to give an accurate aiming point...
s and night optics. The standard daylight telescopic sight
Telescopic sight
A telescopic sight, commonly called a scope, is a sighting device that is based on an optical refracting telescope. They are equipped with some form of graphic image pattern mounted in an optically appropriate position in their optical system to give an accurate aiming point...
for the M91 is the ON-M91 6 x 42 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
Iron sights
Iron sights are a system of shaped alignment markers used as a sighting device to assist in the aiming of a device such as a firearm, crossbow, or telescope, and exclude the use of optics as in telescopic sights or reflector sights...
with a sliding tangent rear sight which can be adjusted from 100 m to a 1,000 m. These can be employed if the primary optical sight is damaged.
Performance
The best results are obtained at ranges up to 800 m. The maximum aiming distance offered by the optical sight and iron sights is 1000 m.For targets of height of 30 cm (head silhouette), the effective range is approximately 320 m, for chest silhouette (height 50 cm) the range is 450 m and for a moving silhouette (150 cm) the effective range is 650 m.
See also
- Dragunov sniper rifle
- PSL (rifle)PSL (rifle)The PSL is a Romanian military designated marksman rifle. It is also called PSL-54C, Romak III, FPK, FPK Dragunov and SSG-97...
- Zastava M76
- Zastava M93 Black ArrowZastava M93 Black ArrowThe M93 Black Arrow is a 12.7mm or .50 caliber anti-materiel rifle developed and manufactured by Zastava Arms.The M93 Black Arrow is designed on the basis of the Mauser system, which was, during its one hundred years long combat history, proven to be one of the most accurate and reliable...
- Zastava M07Zastava M07The Zastava M07 is a modern military sniper rifle developed and manufactured by Zastava Arms, Serbia. The sniper rifle M07 is designed on the basis of the Mauser 98 bolt action system, the barrel is made of chrome-vanadium steel. The rifle is loaded from a detachable magazine with the capacity of...
- List of sniper rifles