Zastava M76
Zastava M76 | |
---|---|
Type | Designated marksman rifle |
Place of origin | Yugoslavia |
Service history | |
In service | 1976–present |
Used by | See Users |
Wars | Yugoslav Wars Lebanese Civil War Iraq War |
Production history | |
Designer | Zastava Arms |
Designed | 1975 |
Manufacturer | Zastava Arms |
Variants | See Variants |
Specifications | |
Mass | 4.6 kg (10.1 lb) |
Length | 1,135 mm (44.7 in) |
Barrel length | 550 mm (21.7 in) |
Cartridge | 7.92×57mm Mauser |
Muzzle velocity | 730 m/s (2,395.0 ft/s) |
Effective firing range | 800 m (875 yd)+ with optics[1] |
Feed system | 10 round detachable box |
Sights | backup iron sights adjustable to 1,000 m (1,100 yd) optical sights can be mounted on a rail Iron sights or sniper scope |
The Zastava M76 is a military semi-automatic designated marksman rifle developed and manufactured by Zastava Arms.
History
The
Design details
The M76 is similar in concept to the Russian
Rather than being a Dragunov clone, it looks more like a lengthened AK-47 with a heavier barrel, an impression strengthened by the separate stock and pistol grip rather than the Dragunov's thumbhole combination stock. Instead of the Dragunov's 7,62×54mmR chambering it uses the 7.92×57mm Mauser a.k.a. the 7.9mm or 8×57mm IS round. The Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) adopted a 7.9 mm Cartridge, Ball M49 variant, designated as M49, as infantry ammunition at the end of the 1940s and later a 7.9 mm Cartridge, Sniper, with Universal ball M75, as sniper ammunition made to tighter tolerances, designated as M75.[3][4] Instead of the Dragunov's separate gas piston, the M76 has an AK-type piston attached to the bolt carrier.[5] The receiver is a milled forging like that of the original AK-47 to give greater rigidity when firing a full-power round and it is longer than the normal AK receiver to suit the 7.92×57mm Mauser chambering. The AK-type rotating bolt, bolt carrier, barrel and other parts are also enlarged and stronger for handling the bolt thrust full-power rounds produce. Feeding is via a 10-round steel box magazine, which has a follower that holds the bolt open after the last shot. Since there is no device in the weapon to hold the bolt to the rear, the bolt will move forward when the magazine is removed, which increases the difficulty of removing the magazine. Fire is semi-automatic only, so the AK-47-type safety on the right side of the receiver has only 2 settings - 'safe' and 'fire'. The barrel has a tapered profile with a Dragunov-type combination slotted flash suppressor and foresight housing. A standard AKM bayonet can be fitted to the bayonet lug below the foresight. Like the Dragunov, but unlike the AK-47, the M76 features a 4-position (0, 1, 2, 3) operator-adjustable gas regulator enabling more propellant gas to be vented to the piston in marginal operating conditions or less propellant gas when using a suppressor. The "0" setting entirely blocks the gas impulse to the piston, enabling use of the rifle as a manual repeater.
The furniture features a straight comb butt, which has a rubber pad similar to that found on the Zastava M70 series of weapons, and a well-shaped contoured pistol grip. The fore-end is also reminiscent of that found on the M70 series. There is no butt trap for cleaning kit storage in the wooden butt. In newer production models the wooden furniture is replaced with synthetic polymer material which offers some storage space for accessories like a cleaning kit and reduces the M76 overall weight by approximately 0.5 kilograms (1.10 lb).
With the minor exception of the gas regulator, disassembly and operation are similar to that of the AK-47/AKM family of weapons.
Though the M76 fires its bullets at a relatively modest 730 m/s (2,395 ft/s) muzzle velocity, the 8×57mm IS cartridge loaded with aerodynamically efficient 12.8 grams (197.53 gr) military sS ball bullets still offers a supersonic reach of ≈ 950 m (1,040 yd) under
To mount aiming optics, a side-rail is permanently attached to the left wall of the receiver which accepts an alloy sliding dovetail rail mount with a clamping lever to which can be attached various telescopic sights and night optics. The mount is detachable from the receiver rail in seconds by swinging the locking lever open and sliding the scope and mount off the rail to the rear. It can be removed and reattached without loss of zero. The optic sight is normally removed during field stripping to give easy access to the receiver cover and bolt carrier. The rifle features mechanically adjustable backup AKM-type iron sights with a sliding tangent rear sight, graduated from 100 to 1,000 m (109 to 1,094 yd) in 100 m (109 yd) increments. The front sight post is adjustable for both windage and elevation, using specifically designed tools. The iron sights line includes a battle sight setting corresponding to a 300 m (328 yd) zero using Yugoslavian M49 7.92×57mm 12.8 grams (197.53 gr) ball ammunition. The iron sights can be used with or without the optic sight in place.
The typical telescopic sight used is a ZRAK ON-M76 4× 5°10′ scope originally produced in the
Performance
The M76 is relatively accurate for a semi-automatic rifle. It can achieve 1.5 to 2
It has the reputation of a reliable and capable weapon and has seen extensive combat service. [citation needed]
There is a known issue, however, with the magazines of the M76 being unreliable. Due to the bolt hold open property of the magazines, the bolt will slam forward when the magazine is removed, putting considerable pressure on the follower. This can result in the follower being jammed in the forward position, rendering the magazine temporarily inoperable.[9]
Variants
Zastava Arms currently offers a civilian variant in .308 Winchester called the LKP M76, which they designate as a semi-automatic sporting rifle.[10] Assault Weapons of Ohio builds M76 variants chambered in .30-06 Springfield and 8mm.[11]
Users
This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2010) |
- Iraq: Imported from the former Yugoslav republics in 2005.[citation needed]
- Myanmar: Copy produced as MAS-1 MK-I.[citation needed]
- North Korea: Manufactured locally as Jeogyeok-Bochong.[12]
- North Macedonia[13]
- Rwanda[14]
- Saudi Arabia[15]
- Serbia:[13][16] To be fully replaced by the Zastava M91
Former users
- Croatia:[13] Phased out and replaced by Sako TRG and Remington M40A5.
- Yugoslavia
See also
- Dragunov sniper rifle
- Galil Sniper
- PSL (rifle)
- Zastava M91
- Zastava M93 Black Arrow
- Zastava M07
- List of sniper rifles
References
- ^ a b "Yugoslavia M-76". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ UN judgement dealing with sniping during the Yugoslav wars Archived February 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "7.9mm Cartridge, Ball M49". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "7.9mm Cartridge, Sniper, with Universal ball M75". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Zastava M76 at Modern Firearms". 27 October 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "ZRAK factory website". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "US ZRAK factory optics importer website". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "www.snipercountry.de Scharfschützengewehr M76 (German)". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Yugo M76 Sniper in the 2-Gun Action Challenge". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
- ^ Zastava Arms Archived May 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Yugo M76 8mm « Repairs / Rebuilds « Assault Weapons of Ohio".
- ^ "NORTH KOREAN SMALL ARMS (DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA)". Retrieved 16 December 2017.
- ^ a b c "Current Armed Forces Sniper Rifles". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ Sgt. Thomas Mills (2014-01-16). "More images from Rwandan Airlift Mission". US Army Africa. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
- ^ "- M76". Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.