Zastava M91

Infobox Weapon|is_ranged=yes


caption=Zastava M91
name=Zastava M91
type=Sniper rifle
origin= flagcountry|Serbia
designer=Zastava Arms ("Zastava oružje")
manufacturer=Zastava Arms
design_date=1991
service=Present
used_by=See users
wars= Yugoslav wars [ [http://www.un.org/icty/milosevic-d/trialc/judgement/judg071212e.pdf UN judgement dealing with sniping during the Yugoslav wars] ]
variants=Zastava M76
cartridge=7.62 x 54R
action=Gas-operated
rate=Semi-automatic
velocity=790 m/s (2,592 ft/s)
range=800⁺ m (875⁺ yards) with optics []
weight=Auto kg|5.15|1 (with optical sight)
length=Auto mm|1195|2
part_length=Auto mm|620|2
feed=10 round detachable box
sights= backup iron sights adjustable to 1000 m
optical sights can be mounted on a rail
variants=
number=N/AThe M91 is a modern military semi-automatic designated marksman/sniper rifle developed and manufactured by Zastava Arms of Kragujevac, Serbia.

History

The M91 rifle was designed after long and careful study of combat tactics and experience of military and police special forces world wide. The development work has been done under supervision and in close cooperation with some of the most experienced and capable special and antiterrorist units.

Previous variants of the rifle family (Zastava M76) were tested in numerous operations fought in both Serbia and the Yugoslav Wars in extreme conditions.

According to the latest information, current modernisation of Serbian forces is going ahead 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 novelties is the introduction of a series of domestically developed systems such as M91 7.62 mm sniper rifle (elimination the use of the 7.92 mm calibre as used in the M76 7.92 mm sniper rifle). [ [http://www.defac.ac.uk/colleges/csrc/document-listings/balkan/04(05)-AW.pdf Conflict Studies Research Centre Balkans Series 04/05] ]

Design details

The M91 is a semi-automatic, air-cooled, detachable 10-box magazine-fed firearm with a fixed stock.While the body of M91 is based upon to the Avtomatik Kalashnikov 1947 AK-47 just like its predecessor, the Zastava M76, the rifle featured several modifications. Both the stock and the pistol grip have been modified to make them more comfortable for the shooter during aiming and are made of synthetic polymer material. The barrel has been elongated so that the 7.62 x 54R cartridge, which is suited for long-range use, can be used.

The rifle features mechanically adjustable backup iron sights with a sliding tangent rear sight (the iron sights can be adjusted to a maximum range of 1000 m).In addition to the regular iron sights, a side-rail on the left wall of the receiver has been added to accept various telescopic sights and night optics.

The standard daylight telescopic sight for the M91 is the ON-M91 6 x 42 [ [http://www.zrak.ba/ ZRAK factory website] ] [ [http://www.p-a-distributing.com/index.html US ZRAK factory optics importer website] ] For low light conditions the rifle can also be equipped with PN 5 x 80 passive sights of the first and second generation of natural light enhancers. [ [http://www.mod.gov.yu/vojska/eng/naoruzanje/kov/streljacko_naoruzanje/snajperske_puske.htm Serbian Armed Forces offical website] ]

Individual characteristics

*Possibility of adjusting to different types of fields for easier aiming
*Ergonomically designed with perfect balance
*Easily controlled
*Easy handling and maintenance
*Possibility of mounting of different types of optical devices
*Possibility of installing of silencer

Performance

The best results are obtained at ranges up to 800 m. The possibility of aiming with optical sight and with mechanical sight is 1000 m.For targets of height of 30 cm (head silhouette), the sweeping range is approx. 320 m, for chest silhouette (height 50 cm) is 450 m and for running silhouette (150 cm) the sweeping range is 650 m [ [http://www.zastava-arms.co.yu/ Zastava Arms company website] ] .

Like with all precision rifles, the user has to take care not to overheat the barrel.

Users

*flag|Albania
*flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina
*flag|Iraq
*flag|Kosovo
*flag|Serbia [ [http://www.snipercentral.com/worldrifles.htm Current Armed Forces Sniper Rifles at www.snipercentral.com] ]

ee also

Zastava M76

References

External links

* [http://www.zastava-arms.co.yu/ Zastava Arms company website]