Zastava M76

M76
Zastava M76
Type	Sniper rifle
Place of origin	Yugoslavia
Service history
In service	1976-Present
Used by	Iraq, Yugoslavia/Serbia and Montenegro/Serbia/Bosnia Hercegovina
Production history
Designer	Zastava Arms
Manufacturer	Zastava Arms
Number built	N/A
Variants	7.62×51 NATO, 7.62 × 54R
Specifications
Weight	4.6 kg (9lb 5.6oz)
Length	1135 mm (44.68 in)
Barrel length	550 mm (21.65 in)

Cartridge	7,92 x 57 mm Mauser
Action	Gas-operated
Rate of fire	Semi-automatic
Muzzle velocity	730 m/s (2,395 ft/s)
Effective range	800+ m (875+ yards) with optics
Feed system	10 round detachable box
Sights	Open/Iron; a scope can be mounted on its rail

The M76 is a modern military semi-automatic designated marksman/sniper rifle developed and manufactured by Zastava Arms of Kragujevac, Republic of Serbia.

History

The Yugoslavian company Zastava released the M76 in the mid-1970s. Since then it has become the standard issue rifle for snipers in the Serbian army. During the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s, it was used by several sides; it saw action in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo.

Design and Performance

While the body of M76 is virtually identical to the Kalashnikov AK-47, the rifle featured several modifications. Fire is purely semi-automatic. The barrel has been elongated and strengthened so that the 7.92 x 57 IS (8mm Mauser) cartridge, which is better suited for long-range targets, can be used. Both the stock and the pistol grip have been modified to make them more comfortable for the shooter. In addition to the regular iron sights, a side-rail on the left wall of the receiver has been added to accept telescopic sights. The typical scope used is a ZRAK M-76 4x8 scope originally produced in the ZRAK factory in Sarajevo, Bosnia.

The M76 is relatively accurate for a semi-automatic rifle. It can achieve 1.5 to 2 Minute of arc or MOA consistent accuracy with appropriate ammunition. Under fair weather conditions a maximum effective range of 800 meters (875 yards) for an average sniper is achievable. Recoil is described as being modest.

In recent wars, it gained the reputation of an extremely reliable and capable weapon and was intensively used in all combat situations.1

Like all rifles, care must be used to avoid overheating the barrel.