Zastava M21
Summary
| Country | 🇷🇸 Serbia |
| Category | Assault rifle |
| Manufacturer | Zastava |
Technical specifications
| Zastava M21 | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | 680 rounds/min. |
| Caliber | 5.56 x 45 mm OTAN |
| Magazine | 30 rounds |
| Length | 998 mm (39.3 in) |
| Weight | 3.85 kg (8.5 lb) |
| Range | 450 m (1476 ft) |
Description
The Zastava M21 is a series of rifles developed and manufactured by Zastava Arms in Serbia.
Based on the Kalashnikov rifle design, the M21 is chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO, and features a 1.5mm thick stamped receiver, a gas system with a long stroke piston and rotating bolt locking, and a hard chromium-plated, cold forged barrel, available with either standard or polygonal rifling. An integrated 22mm flash hider grenade launcher is standard. The M21 incorporates heavy-duty synthetic furniture, a polymer folding stock similar to the AK-74M, and a standard side optics rail, with an optional adapter base for a cover-mounted Picatinny rail. It can also mount a 40mm under-barrel grenade launcher. The magazine capacity is 30 rounds, and the cyclic rate of fire is stated as 680 rounds per minute, with a sustained rate of 120 rounds per minute. Conventional iron sights consist of a front post and a flip-up rear sight offering 300m and 500m apertures. Sets of Picatinny rails on the handguard allow for mounting various optoelectronic devices. The weapon is described as modular, with configuration dependent on the task. Barrel variants include a conventional barrel with six right-hand twist grooves (M21) and an optional octagonal polygonal version with four right-hand twist grooves (M21B). Barrels are chrome plated for longevity.
The M21 series includes several variants:
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M21 A: Standard baseline assault rifle.
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M21 ABS: Includes a built-in Picatinny rail system.
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M21 S: Compact short barrel assault rifle.
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M21 SBS: Incorporates a built-in Picatinny rail system.
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M21 C: Carbine version.
The M21 BS also features a built-in Picatinny rail system.
The Zastava M21 is used by a number of countries. Azerbaijan utilizes the rifle with its special forces; in Republika Srpska, it is used by the National Police; and Cameroon employs the rifle with the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR). Other users include Iraq, Lebanon, North Macedonia (500 units purchased in 2005), Peru, and Serbia, where the M21 is the standard service rifle for its Armed Forces and Gendarmerie.