Al-Qadissiya Tabuk DMR Designated Marksman Rifle (1978)
The Iraqi Tabuk Designated Marksman Rifle has proven a very lethal performer in an urban battlefield environment.
Al-Qadissiya Establishments, based in north of the capital city of Bagdad, took to producing the Tabuk automatic rifle on machinery purchased under Saddam Hussein's tenure from the former Yugoslavia ruled under then-president Slobodan Milosevic. Yugoslavia itself was already producing license-production copies of proven Soviet originated systems since the post-World War 2 years under communist rule. The country did so with the Zastava M70 automatic rifle series of 1970, this design based on the Soviet RPK light machine gun. As a result, the Tabuk was, in essence, a modified and and indirect form of the Soviet RPK b way of the Yugoslavian M70 and first appeared in the 1980's for the Iraq Army, subsequently seeing combat action in the Iran-Iraq War, the 1991 Persian Gul War and the 2003 American invasion of Iraq. Unlike its Soviet-based contemporaries which chamber the 7.62x54R cartridge, the Tabuk makes use of the 7.62x39mm Kalashnikov cartridge.
Outwardly, the Tabuk retains most of what makes a weapon a "Kalashnikov" by Western standards. Along with the curved detachable box magazine box there is extensive wood furniture presented. The only visible exceptions to the Tabuk design are the longer barrel, which is capped with a muzzle brake, the optional optics and a skeletal shoulder stock with integrated cheekpiece. The shoulder stock supplies not only stability when firing but the cut-out nature of the design makes for a lighter weapon as well as adding an ad hoc carrying handle. As with the RPK before it, the Tabuk retains the stamped-steel metal receiver and sports a simple two-mode fire selector switch for "Safe" and "Fire" (firing is purposely limited to semi-automatic as a full-automatic mode would cause considerable wear to the new, longer barrel). The barrel itself is 23.6 inches in overall length and benefits the Tabuk by supplying a high muzzle velocity as compared to a base AKM assault rifle, in effect leading to improved accuracy which is required of a DMR. The firing action is the proven Kalashnikov long-stroke gas-operated system utilizing a rotating bolt function. Standard sights include an RPK-style rear tangent adjustable fitting and an AK-style adjustable forward post. Spent cartridge casings are ejected through the extraction port along the right side of the receiver. Optics are, of course, optional but almost always utilized for the DMR role, mounted along a rail featured over the receiver. Scope options include a variety of Eastern Bloc types that work well with the inherent ballistics of the 7.62x39mm cartridge. A fully-loaded Tabuk (with scope in place) weighs in at just under 10lbs with an overall length of 43.7 inches. Feeding of the weapon is from a standardized 10- or 20-round detachable box magazine (retaining its true Kalashnikov curved form). The use of Kalashnikov-based ammunition also means that the Tabuk can operate healthily from the hearty supplies of AK-ammunition found across the Middle East theater.
In practice, the Tabuk has proven an effective and reliable weapon no doubt thanks to its Kalashnikov origins. The rifle is extremely accurate and proven in the required medium ranges inherent in urban warfare, particularly when coupled with the proper ammunition and optics. It is no surprise that reliability is on par with its previous Kalashnikov brethren and its association to the AK family line of weapons also means little training is required in the maintenance and operation of the Tabuk. Kalashnikov weapons are world-renowned for their simplicity and reliability as well as quantitative availability - making them the firearm of choice for many-a-rebel fighter the world over. The semi-automatic fire action from high-count magazines provides tactical flexibility for the standard infantry squad. Where the Tabuk falls behind is in the poor exterior ballistics of its 7.62x39mm round, leading to a less-than-stellar penetration value beyond medium range especially when facing off against an armored target. Beyond that, it is a solid indigenous effort on the part of Iraqi military industry. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
MilitaryFactory.com does NOT sell equipment/weaponry. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information. Our disclaimer. Email corrections / Comments to MilitaryFactory at Gmail dot com.
Specifications for the
Al-Qadissiya Tabuk DMR
Designated Marksman Rifle
Country of Origin: Iraq
Manufacturer: Al-Qadissiya Establishments - Iraq
Initial Year of Service: 1978
Overall Length: 1109mm (43.66in)
Barrel Length: 599.00mm (23.58in)
Weight (Empty): 8.27lbs (3.75kg)
Cartridge: 7.62x39mm Soviet
Action: Kalashnikov Long-Stroke Gas System; Rotating Bolt
Feed: 10- or 20-Round Detachable Box Magazine
Muzzle Velocity: 2,427ft/sec (740m/sec)
Rate-of-Fire: 600 rounds per minute
Range: 1,640ft (500m; 547yds)
Sights: Adjustable Rear Tangent; Adjustable Front Post
Variants:
Tabuk Assault Rifle - Copies of the Soviet AKM series; available in 5.56mm and 7.62mm versions; solid or folding skeleton "short-butt" models.
Tabuk DMR - Base Series Designation for the Designated Marksman Rifle.
Operators:
Iraq
BY YEAR:
• 1700 to 1799
• 1800 to 1899
• 1900 to 1909
• 1910 to 1919
• 1920 to 1929
• 1930 to 1939
• 1940 to 1949
• 1950 to 1959
• 1960 to 1969
• 1970 to 1979
• 1980 to 1989
• 1990 to 1999
• 2000 to 2009
• 2010 to 2019
• VIEW ALL
• Compare Guns
BY TYPE:
• Anti-Aircraft Weapons
• Anti-Material Rifles
• Anti-Tank Weapons
• Automatic Rifles
• Bolt-Action Rifles
• Carbine Guns
• Flamethrowers
• Flintlock Guns
• Grenade Launchers
• Hand Grenades
• Lever-Action Rifles
• Machine Guns
• Mortars
• Musket Guns
• Pistols / Handguns
• Recoilless Rifles
• Revolvers
• Rocket Launchers
• Shotguns
• Silenced Guns
• Sniper Rifles
• Special Weapon Systems
• Submachine Guns
• VIEW ALL
SPECIAL:
• 18th Century Warfare
• 3 Soldiers Statue
• Battle of Mogadishu
• Chainmail Armor
• Firearm Types Defined
• French Military Victories
• Medieval Crossbow
• Medieval Longbow
• Vietnam War Casualties
• Vietnam War Memorial
WORLD WAR 2:
• Australia
• Britain
• France
• Germany (ALL)
• German Rifles
• Italy
• Japan
• Soviet Union
• United States
• US Infantry Regiment Guns
• Machine Guns
• Pistols and Handguns
• Rifles
• Submachine Guns
• Sniper Rifles
• VIEW ALL
WORLD WAR 1:
• Pistols
• Rifles
• Machine Guns
• Mortars
• US Guns
• VIEW ALL
KOREAN WAR:
• Machine Guns
• VIEW ALL
VIETNAM WAR:
COLLECTIONS:
• Ancient Weapons
• British SAS Weapons
• Civil War Guns (ALL)
• Civil War Pistols
• Colt Guns
• Glock Guns
• GROM Polish Special Forces
• Guns of Libya
• Guns of North Korea
• Guns of Syria
• Guns of WW1 & WW2
• Heckler & Koch Guns
• Kalashnikov Guns
• Modern Russian Guns
• Navy SEAL Weapons
• Spetsnaz Weapons
• Weapons of Desert Storm
• Wild West Guns
• Winchester Guns
HOLLYWOOD/GAMES:
©2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • Content ©2003-2013 MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Site Contact Email: militaryfactory at gmail dot com. The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® trademarks and protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws.
Top MF Stuff: 2013 Military Pay Scale | Military Ranks | WW2 Weapons | Sniper Rifles | Kts to Mph | WW1 Aircraft | Automatic Rifles | Aircraft Cockpits | Vietnam War Weapons | Main Battle Tanks | Submachine Guns | Shotguns | French Military Victories
Most photographic images appearing on this site are courtesy of the United States Department of Defense and are approved for public use. Other images acquired through the public domain. Digital art work courtesy of Dan Alex. Business Consulting by Kyle Williams. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information.
