Zastava M76

Sniper Rifle

Yugoslavia | 1976

"The Zastava M76 served as the standard issue sniper rifle for the Yugoslavian Army throughout the 1980s."

A US Army soldier takes aim with his Zastava M76 sniper rifle while covering friendlies in action in Mosul

Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Zastava M76. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

2,788 ft
849.8 m | 929.3 yds
Max.Eff.Range

2,395 ft/sec
730 m/sec
Muzzle Velocity

Physical
The physical qualities of the Zastava M76. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

1,135 mm
44.69 in
O/A Length

550 mm
21.65 in
Barrel Length

10.14 lb
4.60 kg
Weight

Gas-Operated; Semi-Automatic
Action

8x57mm IS (7.92x57mm Mauser)
Caliber(s)

10-round detachable box magazine
Feed

Adjustable Iron; Optional Optics.
Sights

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Zastava M76 Sniper Rifle family line.

M76 - Base Series Designation

JeoGyeokBoChong - North Korean local-production variant based on the M76.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/21/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Zastava Arms M76 sniper rifle is based off of the same Kalashnikov action as seen in the preceding M70 series of automatic weapons, each based on a preceding form of the Soviet-era AKM/AKMS. The major differentiating quality between the Soviet and Yugoslavian designs is the latter fits a muzzle mount to accept a single-shot grenade launcher attachment. The M76 borrows much of the M70s design but instead of chambering for the 7.62x39mm Soviet cartridge, it relies on the more powerful and proven 7.92x57mm Mauser breed. As such, the M76 is oft-compared with the form and function of the Soviet/Russian SVD sniper rifle family. The M76 was designed in 1975 and issued beginning in 1976 to specialists of the Yugoslavian Army and served within a variety of warring parties throughout the violent and deadly Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s concerning Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo and Serbia. Since then, the type has been replaced - at least in the Serbian Army - by the newer Zastava Arms M91 sniper rifle series chambered for the original and readily available Soviet 7.62x54mmR cartridge.

The M76 can be fielded as a designated marksman rifle (DMR) or sniper rifle as required by the field commander. A designated marksman works in conjunction with an infantry squad, utilizing additional marksman training to engage targets at further distances with precision than the range available with a carbine, assault rifle or squad support machine gun. For the role, the designated marksman makes use of the repeating action found in modern semi-automatic rifles. In contrast, snipers are dedicated battlefield units that typically work alongside a spotter in a two-man team and are charged with taking out very specific targets of value utilizing a very specialized set of battlefield survival skills. Snipers, therefore, can make use of semi-automatic rifle systems or manually-actuated bolt -action rifles.

The M76 is a gas-operated, semi-automatic fire only rifle system that is designed specifically for the specialized sniper role. As such, optics are encouraged and backed by the traditional Kalashnikov-style sighting installations. The scope mount is fitted to the top of the receiver (via a side rail) and can accept a variety of optics as required including electro-optical types (the tritium-illuminated ZRAK M-76 4x5.10 is rather typical and based on the Soviet PSO-1 4x24 series). The outward design of the M76 is decidedly Kalashnikov and looks as nothing more than a modified AK-47 assault rifle with a longer barrel, shorter magazine and scope mount as opposed to simply copying the appearance of the SVD. The pistol grip, solid stock and forend all showcase the traditional Kalashnikov wooden furniture and the cocking handle is set to the right side of the body, as is the ejection port. The M76 makes use of a gas-operated firing action with the gas cylinder located conventionally over the barrel assembly. The magazine is a straight 10-shot detachable box. The semi-automatic firing nature of the M76 allows the operator to fire off ten consecutive rounds against a target without the need to reload and realign the target in the scope. Lengthwise, the M76 measures in at 44.7 inches with the barrel being 21.6 inches. Unloaded weight is 9lbs, 4oz and muzzle velocity is rated at approximately 2,300 feet per second.

Unlike other competing Kalashnikov copies - or Kalashnikov-inspired copies - the Zastava approach to their M76 has yielded a sniper weapon system that is both highly reliable and robust and relatively inexpensive to produce in the quantities required. As with the original AK-47 assault rifle, the operation of the M76 and similar Kalashnikov systems is deemed to be rather basic, allowing just about any lightly trained warfighter to engage and neutralize a given target with ease.

At one point it was thought that Zastava had offered export versions of their M76 chambered for the 76.2x51 NATO and 7.62x54R Soviet standard cartridges but this claim has not been proven to date.

Beyond the Serbian Army, the M76 has seen service use in the armies of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Macedonia. North Korea has produced the type locally as the "JeoGyeokBoChong".

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Zastava M76. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): Zastava Arms - Yugoslavia / Serbia

[ Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatia; Iraq; Macedonia; North Korea; Serbia; United States; Yugoslavia ]

1 / 2

A US Army soldier takes aim with his Zastava M76 sniper rifle while covering friendlies in action in Mosul

2 / 2

Iraqi soldiers take aim with their Zastava M76 rifles

❮ ❯

Going Further...
The Zastava M76 Sniper Rifle appears in the following collections:

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.

©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)