Zastava M21 - Overview

Overview

The M21 is based on the AK-47 Kalashnikov principle, chambered in the 5.56×45mm cartridge. Like many modern assault rifles, the M21 can incorporate picatinny rails for mounting accessories like optics, vertical grips, bipods, etc.

The Zastava M21 is gas operated with a rotating bolt locking system. It features a hard chromium plated, cold forged standard rifled or an optional polygonal rifled barrel, integrated 22mm flash hider grenade launcher, rigid metal folding stock, heavy-duty synthetic handguard with an additional left hand side fire selector, cover mounted picatinny rail for optical sights. The rifle can also mount a 40mm under-barrel grenade launcher. It has a magazine capacity of 30 rounds. The cyclic rate of fire is 680 rounds per minute, and the sustained rate of fire is 120 rounds/min.

Barrels

  • conventional barrel (Zastava M21)
  • polygonal barrel (Zastava M21B)

The regular barrel has six grooves with a right-hand twist. An octagonal polygonal version is also available and has four grooves with a right-hand twist (M21B). Barrels are also hard chrome plated to provide a longer service life.

The rifle has conventional iron sights that consist of a front post and a flip-up rear sight with 300m and 500m apertures. A set of picatinny rails on the hand guard can mount various optoelectronic devices. The M21 is a modular weapon, with configuration dependent on the task and mission.

Optical sights:

  • ON M04 "TELEOPTIK and
  • ON M04A "ZRAK"

Optoelectronic devices:

  • Reflex sight, M04 "MARS"
  • Bookmark target laser M04A-AIM2000
  • Passive monocular M04 MINI N/SEAS
  • Passive sight PN 3x50 "SOVA"
  • Bookmark laser target M04 "INFIZ"
  • Passive monocular MINI N/SEAS combined with reflex sight M04 "MARS"

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