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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