Zastava M21

The Zastava M21 is a series of 5.56×45mm NATO rifles developed and manufactured by Zastava Arms in Serbia.

Description
The M21 is based on the Kalashnikov rifle, chambered in the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge. The current models use a 1.5mm thick stamped receiver. The M21 can incorporate picatinny rails for mounting accessories like optics, vertical grips, bipods, etc.

The Zastava M21 is gas operated, long stroke piston with a rotating bolt locking system rifle. It features a hard chromium-plated, cold forged standard rifled or an optional polygonal rifled barrel, integrated 22mm flash hider grenade launcher, heavy-duty synthetic furniture with a polymer folding stock similarly to the AK-74M, and side optics rail as standard (optional adapter base for cover mounted picatinny rail also available). 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.

The Zastava M21 uses a conventional barrel, while the Zastava M21B uses a polygonal barrel. 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.

Choices of optical sights include "TELEOPTIK" (ON M04) and "ZRAK" (ON M04A). Optoelectronic devices include a reflex sight ("MARS" M04), two bookmark target lasers ("AIM2000" M04A and "INFIZ" M04), two passive monoculars (M04 MINI N/SEAS and "MARS" M04+MINI N/SEAS), passive sight ("SOVA" PN 3x50).

Variants

 * M21 A – Standard baseline assault rifle.
 * M21 ABS – Built-in picatinny rail system.
 * M21 S – Compact short barrel assault rifle.
 * M21 SBS – Built-in picatinny rail system.
 * M21 C – Carbine.
 * M21 BS – Built-in picatinny rail system.

Users



 * 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan – Used by special forces
 * Republika Srpska – Used by National Police.
 * 🇨🇲 Cameroon – Used by the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR)
 * 🇮🇶 Iraq
 * 🇱🇧 Lebanon
 * 🇲🇰 – 500 purchased in 2005.
 * 🇵🇪 Peru
 * 🇷🇸 Serbia – standard service rifle of the Serbian Armed Forces and Gendarmery.