View source for Zastava M91

{{Infobox weapon
| name               = Zastava M91
| image              = Sniper Zastava M91.jpg
| image_size         = 300px
| caption            = Zastava M91
| origin             = [[Serbia and Montenegro]]
| type               = [[Designated marksman rifle]]
<!-- Type selection -->
| is_ranged          = Yes
| is_bladed          = 
| is_explosive       = 
| is_artillery       = 
| is_vehicle         = 
| is_missile         = 
| is_UK              = <!-- Service history -->
| service            = 1992–present
| used_by            = See ''[[Zastava M91#Users|Users]]''
| wars               = [[Yugoslav Wars]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/icty/milosevic-d/trialc/judgement/judg071212e.pdf |title=UN judgement dealing with sniping during the Yugoslav wars |access-date=16 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205104316/http://www.un.org/icty/milosevic-d/trialc/judgement/judg071212e.pdf |archive-date=February 5, 2009 }}</ref><br />[[Syrian Civil War]]<br />[[Yemeni Civil War (2014–present)]]
<!-- Production history -->
| designer           = [[Zastava Arms]]
| design_date        = 1991
| manufacturer       = [[Zastava Arms]]
| unit_cost          = 
| production_date    = 
| number             = 
| variants           = <!-- General specifications -->
| spec_label         = 
| weight             = {{convert|5.15|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}} (with optical sight)
| length             = {{convert|1195|mm|in|2|abbr=on}}
| part_length        = {{convert|620|mm|in|2|abbr=on}}
| width              = 
| height             = 
| diameter           = 
| crew               = 
| passengers         = <!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| cartridge          = [[7.62×54mmR]]
| cartridge_weight   = 
| caliber            = [[7.62 mm caliber|7.62mm]]
| barrels            = 
| action             = [[Gas-operated]]
| rate               = [[Semi-automatic firearm|Semi-automatic]]
| velocity           = 790 m/s (2,592 ft/s)
| range              = {{convert|1000|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="m91">{{cite web | title = Zastava Arms, M91 Sniper Rifle | url = http://www.zastava-arms.co.rs/cms/index.php?id=180 | access-date = 2012-02-23 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120313120145/http://www.zastava-arms.co.rs/cms/index.php?id=180 | archive-date = 2012-03-13 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
| max_range          = 
| feed               = 10-round detachable box magazine
| sights             = Backup iron sights adjustable to {{convert|1000|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}<br />Optical sights can be mounted on a rail
}}

The '''Zastava M91''' is a [[Semi-automatic rifle|semi-automatic]] [[designated marksman rifle]] chambered in [[7.62×54mmR]], developed and manufactured by [[Zastava Arms]] company in [[Kragujevac]], [[Serbia]]. Like its predecessor, the [[Zastava M76]], the M91 is internally based upon an elongated version of the [[AK-47]] design, but the M91 shares more external similarities with the [[Dragunov sniper rifle]] than the M76. The rifle is in service with the [[Serbian army]], where it replaced the M76, which was chambered for the [[7.92×57mm]] cartridge.

==History==
Zastava's website claims that the M91 rifle was designed after a long and careful study of combat tactics and experience of military and police special forces worldwide; and that its development has been carried out under supervision and in close cooperation with some of the most experienced and capable special and anti-terrorist units.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.zastava-arms.co.yu/images/vojni/sniper/m91_engleski.htm|title=Sniper Rifle 7.62x54mm|lang=en|website=Zastava Arms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101212538/http://www.zastava-arms.co.yu/images/vojni/sniper/m91_engleski.htm|archive-date=2008-11-01|access-date=2023-10-08|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Current modernisation of Serbian forces is proceeding on the basis of a plan designed during the late 1990s known as Model-21. It envisages upgrading personal equipment in 26 categories, of which only five will be imported from abroad. One of the important new developments is the introduction of a series of domestically developed systems such as M91 7.62×54mmR sniper rifle<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dr Watkins |first=Amadeo |url=https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/39197/2004_Apr.pdf#page=23 |title=PfP Integration: Croatia, Serbia & Montenegro |publisher=Defence Academy of the United Kingdom |year=2004 |isbn=1-904423-67-1 |location=Surrey |pages=20 |language=en |access-date=2023-10-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406053755/https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/39197/2004_Apr.pdf#page=23 |archive-date=2022-04-06 |url-status=live}}</ref> (a requirement resulting from the decision to withdraw the [[7.92×57mm Mauser]] cartridge used in the [[Zastava M76]] sniper rifle and [[MG 42#M53|Zastava M53]] machine gun).

==Design details==
The M91 is a semi-automatic rifle fed from detachable 10-round box magazines. In concept, it is similar to the Soviet Dragunov sniper/designated marksman rifle.
While the design of the M91 is based upon an elongated version of the [[AK-47]] design just like its predecessor, the [[Zastava M76]], the M91 features several modifications, bringing it closer to the Dragunov rifle. The separate stock and pistol grip used on the M76 have been replaced with a thumbhole stock made of synthetic polymer material resembling that used on the Russian rifle. The 7.62×54mmR chambering of the Zastava M91 is the same as used in the Dragunov. The 7.62×54mmR is suited for long-range use, and replaced the 8×57mm IS round in Serbian service.

The [[Gun barrel|barrel]] profile is relatively thin to save weight and is ended with a slotted [[flash suppressor]]. The barrel's bore is [[chromium|chrome]]-lined for increased corrosion resistance, and features four right-hand grooves with a [[twist rate]] of 240&nbsp;mm (1:9.4 in).

Overall, the design of the flash suppressor, the detachable box magazine, the simplified PSO-type rangefinder reticle used in earlier Zrak telescopic sights, the thumbhole stock and modified bolt carrier as well as a milled receiver strongly point at the Dragunov as the M91's design template.

A side-rail on the left wall of the receiver accepts various [[telescopic sight]]s and night optics. The standard daylight [[telescopic sight]] for the M91 is the ZRAK ON 6 × 42.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://zrak-dks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/opticalsightON-M91.pdf|title=Optical sight ON-M91|access-date=2023-10-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128182757/https://zrak-dks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/opticalsightON-M91.pdf|archive-date=2021-11-28|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.p-a-distributing.com/index.html|title=US ZRAK factory optics importer website|access-date=16 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022033319/http://www.p-a-distributing.com/index.html|archive-date=2014-10-22|url-status=live}}</ref> For low light conditions the rifle can also be equipped with PN 5 × 80 passive sights of the first and second generation of [[night vision device]]s. The optical sight can be removed from the rail and reinstalled without loss of zero.

The rifle features adjustable backup [[iron sights]] with a sliding tangent rear sight which can be adjusted from {{convert|100|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}1 to {{convert|1000|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}. These can be employed when the primary optical sight is damaged.

==Performance==
The best results are obtained at ranges up to {{convert|800|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}. The maximum aiming distance offered by the optical telescopic sight and iron sights is {{convert|1000|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}.
For {{convert|30|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} high targets (head silhouette), the effective range is approximately {{convert|320|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}, for {{convert|50|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} high targets (chest silhouette) the range is {{convert|450|m|yd|0|abbr=on}} and for a {{convert|150|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} high moving silhouette the effective range is {{convert|650|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name=":1"></ref>

==Users==
*{{IRQ}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.designatedmarksman.net/zastava_action.html|title=Zastava rifles in action|website=DesignatedMarksman.net|access-date=2023-10-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225041541/http://www.designatedmarksman.net/zastava_action.html|archive-date=2020-02-25|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*{{flag|Myanmar}}: Copy produced as ''MAS-1 MK-II''.{{cn|date=March 2021}}
*{{SRB}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snipercentral.com/worldrifles.htm|title=Current armed forces sniper rifles at www.snipercentral.com|access-date=16 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025204600/http://www.snipercentral.com/worldrifles.htm|archive-date=2014-10-25|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{SYR}}: Used by the [[Syrian Army]].
*{{YEM}}: Used by [[Southern Resistance]] forces.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=CalibreObscura |title=A pretty rare spot- the Zastava M91 DMR with Southern Resistance forces in #Yemen. Lots of M05E1 are around on all sides, but I haven't spotted the M91, which is a modern-production SVD equivalent from Serbia before. |number=1163426908547289088 |access-date=19 January 2020 |language=en |date=19 August 2019}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Dragunov sniper rifle]]
*[[IMI Galil#Variants|Galil Sniper]]
*[[PSL (rifle)]]
*[[Zastava M07]]
*[[Zastava M76]]
*[[Zastava M93 Black Arrow]]
*[[List of sniper rifles]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215214001/http://www.zastava-arms.co.rs/cms/index.php?id=176 |title=Official website of Zastava Arms}}
*[http://www.zastava-arms.co.rs/cms/index.php?id=180 Zastava M91]

{{AK47 derivatives}}
{{Zastava firearms}}

[[Category:Sniper rifles of Serbia|M91]]
[[Category:7.62×54mmR semi-automatic rifles]]
[[Category:Zastava Arms]]
[[Category:Designated marksman rifles]]
[[Category:Kalashnikov derivatives]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1990s]]