Also known as: ツァスタバM21, ザスタバM21, ザスタヴァM21, 扎斯塔瓦M21, ZasM21
A series of Serbian 5.56×45mm NATO Assault Rifles. Heavily based on the AK platform, it was designed by Marinko Petrović and manufactured by Zastava Arms since 2004.
The current models use a 1.5mm thick stamped receiver. The M21 can incorporate picatinny rails for mounting accessories like Optical Sights, Foregrips, 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 Muzzle Device Grenade Launcher, heavy-duty dark/black synthetic furniture similarly to the AK-74M with a polymer side-folding stock, and side optics rail as standard (optional adapter base for cover mounted picatinny rail also available). The rifle can also mount a 40mm Underbarrel Grenade Launcher. It is fed with standard 30-round magazine. The cyclic rate of fire is 680 rounds per minute, sustained one is 120 RPM.
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.