Zastava M77

The Zastava M77 was developed and manufactured by Zastava Arms as a battle rifle and squad automatic weapon chambered in 7.62×51 mm. The weapon derives from the Zastava M70 and retains the Kalashnikov architecture, adapted to the NATO cartridge.

The M77 operates on the gas-operated Kalashnikov principle. Early versions received a milled receiver; later variants adopted the standard 1.5 mm Yugoslav stamped RPK-type receiver. The latter were fitted with an adjustable gas system, intended to ease the use of a suppressor. The automatic weapon version has a folding bipod and a barrel with cooling fins allowing sustained bursts.

Between 2014 and 2015, a semi-automatic variant was imported into the United States under the M77PS designation. This version featured a polymer thumbhole skeleton stock and a 10-round magazine in order to comply with American import restrictions. In 2022, Zastava Arms USA resumed importing an M77 variant to the American market, this time with a standard fixed stock and a 20-round magazine.