Zastava M 98/48

Zastava M98/48
Type Bolt-action rifle
Place of origin  Yugoslavia
Service history
In service 1946–present
Used by  Yugoslavia
 Croatia
 Bosnia
Wars Yugoslav Wars
Production history
Designed 1935
Manufacturer Mauser, Zastava Arms
Produced 1946-early 1950s
Number built Unknown
Variants Mod.98/48
Specifications
Weight 3.7 kg (8.2 lb) – 4.1 kg (9.0 lb)
Length 1,110 mm (43.70 in)
Barrel length 610 mm (24.02 in)

Cartridge 8×57mm IS
Action Bolt action
Muzzle velocity 860 m/s (2,822 ft/s)
Effective firing range 500 m (550 yd) with iron sights
1000+ m (1093.6+ yd) with telescopic sight
Feed system 5-round stripper clip, internal magazine
Sights Iron sights or telescopic sight.

The Zastava M98/48 (often called Mod.98/48, Model. 98/48, Yugo K98) was a refurbished bolt-action rifle, chambered for the 7.92×57mm Mauser, a cartridge that was temporary adopted in the years after World War II by the Yugoslav People's Army. This design was a refurbished Mauser Kar98k rifle that had been left-over by Germans or captured by partisans during World War II.

History

The picture shows the Mauser k98 action on the M98/48
The picture shows the front sight ring, a feature that was mainly absent on the original Mauser K98k rifles.

Soon after World War II, the new formed Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was trying to re-arm its military forces. The main problem that the Yugoslav government had to face was the lack of funds and the fear of an imminent conflict. A temporary solution was found in refurbishing the rifles that were captured or left over by the Germans.They were noted for their reliability, great accuracy, effective range and would not require a new mass production plant - thanks to the fact that all the components of the rifles were already available.These rifles were never used extensively until it were replaced, in 1948, by the Yugoslav-made Zastava M48. Some of these rifles were used in a sniper rifle role during the Yugoslav Wars of 1990s. The rifles have been adapted, through machining, to accept new locally-made telescopic sights-the ZRAK series.

Design Details

The picture shows Yugo markings on a refurbished k98k rifle.

These rifles are actually Karabiner 98k rifles that were left over by Germany or captured by Marshal Tito's partisan army, or Liberation Army. Despite the name of the rifles (which may lead to misunderstandings), the only difference between a Nazi German K98k and a Zastava M98/48 consists of the markings and the front barrel band. They are virtually identical to each other, since they are still the same rifles at their core.

Markings

The original German markings were scrubbed and replaced by the Yugoslav ones. The most noticeable markings are the Yugoslav Crest and the "Preduzece 44"(It refers to the site where it was refurbished; for example "Preduzece 44" stands for "Institute 44"-Kragujevac, Serbia-the current location of Zastava Arms) present on the receiver's ring. Another noticeable marking is the one present on the left side of the receiver, the "Mod. 98/48". The "/48" is absent on all the rifles that have been refurbished before 1950.

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