Tabuk Sniper Rifle
Al-Qadissiya Establishments · Sniper Rifle · Discontinued · 1984
Also known as: Al-Qadissiya Sniper, Iraqi Sniper Rifle, Tabuk DMR
Overview
The Tabuk Sniper Rifle is an Iraqi-produced designated marksman rifle based on the Yugoslav Zastava M76, itself an enlarged AK-pattern rifle chambered in 7.62x54mmR. Manufactured by Al-Qadissiya Establishments (also known as the Al-Qadissiya State Establishment for Mechanical Industries), the Tabuk Sniper was produced in Iraq during the 1980s to provide Iraqi military forces with an indigenous sniper capability. Like its Yugoslav parent, the Tabuk Sniper uses a long-stroke gas piston system derived from the AK/RPK action, scaled up to accommodate the more powerful 7.62x54mmR cartridge. The rifle was typically issued with a ZRAK ON-M76 or similar 4x optical sight and featured a longer, heavier barrel than the standard Tabuk assault rifle to improve accuracy at range. Quality control during Iraqi production was variable, and the Tabuk Sniper was generally considered less accurate than the Zastava M76 on which it was based, with practical accuracy of approximately 2-3 MOA.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4500 g (158.7 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4800 g (169.3 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1135 mm (44.69") |
| Barrel Length | 600 mm (23.62") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Long Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Trigger Pull | 30 N (6.7 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 820 m/s (2690 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3225 J (2379 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 600 m (656 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 2500 m (2734 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 240 mm (9.45") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Chrome Lined Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 7.62x54mmR · primary — also known as 7.62x54R, 7.62 Russian, 7.62 Mosin-Nagant
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Flash Hider, Scope Mount Rail
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Iraqi Armed Forces · adopted 1984 · as Tabuk Sniper
- Iraqi Republican Guard
- Various Iraqi Militia Groups
Conflicts
- Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)
- Gulf War (1990-1991)
- Iraq War (2003-2011)
- Iraqi Civil War (2014-2017)
Production
Production years: 1984-2003
Production ended with the fall of the Ba'athist regime in 2003. Exact numbers unknown; Al-Qadissiya Establishments records were largely destroyed during the 2003 invasion. Thousands are believed to have been produced.
Origin
Country of origin: Iraq
Discontinued: 2003
Notes
The Tabuk Sniper should not be confused with the standard Tabuk assault rifle, which is an Iraqi copy of the Zastava M70 (an AK variant in 7.62x39mm). The sniper variant is a completely different weapon based on the larger Zastava M76 platform. Iraq received manufacturing equipment and technical assistance from Yugoslavia to produce both the Tabuk assault rifle and sniper rifle variants during the 1980s. The Tabuk Sniper was produced with varying levels of quality; examples captured by US forces in 2003 showed significant variance in manufacturing precision. The rifle was commonly encountered during the Iraq War, where it was used by Iraqi Army regulars, Republican Guard units, and later by various insurgent groups. Some examples have been found chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser, the original caliber of the Zastava M76.
Background
The Tabuk Sniper Rifle represents one of Saddam Hussein's ambitions to build an indigenous Iraqi arms industry independent of foreign suppliers. Produced with Yugoslav technical assistance, the rifle armed Iraqi snipers through three major wars: the Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War, and the Iraq War. US forces encountered the Tabuk Sniper frequently during the 2003 invasion and subsequent insurgency, where it was used alongside genuine Dragunov SVDs and Romanian PSLs. The variable quality of Iraqi production meant that individual rifles could range from reasonably accurate to barely functional, depending on the production lot and era of manufacture.