Zastava M59/66 (Yugoslav SKS)
Zastava Arms · Carbine · Out Of Production · 1959
Also known as: M59/66, M59, Yugo SKS, PAP M59/66, Papovka
Overview
The Zastava M59/66 is the Yugoslav-licensed copy of the Soviet SKS semi-automatic carbine, chambered in 7.62x39mm. Originally produced as the M59 starting in 1959 by Crvena Zastava in Kragujevac, the design was modified in 1966 to add a permanently installed 22mm spigot-type rifle grenade launcher at the muzzle, along with a folding ladder grenade sight and a gas cutoff valve to redirect propellant gases when launching grenades. This grenade-launching capability - uniquely retained on the M59/66 long after most nations had abandoned rifle grenades - gave Yugoslav infantry an organic indirect-fire option without requiring a separate launcher. The rifle saw heavy use throughout the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s and remained a JNA standard-issue carbine until being superseded by the Zastava M70 assault rifle. Surplus M59/66s have flooded the US civilian market since the early 2000s, where they remain popular for their robust construction, chrome-lined bores, and historical significance.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4100 g (144.6 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1120 mm (44.09") |
| Barrel Length | 550 mm (21.65") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Short Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 10 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 718 m/s (2356 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2010 J (1482 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 400 m (437 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 800 m (875 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 35 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 240 mm (9.45") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 7.62x39mm · primary — also known as 7.62mm Soviet, 7.62x39mm M43
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Internal Box Magazine, Stripper Clip
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety Lever, Trigger Block Safety
- Features: Integral Grenade Launcher, Folding Bayonet, Folding Grenade Sight, Gas Cutoff Valve, Stripper Clip Loading, Fixed Internal Magazine
Variants
- Zastava M59 — Original Sks No Grenade Launcher
- Zastava M59/66 A1 — Luminous Night Sights
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Yugoslav People's Army · adopted 1959 · as M59
- Yugoslav People's Army · adopted 1966 · as M59/66
- Army of Republika Srpska · adopted 1992
- Croatian Armed Forces · adopted 1991
Conflicts
- Yugoslav Wars (1991-2001)
Production
Estimated total produced: 2,000,000 · Production years: 1959-1986
Produced by Crvena Zastava in Kragujevac across the M59 and M59/66 variants; large surplus stocks have been imported to the US since the 1990s
Origin
Country of origin: Yugoslavia
Designer: Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov
Discontinued: 1986
Notes
This entry covers the YUGOSLAV SKS family (M59 and M59/66) under Zastava branding - NOT the unrelated Zastava M70 AKM-pattern assault rifle (see zastava-m70). The M59/66 is distinguishable from a Soviet SKS by the bulged grenade launcher spigot at the muzzle, the folding ladder sight on the gas block, and the gas cutoff valve. Most M59/66 rifles imported to the US have had their grenade launcher capability rendered inert.
Background
Long after most armies had retired rifle grenades, Yugoslavia kept the M59/66's grenade-launching spigot in active use - a doctrinal quirk that gave a single rifleman the firepower of a small mortar. During the Siege of Sarajevo, JNA-issued M59/66s saw both sides of the front line, with surplus rifles changing hands so frequently that combatants often carried the same model across multiple loyalty changes.