Zastava M84

Zastava M84
Right side view of the M84
TypeGeneral-purpose machine gun
Place of originYugoslavia
Service history
In service1985–present
Used bySee Users
Wars
Production history
Designed1984
ManufacturerZastava Arms
Produced1984–present
VariantsM84
M86
Specifications
Mass8.8 kg (19 lb)
Length1,175 mm (46.3 in)
Barrel length658 mm (25.9 in)
Cartridge7.62×54mmR
ActionGas-operated (rotating bolt)
Rate of fire700-800 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity825 m/s
Effective firing range1000 m
Feed systemBelt-fed with 100 and 250 round belts
SightsAdjustable iron sights, optional mount required for optical sights

The Zastava M84 is a general-purpose machine gun designed and manufactured by Zastava Arms. It is a gas-operated, air-cooled, belt-fed and fully automatic shoulder-fired weapon.

Design

The M84 is a licensed copy of the Soviet Union's PKM, with a few differences such as a differently shaped stock, and a slightly longer and heavier barrel which has slightly different measurements at the gas port and forward of the trunnion in diameter.

Variants

M84

The M84 is intended for infantry use, against enemy infantry and light vehicles. It is also configured for tripod mounting (like the PKS).

M86

The M86 is a tank machine gun, and is designed to mount as a coaxial weapon on M-84 tanks and other combat vehicles. The stock, bipod, and iron sights are omitted from this version,[citation needed] and it includes a heavier barrel and electric trigger, much like the Russian PKMT. Another version, the M86A, is designed for external mounts and can be used dismounted.

M84M

An improved version of the M84. The changes include a picatinny rail on the receiver and a new buttstock.

Users

Afghan National Civil Order Police officer with a M84 machine gun in 2012.

Former users

References

  1. 1 2 "Zastava M84". Military Factory. MilitaryFactory.com. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  2. ↑ "ZASTAVA ARMS Kragujevac | 1970 - 1992". Archived from the original on May 7, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2011. History of Zastava Arms
  3. ↑ "ZASTAVA ARMS Kragujevac | Light Machine Gun M84". Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
  4. ↑ PK (& close variants) (PDF). Weapons Identification Sheet. Small Arms Survey. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 26, 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Gander, Terry J. (4 May 2001). "Zastava 7.62 mm M84 general purpose machine gun". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003. pp. 5922–5923.
  6. ↑ Onokoy, Vladimir (2025-03-13). "[IDEX 2025] M84M – Modernised GPMG from Zastava Arms". thefirearmblog.com. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  7. ↑ "Soviet Influenced Heavy Machine Guns in Afghan Service". thefirearmblog.com. 4 May 2018.[better source needed]
  8. ↑ Republic of Serbia: Ministry of Economy and of Regional Development. Annual Report on the Transfers of Controlled Goods in 2008. pp. 51, 53. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014 – via Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
  9. ↑ Cherisey, Erwan de (July 2019). "El batallón de infantería "Badenya" de Burkina Faso en Mali - Noticias Defensa En abierto". Revista Defensa (in Spanish) (495–496).
  10. ↑ Wondo Omanyundu, Jean-Jacques (23 May 2018). "Joseph Kabila continues to over-equip his regime militarily for the upcoming political deadlines". desc-wondo.org. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  11. ↑ "Yugoslav M84 general purpose machine-gun". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  12. ↑ United Nations Security Council (25 Oct 2002). Report of the Panel of Experts concerning Liberia (S/2002/1115) (PDF). p. 18.
  13. ↑ Krott, Rob (October 2003). "Macedonia's Weaponry: A New Nation Re-Arms and Fights". Small Arms Review. Vol. 7, no. 1.
  14. ↑ Gobinet, Pierre (December 2011). Significant Surpluses: Weapons and Ammunition Stockpiles in South-east Europe (PDF). Special Report. Small Arms Survey. p. 96. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 23, 2012.
  15. ↑ Infantry weapons
  16. ↑ "Mortar Rounds Shake Mogadishu Ahead of Somali Presidential Vote". Archived from the original on October 18, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Syrie: la 3eme Légion, rebelles syriens et supplétifs de la Turquie à Afrin". France-Soir (in French). 8 November 2018.
  18. ↑ Noir, War. "In addition to these; fighters appear to be using PK(M)/Type 80 pattern 7.62x54mmR machine guns including a Zastava M84 MG. Also, a 12.7x108mm Type 54/MGD 12.7 HMG can be seen as well (seems to be a Chinese/Iranian copy of DShK) along with a notable RPG-22 "Netto". 2/". x.com. War Noir. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  19. ↑ Noir, War. "#Houthis (Ansar Allah) released the footage of the attack on pro-Saudi Forces in #Jizan (border between #Yemen 🇾🇪 and #KSA 🇸🇦). Most of the fighters appear to be armed with AKM(S) and Type 56(-1) variants. Also, a Serbian/Yugo Zastava M84 GPMG and a Bulgarian AR can be seen". x.com. War Noir. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  20. ↑ "ISAF Peacekeepers from Croatia". Small Arms Defense Journal. Vol. 6, no. 2. 10 April 2014.