The Zastava M76 was developed in the 1970s by Crvena Zastava for the Yugoslav military as a semi-automatic precision rifle. It follows the Kalashnikov mechanical pattern but is chambered for the full-power 7.92x57 mm Mauser cartridge, reflecting Yugoslavia's ammunition stocks and doctrine. It filled a designated-marksman role rather than being a bolt-action sniper rifle.
The M76 uses a long receiver, gas operation, detachable magazines, and optical sights such as the ZRAK ON-M76. Its 7.92 mm cartridge gives more range and energy than intermediate assault-rifle rounds, while semiautomatic operation supports quicker follow-up shots than a bolt-action. It is best compared with SVD-style marksman rifles, although it is a distinct Yugoslav design with its own cartridge and optics system.
Operationally, M76 rifles gave Yugoslav and successor-state units semiautomatic precision fire beyond ordinary AK range. They were used through the Yugoslav wars and remained in regional inventories because they were rugged and familiar. Their limitations are older optics, ammunition logistics, and accuracy below modern precision bolt-action rifles, but their role as durable marksman rifles remains clear.
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