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Zastava M53
Photo: The original uploader was Aleksej fon Grozni at Serbian Wikipedia. · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 rs
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ZastavaM53

General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) · Serbia · 1953
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ZastavaM53

⚙ MG 42 variant
Zastava M53
Zastava M53 Photo: The original uploader was Aleksej fon Grozni at Serbian Wikipedia. · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 rs
* Absolute score — assessed within category · no era adjustment
Sustained Firepower
65
Effective Range
60
Penetration
55
Reliability
80
Accuracy
60
Barrel Endurance
70
Mount Versatility
50
Controllability
75
Portability
70
Cost-Effectiveness
85
Origin Serbia
ManufacturerZastava Arms
CategoryGeneral Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)
EraEarly Cold War
In service1953
Operators1 countries
Data Quality86%
66
General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) MASS Rating
18/21
Early Cold War
59/131
All-Time
General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) · 10 axes scored
Sustained Firepower
65
Effective Range
60
Penetration
55
Reliability
80
Accuracy
60
Barrel Endurance
70
Mount Versatility
50
Controllability
75
Portability
70
Cost-Effectiveness
85
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the general purpose machine guns (gpmg) category.
01 / Overview
Zastava M53
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1953–
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
GENERAL PURPOSE MACHINE GUNS (GPMG) · EARLY COLD WAR
18
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
88
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
66
general purpose machine guns (gpmg) category
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the general purpose machine guns (gpmg) category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General5MOD.5
  • First Production Year1953
  • Service Entry Year1953
  • Weight (Empty)10.5 kg
  • Weight (Loaded)12.5 kg
  • Currently In ServiceYes
◈Cartridge & Calibre7MOD.7
  • Cartridge7.92×57mm Mauser
  • Calibre7.92 mm
  • Case Length57 mm
  • Calibre Classfull power rifle
  • Bullet Weight12.8 g
  • RimfireNo
  • Caseless AmmunitionNo
▣Operation10MOD.10
  • Action TypeRecoil-Operated
  • Fire Modesfull-auto
  • Select FireYes
  • Feed SystemBelt
  • Magazine Capacity50
  • Drum / Belt Capacity250
  • Cyclic Rate of Fire1,200
  • Practical Rate of Fire250
  • Trigger Typesingle-stage
  • Safety Typemanual lever
◇Ballistics8MOD.8
  • Muzzle Velocity730 m/s
  • Muzzle Energy3,450
  • Effective Range (point)800 m
  • Effective Range (area)1,000 m
  • Maximum Range3,500 m
  • Sighting Range1,000 m
  • Penetration10 mm
  • Accuracy4
◆Barrel & Sights8MOD.8
▤Construction6MOD.6
▲Production & Cost2MOD.2
  • Production Start1953
  • Variants1
◎Additional Dimensions2MOD.2
  • Width150 mm
  • Height250 mm
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANRetired
  1. 1953Production started
  2. 1991First deployment: Yugoslav Wars
73
years in service
0
countries operating
ⓘ 1 countries retired it.
04 / Operators
Operator Countries1country
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE6terms
A bayonet lug is a metal fitting on the barrel or muzzle of a firearm that provides a mounting point for a bayonet.
A firearm feed system where ammunition is stored in a flexible or rigid container (magazine) inserted into the grip or attached externally, feeding rounds into the chamber via a spring or follower.
Integral bipod: a permanently attached, built‑in bipod that provides a two‑point support for a firearm, allowing it to be rested on a surface without separate accessories.
Adjustable metal aiming devices on firearms, consisting of a front post and rear notch, used without magnification.
Firearm action type where the energy from firing a cartridge cycles the action via rearward movement of the barrel or slide.
Select fire is a fire selector mechanism on a firearm that lets the shooter choose the firing mode, such as semi‑automatic, burst, or fully automatic.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources
📖 ENCYCLOPEDIA Browse the General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) entry →