Data Quality86%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ 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)
—
ⓘ 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
- Barrel Length560 mm
- Rifling Twist1:10
- Rifling Grooves4
- Sight Typeiron sights, tangent rear
- Sight Radius850 mm
- Optic RailNo
- Iron SightsYes
- Threaded BarrelNo
▤Construction6MOD.6
- Receiver Materialsteel
- Furniture Materialwood
- Folding / Collapsing StockNo
- Bullpup LayoutNo
- Ambidextrous ControlsNo
- Modularitybipod/tripod mountable
⬢Features5MOD.5
▲Production & Cost2MOD.2
- Production Start1953
- Variants1
◎Additional Dimensions2MOD.2
- Width150 mm
- Height250 mm
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANRetired
- 1953Production started
- 1991First deployment: Yugoslav Wars
73
years in service
0
countries operating
ⓘ 1 countries retired it.
05 / MASS Score
GENERAL PURPOSE MACHINE GUNS (GPMG) RANKING General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) · Early Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
59GENERAL PURPOSE MACHINE GUNS (GPMG)18EARLY COLD WAR · GENERAL PURPOSE MACHINE GUNS (GPMG)33SERBIA · ALL WEAPONS16PERFORMANCE/PRICE · GENERAL PURPOSE MACHINE GUNS (GPMG)
ⓘ Rankings are within theGeneral Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG)category.
📖 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