Zastava M85
- Category
- Carbine
- Barrel
- 254 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.00 kg
- Introduced
- 1992
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Zastava M85 is a select-fire carbine chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO, produced by Zastava Arms since 1992. This Serbian-manufactured firearm reflects the engineering traditions and quality standards of its country of origin, designed to meet the demands of both civilian and professional users in a competitive global marketplace. Featuring a 30-round magazine capacity, this carbine offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense. The 10.0-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 3000g (105.8 oz), this is a substantial firearm whose weight contributes to reduced felt recoil and enhanced stability during precision shooting. The steel frame provides a solid, premium feel with the durability to withstand decades of regular use and thousands of rounds. This firearm represents its manufacturer's commitment to delivering a well-engineered, reliable product that serves the needs of discerning shooters seeking quality, accuracy, and dependable performance from a proven platform.
The M85 exists because Serbian special forces wanted the compact dimensions of the M92 but with NATO-standard 5.56mm ammunition for interoperability with Western allies. The 5.56mm cartridge actually performs better from the short 10-inch barrel than the 7.62x39mm does in the M92, producing less blast and flash while maintaining adequate terminal performance at close range.
The M85 is essentially the M92 rechambered for 5.56mm NATO, sharing the same compact dimensions, bulged trunnion, three-slot cooling vents, and underfolding stock. The 5.56mm cartridge benefits from the compact package more than the 7.62x39mm - producing less blast and flash from the short barrel while maintaining adequate terminal performance at close range. The civilian ZPAP85 semi-automatic variant is popular on the US commercial market, particularly as a basis for SBR (Short Barreled Rifle) builds. The M85 competes with platforms like the AKS-74U and HK53 in the compact NATO-caliber PDW role.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Zastava Arms
- Category
- Carbine
- Country
- Serbia
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1992
- Variant of
- Different caliber
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 254 mm
- Overall length
- 795 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.00 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 3.35 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated long stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 30
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Steel
- Finish
- Blued
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 800 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 1286 J
- Effective range
- 200 m
- Maximum range
- 500 m
- Rate of fire
- 620 rpm
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Chrome lined barrel
Cold hammer forged barrel
Rotating bolt
Select fire
Underfolding stock- Bulged trunnion 1 5mm
- Flash eliminator
Three cooling vents handguard
Extremely compact
Nato caliber
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 141 5.56x45mm NATO carbines | 3.00 kg | 2.95 kg | Heavier than about 60% |
| Overall lengthAmong 144 5.56x45mm NATO carbines | 795 mm | 838 mm | Shorter than about 80% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 150 5.56x45mm NATO carbines | 254 mm | 406 mm | Shorter than about 90% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 150 5.56x45mm NATO carbines | 30 | 30 | Near the median |
Answers
Questions about the Zastava M85
How much does the Zastava M85 weigh?
The Zastava M85 weighs 3.00 kg (6.61 lb) empty and 3.35 kg (7.39 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Zastava M85?
The Zastava M85 is chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO.
How many rounds does the Zastava M85 hold?
The Zastava M85 holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Zastava M85?
The Zastava M85 is 795 mm (31.3 in) long overall, with a 254 mm (10.00 in) barrel.
Who makes the Zastava M85?
The Zastava M85 is made by Zastava Arms (Serbia).
When was the Zastava M85 introduced?
The Zastava M85 was introduced in 1992.
How does the Zastava M85 operate?
The Zastava M85 uses a gas operated long stroke action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- Serbian Armed Forces
- 1992
- Serbian Police
- Serbia
Provenance
Confidence in this record
80%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/zastava-m85' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "zastava-m85", "name": "Zastava M85", "manufacturer": { "id": "zastava", "name": "Zastava Arms", "countryCode": "RS", "foundedYear": 1853, "website": "https://www.zastava-arms.rs", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:48", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:48", "version": "1280b11f95e216b0481865c8371fa30b9f7a5b33a8167e7b5ba6166da29d4149" }, "category": { "id": "carbine", "name": "Carbine", "description": "Shortened rifles for close-quarters use" }, "country_of_origin": "RS", "year_introduced": 1992, "barrel_length_mm": 254, "weight_empty_g": 3000, "action_type": "gas_operated_long_stroke"}