Gunner Quinn
Serbian manufacturer Zastava opened its U.S. subsidiary in 2019 to offer authentic firearms patterned after classic Yugoslavian Cold War designs. These include the AK-pattern M70 and the M91 designated marksman rifle. Last year, Zastava USA announced that its line-up would expand to include the M72 “RPK” rifle. Now in 2025, the Zastava M72 is available on the market.
An RPK is more than a long-barreled AK, and the M72 is more than an RPK. Like many Yugoslavian firearms, the M72 took a Soviet design and gave it its own native flavor. The RPK was a Russian light machine-gun derived from the AK rifle, with a heavier receiver, longer and heavier barrel, a bipod and special furniture.
Based on the RPK concept, the semi-automatic M72 shares these design features and its 7.62×39 mm chambering. Its 21” barrel is cold hammer-forged with a chrome-lined bore, and unique cooling fins behind the gas block to help dissipate heat. A detachable bipod is mounted to the barrel. Like all Zastava AK-type rifles, the stamped receiver is 1.5 mm thick and has a heavy-duty “bulged” trunnion, along with the modern addition of a side optic rail. The rear sight is adjustable for both elevation and windage, like the RPK. Furniture is wood and has its own unique form, including an M76-pattern grip and buttstock.
Zastava has also announced the introduction of its VUK Titanium AK Suppressor that mimics the aesthetics of the Soviet PBS-1 suppressor, an accessory that would pair nicely with the M72.
The Zastava USA M72 has an MSRP of $1,600. For more information, see the company’s website.
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