Zastava M57

Zastava M57
The M57 with a loaded 9-round magazine.
TypeSemi-automatic pistol
Place of originYugoslavia
Service history
In service1961–1992 (Yugoslavia)
Used byYugoslav People's Army
WarsVietnam War
Persian Gulf War
Internal resistance to apartheid[1]
Yugoslav Wars
Russian invasion of Ukraine[2]
Production history
DesignerZastava Arms
Designed1957[3]
ManufacturerZastava Arms
Produced1963–1982[4]
No. built260,000–270,000[4]
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass854 g (30.1 oz)
Length194 mm (7.6 in)
Barrel length116 mm (4.6 in)
Height134 mm (5.3 in)

Cartridge7.62×25mm Tokarev
ActionShort recoil actuated, locked breech, single action
Muzzle velocity480 m/s (1,575 ft/s)
Effective firing range50 m
Feed system9-round detachable box magazine
SightsFront blade, rear notch
156 mm (6.1 in) sight radius

The Zastava M57 is a Yugoslavian and Serbian semi-automatic pistol produced by Zastava Arms. It was the standard service pistol of the Yugoslav People's Army from 1961 until the early 1990s.[3] The M57 was an unlicensed derivative of the Soviet TT pistol, but incorporated a number of detail modifications, namely a longer grip and a slightly larger magazine.[2] Zastava reverse engineered the Soviet TT in 1954, and began serial production of the weapon type as the M57 in 1963.[3]

As of 2021, Zastava still produced modernized variants of the M57 with updated safety features - the M57A in its original chambering and the M70A in 9mm Parabellum.[5]

  1. ^ Luthuli, Daluxolo; Bopela, Thula (2005). Umkhonto We Siswe: Fighting for a Divided People. Alberton: Galago Publishing Company. pp. 60, 113. ISBN 978-1919854168.
  2. ^ a b "Vintage Weapons In a Modern War: The TT-33 Pistol In Ukraine". The Armourer's Bench. Beaverton. 26 March 2023. Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Sof, Eric (7 January 2023). "Zastava M57: The Yugoslavian-Made Clone of the Legendary Soviet TT-33 Pistol". Spec Ops Magazine. Dover. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  4. ^ a b Thompson, Leroy (2022). Soviet Pistols: Tokarev, Makarov, Stechkin and others. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. pp. 65–67. ISBN 978-1472853486.
  5. ^ Borisenko, Adam (28 May 2021). "Zastava M57 and M70A: The Yugoslavian Tokarevs". The Gun Digest. Appleton, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2024.