• Yugoslavian M49/57 Submachinegun

    Yugoslavian M49/57 Submachinegun
    (Mfg after 1957 by Zastava in the former Yugoslavia)

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    Caliber: ........................ 7.62x25TT
    Rate of Fire: ................ 750 rounds per minute
    Barrel Length: .............. 267mm
    Overall Length: ............ 847mm
    Weight: ........................ 3.8 Kg (8.37 lbs) Empty
    Magazine Capacity: ...... 35 round box magazine
    Qty Mfg: ....................... Unknown

    Source: .... http://world.guns.ru/smg/yu/m49-e.html; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M49_Submachine_gun

    Yugoslavian M49/57 Submachinegun

    (22 picture virtual tour)
    Observations: (by "Claven2")
    Note: Pics of rifle provided courtesy of Milsurps.com moderator Claven2.

    Designed for use with the Yugoslav People's Army after the Second World War and co-incident with the development and issue of the M48 Mauser rifle, the Yugoslavian M49 (Model 1949) submachine gun bear more than a passing resemblance to the Soviet PPSh-41. There are, however, more than a few differences between the Russian PPSh and the M49. Despite the cosmetic similarity to the Russian submachine gun, the bolt group and safety were copied from Italian Beretta M38A submachine gun. M49 magazines are interchangeable with PPSh-41 magazines.

    M49 submachine gun is and open-bolt blowback operated weapon with select fire being achieved through the use of a near exact copy of the Soviet PPSh-41 trigger group. The bolt group was derived from the Beretta M38A with its return spring enclosed in a tubular guide. Similarly, the push-button cross-bolt safety is reminiscent of that of the Beretta M38/49.

    The visual resemblance to the PPSh-41 is due to the basically similar layout of a wooden stock and shrouded barrel. The barrel shroud and receiver are, however, made from steel tubing and not stampings like the PPSh-41.

    The M49 SMG is field stripped by unscrewing the rear cap of receiver and then pulling the bolt group out of the receiver. The rate of fire for M49 is somewhat less than of PPSh-41 (750 rounds per minute vs. 900 rounds per minute). The M49 was issued only with 35-round curved box magazines and no drums.

    The M49 and the later M49/57 variant are different only in minor details. It is considered that the M49 had a relatively short service life, being replaced by the M56 submachine gun, which was more compact and much cheaper to manufacture. Manufacture of the M49, as the M49/57, continued to some extent after the introduction of the M56.



    Collector's Comments and Feedback:

    1. The pictured M49 is of the M49/57 variety manufactured after the introduction of the M56 submachine gun which is made mostly of stamped metal parts. It is not known specifically what differences exist between the M49 and the M49/57, but they are thought to be inconsequential in nature. These Yugoslavian submachine guns boast a slightly slower but more controllable rate of fire than the PPSh and are comparatively well made of seamless tubing and machined parts.
    The example shown in the photo gallery has, unfortunately, been tastefully deactivated.
    ........... (Feedback by "Claven2")

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