New to the United States AK market are Zastava Arms two new ZPAP M92 pistol variants.  With both fixed and side-folding SB Tactical braces, I was curious how these two Krinkov style pistols would preform.  Lucky for me, Zastava was kind enough to send both new variants of the ZPAPM92 over for review.

New Brace Options

With the exception of the pistol brace, both of the M92’s that were sent over were identical.  This was perfect as I wanted to try these two new pistol brace options out side-by-side.

Up first is one of the newest additions to the SB Tactical family.  The FS1913 side folding brace.  It has a nice thin profile and makes the 10-inch barreled M82 very easy to transport when folded.

• OAL(FS1913): 31 1/8”
• Folded length: 22 ½”
• Length of Pull: 13”

TFB Review: Zastava Arms ZPAP M92 PistolsThe SBA3 brace uses an M4 style buffer tube and gives the M92 that awesome Spetsnaz operator look.  It has an adjustable length of pull and boasts the following overall specs.

• OAL (SBA3):  28 7/8” – 31 1/2”
• Length of pull (SBA3):  10 1/2” – 13”

Features

For sights, the Zatastava M92 uses the tried and true flip rear sight.  Compared to an AK leaf-style rear sight, these make swapping from 200m to 400m a breeze.  The 200m setting appears to have the two night sight dots.  Sadly these are just pained on dots.  If you want night sights you’ll need to find an aftermarket solution.

The front sight is open and allows for quick and easy elevation adjustment.  There is an additional flip-up dot sight, in case you prefer that sight picture, or you decide to upgrade to night sights in the long run.

Mounted just in front of the rear sight is a 1913 pic rail for mounting your favorite optic.  Everyone has their own personal favorite, but I think an Aimpoint Micro T2 would be right at home here.

In true Krinkov fashion, the top cover is hinged for a quick and easy takedown. This secure attachment point also provides a stable mount for optics, without the need of a side or forward mount.

Both of the M92’s that were sent over had impeccable craftsmanship both inside and out.  Parts for each were all serialized and had separate matching inspection numbers.

Most of the M92’s parts are Serbian in origin, but there are a select few that were made here in the States.  Zastava pointed out that the boosters (pictured above), brace adapters, and top cover rails on both M92’s were made in the United States by CNC Warrior.

 

Testing and Range Time

In true AK fashion, I opted to use only steel cased ammo throughout testing.  I pulled as wide a variety of ammunition in different types and weights to test the reliability.  Everything from Brown Bear 196 grain subsonic to 122 grain Tula bulk pack.

Each of the M92’s came with a steel 30 round magazine with last round bolt hold open (LRBHO) follower.  While these magazines fit and function perfectly, I made a point to use other magazines like these Polish circle 11 magazine, and Magpul PMAG.  All the magazines I tried fit and functioned perfectly throughout testing.

The most surprising thing about these two M92’s was just how controllable they were.  Neither of these two guns felt over gassed throughout testing, even with a Dead Air Wolverine added.  Recoil was very manageable with the proper grip and stance.  If anything I was more distracted by the occasional fireball the M92 would throw.

Near the end of testing I realized I preferred the M4 pattern brace over M1913 mounted side folder.  Both had their advantages, but the SBA3 proved to be more stable unsuppressed and shooting hotter ammo.

Pro’s and Con’s

Out of the box, the Zastava ZPAP M92 is a quality product.  It has just the right amount of modern refinements, while still retaining that classic look and dark wood furniture.  I looked over both of these pistols for days in search of flaws and came up short.  Even the factory triggers were surprisingly smooth for an off the shelf AK.

While both brace options provide their own unique set of advantages, but I was never able to find a repeatable hold with either.  Both braces required a slightly different shooting position in order to accommodate the heavier 7.62×39 recoil.  The pistol brace is just that, a brace.  If either these were mine, I would be looking to file a Form1, and then do a proper SBR conversion.

The Verdict

Somewhere between purist and enthusiast is where the ZPAP M92 lies.  While it might not be the most “correct” enthusiast driven AK, it is an incredibly functional one.  Both guns are great in their factory configurations and I loved shooting them right out of the box.  Should you decide to upgrade either, there’s plenty of aftermarket options on the market today.

Both ZPAP M92s are available now with an MSRP of $1,027.99 for the SBA3 brace, and $1,079.99 for the FS1913 brace.