Zastava ZPAP92 Review [Extended use AAR]

by David Higginibotham

October 23, 2024

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The Zastava PAP M92 is an odd beast—but the compact 7.62×39 is every bit an AK, a workhorse, and a lot of fun. What the M92 lacks in ergonomics it makes up for in its efficient design. While hardly small, the compact pistol build is the perfect starting place for an AK SBR build – learn more in this Zastava ZPAP92 Review.

Now, I originally reviewed this gun last year and my thoughts were one way. But after spending more time with it and firing a couple of hundred rounds, my opinions on this gun have changed. So, let’s get into this updated review.

NOTE: the Zastava M92 I have was a Century import. Now that Zastsava has US representation, they’re handling imports. Looks to be the same gun.

ZPAP92 Specs

  • Caliber 7.62×39
  • Barrel length 10″ cold hammer forged chrome lined
  • Sights Krinkov style rear, post front
  • Overall length 19.3″
  • Weight 6.6 lbs.

Zastava ZPAP92 Review: Some Background

As a writer and editor who specializes in everyday carry guns, I find the discussion around PAP/ZPAP vs. Krink particularly intriguing.

The Krinkov, a svelte little AK-74 variant, isn’t as well-known as the bog-standard AKM, but it remains on many of our wish lists. Hollywood loves the platform, and that doesn’t help tamp down the desire. But Krinks are hard to find, expensive to feed, and require some paperwork.

The PAP scratched the itch for some of us.

Instead of the 5.45×39, the PAP runs on 7.62×39. There was a time, not long ago, that cheap imports made the M92 and other AKs exceptionally practical—you could train with them without taking out a loan.

And Century built these as pistols. If you want to go through the SBR process, these make solid rifles. If not, there are arm braces. However, the future legality of that remains in question.

Zastava ZPAP92 Review: going loud with an AK pistol.

As odd as it might seem, the Zastava PAP M92 continues to speak to many AK fans. It is an ideal platform for those who want to work with a base model and make serious upgrades.

ZPAP92 Features

ZPAP92 features
1 7.62 x 39

There is plenty of ammo still available.

2 Compact size

The M92 makes a great truck gun.

3 Familiar functionality

The M92 PAP requires no learning curve for those who know AKs.

4 Pistol configuration

Allows the owner to set it up as they want (SBR, etc.).

5 Modularity

The PAP takes common AK furniture and parts.

6 Bolt hold-open

An extra bonus for showing empty chambers.

Zastava ZPAP92 Review | PAP NM92 Variations:

Century no longer lists the M92, but the Draco is very similar; Zastava Arms also imports the M85 PAP in 5.56.

Zastava ZPAP92 Review – Our Take

This ZPAP92 was made in Serbia

I’ve been running the PAP M92 for a while now. Let’s see how that went.

EXPECTATIONS

How does the M92 shoot? Like many guns with shorter barrels, this one tends to be easy to move. The balance is ideal. It isn’t heavy, swings well, and makes transitioning between targets easy.

The bolt on the M92 moves like it’s on bearings. As such, it is easy to rack. The bolt isn’t going to lock back when the gun’s empty, but there is the bolt-hold notch on the safety lever in case you might want to keep it open for cooling, loading, or just visual indication that the gun is empty.

The iron sights on this are functional, but that’s about where the accolades end. The sight radius is shorter, so the PAP moves the rear sight back onto the dust cover.

ZPAP92 receiver side.

That cover is hinged, which provides some stability to the design, but this is still a weak spot in the AK design, It makes me doubt the ability of this configuration ever to achieve impressive repeat accuracy with iron sights.

PAP M92 front sight
Zastava APAP92 review: a look at the front sights.

Optics will be a challenge, too. I opted for a railed gas block for forward-mounted optics, but still haven’t found the perfect option. Red dots are the logical choice for the PAP design. There are railed dust covers, too, that would allow for more traditional optics.

The PAP M92 is a compact little platform once folded up.

ZPAP92 with pistol brace folded.

Magnification may be overkill, though. This has always felt like a gun designed for close quarters. It isn’t meant for long-range work.

PAP M92 review

RELIABILITY

There are books dedicated to the reliability of the AK. It may be the most reliable automatic ever built. It is, at least, the easiest to keep running in the field. And the PAP has not disappointed. The gun runs.

I’ve yet to find magazines that it doesn’t like. While it doesn’t have an extended mag well, it takes what you feed it. I’ve run steel mags, plastic mags—they all lock-in like they should and rock-out easily.

Feeding the Zastava ZPAP92

Because this isn’t a gun I shoot for gnat’s-ass accuracy, I’ve never bothered testing different grain weights and digging deep into which ammo performs best. Instead, I tend to privilege the price-per-round. This gun gets about the same gas mileage as a 68 Nova. Hit the gas pedal and drive it fast.

The ZPAP92 makes an excellent truck gun.

Still—if you are looking at an AK for home defense or for use as a truck gun, you need to know how to solve basic malfunctions. The PAP is reliable, but that doesn’t mean it’s flawless.

“This gun gets about the same gas mileage as a 68 Nova. Hit the gas pedal and drive it fast.”

ERGONOMICS

The 7.62×39 isn’t a round typically associated with handguns. The Zastava M92 PAP is a pistol. As a handgun, it is heavy and less than practical. But with some basic additions, the ergonomics improve greatly.

I’ve tried shooting this two-handed, with no additional support, and it is complicated. Add a sling to it—one you can pull against as you push the gun forward—and the ergonomics settle in somewhat. There’s more predictable stability.

Add an arm brace to the PAP and it will be even more stable. With a folding stock and a brace, the PAP functions much more as a full-sized rifle, but with all of the benefits of the reduced size.

PAP M92 review - on the range

That’s where this really shines.

ON THE RANGE

There are two things to note about how it shoots. The trigger isn’t the best. There’s a bit of take-up before the hammer drops and no clean break. This is a detriment to accuracy, of course, but hardly noticeable if you’re moving fast.

The second is that the front sight post is wide. For this review, I started at 100 yards with the irons, but the post covered almost 1/3 of a full sheet of posterboard I used as a target backer. I moved into 50 yards and shot the group there—standing—with the M92 braced.

Brace shooting one-handed results on paper

Zastava APAP92 review: shooting it one-handed with a brace.

This range trip, though, may mark the last time I punch paper with the gun. It is better on steel targets and multiples at that.

PRICE OF ADMISSION

The Zastava M92 sold somewhere north of $500. At that price, in its original configuration, this was a solid buy. At just $500, you could afford to leave it alone—wood furniture and all—and slowly make the additions you want to achieve the functionality you really want.

Locking the bolt to the rear.

In this case, I swapped out the forend for a Troy. The swap was easy enough—not as easy as it might be on an AR-15, but hardly complicated.

I added the Shockwave blade to the rear for obvious reasons. Utilizing a Storm Werkz side-folding stock adapter, the Shockwave folds easily and flat.

With a brace locked out the ZPAP92 functions much like any other long gun.

It makes this entire build both easy to store and easy to transport.

The grip on this one is a Magpul AK MOE. I’m not as fond of it as I I’d hoped—but I’m not one that really favors one grip style over another, so I’ve not bothered to swap it out.

ZPAP92 with KAK Shockwave brace and other accessories.

The Ultimak railed gas tube is a big win for those wanting to put optics up top. I’ve run several on this and I’m still looking for the right option.

Zastava ZPAP92 Review: PAP M92 Pros and Cons

  • Adaptable – The platform allows for easy customization
  • Common caliber – 7.62×39 is still available en masse
  • It’s an AK – It’s as reliable as…an AK.
  • Iron-centric – Harder to accommodate optics
  • Big boned – Still heavy even in the short configuration
  • Inaccurate- Surgically precise it’s not.

Report Card

Shootability

Shooting is easy, but accuracy is harder to achieve with the irons.

B
Reliability

It’s an AK. No issues experienced during many range sessions.

A+
Ergonomics

After the novelty wears off you’ll want a brace.

C-
Accuracy

The PAP performs satisfactorily.

C
Value

Even with the increased price of 7.62×39, this is worth it.

A
Zastava-PAP-M92-review-scorecard

Our Grade

B

Reviewed by David Higginibotham

Reader’s Grade

C+

Based on 3 Reviews

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As you can see, it’s a decent AK style rifle. Is it the best? No…but I’ll admit, it definitely deserves to be on a list of top AK 47s. In this case, I did list it here – but as you can see, it wasn’t the #1 pick.

Zastava AK pistol review - on the range

Gun Deals

Searching the internet to find your favorite firearm can be a big task. However, we put together a list to make things simple. Check out the links below to figure out where you can find your own WASR (without a passport and a flight to Kragujevac).

Zastava ZPAP92 – FAQs

Is the Zastava ZPAP92 suitable for personal defense?

The Zastava ZPAP92 is a suitable option for personal defense. Its reliability, compact size, and 7.62×39mm caliber make it effective for close-quarters engagements and defensive scenarios.

How does the Zastava ZPAP92 perform in harsh environments?

The Zastava ZPAP92 is known for its robustness and can perform well in harsh environments. Its 10″ cold hammer forged chrome lined barrel provides corrosion, wear, and heat resistance, enhancing its durability. However, you need to maintain it regularly for optimal performance. Please note that local laws and regulations should be followed when handling firearms.

What type of sights does the Zastava ZPAP92 come with?

The Zastava ZPAP92 typically comes with a Krinkov-style rear sight and a post front sight, providing a traditional AK-style sight picture.

Does Zastava ZPAP92 come with pistol braces?

The Zastava ZPAP92 does not come with a pistol brace by default. However, it is designed to accommodate the addition of a pistol brace. The ZPAP92’s rear trunnion has been pre-drilled to accommodate three types of mounting accessories sold by Zastava: a sling loop, a 1913 rail adaptor, or a buffer tube adaptor. With these options, you can attach either a sling or most common pistol braces using the appropriate mounting hardware.

How can you improve the stability of the Zastava ZPAP92?

You can improve stability of the Zastava ZPAP92 by adding a side folding brace. This accessory can significantly improve the ease of operation of the firearm, especially when firing rounds of 7.62×39 caliber.

Best Ammo for Your Firearm

The ammo I used most often when shooting the PAP M92 was 122 gr FMJ Arsenal by Global Ordnance and 122gr Wolf FMJ.

A couple of other options include:

123gr Wolf PolyPerformance

Marketplace
Cost
Gun.Deals Varies
Palmetto State Armory $0.21/round
FEDERAL Federal American Eagle, 7.62x39mm, FMJ, 124 Grain

124gr American Eagle

Marketplace
Cost
Gun.Deals Varies
Palmetto State Armory $1.15

Upgrades and Accessories

Below are a few suggestions for things you might find helpful (or enjoyable) when shooting your PAP M92.

Shockwave Pistol Brace
  • Minimalist design works to stabilize the PAP
  • Easy to install and adjust
  • Folds almost flat
Check price
The first half of
  • Proper eye protection is critical and should always be worn
  • Ballistic rated, not just sunglasses
Compare top eyepro
The second half of
  • Ear protection is also critical. Protect your hearing!
  • Many styles (some stackable) are available
Compare best earpro
Appropriate cleaning kit
  • For cleaning, care, and maintenance
  • Not all kits are created equal
Compare top kits
Bulti polymer mags with reinforced steel lugCheck price
WOLVERINE! Pattern Camo Sling

Everything COMBLOC goes better with Red Dawn movie Russian camo.

 

 

Check price
Vickers AK Sling

The classic Blue Force Gear AK47 sling from LAV.

Check price
Haley Strategic D3CRX Chest Rig

You need a way to haul your mags. Haley Strategic is a source for very good stuff.

Check price
Aimpoint CompM5b
  • Quickly adjust the reticle in accordance with projectile ballistics and distance to target
  • Wind compensation adjustment in 3 levels
  • Compatible with the Aimpoint 3X & 6XMag-1 magnifiers
Check price
Surefire M600U Scout Light
  • Virtually indestructible ultra-high-output LED
  • Rugged and reliable; built for conflict
  • Mil-Spec Hard Anodized finish, and O-ring sealed to keep out the elements.
On Amazon
Leather AK Chest Rig
  • The most bespoke of possible load-bearing gear
  • Not the most practical but boy it looks GOOD
  • Available for a variety of loadouts
Check price
Dark Angel D.A.R.K. Trauma Kit
  • You should always have medical gear when shooting (any gun)
  • External Tourniquet for easy access
  • Pull handle for rapid deployment
  • Vacuumed sealed insert to keep your contents protected
  • Kit content scalability
Check price
M92 Krinkov 4PC Muzzle BrakeCheck price
Aklys Defense M92 Muzzle BrakeCheck price

Keep something in mind when choosing your accessories, upgrades, and furniture: apart from the basic necessities (e.g. a sling, a light, and possibly an optic), you should always budget time, resources, and money for training. All the “Gucci kit” in the world won’t help if you cannot run the gun effectively.

Loose Rounds

Remember this iconic, meme-worth photo?

iconic-ZPAP92-photo

 

That sure looks like a Zastava ZPAP92 she’s hanging out the window with. Not accurate at all should she pull the trigger, but it makes for some funny social media posts.

How to Care for Your Firearm

Whether you’re new to the AK platform or you just want to brush up on your fundamentals, check out this video by our own Graham Baates about breaking the ZPAP92 down.

Important Links and Manuals

Need more info on this firearm? Don’t worry. There’s plenty out there. We recommend you get started with the following resources:

Zastava AK review: this is a great little gun if you aren't concerned with pinpoint precision.

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About David Higginibotham

David Higginbotham is a writer and editor who specializes in every day carry. After twenty years as a college professor, he made the move into the firearms industry, crafting content, working in marketing and public relations, and now working in commercial product development.

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