ZB 50


ZB-50 machine gun on tripod

 

 


ZB-50 machine gun on bipod, in "light" role

 

 

Caliber

7,92x57

Weight, kg

 

Overall length, mm

 

Barrel length, mm

 

Cyclic rate of fire, rounds per minute

 

Feed and capacity

Belt

 

ZB-50 machine gun was developed by famous Czechoslovak small arms factory Zbrojovka Brno (ZB) during early 1930s, with intent to replace obsolete Schwarzlose Vz.07/24 heavy machine guns then in service with Czechoslovak army. ZB-50 machine gun was put into limited production in 1932, and sold in small numbers to certain South American countries, such as Argentine. It failed in Czechoslovak army trials for some reason, and was replaced in production at ZB circa 1935 by gas-operated ZB-53 machine gun.

It must be pointed out that ZB-50 can be properly described as the “universal” or “general purpose” machine gun rather than “rifle caliber heavy machine gun”, because it was designed for use either from tripod (in “heavy” or AA role) or from integral bipod (in “light” role).

 

ZB-50 machine gun is short recoil operated weapon that fires from open bolt. It uses vertically tilting bolt locking and a lever-type bolt accelerator, which transfers barrel recoil energy to the bolt carrier, improving reliability of the weapon. ZB-50 machine gun uses air-cooled, quick-detachable barrel with radial fins and folding carrying handle. Barrel jacket is open at the top to facilitate rapid barrel change and better air cooling. Gun is belt fed, using non-disintegrating steel belts with open pockets. Feed is of push-through type. Belt is fed to the gun from the right side. Firing controls include two folding horizontal grips, attached to the trigger unit, with thumb trigger in the middle. To charge the gun, operator must unlock the trigger unit and push it all the way forward, so its sear would engage the bolt carrier. Once bolt carrier is engaged by the sear, trigger unit must be pulled all the way back and locked there, bringing the bolt group along with it to compress main spring. ZB-50 machine gun can be used from ZB-made infantry tripod mount (with optional AA adapter), or from integral folding bipod, attached to the barrel jacket. To provide better control when firing from AA adapter or bipod, gun is provided with sliding (telescoped) shoulder stock.