The Unique Story of an Iraqi Designated DMR

When most firearms enthusiasts think about designated marksman rifles (DMRs) used in Iraq, the Soviet SVD Dragunov, Romanian PSL, and the domestic Iraqi Al-Kadesih chambered in 7.62x54mmR come to mind. These were the rifles that defined the look of Iraqi precision fire during the Gulf War era and the insurgency that followed. But there was another DMR quietly sitting in the Iraqi arsenal — one with a story that ties together Yugoslav manufacturing, Saddam Hussein's military ambitions, and a uniquely Iraqi approach to the Kalashnikov platform: the Tabuk.


What Is a Designated Marksman Rifle?


Before diving into the Tabuk itself, it helps to understand the role of the designated marksman. The DMR is not a sniper rifle in the traditional sense. Rather than operating in small two-person teams from concealed hides at extreme ranges, the designated marksman fights alongside his infantry squad, providing accurate fire at medium-to-long range — typically 400 to 600 meters. This bridges the gap between a standard assault rifle and a true precision sniper system. The concept gained enormous visibility in modern warfare, but the Soviets were ahead of the curve when they developed the SVD Dragunov in the 1960s for exactly this purpose.


Iraq's Path to Domestic Firearms Production


Iraq's domestic arms manufacturing capability traces back to the 1970s, a period when Saddam Hussein was consolidating power and the Ba'athist government was pouring oil revenues into military modernization. The country imported Yugoslav M70 AK-pattern rifles and M72 RPK light machine guns along with the manufacturing equipment to produce them domestically. The facility responsible for this production was the Al-Qadissiya Establishments, Iraq's state-run arms manufacturer.


With Yugoslav machinery and technical knowledge in hand, Iraqi engineers began cloning the Yugoslavian Kalashnikov variants almost exactly. Somewhere between the standard assault rifle configuration of the M70 and the longer, heavier machine gun format of the M72 RPK, they developed their own indigenous DMR variant: the Tabuk.


The Tabuk: A 7.62x39mm DMR


What makes the Tabuk genuinely unusual in the world of designated marksman rifles is its chambering. While the SVD, PSL, and Al-Kadesih all fired the powerful 7.62x54mmR rimmed cartridge — a round well-suited for extended range engagements — the Tabuk was chambered in 7.62x39mm, the standard AK intermediate cartridge. This is the same round used in the ubiquitous AKM assault rifle, designed for general infantry combat at ranges of roughly 300 to 400 meters.


From a ballistics standpoint, the 7.62x39mm is not an ideal DMR cartridge. Its rainbow-like trajectory beyond 400 meters and rapidly diminishing terminal energy make precision fire at 600 yards or more extremely difficult. At extended ranges, bullet drop becomes severe and retained energy drops sharply. Critics have pointed out that at distances a true DMR is expected to perform, the 7.62x39mm round loses effectiveness dramatically.


Despite this limitation, the Tabuk was built with a long 23-inch barrel — considerably longer than a standard AK — which helped wring the best possible performance from the intermediate cartridge. The extended barrel improved muzzle velocity and accuracy over standard AK configurations, and the rifle was typically fitted with optics for precision use. It was produced based on the Yugoslav M72 RPK design, giving it a heavier, more stable platform compared to a standard assault rifle.


The Tabuk in Combat


The Tabuk appeared in the hands of Iraqi soldiers and later insurgents throughout several decades of conflict. During the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), the Gulf War (1990-1991), and the long insurgency following the 2003 U.S. invasion, the Tabuk showed up in conflict photography and intelligence reporting. Coalition forces encountering it were sometimes puzzled — it looked like a stretched-out AK but wasn't configured like any standard Kalashnikov they had seen before.


Collectors and firearms researchers who have studied captured examples note several features common to Yugoslav-era Kalashnikovs: the bolt carrier, gas system, and furniture closely mirroring the M70 family. Some Tabuk variants featured rifle grenade gas cutoffs and sights, a legacy of Yugoslavian military doctrine that emphasized the infantry rifle as a multi-role weapon. The optics rail was typically fitted with a side-mounted scope, similar to SVD-style mounting, allowing the use of various Warsaw Pact-era optics.


Why Does the Tabuk Matter Today?


From a collector and firearms history perspective, the Tabuk represents one of the most unusual DMR concepts ever fielded. The notion of a designated marksman rifle chambered in an intermediate cartridge runs counter to conventional wisdom about precision long-range fire. Yet the Iraqis fielded it operationally, and it continued appearing in conflict zones for decades.


In the United States, the Tabuk remains a rare and little-known collectible. Semi-automatic civilian versions derived from Yugoslav-era AK tooling have been studied and discussed in firearms forums, and it holds a unique place among Kalashnikov collectors who value unusual variants and historical context. For anyone interested in Cold War-era small arms, the Tabuk offers a fascinating window into how a developing nation repurposed established arms manufacturing technology to meet its own military needs — even if the end result was an unconventional solution.


Finding an FFL for Historical Firearm Transfers


Whether you're interested in historically significant semi-automatic firearms like Yugoslav or Iraqi-patterned AK variants, or any other legal firearm purchase, you'll need a licensed FFL dealer to facilitate a transfer when buying online or out of state. FFL Search makes it easy to find a local Federal Firearms Licensee near you. Simply search by state or city to locate a licensed dealer who can handle your transfer professionally and legally.


The Iraqi Tabuk DMR is a reminder that firearms history is filled with unconventional solutions to conventional military problems. Its unique combination of Kalashnikov mechanics, Yugoslav engineering, and Iraqi manufacturing gives it a story unlike any other DMR in the 20th century arsenal.