Dear Santa, I want a rifle with a manual of arms similar to an AR15 yet all the internal magic found in an H&K33. Well, it’s only November, and Santa showed up at my door dressed like a UPS driver. His bag this year contained something new from Zenith Firearms. Today, we get to unwrap the new Zenith ZF-56.

Zenith ZF-56

Zenith has made a great name for itself over the years. They have evolved from an importer of excellent guns to an actual manufacturer. Their calling card has been the incorporation of the well-loved roller-delayed blowback design. The Zenith ZF-56 follows that same premise. The ZF-56 is a semi-auto rifle with a roller-delayed blowback operating system, which is also found in guns like the H&K MP5. This system has numerous benefits. Operationally, it is simpler than a DI or piston system. The roller-delayed system handles pressure better. In combination with a lighter bolt, it provides lighter felt recoil. Where it really shines, though, is when fired suppressed. It is a very smooth and clean shooting system.

Full Length Picatinny Rail

This rifle is chambered in 5.56 and comes with a total length Picatinny rail, & a cold hammer-forged barrel. The American-made ZF-56 also features a last-round bolt-hold open system. This is a significant improvement over other delayed roller-delayed guns. While others have tried to incorporate this feature, it led to cracked bolts and other issues. Zenith has solved all of that. While the design does not require an action spring in a receiver extension, the ZF-56’s receiver end cap is threaded for a buffer tube. This makes it compatible with AR-15-style stocks. Its pistol grip is also AR-15-compatible.

The upper and lower receivers are machined from forged aluminum, keeping them light. Zenith has designed a fantastic, free-floating aluminum handguard for the gun.  The handguard also features M-Lok slots for attaching accessories. The Picatinny rail runs the length of the handguard and aligns perfectly with the receiver. This is a true ambidextrous gun, and the controls are arranged well on the gun. The only non-ambi item is the charging handle, which sits on the upper left side of the gun. It is non-reciprocating, and yes, you can do the MP5 “slap” to drop it forward. The ZF-56 has a cold hammer-forged barrel with a 1:7” twist rate. It is topped off with a standard A2 flash hider.

Rifle and Pistol Configurations

Zenith is offering this gun in either pistol or rifle configuration. The rifle I received for testing had a 16-inch barrel and was chambered in 5.56. Pistols are available with a 12 or 14.5-inch barrel and come with a buffer-tube compatible end cap. Zenith has plans to offer the Zenith ZF-56 design chambered for different cartridges, with the .300 Blackout ZF-300 available soon and 9 mm Luger and 10 mm Auto models planned for the future.

On the range, the rifle performed as advertised. It had a very smooth and light recoil, which made it a pleasure to shoot. The fit and finish of the Zenith ZF-56 are excellent, and I had no function issues at all. If I were to pick on one thing, it would be the trigger. While I am not a proponent of light triggers on rifles like this, the ZF-56’s trigger was a bit firm. I measured it, and it constantly came in at 6.8 pounds. This is not a deal breaker in any way; it’s just something that would make this great gun exceptional.  

Zenith ZF-56 – Something New

If you want a new rifle but are tired of the same old AR15 song and dance, consider the Zenith ZF-56. It is accurate, fun to shoot, and built with the best of two worlds combined.

Zenith ZF-56 Specs

For more information, visit:https://zenithfirearms.com/product/zf-56-16-rifle/