RPK

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For other uses, see RPK (disambiguation).

RPK
RPK
Type	Light machine gun
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1961–present
Used by	USSR/Russia, Poland, China, Romania, Yugoslavia, East Germany
Wars	Vietnam, Afghanistan, various Middle East conflicts
Production history
Designed	1961
Produced	1961–1978
Variants	RPK, RPKS, RPKSN
Specifications
Weight	5 kg
Length	1,040 mm
Barrel length	591 mm

Cartridge	7.62 x 39 mm M43
Caliber	7.62 mm
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	600 round/min
Muzzle velocity	745 m/s
Feed system	30- or 40-round detachable box magazine; 75- or 100-round drum

The RPK (Ruchnoy pulemyot Kalashnikova, Russian: Ручной пулемёт Калашникова) is the light machine gun that replaced the RPD in the role as squad automatic weapon for Soviet infantry.

1 Design differences from the AK-47
2 Additional information
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Design differences from the AK-47

The receiver is identical to that of the AK-47 except for bulges on the sides of the forend to accommodate matching bulges in the front trunnion which add strength to the design. The weapon's stock is different to allow for more comfortable and effective use during prone firing. The barrel is also longer and heavier, to provide more reliable and accurate performance during heavy usage and automatic fire. The weapon's rear sights are also different, allowing for elevation adjustment.

[edit] Additional information

It can use any magazine that an AK-47 can. A paratrooper variant called the RPK-S had a side-folding stock. This weapon has officially been replaced by the RPK-74 in the Russian army, but is still used by many second-line and non-infantry soldiers, in addition to other organizations around the world. It usually loads a 75-round drum magazine or a 40-round extended magazine. Using a 75-round or 100-round drum magazine, the RPK can be used as a light anti-aircraft gun. The RPK has a maximum range of 2,500 meters, and effective range of about 800 meters.

Note: the receiver on the RPK is actually 1.5MM thick, versus the AKM which has a receiver of only 1MM, and as a side note, it is generally accepted that veteran RPK users actually prefer to use the thirty round magazine intended for the AKM, typically trading off the longer forty rounders to their comrades for their issued magazines. This is because the forty round magazines extend too far below the receiver for effective use when firing prone, causing the weapon to monopod on hard surfaces, destroying accuracy and controllability.

A Romanian soldier aids a U.S. Marine in clearing an RPK during the weapons familiarization phase of Exercise Rescue Eagle 2000 at Babadag Range, Romania, on July 15, 2000