PK machine gun

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PK machine gun
PKM with bipod
Type	general purpose machine gun
Place of origin	Soviet Union/Russia
Service history
In service	1960s - present
Used by	Russia, Congo, Sri Lanka^[1] and many others
Production history
Designer	Mikhail Kalashnikov
Designed	early 1960s ca
Number built	?
Variants	PK, PKS, PKT, PKM, PKMS
Specifications
Weight	8.99kg on bipod, 16.48kg with tripod
Length	1,173 mm
Barrel length	658 mm

Cartridge	7.62 x 54 mm R
Action	Gas-Operated
Rate of fire	650 round/min
Muzzle velocity	825 m/s
Effective range	1000 m ^[2]
Feed system	belts in 100/200/250 round box
Sights	Front: iron Back: iron

The PK is a 7.62mm general purpose machine gun designed in the Soviet Union and currently in production in Russia. Its NATO equivalents are the FN MAG, M240, MG3, and M60 machine guns. The PK machine gun was introduced in the 1960s and replaced the SGM and RPD machine guns in Soviet service. The PK machine gun can be used as a light anti-aircraft weapon when it is put on an AA mount. One feature typical to Soviet machine guns is that the standard model feeds from the right and ejects its rounds via an ejection port on the left side of the weapon, as opposed to the usual right side ejection port seen in most western machineguns.

The original PK (Пулемет Калашникова, "Machine-gun Kalashnikov") was a fully automatic machine gun development of the Kalashnikov automatic rifle design. Currently available as the PKM (Пулемет Калашникова Модернизированный, "Machine-gun Kalashnikov Modernized"), the machine gun fires 7.62 x 54 mm R Eastern Bloc standard ammunition. It is equipped with a simple bipod and is designed as a squad-level support weapon also suitable for installation and vehicle mounting. Most are belt-fed, using linked 25 round belts. These 25 round belts can be linked to any length necessary. For heavier employment, the PKMS model (ПКМ Степанова, "PKM Stepanova", for the name of the tripod) features a more stable tripod mounting. A special PKMSN2 model fits modern NSPU night sights for low visibility operations.

PKT (ПК Танковый, "PK Tank") is a further development of PK to replace the SGMT Gorunov vehicle mounted machine gun. Modifications include removal of stock, longer and heavier barrel, added gas regulator and electric solenoid trigger.

The PKM and variants are in production in Russia and currently are exported to many nations. Additionally, various models are manufactured locally around the globe. Zastava Arms produces the PK under license as the M84 (along with the PKT as the M86), and it remains in use with many of the former Yugoslav successor states. The Chinese-built Type 67 also features notable design similarities. The PK and its descendants will continue to see service throughout the world for some time.