Machine guns introduction
Austria
 Steyr-Solothurn MG 30
 Steyr AUG /Hbar
Belgium
 FN Minimi
 FN MAG
 FN BRG-15
China, People's Republic
 Type 67 GPMG
 Type 88 GPMG
 Type 95 LMG
 Type 77 HMG
 Type 85 HMG
 W-85 HMG
 Type 89 HMG new
 Type 02 / QJG 02 HMG
Czech Republic
 ZB 26
 ZB 53 / Vz.37
 type 52 & 52/57
 type 58 (UK vz.58)
Denmark
 Madsen LMG
 Madsen-Saetter
Finland
 Valmet KvKK 62
France
 MAC M1924/29
 AAT Mod.52
Germany
 MG 08, MG 08/15, MG 08/18
 MG 13
 MG 34
 MG 42 and MG 3
 HK 21 and 23
 HK MG 4
Great Britain
 Vickers Mk.I
 Lewis
 Bren
 L86A1 SA-80 LSW
Israel
 Negev
Japan
 Type 96 & Type 99
 Type 62
Russia / USSR
 Maxim M1910/30
 Degtyarov DP DPM RP-46
 Degtyarov DS-39
 Degtyarov RPD
 Kalashnikov RPK
 Kalashnikov RPK-74
 Gorjunov SG-43 SGM
 Kalashnikov PK / PKM
 Pecheneg
 DShK DShKM 12.7
 NSV 12,7 'Utes'
 Kord 12,7
 KPV 14,5
Singapore
 STK Ultimax 100
 CIS .50 MG
South Africa
 Vector SS-77 / Mini-SS
South Korea
 Daewoo K3
Spain
 CETME Ameli
Switzerland
 Steyr-Solothurn MG 30
 SIG MG 50
 W+F MG 51
 SIG MG 710
USA
 Lewis
 Browning M1917 M1919
 Browning M1918 BAR
 Johnson M1941 M1944
 M60
 M16 LSW / LMG
 M134 Minigun new
 XM214 Microgun new
 Stoner 63
 M249 SAW
 M240
 Mk.48 mod.0
 Browning M2HB .50 cal
 XM312 .50 cal
 LW50MG new

 Gatling, Minigun, Vulcan

all texts and some pictures
copyright © 1999-2008
by Max R. Popenker
and can not be used without author permission

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Kalashnikov RPK light machine gun (USSR/Russia)

Kalashnikov RPK light machine gun with 40-round box magazine

Kalashnikov RPKS light machine gun with butt and bipod folded

Current production 7,62x39 RPKM light machine gun

Caliber 7,62x39 mm
Weight 4,8 kg empty
Length 1040 mm
Length of barrel 590 mm
Feeding box magazine 40 rounds, or drum 75 rounds
Rate of fire 600 rounds per minute

The RPK is a gas operated, magazine fed, air cooled, selective fire weapon. The basic action, with a long-stroke gas piston located above the barrel and a rotating bolt, is similar to that of the Kalashnikov assault rifle. The trigger unit and safety is also the same, therefore the RPK fires from a closed bolt in both semi-automatic and automatic modes. The barrel is permanently fixed to the receiver and cannot be replaced in the field.
Ammunition feed is from magazines only. The magazine interface is same as on the Kalashnikov assault rifle in the same caliber, and RPK and AKM magazines are interchangeable. However, the standard magazines for RPK are of extended capacity. The most common are curved box magazines holding 40 rounds of ammunition. Early production RPK magazines were made from stamped steel, but later on polymer magazines were introduced. Steel drum magazines were also produced for the RPK. These magazines were rather heavy and expensive to make, and loaded same way as box magazines, by inserting rounds one by one through the magazine mouth (which can be a rather boring procedure, especially if several magazines need to be filled at once). Those drum magazines held 75 rounds of ammunition.
Standard sights of RPK are basically similar to that of the AKM rifle, with hooded post front and tangent type rear sight, marked for ranges between 100 and 1000 meters. However, the RPK rear sight also includes a windage adjustment mechanism. Special versions with an “N” suffix in the designation (RPKN,) were fitted with a side rail on the receiver to accept mountings for night (IR) sights.
RPK machine guns are fitted with integral folding bipods made from steel stampings. The shoulder stock is of a special shape, which facilitates the proper hold for the non-firing hand. Special versions of the RPK, made for airborne troops, had a side-folding buttstock. Such version is designated as RPKS.

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