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-74 light machine gun (USSR/Russia)

Kalashnikov RPK-74 light machine gun, recent production model, with black plastic furniture and magazine

Kalashnikov RPK-74M light machine gun, current production model with foldable butt and side rail mount for optical or night sights

Kalashnikov RPK-74M light machine gun, butt folded

Caliber 5.45x39 mm
Weight 4,7 kg empty
Length 1060 mm
Length of barrel 590 mm
Feeding box magazine 45 rounds
Rate of fire 600 rounds per minute

The Kalashnikov RPK-74 light machine gun has been developed during mid-seventies to complement the AK-74 assault rifle as a standard squad automatic weapon of the Soviet (later Russian) army. It is based on the parent AK-74 assault rifle in the same way as its 7,62mm predecessor RPK was based on AKM assault rifle. Design and functioning of RPK-74 is exactly the same as in RPK, with major differences being the caliber and the magazines - 5,45mm RPK-74 were issued only with box magazines of 45-round capacity, compatible with 30-round AK-74 magazines. Various large capacity magazines (drums and flat pans, holding up to 100 rounds and made of plastic) were experimentally developed for RPK-74, but never achieved production status.

Most recent versions of the RPK-74 are RPK-74M (same gun but with black polymer furniture, side-folding butt and side-rail on receiver for sighting equipment; some parts also were strengthened to improve durability of the gun) and the 5,56x45 RPK-201 light machine gun, developed for export purposes to complement 5,56mm AK-101 assault rifle.

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