RPK Russian 7.62mm Light Machine Gun
RPK
Light Machine Gun
Other
Basic Information
Name
RPK Russian 7.62mm Light Machine Gun
Designation
RPK
Alternate Designation
—
Equipment Type
Light Machine Gun
Manufacturer
Vyatskiye Polyany Machine-Building Plant
Date of Introduction
1961
Description
The RPK (Ruchnoy Pulemyot Kalashnikova, Russian: РПК Ручной пулемёт Калашникова or "Kalashnikov hand-held machine gun") is a 7.62×39mm light machine gun of Soviet design, developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the early 1960s, parallel with the AKM assault rifle. It was created as part of a program designed to standardize the small arms inventory of the Red Army, where it replaced the 7.62×39mm RPD light machine gun. The RPK continues to be used by the armed forces of countries of the former Soviet Union and certain African and Asian nations. The RPK is also manufactured in Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia. The RPK functions identically to the AK-47. It also uses the same 7.62×39mm ammunition. It has a similar design layout to the Kalashnikov series of rifles, with modifications to increase the RPK's effective range and accuracy, enhance its sustained fire capability, and strengthen the receiver.
Variants
RPKS
The RPKS ("S" — Skladnoy) means "folding" [stock]) is a variant of the RPK with a side-folding wooden stock was intended primarily for the air assault infantry. Changes to the design of the RPKS are limited only to the shoulder stock mounting, at the rear of the receiver. It uses a trunnion riveted to both receiver walls that has a socket and tang, allowing the stock to hinge on a pivot pin. The trunnion has a cut-out on the right side which is designed to engage the stock catch and lock it in place when folded. The wooden stock is mounted in a pivoting hull, which contains a catch that secures the butt-stock in the extended position. The rear sling loop was moved from the left side of the stock body to the right side of the stock frame.
Night Version
The RPK family of light machine guns are also available in a night fighting configuration. These weapons are designated as the RPKN, RPKSN, RPK-74N, and RPKS-74N. They have a side rail mounting on the left side of the receiver that accepts a NSP-3, NSPU, or NSPUM night vision sight. Models designated RPKN-1, RPKSN-1, RPK-74N and RPKS-74N can mount the multi-model night vision scope NSPU-3 (1PN51) while RPKN2, RPKSN2, RPK-74N2 and RPKS-74N2 can mount the multi-model night vision scope NSPUM (1PN58).
RPK-74
Some sources call the RPK-74 a variant of the RPK though the RPK-74 is a 5.45×39mm weapon. Please refer to the RPK-74 WEG sheet for information on this weapon.
System
Alternate Designation(s)
RPK
Type
Light Machine Gun
Caliber
7.62 mm
Manufacturer
Vyatskiye Polyany Machine-Building Plant
Action
Gas operated, rotating bolt; closed bolt
Cooling Method
Air
Maximum Effective Range for Point Target
1,000 m
Maximum Range
3,150 m
Muzzle Velocity
745 m/s
Sustained Rate of Fire
600 rpm
Magazine Capacity (ies)
20-, 30-, 40-round curved magazine, 75-round drum magazine
Rail System Capable
Can be modified to have rails but rails are not standard equipment
Sights Available from Manufacturer
Iron sights
Capable of Attaching other Weapons (Grenade launcher, bayonet, etc.)
No
Bi-pod Capable
Yes
Dimensions
Length
1,040 mm
Barrel Length
590 mm
Weight Without a Magazine
4.8 kg
Weight With a Loaded Magazine (Indicate number of rounds)
INA
Ammunition
57-N-231
Type
Steel Core (Ball)
Cartridge Weight
16.3 g
Bullet Weight
7.9 g
Muzzle Velocity
718 m/s
Accuracy at 300m
75 mm
57-N-231P
Type
Tracer
Cartridge Weight
16.1 g
Bullet Weight
7.57 g
Muzzle Velocity
718 m/s
Accuracy at 300m
140 mm
57-T-231PM1
Type
Tracer
Cartridge Weight
16.05 g
Bullet Weight
7.55 g
Muzzle Velocity
718 m/s
Accuracy at 300m
140 mm
Sights
Iron Sights
Sight Picture Offered to Shooter
Iron sights: semi-shrouded front post and rear sliding tangent with an adjustable notch. Sight radius: 555 mm. The rear sight leaf also features a windage adjustment knob, unique to the RPK series of rifles.
Adjustable
Yes
Note
The weapon's rear sight leaf is elevation adjustable, and graduated for ranges of 100 to 1,000 meters in 100 m increments. The rear sight leaf also features a windage adjustment knob unique to the RPK series of rifles.
Accessories
Note
Supplied with the RPK are: spare magazines, a cleaning rod, cleaning kit (stored in a hollowed compartment in the buttstock), a sling, oil bottle, and magazine pouches (a single-pocket pouch for a drum magazine or a 4-pocket pouch for box magazines).
Details
Country of Origin
Russia
Category
Machine Guns
Land > Infantry Weapons > Machine Guns
Filter Label
R
Classification
Domain
Ground
Equipment Status
Active
Dimensions
Length
1.04 m
Width
—
Height
—
Weight
4.8 kg
Operators (53)
Russia
China
Germany
Ukraine
Poland
Iran
North Korea
Serbia
Afghanistan
Albania
Bulgaria
Cambodia
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Congo, Republic of the
Cuba
Djibouti
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Ethiopia
Fiji
Georgia
Ghana
Guinea-Bissau
Hungary
Iraq
Kazakhstan
Latvia
Lesotho
Libya
Malaysia
Mali
Malta
Moldova
Mongolia
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Romania
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Sudan
Syria
Tanzania
Uganda
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Zimbabwe
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