PK machine gun

Infobox Weapon|is_ranged=yes
name=PK machine gun


caption=PKM general purpose machine gun
origin=flagcountry|Soviet Union
type=General purpose machine gun
designer=Mikhail Kalashnikov
design_date=Ca early 1960s
service=1965-present
used_by=See "Users"
cartridge=7.62x54mmR
action=Gas-Operated
rate= PK&PKM: 650 round/min. PKT: 800 round/min
velocity= PK&PKM: 825 m/s
range=1000 m [http://www.armscontrol.ru/atmtc/Arms_systems/Land/Small_Arms/smarms.htm Center for Arms Control, Energy and Environmental Studies - Russian Arms]
weight= PK: 9 kg (gun + integral bipod) + 7.7 kg (tripod). PKM: 7.5 kg (gun + integral bipod) + 4.5 kg (tripod). PKT (tank): 10.5 kg
length= PK, PKM, PKT=1173 mm, 1160 mm, 1098 mm
part_length=PK, PKM, PKT = 658 mm, 645 mm, 722 mm
feed=Belts in 100/200/250 round boxes
sights=Open sights
variants=PK, PKS, PKT, PKM, PKMS
number=over 1,000,000|

The PK is a 7.62 mm general purpose machine gun designed in the Soviet Union and currently in production in Russia. Its NATO equivalents are the FN MAG, 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 spent cases via an ejection port on the left side of the weapon, as opposed to the usual right side ejection port seen in most western machine guns.

Design Details

The original PK (Пулемёт Калашникова, "Kalashnikov's Machine gun") was a development of Kalashnikov's automatic rifle design, firing the 7.62x54mmR Eastern Bloc standard ammunition originally from the Mosin-Nagant. 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.

The current model is the PKM (Пулемёт Калашникова Модернизированный, "Kalashnikov's Machine gun Modernized"), a modernized, product-improved version of the PK. It is just 7.5 kg empty and the PKMS version on the light Stepanov's tripod weighs only 12 kg. For heavier employment, the PKMS model (ПКМ Станковый, "Mounted PKM") 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 Goryunov vehicle mounted machine gun. Modifications include removal of stock, longer and heavier barrel, added gas regulator and electric solenoid trigger.

Production Status

The PKM and other 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 most recent modification is the Russian Pecheneg, which features a forced air cooling barrel that cannot be removed in the field for quick replacement, unusual for a modern machine gun.

In the United States, new automatic receivers are being built by Vltor and assembled using parts from demilitarized communist PKMs. [ [http://www.vltor.com/projects.htm Vltor - Projects - PKM BeltFed ] ] A semi-auto version is also available from WiseLite Arms using Vltor's receivers. [ [http://www.vltor.com/projects.htm Vltor - Projects - PKM BeltFed ] ]

Users

*flagicon|Afghanistan Afghanistan
*flagicon|Albania Albania
*flagicon|Algeria Algeria
*flagicon|Armenia Armenia
*flagicon|Azerbaijan Azerbaijan
*flagicon|Bangladesh Bangladesh
*flagicon|Bulgaria Bulgaria
*flagicon|Cambodia Cambodia
*flagicon|Cape Verde Cape Verde
*flagicon|China China - Made under license as the Type 80 [ [http://www.sinodefence.com/army/crewserved/type80gpmg.asp Type 80 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun.] Retrieved on September 11, 2008.]
*flagicon|Croatia Croatia
*flagicon|Cuba Cuba
*flagicon|Czech Republic Czech Republic
*flagicon|Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo
*flagicon|East Germany East Germany
*flagicon|Egypt Egypt
*flagicon|Finland Finland
*flagicon|Georgia Georgia
*flagicon|Greece Greece
*flagicon|Hungary Hungary
*flagicon|Iran Iran
*flagicon|Iraq Iraq
*flagicon|Kazakhstan Kazakstan
*flagicon|Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan
*flagicon|Mali Mali
*flagicon|Nicaragua Nicaragua
*flagicon|Poland Poland
*flagicon|Romania Romania
*flagicon|Russia Russia
*flagicon|Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo
*flagicon|Slovakia Slovakia
*flagicon|Soviet Union Soviet Union
*flagicon|Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
*flagicon|Sweden Sweden
*flagicon|Tajikistan Tajikistan
*flagicon|Turkmenistan Turkmenistan
*flagicon|Turkey Turkey
*flagicon|Ukraine Ukraine
*flagicon|Uzbekistan Uzbekistan
*flagicon|Vietnam Vietnam
*flagicon|Yugoslavia Yugoslavia
*ZIM

Notes

See also

* SS-77, South African derivative chambered in NATO calibre.
* FN MAG
* MG3
* MG51
* NTK-62
* AA-52
* M60
* AEK-999
* Type 67

External links

* [http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg07-e.htm Modern Firearms - Kalashnikov PK / PKS / PKM / PKMS machinegun]
* [http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg30-e.htm Modern Firearms - Pecheneg]
* [http://www.milparade.com/Soderzhaniye.pdf Glossary of Russian military equipment] - [PDF]