RPK

The  RPK (Ruchnoy Pulemyot Kalashnikova,  Russian :  Ручной пулемёт Калашникова  or "Kalashnikov hand-held machine gun") is a 7.62x39mm   light machine gun  of  Soviet  design, developed by  Mikhail Kalashnikov  in the late 1950s, parallel with the  AKM   <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);border:1ptnonewindowtext;padding:0in;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">assault rifle <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);border:1ptnonewindowtext;padding:0in;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">. It was created as part of a program designed to standardize the small arms inventory of the  <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);border:1ptnonewindowtext;padding:0in;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">Red Army <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);border:1ptnonewindowtext;padding:0in;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">, where it replaced the 7.62x39mm <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);border:1ptnonewindowtext;padding:0in;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">RPD <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);border:1ptnonewindowtext;padding:0in;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> light machine gun. The RPK continues to be used by the armed forces of countries of the former Soviet Union and certain  <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);border:1ptnonewindowtext;padding:0in;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">African <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);border:1ptnonewindowtext;padding:0in;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> and <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);border:1ptnonewindowtext;padding:0in;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">Asian <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);border:1ptnonewindowtext;padding:0in;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"> nations. The RPK was also manufactured in  <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);border:1ptnonewindowtext;padding:0in;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">Bulgaria <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);border:1ptnonewindowtext;padding:0in;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">,  <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);border:1ptnonewindowtext;padding:0in;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">Poland <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);border:1ptnonewindowtext;padding:0in;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">, and  <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);border:1ptnonewindowtext;padding:0in;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">Romania <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);border:1ptnonewindowtext;padding:0in;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">.

Operating mechanism
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">The RPK functions identically to the  <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">AK-47 <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">. It also uses the same 7.62x39mm ammunition. It has a similar design layout to the AKM and <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">AK-47 <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">  <span style="font-size:10pt;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,36,62);background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;">series of rifles, with modifications to increase the RPK's effective range and accuracy, enhance its sustained fire capability, and strengthen the receiver.

Features
<p style="margin:4.8pt0in6pt;line-height:14.4pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#0F243E;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themeshade: 128">Most notably, the RPK has a heavier and longer barrel than an AKM. This allows the RPK to fire for extended periods of time without major loss in accuracy due to the barrel heating up. The <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">chrome-lined barrel is permanently fixed to the receiver, and cannot be replaced in the field. It is fitted with a new front sight base, gas block (lacks the <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">bayonet lug) and an under-barrel cleaning rod guide. The barrel also features a folding <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">bipod, mounted near the muzzle, and a front sight base with a lug that limits the bipod's rotation around the axis of barrel. The barrel's muzzle is threaded, enabling the use of muzzle devices such as flash hiders, compensators, and blank-firing adapters. When a muzzle device is not being used, the threads on the muzzle can be covered by a thread protector. The barrel is pinned to the receiver in a modified trunnion, reinforced by ribbing, and is slightly wider than the trunnion used on standard AKM type rifles. Symmetrical bulges on both sides of the front trunnion ensure proper fit inside the receiver.

<p style="margin:4.8pt0in6pt;line-height:14.4pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#0F243E; mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themeshade:128">The RPK's receiver cover is stamped from a smooth 1.5mm <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">sheet of <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">steel (compared to the 1 mm sheet metal receiver cover used on standard AKM rifles). Interchangeability of parts between the RPK and AKM is moderate.

<p style="margin:4.8pt0in6pt;line-height:14.4pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#0F243E; mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themeshade:128">The RPK uses a modified AKM recoil spring assembly. It consists of a rear spring guide rod from the AK, and a new forward flat guide rod and coil spring.

<p style="margin:4.8pt0in6pt;line-height:14.4pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#0F243E; mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themeshade:128">The RPK features a thick laminated wood foregrip, and a fixed laminated wood "club-foot" <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">buttstock, similar to the stock used on the RPD, which is designed to allow the user to fire from the prone position more comfortably. The RPK uses a standard AKM <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">pistol grip.

<p style="margin:4.8pt0in6pt;line-height:14.4pt;background-position:initialinitial;background-repeat:initialinitial;"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#0F243E; mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themeshade:128">The weapon can use standard <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">AKM detachable box <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">magazines, but is most commonly used with a 40 round capacity magazine, or a 75 round <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">drum magazine.

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