PKP Pecheneg

The   PKP "Pecheneg"  (Russian: Печенег) is a   Russian  machine gun  chambered for the   7.62 x 54 mm  round. [3] <span class="apple-converted-space" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">  <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">It is a modernized <span class="apple-converted-space" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">  <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">PK machine gun<span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">. The Pecheneg is said <sup id="cite_ref-world.guns_7-0" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">[7] <span class="apple-converted-space" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">  <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">to be more accurate than all its predecessors due to a heavier, non-removable forced air cooling barrel with radial cooling ribs and a handle which eliminates the haze effect from hot gases and keeps the barrel cooler, making the weapon more reliable. <sup id="cite_ref-world.guns_7-1" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">[7] <span class="apple-converted-space" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">  <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">Furthermore, the weapon is capable of having a <span class="apple-converted-space" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">  <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">telescopic sight<span class="apple-converted-space" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">  <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">or other <span class="apple-converted-space" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">  <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">sights<span class="apple-converted-space" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">  <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">mounted on it, increasing accuracy further. The military designation of the Pecheneg is <span class="apple-converted-space" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">  6P41<span class="apple-converted-space" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">  <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">or <span class="apple-converted-space" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">  6P41N<span class="apple-converted-space" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">  <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">when fitted with a <span class="apple-converted-space" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">  <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">night vision sight<span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">. The Pecheneg is currently in use by Russian Army <span class="apple-converted-space" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">  <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">Spetsnaz<span class="apple-converted-space" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">  <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">and other troops in significant numbers. <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">The Pecheneg is named for the <span class="apple-converted-space" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">  <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">Pecheneg people<span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">, a warlike tribe of Turkic origin who lived in what later became steppes of Southern Russia and Ukraine. The Pecheneg is a standard <span class="apple-converted-space" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">  <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">7.62x54R<span class="apple-converted-space" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">  <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">PKM machine gun without the rapid barrel-change option, and intended for use from an integral bipod as a squad support weapon. It can provide more sustained firepower than the standard-issue <span class="apple-converted-space" style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">  <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">RPK-74<span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:10pt;line-height:14.4pt;">, and the 7.62x54R cartridge offers a longer effective range and better penetration of light structures and improvised covers in urban and forest environments.

Design
<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 Pecheneg LMG can be considered as a modification of the PKM machine gun, but it is built for only one tactical role; that is, as a true squad-level light machine gun for mobile infantry and Spetsnaz troops. Its key difference from the parent design is the barrel, which is not intended to be replaced in the field (although it can be removed for inspection and maintenance). The barrel is somewhat heavier than that of the PKM, and has radial cooling ribs. This is enclosed in a steel jacket, which runs up to the muzzle to provide forced air cooling a-la Lewis machine gun of the World War I era. Cooling air enters the jacket through oval windows at the rear of the jacket, and exits at the muzzle. Whereas early versions of the Pecheneg had a standard PKM-type <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">flash suppressor, resulting in significant muzzle blast once the gun had warmed up, current production version guns have a special flash suppressor that eliminates the issue. The rear of the barrel-encasing steel jacket features a permanently attached carrying handle with a characteristic elongated profile, as it is also intended to protect the line of sight from mirages generated by <span style="color:rgb(15,36,62);">convection of air heated up by the barrel. The manufacturer reports a firing rate of 800 rounds per minute in continuous sustained fire without any danger to the barrel.

<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">Another change from the PKM parent design is the location of the integral, non-removable folding bipod which is placed near the muzzle. This feature improves stability and long-range accuracy when firing from the bipod, but it also limits the arc of fire available without moving the position of bipod or shooter. Another consequence of said placement is that the Pecheneg is less comfortable to fire from the shoulder or the hip, as it does not have a handguard and the bipod is located too far forward to be used to hold the gun. However, the Pecheneg has sling swivels and can be fired from the hip using a sling and carrying handle to hold the gun, or by supporting it under the ammunition box with the off hand.

<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">In all other technical respects, such as action, feed, sights and stock, the Pecheneg is similar to modern PKM machine guns. It also retains the standard PKM mounting interface and therefore can be used from the same tripod, but it is always issued as a light machine gun (without tripod mount).

Users
Russia:Russian Ground Forces,Spetsnaz

Kazakhstan