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Kalashnikov light machine gun. Russian machine guns Small arms in Russia

The table above shows data on standard RPK machine guns. The RPK/RPK74 indicators are indicated through a fraction. The photo on the left shows the first version of the RPK74 machine gun.

Light Kalashnikov light machine gun caliber 7.62x39 RPK and its modifications - RPKS, RPKN, etc.


And also a description of the Kalashnikov RPK74 light machine gun in 5.45x39 mm caliber and its modifications - RPKS74, RPKN74, etc.

A light infantry machine gun was needed in the Soviet army, like any other army in the world. It is not surprising that the new weapon was created on the basis of the already well-developed and proven AKM assault rifle, which was the crowning achievement among the Kalashnikov assault rifle modernization options starting in 1949. The AKM was created and put into service in 1959 as the main combined arms automatic weapon, and almost immediately several modifications of the machine gun appeared - AKMS with a folding stock, AKMN with a side mounting rail for a night vision sight bracket, as well as some other modifications for special forces. But units of the Russian (Soviet) army also required a light machine gun. After the creation of the AKM, without further ado, we began to create a machine gun based on this machine gun, which, given the proven technology, was a piece of cake. Therefore, the PKK was done quite quickly, which no one doubted. AKM, that is, a modified variation of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, was released in 1959. And when in the USSR the question arose about creating and putting into service the army a light infantry machine gun, no one thought for a long time and the task was set to make a magazine-fed light machine gun based on the same Kalashnikov assault rifle, since its production was, as they say, in the dark . And in order to maximize unification in production with the AKM, in 1961 the Kalashnikov Light Machine Gun - RPK, of the same caliber as the AKM - 7.62x39 mm, chambered for the 1943 model (M43) cartridge, was adopted. This machine gun replaced several outdated Degtyarev light machine guns in the army - RPD, known as “Degtyar”.

Degtyarev light machine gun - RPD-44 with an empty round box for a belt for 100 rounds.



The RPD had a belt feed and was heavier than the follower; with an empty belt box for 100 rounds, the machine gun weighed 7.5 kg, but in terms of combat characteristics, the RPD showed significantly better results in terms of combat accuracy than the RPK. The refusal of belt feeding in the RPK design was dictated by a faster replacement of the magazine, but this was a double-edged sword - the capacity of box magazines was clearly not enough, so a disk magazine with 75 rounds was created, which turned out to be far from the standard. But due to the impossibility of replacing an overheated barrel, low-capacity magazines for a machine gun were sufficient, because prolonged shooting was ineffective, the barrel quickly heated up.

Special design work for the production of a new light machine gun was unnecessary. Because there was already a Kalashnikov assault rifle, tested as soon as possible, and a modernized one - the AKM. It didn’t take long to wait for a new light machine gun - they made it as soon as the order was received from the relevant authority of our defense industry. And 2 years after the adoption of the AKM, the RPK was put into service, essentially the same thing, only bigger.

Kalashnikov light machine gun - RPK caliber 7.62x39 mm on a bipod. Standard version with wooden fixed stock and fore-end, 40-round magazine.

Design, operation of parts and mechanisms.

RPK74 machine gun, incomplete disassembly. As we can see, it is completely similar to the AK.



In essence, the RPK was the same AKM, there were not many differences, so we will not go into details of the operation of the parts and mechanisms of this weapon, but will simply list its main differences from the AKM assault rifle:

Heavier, longer and thicker-walled barrel;

A stronger and wider receiver is, accordingly, more resistant to loads, but there is also a minus - the weight has increased, as with a heavier barrel;

A fairly reliable folding bipod was installed at the tip of the barrel;

Standard sector magazines for the RPK were provided with a capacity of 40 rounds, and a disk magazine with 75 rounds was also created, which, however, did not justify itself, since it was not as reliable as a box magazine, which is especially important for a light machine gun. In addition, thirty-round magazines from AK47 and AKM were suitable for the machine gun;

The butt is of a different shape;

Kalashnikov light machine gun - RPK with a disc magazine with a capacity of 75 rounds.

The barrel of the machine gun was integral, so there was no possibility of replacing an overheated barrel, which is a necessity for a light machine gun of this air-cooled configuration. The increased-capacity magazine, for 75 rounds of 7.62 mm caliber, was inconvenient and slow to load; the box magazine was more reliable, but too low-capacity for a machine gun (40 rounds), and also greatly increased the height dimensions of the weapon because it was very long.

At first, box magazines were made of steel, but somewhat later the material for the magazines was impact-resistant polymer.

The sights are a front sight and a graduated rear sight with fixed positions for shooting at different distances in increments of 100 meters, and the rear sight is also adjustable horizontally.

It is possible to fire in two modes - single and continuous; the fire switch on the RPK is the same as on the Kalashnikov assault rifle.

Modifications of the RPK.

RPKS - a variant with a wooden butt folding on the left side. Initially intended for airborne troops.

RPKS with folded butt.

RPKN - standard RPK, but with a rail mounted on the left for attaching night sights.

SSBN - differs from RPKN with a butt folding on the left side.

RPKM. Today, on the basis of the modern modernized RPK74M light machine gun (which will be discussed below), an RPKM machine gun is made for export deliveries chambered for 7.62x39 mm with a polymer folding butt, polymer fore-ends and a gas tube cover; a universal rail is installed on the left side of the receiver for installation of side brackets for sights (optical, night, collimator, etc.). The main parts of the machine gun have also been strengthened to increase its survivability.

A modern RPKM chambered for 7.62x39 mm with a folding stock and a side rail for sights.

In 1974, when the good old AKM was replaced by the small-caliber AK74, and the 7.62x39 cartridge, accordingly, was replaced by the 5.45x39 caliber cartridge, then, in addition to the machine gun, the machine gun was also replaced in the same 1974. Now the light machine gun of the Russian army has become known as RPK74, by analogy with AK74.

The RPK74 machine gun is one of the first series with a wooden butt, fore-end and gas tube cover.

The differences between the new RPK74 and the old RPK were minimal. In addition to replacing the cartridge with a lighter and thinner one, a flash suppressor was installed - a muzzle brake-compensator. Reducing the caliber made it possible to increase the magazine capacity; the box magazine from the RPK74 had a capacity of 45 rounds of 5.45 mm caliber, soldiers could take more ammunition with them. The barrel walls became even thicker, since the outer diameter remained the same, and the barrel caliber decreased from 7.62 mm to 5.45 mm. The shape of the store has also changed somewhat.

Modifications of RPK74.

Over time, manufacturers abandoned the use of wood and the butt of the machine gun, as well as the forend with the top pad, began to be made of black impact-resistant plastic.

RPK machine gun with polymer parts instead of wooden ones.

By analogy with the RPK 7.62 mm caliber, the RPK74 machine guns also have modifications:

RPK74S - with folding stock;

RPK74N - with side mount for NSPU night vision sight.

RPK74N machine gun with a wooden butt, a magazine for 45 rounds and an installed night sight.

There were options with the designations RPK74P (with a mount for a conventional optical sight), RPK74N2 and RPK74N3, designed for the use of night vision sights of other modifications.

Currently in service are RPK74M machine guns, which are a symbiosis of the above models, that is, they have stocks folding on the left side and rails on the left side of the receiver for installing various sights. The buttstock, forend, pistol grip and gas tube cover are made of high-strength black plastic. Also on the RPK74M, some parts, based on experience in using the machine gun, have been strengthened, which has increased the reliability of the machine gun and increased its service life.

RPK74M machine gun in stowed position, with folded stock and bipod.

RPK machine gun in combat position - with the butt unfolded.

Practice of using PKK.

According to many fighters, the RPK is not a machine gun, it is just a long-barreled assault rifle. And indeed, the RPK does not have any parameters indispensable for a modern machine gun. The fixed barrel, which simply deprives the machine gun of full-fledged operation, does not allow intense fire in medium and long bursts, which is the main task of the machine gun.

The most reasonable option for using the RPK is to work with it as a long automatic rifle, which, when necessary, can be placed on a bipod. The weight of the weapon is only 5 kg, which is quite small for a machine gun.

But basically the RPK is fired from the hands, like from a regular machine gun. Stores, as a rule, are used in box-shaped “magpies” (with a capacity of 40 rounds) for the RPK of 7.62 mm caliber and “forty-five” (with a capacity of 45 rounds) for the RPK74. In this quality, the weapon is significantly superior to a similar Kalashnikov assault rifle, because the longer and heavier barrel ensures good combat accuracy and makes the weapon long-range, effectively long-range. Quite often you can see RPK and RPK74 magazines in AKM and AK74 (AK74M) assault rifles.

RPKs, both 7.62 mm and 5.45 mm, shoot much more accurately compared to their counterparts (AKM and AK74). Combat accuracy is higher both in single mode and in automatic mode. Using the RPK74, standing without a rest, experienced shooters confidently hit targets with bursts at distances of up to 600 meters. It is recommended not to fire this weapon like a full-fledged machine gun, in long bursts; the best option is to shoot like a machine gun, in short bursts. The reason is the same - it is impossible to replace an overheated barrel with a cold one, as is done in any machine gun.

It seems that the Kalashnikov Concern is seriously aiming to carry out a large-scale modernization of the firearms fleet in the Russian armed forces. How else can one explain so many new developments in the field of individual weapons? Moreover, developments are carried out, as a rule, on an initiative basis, that is, at the expense of the concern, and only then are offered to the Ministry of Defense. This happened with the RPK 16, the new machine gun of Izhevsk engineers.

Replacement RPK 74

An old-timer of the Soviet and then Russian armed forces, the Kalashnikov light machine gun of the 1974 model is really in need of replacement for a long time. It underwent its last major modernization in 1993. Then changes affected materials, which increased the life of the gun and its reliability. Since then, the design has not changed significantly and has become technically and morally obsolete.

The new machine gun is superior to the RPK 74 in everything. It has higher firepower, sighting range and weight-dimensional characteristics. It is possible to install two types of trunks - long and short. A long barrel can be used for combined arms combat, a short one - in cramped conditions in streets or forests, where increased maneuverability is needed.

At the time of writing this material, the Russian Defense Ministry has already ordered the first batch of RPK 16 for comprehensive testing. After their completion, the new product has every chance of going into production, says the general director of the Kalashnikov Concern, Alexey Krivoruchko.

Interesting to know: The Kalashnikov RPK 74 light machine gun can be considered legendary. It was adopted by the Soviet Army in 1974 and is still the main machine gun today. Has more than 10 modifications. It was used in all armed conflicts on the territory of the former USSR, the war in Syria and others.

Review of RPK 16. What was affected by modernization

According to the manufacturer, the RPK 16 will rank with such Western models as the Belgian Minimi and the American M 249. However, the development of Russian gunsmiths is not a purebred machine gun and was built on the basis of the immortal AK 74. Therefore, the new RPK does not have the ability to use a machine gun belt in as ammunition.

Fire can be fired from two sources of ammunition. The first is a standard magazine for a Kalashnikov assault rifle. The second is a drum-type magazine specially designed for the RPK 16. Its capacity is 95 rounds.

But in some ways the Izhevsk gun is even superior to its imported counterparts. According to the developers, the weight of the domestic product is 4.5 kilograms, while competitors weigh on average about 9.

As mentioned above, the machine gun has the ability to install two barrels of different lengths. The short or assault barrel has a length of 410 millimeters, the size of the long one is 550 millimeters. The barrel is replaced without the use of special tools and devices. However, it will not be possible to change barrels in combat conditions - this will take too much time. But this doesn’t make sense, because after replacing the barrel, you need to adjust the sights, which is impossible in combat.

Design Features

But the manufacturer didn’t play tricks with the automation. The RPK 16 uses the well-proven long-stroke piston design found in AK assault rifles and automatic carbines. The gas exhaust unit is located on top of the barrel. The receiver cover has two pins - front and rear. The rear pin is non-removable and has a spring-loaded design to dampen vibrations. The front pin is removable.

For ease of use, the mode translator has an additional finger molding, which allows you to make switches faster. And most importantly, the handle is now pistol-type, with an internal pencil case. It stores accessories for the care and cleaning of the machine gun.

Another innovation is the aiming system. It consists of an aperture rear sight and a sector sight, which are located on the receiver cover. The rear sight is adjustable and has the ability to make lateral adjustments. The use of this design made it possible to improve aiming and guidance in low light conditions.

The muzzle brake has a design similar to the AK 400. The stock is folding and telescopic. Its range of adjustments allows you to customize the machine gun for a shooter with any biometrics. The stock folds to the left and has a latch.

A mandatory requirement in recent years is the Picatinny rail, located on the receiver in its upper part. Its presence makes the machine gun universal, and it can be equipped with imported attachments. This can be optics, laser and collimator sights.

But even this was not enough for the Kalashnikov engineers. Brackets for installing Picatinny rails are located at the bottom of the forend and on its sides. They are needed for mounting sights, flashlights, night vision devices, as well as a bipod and holder. The use of this simple device increases the attractiveness of the Izhevsk product on the international arms market.

Another useful device that can be equipped with the RPK 16 is the PMS tactical silencer. It significantly reduces the sound level of a shot. This allows the shooter to remain undetectable and also reduces the impact of noise on the hearing aids of the shooter and the soldiers in his environment. In addition, PMS reduces the flash of muzzle gases and serves as a flame arrester.

Sergei Radkevich talks about the new RPK 16

Specifications

  • Caliber: 5.45x39 millimeters
  • Length with short, “assault” barrel: 895 millimeters
  • Length with long, main barrel: 1076 millimeters
  • Length with stock folded, short barrel: 651 mm
  • Length with stock folded, long barrel: 831 millimeters
  • Main barrel size: 550 millimeters
  • Long barrel size: 410 millimeters
  • Weight: 4500 g
  • Rate of fire: 700 rounds/min
  • Magazine capacity: 30/95 rounds
  • Sighting range when firing single shots: 600 meters
  • Sighting range when firing in bursts: 300 meters

Interesting to know: the 5.45x39 mm caliber cartridge is a Soviet low-pulse cartridge. It is distinguished by high destructive power, accuracy and accuracy of shots. Disadvantages - increased ricocheting and destructive power at long distances of the first release cartridges. The cartridge was put into service in 1974 - simultaneously with the RPK 74.

Versatility of use

The manufacturer calls one of the main advantages of the new development a wide range of applications for the new product and the ability to implement weapons for various purposes based on it. When used in its basic form, it is a powerful support weapon. The use of a machine gun with a long barrel in combination with modern aiming systems makes it possible to turn the product into a high-precision weapon capable of confidently hitting a target at a distance of up to 600 meters with one shot.

Despite the many modern gadgets, the new machine gun cannot be considered a breakthrough in the field of weapons, because although it is a deep one, it is still a modernization of the good old RPK. But the marketers of the Izhevsk concern have tried their best, and there are more than enough people willing to buy the new product. You need to be able to not only make weapons, but also sell them - and in this, Russian gunsmiths have clearly succeeded in recent years. Let's wish them good luck, and may the weapon never be used for its intended purpose.

RPK is a Soviet 7.62 caliber light machine gun, created on the basis of the AKM assault rifle, adopted for service in 1961.

The main differences from the AKM are that the RPK has an elongated barrel with increased wall thickness and a bipod. The barrel cannot be replaced in the field. The RPK can be fed from standard 7.62 mm Kalashnikov assault rifle magazines, high-capacity magazines (40 rounds) or from drum magazines (75 rounds). The sight has the ability to enter lateral corrections for wind. There are options: a landing version with a folding stock (RPKS); with mount for a night or optical sight (RPKN, SSBN).

The PKK is in service with the armies of more than 20 countries. A number of countries produce copies of the PKK or their own variants. Thus, in Yugoslavia, light machine guns of the Kalashnikov system are produced under the 7.62x39 cartridge: 72B1, characterized by the introduction of fins on part of the barrel length; 77B1 with a carrying handle and a different magazine shape. The 82 and 82A light machine guns are chambered for the 5.56x45 (M193) cartridge.




Caliber 7.62x39 mm
Weight 4.8 kg with bipod
Length 1040 mm
Barrel length 591 mm
Nutrition sector magazine 40 rounds, drum 75 rounds
Rate of fire 600 rounds per minute

In the mid-1950s, the Soviet Army began a program to develop a new set of small arms designed to replace the Kalashnikov AK assault rifle, SKS carbine and RPD light machine gun. The complex was supposed to include an assault rifle and a light machine gun (squad support weapon) that was maximally unified with it, both chambered for the 7.62x39 M43 cartridge. Based on the results of the competition in 1961, the SA adopted a modified Kalashnikov AKM assault rifle and a Kalashnikov RPK light machine gun, unified with it in design and magazines. The RPK served as the main support weapon for the squad until 1974, when it was replaced by its counterpart chambered for 5.45x39 - the RPK-74 light machine gun.

The Kalashnikov RPK light machine gun uses the same automation scheme and basic design solutions as the Kalashnikov AKM assault rifle, that is, gas-operated automatics with the barrel locked by turning the bolt. The receiver is stamped from sheet steel, more durable than the AKM receiver to increase service life. The barrel is longer than the AKM and cannot be replaced in case of overheating. The trigger mechanism is completely similar to that of the AKM, it allows firing in single shots and bursts, firing is carried out from a closed bolt. Ammunition is fed from detachable magazines compatible with AK/AKM assault rifles. For the RPK, two types of high-capacity magazines were additionally developed and put into service - a box-shaped (horn) magazine for 40 rounds and a drum magazine for 75 rounds. Early versions of box magazines were made of steel, later ones were made of plastic. Drum magazines had a steel structure and were characterized by the high cost and slowness of loading with cartridges. The RPK was equipped with a folding bipod mounted under the barrel, a specially shaped butt and a sight with the ability to introduce lateral adjustments. The RPKS variant, developed for airborne troops, had a side-folding stock. In addition, versions of the RPKN and SSBN were produced with a rail mounted on the receiver for attaching night sights.
Currently, based on the RPK-74M, the RPKM machine gun is produced under the 7.62x39 cartridge, intended primarily for export.

It should be noted that, as a light machine gun, the RPK had significant disadvantages - the low capacity of the power supply system, the inability to conduct intense automatic fire due to a non-replaceable barrel and firing from a closed bolt. Its main advantage was a high degree of unification with the standard AKM assault rifle, and a somewhat greater firing range and accuracy in comparison with it (due to a longer and somewhat heavier barrel).

In the early seventies, a new low-pulse intermediate cartridge 5.45x39 mm was created in the Soviet Union. It had some advantages over the existing 7.62x39 mm, such as lighter weight, lower recoil impulse, increased direct shot range, etc. It was decided to transfer the army to the new 5.45 mm cartridge. The corresponding projects started back in the mid-sixties. Based on the results of the competition in 1974, several types of new weapons were adopted by the Soviet Army, including the RPK-74 light machine gun.

In the late fifties and early sixties, Soviet gunsmiths worked on creating new small arms with the maximum degree of unification. The result of this approach to the creation of weapons was the adoption of the AKM assault rifle and the RPK light machine gun. These samples had a number of noticeable differences, but were based on common principles, and the same parts were used in the widest possible way in their design. The priority of weapon unification led to the fact that the characteristics of the RPK as a whole remained at the level of a “full-fledged” RPD light machine gun, but almost did not increase. However, the military wanted to simplify production and operation through unification, which led to the adoption of the RPK machine gun with the gradual displacement of the RPD.

Despite all its disadvantages, the idea of ​​unifying an assault rifle and a light machine gun was recognized as viable and expedient. For this reason, when developing weapons for a low-pulse cartridge, it was necessary to separately create two samples based on common ideas and components. About a dozen projects were submitted to the competition to create weapons chambered for 5.45x39 mm. Among other designers, M.T. presented his developments. Kalashnikov, who decided to continue the development of ideas that appeared in the AK project of the late forties.

The competition continued until the end of 1973. The competition itself and the proposed projects are of great interest, but almost all of the samples were eventually found unsuitable for adoption and dropped out of the competition. Based on the results of various field and military tests, tests and comparisons, the weapon complex developed by M.T. was recognized as the winner of the competition. Kalashnikov. At the very beginning of 1974, the AK-74 assault rifle and the RPK-74 light machine gun, unified with it, were put into service.

Kalashnikov weapons chambered for the new cartridge were a modified version of previous systems. However, the RPK-74 machine gun project cannot be considered a simple reworking of the previous RPK. In addition to compatibility with the new cartridge, engineers had to solve a lot of different technological and design issues. Thus, RPK-74 should be considered a direct development of the ideas contained in earlier developments.

However, two machine guns developed by M.T. Kalashnikov turned out to be very similar. The use of existing proven ideas led to the fact that in terms of general architecture the RPK and RPK-74 light machine guns were almost no different from each other. Both samples had a similar design of various units, as well as the same layout and general principles of operation. Like other Kalashnikov developments, the RPK-74 machine gun used gas automatics with a long piston stroke.

All components and assemblies of the RPK-74 machine gun were placed inside the receiver or attached to its outer part. The design of the box and lid has not undergone major changes in terms of design or manufacturing technology. The receiver itself was made by stamping, the necessary connections were made by welding. In the front wall of the box, a unit for installing the barrel and gas tube was provided. The front and middle parts of the box were given over to the moving bolt, the back – to the trigger mechanism.

Access to the receiver was achieved using a removable top cover. The stamped cover was placed on a stop in the front part of the receiver and secured with a latch in the rear part. Like the box itself, the lid was borrowed from other designs in the family.

The RPK-74 light machine gun received a relatively long, heavy barrel, designed to provide high firepower and the possibility of long-term intensive shooting. The machine gun barrel, as in the case of the RPK, had a length of 590 mm. At the same time, the relative length of the barrel increased significantly. Thus, the RPK had a barrel length of 77.4 calibers, and the RPK-74 had a barrel length of 108.25 calibers. This design feature had a positive effect on some characteristics of the weapon, primarily on the muzzle velocity.

In the middle part of the barrel, in its upper part, there was a gas outlet and fastenings of a gas tube with a piston. The machine gun had the same gas engine design as the AK-74 assault rifle. An interesting innovation of the RPK-74 project was the use of a special muzzle device. The muzzle of the barrel had a thread for installing a slotted flash suppressor or a bushing for using blank cartridges. The basic RPK did not have such a device. The barrel was installed without the possibility of replacement. This simplified the design and also made it possible to ensure acceptable combat performance.

The design of the bolt group was a further development of the RPK machine gun units and was unified with the corresponding parts of the AK-74. Due to the use of a new cartridge, the bolt group has undergone some changes. Thus, a cutout appeared on the left side of the bolt frame, designed to make the structure lighter. The bolt was smaller and lighter, and there was no annular recess in its cup. The shape of the cartridge ejection socket provided in the bolt was also changed.

The principle of operation of the automation remains the same. Under the influence of powder gases, a piston rigidly connected to the bolt frame activated the bolt group, after which the spent cartridge case was removed. Under the action of the return spring, the bolt moved to its extreme forward position and, turning, locked the barrel. For locking, two lugs and grooves in the receiver liner were used.

The RPK-74 machine gun, like other Kalashnikov developments, received a trigger-type firing mechanism. On the right surface of the receiver there was a fire switch with a characteristic recognizable shape. In the uppermost position, the flag turned on the fuse that blocked the trigger. In addition, in this position the flag physically blocked the movement of the bolt group. In the other two flag positions, single and automatic fire was activated. The design of the machine gun trigger ensured firing from a closed bolt, i.e. the cartridge had to be in the chamber before the trigger was pulled and/or the firing pin was moved.

When developing the RPK-74 machine gun, the ammunition supply system was rethought. The RPK machine gun was equipped with a sector-shaped double-row box magazine for 40 rounds or a drum magazine for 75 rounds. In addition, it could use standard magazines from Kalashnikov assault rifles with 30 rounds. When creating weapons for a low-pulse cartridge, it was decided to abandon the drum magazine. The main means of transporting and supplying ammunition was a sector magazine with 45 rounds of ammunition. The possibility of using automatic magazines of smaller capacity also remains.

The RPK-74 machine gun was equipped with a front sight mounted on a stand in the muzzle of the barrel and an open sight. The latter had markings for firing at a range of up to 1000 m and allowed the introduction of lateral corrections.

Early RPK-74 light machine guns were equipped with fittings made of wood. The weapon received a forend with a gas tube cover, a pistol grip and a butt. An “automatic” form of fore-end was used. The butt had a neck of reduced thickness, which made it possible to hold it with your hand when shooting with a rest. Over time, Soviet enterprises mastered the production of plastic components. As a result, machine guns began to be equipped not only with a magazine, but also with other plastic parts. Over time, all fittings were replaced with plastic ones.

Like its predecessors, the new light machine gun received a folding bipod. They were attached to the front of the barrel, immediately behind the front sight mounts. In the folded position, the bipod was fastened with a latch and fixed parallel to the trunk. After uncoupling, they were automatically moved apart using a spring.

Almost simultaneously with the basic version of the RPK-74, its folding version RPKS-74 appeared. Its only difference was the use of a hinged butt mount. If necessary, the machine gunner could fold the butt by turning to the left, due to which the total length of the weapon was reduced by 215 mm, to a certain extent making it easier to carry.

The total length of the RPK-74 assault rifle was 1060 mm, i.e. 20 mm longer than RPK. This difference in size was due to the use of a flame arrester. The machine gun's own weight was 4.7 kg, another 300 g was accounted for by the empty magazine. The folding modification of the weapon was 150 g heavier than the base one. The RPK-74 with a loaded magazine weighed about 5.46 kg. Thus, due to the improvements associated with the use of the new cartridge, it was possible to achieve an increase in some characteristics. The basic RPK with a sector magazine for 40 rounds weighed 5.6 kg, i.e. was heavier and had slightly less ready-to-use ammunition.

The proven design of gas automatics with some innovations ensured a rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute. The practical rate of fire, in turn, depended on the operating mode of the trigger. When firing single shots, this parameter did not exceed 45-50 rounds per minute, in automatic mode it reached 140-150.

The relatively long barrel provided a high initial speed of a relatively light bullet - up to 960 m/s (according to other sources, no more than 900-920 m/s). Due to this, the machine gun could fire effectively at single ground targets at ranges of about 600 m or at group targets at a distance of up to 1000 m. Firing at air targets was also allowed, but acceptable effectiveness was achieved only at ranges up to 500 m.

Due to the heavy barrel, the machine gun could fire in relatively long bursts. However, some features of the automation led to certain limitations. Thus, shooting from a closed bolt during intense shooting led to an increased risk of spontaneous firing due to the heating of the cartridge case from the chamber. Thus, the shooter had to monitor the intensity of fire and prevent the units from overheating.

Based on the RPK-74 and RPKS-74 machine guns, modifications were developed with the ability to install additional sighting devices of various types. An interesting fact is that modifications with various additional letters in the designation differed only in the type of sight included in the kit. Mounts for sights were unified and consisted of a bar on the left surface of the receiver.

The light machine gun, equipped with a 1P29 optical sight, received the designation RPK-74P (RPKS-74P). The use of the NSPU, NSPUM or NSPU-3 night sight added the index “N”, “N2” or “N3” to the name of the base weapon, respectively. Thus, the RPK-74 with the NSPU sight was called RPK-74N, and the RPKS-74 with the NSPUM product was called RPKS-74N2. When installing a night sight, depending on the modification, the weight of the loaded machine gun could reach 8 kg.

Serial production of new weapons M.T. Kalashnikov began in 1974. The production order was received by the Molot plant in Vyatskie Polyany, which previously produced RPK machine guns. The new model machine guns were intended to replace existing weapons. RPK-74 machine guns have become a new fire support weapon for motorized rifle troops at the squad and platoon level. Thus, over time, new machine guns were able to almost completely replace the weapons of the previous model. However, the old RPK did not immediately go out of service. For various reasons, Kalashnikov light machine guns of two models were used in parallel for some time. In addition, both machine guns were actively used during the war in Afghanistan.

The war in Afghanistan was the first armed conflict during which machine guns and machine guns of the new family were actively used. Subsequently, these weapons were used in a host of other wars. In fact, RPK-74 machine guns were used by all armies and armed forces that participated in conflicts on the territory of the former USSR. The latest conflicts involving the use of Kalashnikov weapons in 1974 are the “War of Three Eights” and the Ukrainian crisis. At the same time, Soviet-made machine guns and machine guns were and are used by all parties to conflicts.

In the early nineties, the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant and the Molot enterprise modernized the AK-74 assault rifle and the RPK-74 machine gun. Through some improvements, primarily of a technological nature, certain characteristics were improved. Thus, the barrel life was increased: when using the 7N10 cartridge, the declared life was 20 thousand shots. The receiver and its cover were reinforced. The wooden fittings were finally replaced by parts made of glass-filled polyamide. In addition, it was decided to abandon a separate modification with a folding stock. The RPK-74 machine gun received a hinged butt mount. Just like the AK-74M assault rifle, the updated machine gun received a rail for mounting sights, installed as standard.

After such changes, the general characteristics of the weapon remained at the same level, although the overall ease of use improved to some extent. In addition, there was no longer a need to launch the production of several separate modifications of the machine gun with various specific parts, such as a butt hinge or a rail for sights. As a result, the manufacturer was able to produce machine guns in one configuration and equip them with additional equipment in accordance with the customer’s wishes, or not install it at all.

The latest modifications of the Kalashnikov light machine gun mod. 1974 are RPK-201 and RPK-203. The 201st model is a variant of the RPK-74M chambered for the 5.56x45 mm NATO intermediate cartridge. RPK-203, in turn, is designed to use 7.62x39 mm ammunition. It is noteworthy that the machine gun chambered for the 43rd year is a new development based on the RPK-74M, and not a development of the older RPK. This “origin” of weapons is due to technological and production reasons. The RPK-201 and RPK-203 machine guns are intended for foreign customers, which determines the choice of ammunition used. Many countries use standard NATO ammunition, including the 5.56x45mm intermediate cartridge. In addition, a large number of armies using Soviet-designed cartridges have not yet switched to the newer low-pulse intermediate cartridges using 7.62x39mm.

At the moment, the RPK-74 and RPK-74M light machine guns, as well as their modifications, are the main fire support weapons for squads and platoons of motorized rifle companies in the armed forces of Russia and some other states. It is noteworthy that the list of advantages and disadvantages of this weapon almost completely coincides with reviews of the previous domestic RPK light machine gun. The main advantage of all these samples is the high degree of unification with machine guns. Another positive feature is the presence of a heavy, long barrel, which increases firepower compared to machine guns.

At the same time, there are some characteristic disadvantages. The lack of the ability to replace the barrel is considered more of a minus than a plus. In combination with shooting from a closed bolt, this leads to the risk of spontaneous firing. In addition, the combat qualities of the RPK-74 machine gun were seriously affected by the removal of the drum magazine. Sector magazines for 45 rounds significantly limit the weapon's ability to fire continuously and, as a result, affect firepower.

However, light machine guns of the RPK-74 family chambered for 5.45x39 mm remain in service and, obviously, will retain their status as the main squad support weapon for at least the next few years. The prospects for domestic light machine guns are not yet entirely clear. Perhaps in the foreseeable future the RPK-74 machine guns will be replaced by new weapons of a similar class, but for now the army is using well-developed weapons.

Based on materials from sites:
http://world.guns.ru/
http://gunsru.ru/
http://ohrana.ru/
http://spec-naz.org/
http://russianguns.ru/