Specifications
Weapon type:
Full-auto machine gun
Weight:
4.8 kg (10.6 lb)
Calibre & Catrige:
7.62x39mm
Effective range:
800 m
Rate of fire:
600 rounds/min
Designed:
1961
Designer:
Mikhail Kalashnikov
Manufacturer:
Vyatskie Polyany Machine-Building Plant
Action:
Gas operated, rotating bolt, closed bolt
In service:
1961-present
Muzzle velocity:
745 m/s
Capacity:
40-round curved magazine or 75-round drum magazine
The RPK is a gas operated, magazine fed, air cooled, selective fire weapon. The basic action, with a long-stroke gas piston located above the barrel and a rotating bolt, is similar to that of the Kalashnikov assault rifle. The trigger unit and safety is also the same, therefore the RPK fires from a closed bolt in both semi-automatic and automatic modes. The barrel is permanently fixed to the receiver and cannot be replaced in the field.
