RPK-74 Kalashnikov

September 11, 2008

In 1974 the 5.45 mm assault Titles together with the RPK-74 (Index 6P18) light machine guns with unremoved stock and RPKS-74 with the folded stock were adopted for service.
The design differences from the AK-74 are similar to the differences of the RPK from the AKM. The new elements hap¬pened to be a muzzle device and magazine.
The slit flash suppressor is attached to the muzzle of a barrel. The decreased recoil energy permitted to enhance by a factor of about 1.5 the consistency of fire as compared to the RPK. For the RPK-74 and RPKS-74 was adopted one 45-round box magazine. The disk magazine for the RPK-74 was discarded on production-eco¬nomic reasons.
The weight of the portable 5.45 mm ammunition load with the same number of cartridges proved to be 1.5 times less than that of the Mod. 1943 car¬tridges. The RPKS-74 outweighs the RPK by 0.15 kg. In manufacturing of the stock and fore grip they refused from using wood and began to use plastic for this end.
The 5.45 mm light machine guns also developed as «night» modifications to use unilluminated night sights like the NSPUM, NSPU-3. The RPK-74N features a fore grip, handguard and stock made from wood, while the RPK-74N2 has these parts made from plastic (the glass filled polyamide).
The RPK-74 and its versions are still operational in Russia, former republics of the USSR, and in a number of other countries.

Specifications
Caliber………………………..5.45mmhttp://russian-weapons.com/wp-admin/media-upload.php?post_id=146&type=image&TB_iframe=true&height=500&width=640
Cartridge ………………5.45×39 (Mod. 1974)
Weight w/magazine………………….4.7 kg
Length……………………….1.060 mm
Barrel length…………………….590 mm
Bullet muzzle velocity ……………..960m/sec
Rate of tire …………………..600rds/mki
Effective rate of fire ……………40/150 rds/min
Sighting range ………………….. 1.000 m
Magazine capacity ………………….45 rds