7.62mm PKM, PKMS, PKMB, PKMN and PKMSNStandard Machine Guns

7.62mm PKM, PKMS, PKMB, PKMN and PKMSN

Standard Machine Guns

Mission

The PKM modernised Kalashnikov machine gun is a lethal weapon for fire support of motorised rifle units, designed to kill enemy personnel and to destroy weapon systems. General description

Its successful design combines firepower of a heavy machine gun with manoeuvrability of a light one. The weapon derives from the worldfamous PK Kalashnikov machine gun. Modernisation consisted in decreasing weight of the machine gun and improving its technological effectiveness. Several modifications of the weapon have been developed, including the PKMS heavy machine gun and the tripodequipped, swivel-mounted PKMB machine gun for employment from APCs or automobiles. Their versions equipped with night optronic sights are PKMN and PKMSN.

PKM family machine guns can fire all types of 7.62x54mm rounds. The machine guns are fed from 25- or 50-round metal belt consisting of disintegrating links. Loaded belts are transported in boxes for 100, 200 and 250 rounds each.

The machine gun is gas operated. To ensure reliable operation in various operating conditions the weapon is fitted with a gas regulator. The barrel is blocked by rotation of the breech. A striker-type trigger mechanism is activated by the breech block. It has a rear sear, and provides for automatic fire only. A safety catch blocks the trigger and sear when activated.

Design of the machine gun allows for fast change of the barrel without disassembling the whole weapon. An additional barrel is included into a complete set of the machine gun. A kit of spare parts is attached to the machine gun proper.

An open-type sight includes a foresight and an adjustable sector-type backsight with a device for lateral adjustments. A complete set of the PKMS and PKMSN machine guns (PKMN-1, PKMSN-1, PKMN-2, PKMSN-2, PKMN-3 and PKMSN-3) includes various night vision optronic sights. These machine guns mount a standard attachment point for various sights on the left side of the barrel chamber.

Easy-to-handle, reliable and extremely powerful, the PKM machine gun ranks among the world’s best weapons, which explains its wide use.

Basic specifications

Cartridge 7.62x54 Muzzle velocity, m/s 825 Effective range of fire, m up to 1,500 Weight, kg: empty, without mount 7.5 box with belt for 100/200 rounds 3.9/8 mount (PKMS) 4.5 Length, mm 1,160 Belt capacity, rds 100, 200 and 250 Rate of fire, rds/min 250