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Universal machine gun PKM

The PK (Pulemyot Kalashnikova) is a belt-fed general-purpose machine gun chambered for the 7.62×54mmR cartridge. Developed in the Soviet Union, it was introduced in 1961, with the lighter PKM variant following in 1969 to replace the SGM and RP-46. The PKM remains a frontline weapon in Russian service and has been widely exported and licensed for production in multiple countries.

In 1955, the Soviet Main Artillery Directorate sought a new general-purpose machine gun chambered for a rifle cartridge. In 1958, a prototype by G.I. Nikitin and Yuri Sokolov passed field tests, but before production, Mikhail Kalashnikov’s team proposed an alternative design based on the Kalashnikov gas-operated rotary-bolt system. The Kalashnikov design proved more reliable and cost-effective, leading to its adoption in 1961. The PK/PKS was manufactured at the Kovrov Mechanical Plant using a tripod mount and belt system originally designed for the Nikitin-Sokolov prototype. Their design later influenced the NSV heavy machine gun, introduced in 1971.

The PK’s design is based on the AKM and RPK, utilizing a stamped steel receiver and firing from an open bolt for improved heat dissipation and reliability in sustained fire. It feeds rimmed 7.62×54mmR cartridges using non-disintegrating belts mounted from the right side. The two-stage feed mechanism ensures smooth operation. The quick-change barrel system allows the operator to replace overheated barrels during extended firing. The receiver is made from 1.5 mm steel with a reinforced double-wall structure, while the chrome-lined barrel features a 240 mm rifling twist rate. Early models included fluted barrels for heat dissipation, later removed in the PKM. The PKM’s barrel assembly weighs 2.4 kg and can sustain up to 400 rounds of rapid fire before cooling or replacement is needed. Iron sights are adjustable from 100 to 1,500 meters, and Warsaw Pact optical rails enable mounting scopes such as the 1P29.

The PK has several variants, including the tripod-mounted PKS, the modernized PKM, the tank-mounted PKT with an electric solenoid trigger, and the PKP Pecheneg, which features an integrated barrel cooling system. Night-vision-compatible versions include the PKMSN and PKMN. The PKM is produced in Russia and internationally, with licensed copies such as Serbia’s Zastava M84 and China’s Norinco Type 80. The Pecheneg, introduced in 2001, features a forced-air cooling system, eliminating the need for quick-change barrels. The PK remains one of the most reliable and widely used general-purpose machine guns, maintaining a strong presence in military arsenals worldwide for over six decades.