Practical Guide to the Operational Use of the PK/PKM Machine Gun

Section 1

PK/PKM Operator Manual Introduction

The objective of this manual is to allow the reader to be able to use the PK/PKM and tripod mount system competently. The manual will give the reader background/specifications of the weapon, instruct on its operation, disassembly and assembly, demonstrate correct usage of tripod; detail proper firing procedure; and identify malfunction/misfire procedures. Operator-level maintenance will also be detailed to allow the reader to understand fully and become competent in the use and maintenance of the PKM general-purpose machine gun.

Description

Weapon Specifications

• Mode: Full-automatic only

• Operation: Gas

• Cartridge: 7.62 x 54 mm

• Weight (without tripod or ammunition): 8.4 kg/18.5 lbs.

• Overall length: 119 cm/47 inches

• Cyclic rate of fire: 690-720 rpm

• Sustained rate of fire: 250 rpm

• Combat effective range: 1000m

• Sighting range: 1500 m

Feed

• Ammunition capacity: 50-round soft nylon box, 100- or 200-round metal box

• Non-disintegrating metal belt link (25-round connectable sections)

• Direction: Right to left

Barrel

• Length: 60.3 cm/23.75 inches

• Quick changeable type mechanism

• Muzzle velocity: 825 m/s/2700 fps

Rates of Fire with the PKM

Sustained rate of fire is 100 rounds per minute in bursts of 6 to 9 rounds in 4 to 5 second intervals. It is recommended to change the barrel if firing the sustained rate every 10 minutes.

Rapid rate of fire is 200 rounds per minute in bursts of 6 to 9 rounds in 2 to 3 second intervals. It is recommended to change the barrel if firing the rapid rate every two minutes.

Cyclic rate of fire is the maximum amount of ammunition which can be expended in one minute. It is recommended to change the barrel if firing the cyclic rate every one minute.

Sights

• Front - protected cylindrical post

• Rear - rectangular notch, tangent ramp

• Rear sight graduation - 100-1500 meters in 100-meter increments and battle setting is approximately 330 meters

• Adjustment - front sight for zero only and rear sight for elevation and windage

Action

• Locking feature is a rotary bolt.

• Full automatic from the open bolt

• The trigger type is a spur.

• Safety type is a rotary selector with safe and fire settings.

• Safety location is on the left side above the trigger guard.

PK/PKM Background

Figure 1-1 PKM Machine Gun

The PK family of machine guns are gas-operated, rotating-bolt, open-bolt firing, and fully automatic, belt-fed machine guns.

The original PK (ПУЛЕМЕТ КАЛАШНИКОВА, "Machine gun Kalashnikov" was a fully automatic machine gun development of the Kalashnikov automatic rifle design. Currently available as the PKM (ПУЛЕМЕТ КАЛАШНИКОВА МОДЕРНИЗИРОВАННЫИ, Machine gun Kalashnikov Modernized), the machine gun fires 7.62 x 54R mm standard ammunition. It is equipped with a simple bipod and is designed as a squad-level support weapon also suitable for installation and vehicle mounting. The PKM is generally utilized as an infantry support weapon. Used in this classic role, it provides long-range area fire, supports final protective fires lanes, and can provide anti-aircraft (AA) fire. The PK can also be used in the front firing ports of the BMP. It has an adjustable cyclic rate and an effective range of 1000 meters. Effective range of the gun in the AA role is 600 meters against slow-moving aircraft. Its ammunition is not common to the AK-47 and other Russian weapons carried by infantry units currently. For heavier employment, the PKMS model (ПКМ СТЕПАНОВА, PKM Stepanova, for the name of the tripod) features a more stable tripod