PKP Pecheneg machine gun

The PKP Pecheneg (Pulemyot Kalashnikova Pekhotny "Pecheneg", Russian: Печенег)[8][9] is a Russian 7.62×54mmR general-purpose machine gun.[4] It is a further development and modification of the PK machine gun (PKM).[10] It is said to be more accurate than all its predecessors due to a heavier, removable, partially forced-air-cooled barrel with radial cooling ribs and a handle which eliminates the haze effect from hot gases and keeps the barrel cooler, making the weapon more reliable.[11] Furthermore, the weapon is capable of having a telescopic sight or other sights mounted on it, which increases its accuracy and effective range.

This article is about the machine gun. For the people that is its namesake, see Pechenegs.
PKP Pecheneg "6P41" machine gun
PKP Pecheneg on display with a bipod
TypeMedium machine gun
General purpose machine gun
Place of originRussia
Service history
In service2001–present[1]
Used bySee Users
WarsSecond Chechen War
Russo-Georgian War
Syrian Civil War[2]
Iraqi Civil War[2]
Russo-Ukrainian War
War in Donbas
Production history
DesignerMikhail Kalashnikov
Designed1995
ManufacturerTsNIITochMash, Degtyaryov Plant
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass8.2 kg (18 lb) without a bipod[3]
8.7 kg (19 lb) with a bipod
12.7 kg (28 lb) with an infantry tripod mount[4]
Length1,200 mm (47 in)
Barrel length658 mm (25.9 in)[4]
Cartridge7.62×54mmR[4]
ActionGas-operated[4]
Rate of fireCyclic rate of fire:
600–800 rounds/min
Practical rate of fire:
166 rounds/min[5]
Muzzle velocity900 m/s (2,953 ft/s)[6]
Effective firing range1,500 m (0.93 mi)[7]
Maximum firing range6,000 m (6,600 yd)
Feed systemBelt feed: 100-, 200-, 250-round, non-disintegrating links[6]

The GRAU index of the PKP Pecheneg is "6P41" or "6P41N" (PKP Pecheneg-N) when fitted with a mounting rail for a night vision sight. It is currently in use by Russian Army Spetsnaz and other troops in significant numbers. Even though it was developed mainly for infantry use, it also has been fitted to several light vehicles.[10]

Name

The PKP Pecheneg is named after the Pecheneg people, a warlike tribe of Turkic origin who lived in what later became the steppes of southern Russia and Ukraine.

Design

According to the manufacturer, the PKP Pecheneg can fire 600 rounds in rapid fire scenarios without damaging the barrel. When conducting a long firefight, it can fire up to 10,000 rounds of ammunition per hour (effective rate of fire ≈ 166 rounds per minute) without degrading the combat characteristics and reducing the life of the barrel. In general, the PKP Pecheneg retained up to 80% parts commonality with the PKM.

A steel jacket encloses the barrel from the front of the trunnion to the muzzle. Middle part of the barrel, from the front of the trunnion, to the gas block has transverse grooves to increase the surface area for better cooling. There are oval holes on the jacket in the ribbed section of the barrel for access of air.

From the gas block to the muzzle there are 4 longitudinal grooves cut in the barrel. They are covered by the jacket. The grooves connect 4 holes in the gas block and 4 holes on the front end of the muzzle device. Low pressure created at the front of the jacket during firing draws cool air through the grooves, cooling the front part of the barrel, similarly to the Lewis machine gun.

Constant forced cooling of the front part of the barrel reduces dispersion when firing, and also increases the durability of the barrel. The service life of the barrel is estimated at 25,000 to 30,000 rounds.

Variants
6P69 Pecheneg-SP machine gun
  • Pecheneg-N: GRAU index is "6P41N", similar to the Pecheneg but features a mounting rail for night vision sights.
  • Pecheneg-SP: GRAU index is "6P69", is an improved variant of the PKP Pecheneg. It has two main versions; a standard version and a special forces version. Titanium is now used for its construction. It was also reported that it now features a Picatinny rail for mounting the 1P89-3 unified optical sight and other optical sights, a telescopic folding stock and at the request of the Russian military, an additional tactical handle for convenience when firing. According to the manufacturers, during transportation the gun can be folded, making it 30 mm (3 cm) shorter than the regular Kalashnikov rifle. It uses a shortened barrel and a suppressor for noiseless and flameless fire. Its serial production started in February 2017.[12]
  • Pecheneg bullpup: is a bullpup conversion of the PKP Pecheneg developed by the Degtyarev plant.[13][14]

Users

References
  1. "Эхо Москвы :: Новости / Россия приступила к серийному производству нового пулемета 'Печенег'". Эхо Москвы. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  2. "British Accuracy International AW sniper rifle in Syria – Armament Research Services". armamentresearch.com. 28 September 2015. Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  3. "Open Joint Stock Company "V.A.Degtyarev Plant" / 7.62mm 6P41 Pecheneg machine gun". www.zid.ru. Archived from the original on 11 January 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  4. Popenker, Max R."PKP Pecheneg machine gun Archived 22 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Open Joint Stock Company "V.A.Degtyarev Plant" / 7.62mm 6P41 Pecheneg machine gun". Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  6. "7.62mm Pecheneg Machine Gun ", warfare.ru, Retrieved 2010-04-05
  7. "7.62-mm "Petcheneg" Machine Gun Archived 17 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine", TsNIITochMash, Retrieved 2010-04-05
  8. Lawrence, Erik (13 March 2015). Practical Guide to the Operational Use of the PK/PKM Machine Gun. Erik Lawrence Publications. ISBN 9781941998212. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017 – via Google Books.
  9. Bonds, Ray; Miller, David (13 February 2003). Illustrated Directory of Special Forces. Voyageur Press. ISBN 9780760314197. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017 – via Google Books.
  10. "Pecheneg | Weaponsystems.net". weaponsystems.net. Archived from the original on 12 January 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  11. "Modern Firearms". 27 October 2010. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  12. "Самый секретный пулемет России- глубокая модернизация пулемета "Печенег" | Еженедельник "Военно-промышленный курьер"". vpk-news.ru. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017.
  13. "BREAKING: Pecheneg PKP BULLPUP Machine Gun -". The Firearm Blog. 23 September 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  14. "PKP tuning from "Zenit" (with photos)". Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  15. "YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on 9 June 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  16. "ОДКБ планирует укрепиться мощной авиационной группировкой". 17 April 2013. Archived from the original on 25 April 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  17. Defence Web (June 2016). "Namibia receives Russian small arms". defenceweb.co.za. defenceweb. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  18. Gao, Charlie (31 January 2020). "Pecheneg-SP: Russia's Insanely Deadly Machine Gun?". The National Interest. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  19. "Syrian army general's weapons request". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  20. Oryx (17 August 2015). "Oryx Blog: From Russia with Love, Syria's PKP Pechenegs". Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  21. Tiwari, Sakshi (10 March 2022). "Ukraine's 'Trophy Hunters': Images Of Top Officials With 'Seized' Russian AK-12 Assault Rifles Take Internet By Storm". Latest Asian, Middle-East, EurAsian, Indian News. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  22. "Small Arms of the War In Ukraine". 23 March 2022. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
External video
video icon Video of Pecheneg Bullpup being fired
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pecheneg machine gun.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pecheneg-SP.

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