RPK Series

Light Machinegun
 Objective
Actions: Identify the characteristics,
disassemble, and assemble the RPK series
Light Machinegun.

Conditions: In a classroom environment,

given a RPK series Light Machinegun.

Standards: Identify the characteristics,

clear, disassemble, assemble, and conduct
a functions check for the RPK series
Light Machinegun IAW STP-31-18B-34SM-
TG and Jane’s Infantry Weapons.
 Reason

To enable soldiers deploying to

Afghanistan in support of Operation
Enduring Freedom to understand and
become familiar with the characteristics
and Operation of the RPK series Light
Machinegun in order to increase the
combat effectiveness of their units.
 Safety Considerations

 Ensure all firearms are cleared.

 Maintain positive control of springs

and spring loaded parts.
 Classroom Conduct

 No Sleeping

 Class Participation

 Latrines At Break
 Agenda
 History
 Characteristics
 General Data
 Variants
 Clearing
 Disassembly
 Assembly
 Functions Check
 History
RPK
The Soviet/Russian RPK Light Machinegun
(LMG) is the standard squad automatic
weapon/LMG in use in Afghanistan and the Middle
East. It is a gas-operated, selective fire, box or
drum magazine-fed, bipod-mounted weapon
developed from the Soviet/Russian AKM assault
rifle. The RPK superseded the RPD LMGs.

The RPK and the AKM differ primarily in that

the RPK has a longer and heavier barrel, a
stamped metal bipod, and a different butt-stock.
In addition, the RPK’s receiver has been changed
to accommodate its large-diameter barrel.
 History
RPK
The RPK fires from the closed bolt and, because
of this, tends to “cook off” after prolonged firing.
Other than this, the RPK has proved to be an
excellent and reliable automatic weapon
 History
RPK-74

The RPK-74 Light Machinegun is available in

very small numbers in Afghanistan. It is a gas-
operated, selective fire, box magazine-fed weapon
developed from the AK-74 assault rifle. The RPK-
74 is essentially a heavy-barreled version of the
AK-74, bearing the same relationship to the rifle
as the RPK does to the AK-47/AKM series of rifles.
 Characteristics RPK
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Russia

MILITARY DESIGNATION: RPK Light Machinegun

CARTRIDGE TYPE: 7.62mm X 39mm. M1943

TYPE OF FEED: 75 rd Drum or 40 rd

Staggered Box Magazine

LOCKING SYSTEM: Rotating Bolt

SYSTEM OF OPERATION: Gas Blast, Select Fire

PRACTICAL RANGE: 800m

APPLIED SAFETY: Blocks the Trigger

PPF: Auto-Safety Sear

 Characteristics RPK-74
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Russia

MILITARY DESIGNATION: RPK-74 Light Machinegun

CARTRIDGE TYPE: 5.45mm X 39mm

TYPE OF FEED: 45rd Plastic Staggered

Box Magazine

LOCKING SYSTEM: Rotating Bolt

SYSTEM OF OPERATION: Gas Blast, Select Fire

PRACTICAL RANGE: 500m

APPLIED SAFETY: Blocks the Trigger

PPF: Auto-Safety Sear

 General Data

Data RPK RPK-74

Weight 10.8lbs 10.12lbs

Weight-Loaded Mag
Length W/Stock 1040mm 1060mm
Folding Stock 820mm 845mm
Barrel Length 590mm Same
Barrel Type Chrome Lined Same
Rifling 4 Groove/RH Twist Same
1 Turn/196mm Same
Muzzle Velocity 745mps 960mps
Cyclic ROF 600 RPM Same
Sustained ROF 150 RPM Same
 Sights

 The rear sight is a flat base U

notch.

 The rear sight is indexed 100

to 1000 meters in 100 meter
increments.

 The front sight is an

adjustable hooded post sight.
 Selector

Safe: Lever in the top

position.

Automatic: Lever in the

middle position.

Semi-Automatic: Lever in
the bottom position.
 Variants
RPK – Original version.

RPKS – Folding butt-stock version intended for use with

airborne forces.

RPK-74 – 5.45 x 39mm version of the RPK.

RPK-74M – The current (2006) version, with a folding stock.

RPKS-74 – Folding butt-stock version of RPK-74.

RPKN3 – Has rail on left side of receiver to mount a night

sight, usually the 1PN51; model aka RPK-74N3.

RPKSN3 – Folding butt-stock version of the RPKN3

Al-Quds – Iraqi version of RPK

 Clearing
 Place the weapon on “SAFE”.

 Remove the source of feed.

 Place the weapon on “FIRE”; Pull the

Charging Handle to the rear and HOLD it.

 Conduct “three point check”.

 Return the Charging Handle forward.

Disassembly
 Disassembly

 Push in the Retaining

Rod at the rear of the
Cover, lift the Receiver
Cover up and out to
remove it.

 Remove the Action

Spring and Retaining Rod
by pushing them forward
to release, lift up and out
of the Receiver.
 Disassembly

 Ensure the weapon is

not on “SAFE”.

 Remove the Bolt and

Bolt Carrier by pulling the
Charging Handle to the
rear.

 Lift up and out of the

Receiver.
 Disassembly

 Remove the Bolt from

the Bolt Carrier by turning
the Bolt counter-clockwise
and pulling it out of the
front of the Carrier.
 Disassembly

 To remove Gas
Cylinder, rotate the
Locking Lever to the 10
o’clock position.

 Lift up on the Gas

Cylinder to remove it
from the Receiver.

 This completes
disassembly of the RPK
Series Light Machinegun.
Disassembly
 Assembly
 Line up the forward
end of the Cylinder
with the Gas Port
behind the Front Sight.

 Rotate the Cylinder

downward to the
Receiver.

 Secure the Gas

Cylinder by turning the
Locking Lever to the
locked position.
 Assembly

 Place the Bolt in the

Bolt Carrier by placing
the rear of the Bolt into
the Bolt Carrier and
turning it clockwise,
ensuring the locking
lug of the Bolt sits in
the cut recess of the
Bolt Carrier.
 Assembly

 Line up the Gas

Piston with the Gas
Cylinder inside the
Receiver.

 Line up the Bolt

Carrier with the rails
inside the Receiver,
when in place push the
Bolt forward.
 Assembly

 Place the Action

Spring into the rear of
the Bolt Carrier.

 Push it forward,
maintaining control,
and secure the Action
Spring in its slot in the
back of the Receiver.

 Install the Cover.

Assembly
 Functions Check
 Place the weapon on “SAFE” and attempt to fire. (it
should not fire)

 Place the weapon on “SEMI”; squeeze and hold the

Trigger. (it should fire)

 Charge the weapon and release the Trigger; listen for

the Disconnector; squeeze the Trigger. (it should fire)

 Charge then place the weapon on “AUTO”; squeeze

and hold the Trigger.(it should fire)

 Charge the weapon 3 to 4 times and release the Trigger

(it shouldn’t reset or fire).

 Place the weapon back on “SAFE”.

 Objective
Actions: Identify the characteristics,
disassemble, and assemble the RPK series
Light Machinegun.

Conditions: In a classroom environment,

given a RPK series Light Machinegun.

Standards: Identify the characteristics,

clear, disassemble, assemble, and conduct
a functions check for the RPK series
Light Machinegun IAW STP-31-18B-34SM-
TG and Jane’s Infantry Weapons.
 Agenda
 History
 Characteristics
 General Data
 Variants
 Clearing
 Disassembly
 Assembly
 Functions Check
 Reason

To enable soldiers deploying to

Afghanistan in support of Operation
Enduring Freedom to understand and
become familiar with the characteristics
and Operation of the RPK series Light
Machinegun in order to increase the
combat effectiveness of their units.
Never
Never Forgotten
Forgotten