Pecheneg machine gun

PKP "Pecheneg" (Russian : Печенег) is a Russian machine gun chambered for the 7.62 x 54 mm round.PK machine gun. The Pecheneg is said to be more accurate than all its predecessors due to a heavier, non-removable forced air cooling 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.Furthermore, the weapon is capable of mounting a telescopic sight or other sights which additionally increase accuracy. The military designation of the Pecheneg is 6P41 / 6P41N (with night vision sight). The Pecheneg is currently in use by Russian Army Spetsnaz and other troops in small numbers. 
The Pecheneg (Pecheneg is an ancient aggressive tribe who lived in what later became Russia; also its name is sometimes transcribed as Petcheneg) light machine gun was born from experience of Afghanistan and recent local conflicts.^{[citation needed]} The Pecheneg is a standard 7.62x54R PKM machine gun without the rapid barrel-change option, and intended for use from an integral bipod as a squad support weapon. It can provide more sustained firepower than the standard-issue RPK-74, and the 7.62x54R cartridge offers a longer effective range and better penetration of light structures and improvised covers in urban and forest environments.

Design

The “Pecheneg” LMG can be considered as a modification of the PKM machine gun, but it is built for only one tactical role; that is, as a true squad-level light machine gun for mobile infantry and Spetsnaz troops. Its key difference from the parent design is the barrel, which is not intended to be replaced in the field (although it can be removed for inspection and maintenance). The barrel is somewhat heavier than that of the PKM, and has radial cooling ribs. This is enclosed in a steel jacket, which runs up to the muzzle to provide forced air cooling a-la Lewis machine gun of WW1 era. Cooling air enters the jacket through oval windows at the rear of the jacket, and exits at the muzzle. Early versions of the Pecheneg had standard PKM-type flash hider, which resulted in a significant muzzle blast once the gun is warmed up; current production guns have a special flash hider that eliminates this issue. At the rear of the jacket there is a carrying handle permanently attached to it. This handle has a characteristic elongated profile, as it is also intended to protect the line of sight from mirages generated by the hot barrel. The manufacturer says that the Pecheneg can fire 600 rounds in continuous sustained fire without any danger to the barrel.
Another change from the parent design is the location of the integral, non-removable folding bipod which is placed near the muzzle. This feature is said to improve stability and long-range accuracy when firing from the bipod; but it also limits the arc of fire available without moving the position of bipod or shooter. Another consequence of such placement is that the Petcheneg is less comfortable to fire from the shoulder or the hip, as it does not have a handguard and the bipod is located too far forward to be used to hold the gun. However, the Petcheneg has sling swivels and can be fired from the hip using a sling and carrying handle to hold the gun.In all other respects (action, feed, sights, stock) the Pecheneg is similar to modern PKM machine guns. It also retains the standard PKM mounting interface and therefore can be used from the same tripod, but it is always issued as an light machine gun (without tripod mount).

PKP "Pecheneg"
Type	Light Machine Gun
Place of origin	Russian Federation
Service history
In service	2003
Used by	Russian Federation
Wars	Second Chechen War
Production history
Designer	TsNIITochMash
Specifications
Weight	8.7 kg on bipod; 12.7 kg on infantry tripod mount
Length	1155 mm; barrel: 658 mm
Cartridge	7.62x54mmR
Action	Gas-operated
Rate of fire	650-800 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	850 m/s (2,789 ft/s)
Maximum range	1500 m
Feed system	Belt. 100, 200 or 250-round detachable box magazine