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83-515: The M84 is a licensed copy of the Soviet Union's PKM , with a few differences such as a differently shaped stock, and a slightly longer and heavier barrel which has slightly different measurements at the gas port and forward of the trunnion in diameter. The M84 is intended for infantry use, against enemy infantry and light vehicles. It is also configured for tripod mounting (like the PKS). The M86

166-458: A circular error probable method that assumes a 50% hit probability (R 50 ) and cannot be converted and is not comparable to US military methods for determining small arms accuracy. When the R 50 results are doubled the hit probability increases to 93.7%. The PKB is a variant of the PK that has been designed for use as a pintle mounted machine gun on combat vehicles. A swivel has been attached to

249-543: A circular error probable method that assumes a 50% hit probability (R 50 ). For heavier employment, the PKS (ПК Станковый: "PK Mounted") is based on the Samozhenkov 6T2 tripod mount. The PK and 6T2 tripod weigh 16.5 kg (36.38 lb). The 6T2 Samozhenkov general-purpose tripod mount was designed by E. S. Samozhenkov and entered service in 1961 and weighs 7.5 kg (16.53 lb). The 6T2 Samozhenkov tripod mount

332-460: A Warsaw Pact side-rail bracket on the left side of the receiver can mount various aiming optics. The standard Russian side rail mounted optical sight was the 4×26 1P29 Universal sight for small arms, an aiming optic similar to the British SUIT and SUSAT and Canadian C79 optical sights . When mounted, the 1P29 sight is positioned centered above the receiver at a height that allows the use of

415-484: A front-line infantry and vehicle-mounted weapon with Russia's armed forces and has also been exported extensively and produced in several other countries under license. The Main Artillery Directorate of the Soviet Union (GRAU) adopted specification requirements for a new 7.62 mm general-purpose company and battalion-level machine gun that was to be chambered for a rifle cartridge in 1955. In 1958

498-416: A gas regulator and an electric solenoid trigger. The PKT minimum cyclic rate of fire is 100 rounds per minute higher than other PK-series variants and is usually fed from 250-round ammunition boxes. The PKT barrel assembly weighs 3.23 kg (7.1 lb) and can fire up to 500 rounds in rapid fire scenarios before it has to be replaced for another barrel or allowed to cool down to prevent unacceptable wear of

581-405: A latch is mounted in the rear part of the bolt carrier assembly. The cocking lever, mounted on the right, is not integral with the bolt carrier and does not reciprocate as the gun fires. The gas cylinder is mounted under the barrel and fitted with a gas regulator with three fixed positions. The gas regulator opens corresponding holes to change the amount of expanding propellant gases bled off out of

664-614: A machine gun prototype the Nikitin-Sokolov PN1, developed by G.I. Nikitin and Yuri M. Sokolov, successfully passed field tests. Based on the results of the tests it was decided in 1960 to manufacture a batch of Nikitin-Sokolov machine guns for service tests and then put the machine gun into production at the Kovrov Mechanical Plant. However, the weapon had some flaws, the main flaw being that the weapon did not resist water and snow very well. Water and snow had

747-680: A reputation for being a strong subscriber to military innovation and reform, which he demonstrated in Africa. There he used machine guns, explored other unconventional ideas, and founded an Egyptian camel corps. The gun's design was also purchased and used by several other European countries. In January 1899, just before the outbreak of the Philippine-American War , the Philippines had forty-two Maxim guns. An English observer who had seen one of them, described it as being "of

830-421: A rod-and-screw elevation mechanism. The traversing mechanism is fitted with stops to limit the field of fire. For anti-aircraft fire or fire against ground targets from a kneeling position the cradle mounts a collapsible pole with a pivoting bracket. The mount features non-digging-in spades — sliding spades affect the accuracy of fire less than a "jumping" tripod with dug-in spades. There is an extra folding spade on

913-435: A tendency to enter the gas piston. If, after firing, the machine gun was in the water, then after two or three shots the machine gun could fire exclusively only shot by shot. After a single shot, the shooter had to reload the weapon and move the slide manually two or three times. The army therefore asked Nikitin to solve this problem, but the engineer took too long to resolve this problem. In order to force Nikitin to work faster,

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996-730: Is a tank machine gun, and is designed to mount as a coaxial weapon on M-84 tanks and other combat vehicles. The stock, bipod, and iron sights are omitted from this version, and it includes a heavier barrel and electric trigger, much like the Russian PKMT. Another version, the M86A, is designed for external mounts and can be used dismounted. This article relating to machine guns is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . PK machine gun The PK ( Russian : Пулемёт Калашникова , transliterated as Pulemyot Kalashnikova , or "Kalashnikov's machine gun") also commonly known as

1079-531: Is equipped with a lever-type feed mechanism introduced in Louis Stange 's MG 39 Rh and copied in the Czechoslovak machine guns like vz. 52 and vz. 59 , which is operated by the feed lever. The lever, which is simplified compared to the prior art, is mounted on the right wall of the receiver and wraps around the bolt carrier with its feed pawl and roller. The rest of the mechanism is mounted either on

1162-401: Is hinged to the bolt carrier assembly, and its vertical travel makes it possible to bend the group making machine gun assembly and disassembly for maintenance easier. The protruding rear part of the bolt carrier assembly features spiral shaped cuts, which provide a controlled rotation of the bolt. The mainspring is accommodated in the bolt carrier assembly slide channel. A cartridge extractor with

1245-558: Is put on an AA mount. As with all general-purpose machine guns, tripod and vehicle mountings offer a higher degree of accuracy and control than when used on a less stable bipod. The PK machine gun, firing short bursts from a bipod, as a light machine gun has the following accuracy of fire: a mean deviation of 7–10 cm (2.8–3.9 in) at a range of 100 m (109 yd), 37–51 cm (15–20 in) at 500 m (547 yd), and 71–103 cm (28–41 in) at 1,000 m (1,094 yd). The Russian and other European militaries use

1328-467: Is riveted onto the receiver cover and consist of a square notched rear tangent iron sight calibrated in 100 m (109 yd) increments from 100 to 1,500 m (109 to 1,640 yd) and includes a " point-blank range " battle zero setting corresponding to a 330 m (361 yd) zero. It is identical in design to the AKM and Mosin–Nagant , except that it is oriented backwards with the notch forward and

1411-409: Is the stripping procedure performed to remove those mechanisms from the gun for cleaning. The bolt and bolt carrier are however oriented upside down compared to the AKM, with the piston and gas system being underneath the barrel. Unlike the AKM and RPK the PK machine gun series is an open bolt design, which improves heat management during automatic fire compared to closed bolt designs and helps avoiding

1494-576: The 7.62×54mmR Eastern Bloc standard cartridge that produces significantly more bolt thrust when compared to the Eastern Bloc 7.62×39mm and 5.45×39mm intermediate cartridges . With the use of a single spare parts kit and two barrel assemblies the service life of the modernized PKM machine gun series is guaranteed for at least 25,000 rounds. The bolt and carrier design are similar to the AK-47 and other modernised Kalashnikov-pattern weapons, as

1577-668: The Abushiri Revolt . Wissmann was issued one of the first Maxim guns which had reached Germany and used it successfully in his capture of Pangani . The Singapore Volunteer Corps received a Maxim gun in 1889, but it was never used. This was a civilian volunteer defence unit on the British colony. The Maxim gun was first used extensively in an African conflict during the First Matabele War in Rhodesia . During

1660-524: The Battle of the Shangani on 25 October 1893, 700 soldiers fought off 5,000 Matabele warriors with just five Maxim guns. It played an important role in the " Scramble for Africa " in the late 19th century. The extreme lethality was employed to devastating effect against obsolete charging tactics, when African opponents could be lured into pitched battles in open terrain. As it was put by Hilaire Belloc , in

1743-826: The Central Asian , Odessa , and Baltic Military Districts , as well as at the Vystrel officer training courses in late 1960. The Main Missiles and Artillery Directorate and the Ministry of the Defence Industry preferred the Kalashnikov design. The PK could resist water perfectly, but it was also much easier to maintain and manufacture, because it reused the same ammunition bands as the Maxim or SG-43 , while

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1826-588: The Emin Pasha Relief Expedition in 1886–1890, under the leadership of Henry Morton Stanley . More a publicity stunt than a serious military contribution, in view of the main financier of the expedition, William Mackinnon , "merely exhibiting" the gun was likely to "prove a great peace-preserver". The weapon was used on several occasions, especially during the expedition's retreat from central Africa, not because of its devastating effects, but as an effective means to scare off attackers. One of

1909-446: The MG 42 feed mechanism that typically incorporate a much larger (and therefore much heavier) articulated feed cam, lever, and pawl assembly that pushes rimless cartridges out forward from their links directly into the chamber for firing. The PK fires from the rear sear. The breech is locked by a rotating bolt, with two locking lugs engaging locking recesses in the receiver. The gas piston

1992-683: The PKM , is a belt-fed general-purpose machine gun , chambered for the 7.62×54mmR rimmed cartridge. Designed in the Soviet Union and currently in production in Russia, the original PK machine gun was introduced in 1961 and the improved PKM variant was introduced in 1969. The PKM was designed to replace the SGM and RP-46 machine guns that were previously in Soviet service. The weapon remains in use as

2075-899: The Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, the Russian Army employed the Maxim in combat and placed a rush order for another 450 units from overseas suppliers, which were mostly delivered to front-line troops before the end of the war. By World War I , many armies had moved on to improved machine guns. The British Vickers machine gun was an improved and redesigned Maxim, introduced into the British Army in 1912 and remaining in service until 1968. Production took place at Erith in Kent, and some models were fitted to early biplanes also fabricated there. The German Army's Maschinengewehr 08 and

2158-480: The Main Artillery and Missile Directorate decided in 1958 to restart the competition. For that a team of Izhevsk Mechanical Plant designers, headed by M.T. Kalashnikov , and further consisting of V.V. Krupin, V.N. Pushchin, A.D. Kryakushin, as well as Startsev, Kamzolov, Koryakovtsev, Yuferev, joined the competition. Kalashnikov and his team accepted the task while at the same time, they were already working on

2241-765: The Maxim Gun Company with financing from Albert Vickers  [ la ] , son of steel entrepreneur Edward Vickers . A blue plaque on the factory where Maxim invented and produced the gun is located in Hatton Garden at the junction with Clerkenwell Road in London. Albert Vickers became the company's chairman, and it later joined hands with a Swedish competitor, Nordenfelt , to become Maxim Nordenfelt Guns and Ammunition Company . The Post Office Directory of trades in London of 1895 lists its office at 32 Victoria Street SW (London) on page 1579. Finally,

2324-585: The Maxim could fire 600 rounds per minute. Compared to modern machine guns, the Maxim was heavy, bulky, and awkward. A lone soldier could fire the weapon, but it was usually operated by a team of men, usually 4 to 6 in number. Apart from the gunner, other crew were needed to speed reload, spot targets, and carry and ready ammunition and water. Several men were needed to move or mount the heavy weapon. In 1884, Maxim began to develop his machine gun in Hatton Garden , London. In November of that year, he founded

2407-601: The Maxim machine gun since 1887. Model 1889 and Model 1900 Maxims were used for testing, which lasted for years but not continuously. The gun was finally adopted in 1904 as the Maxim Machine Gun, Caliber .30, Model of 1904 as the first rifle-caliber heavy machine gun for standard service in the U.S. Army. The design was characteristic for its visually distinctive cage-like muzzle recoil booster designed by Trevor Dawson and J. Ramsay of Vickers. The first 50 guns and tripods were made by Vickers, Sons & Maxim in

2490-511: The Maxim was far more reliable than its contemporaries. A more immediate problem was that, initially, its position was easily given away by the clouds of smoke that the gun produced (although the same was true of artillery pieces and units of troops that the machine gun was intended to replace or supplement, so this wasn't viewed as a particular drawback by the early users). The advent of smokeless powder (developed by, among others, Hiram's brother Hudson Maxim ), helped to change this. The weapon

2573-735: The Maxim, firing a one-pound shell, was built by Maxim-Nordenfeldt. This was known in the Second Boer War (in South Africa) as the Pom-Pom from its sound. The Boers' "one-pounder" Maxim-Nordenfeldt was a large-caliber, belt-fed, water-cooled "auto cannon" that fired explosive rounds (smokeless ammunition) at 450 rounds per minute. The Maxim gun was also used in the Anglo-Aro War (in present-day Nigeria ) of 1901–1902. National and military authorities were reluctant to adopt

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2656-686: The Nikitin-Sokolov prototype machine gun. Nikitin's and Sokolov's machine gun design was later used in the 12.7 mm NSV heavy machine gun that was put into production in 1971. In June 2024, it's reported that the PKZ will eventually replace the PKM in Russian military service. The original PK was a development of Kalashnikov 's AKM assault rifle and the accompanying RPK light machine gun design that featured stamped receivers. The PK uses

2739-416: The PK are further normally issued with several quick change barrels that during prolonged intense use are swapped out allowing one barrel to cool while the machine gun fires with the other. The rimmed 7.62×54mmR cartridges are set in a metal ammunition belt and are held against the shoulder inside non disintegrating looped links, leaving the rim exposed at the rear. The belt is mounted from the right side into

2822-439: The PK feeds from the right and ejects its spent cases via an ejection port on the left side of the weapon, contrary to the right side ejection port seen in most Western machine guns. For the light machine gun role, the PK is used as the standard squad automatic weapon of the Russian Army. The PK uses a 100-round non-disintegrating belt contained in a metal box made from an aluminium frame and steel cover that can be attached under

2905-463: The PK machine gun series is the 4×24 1Р77. The trigger assembly, mounted inside the receiver, is operated by the mainspring and suitable for automatic fire. It has no single shot mode of fire. The manual rotating type safety locks the sear, which engages the sear notch of the bolt carrier assembly, and the trigger lug does not allow the bolt carrier assembly to go all the way back. The skeletonized buttstock, pistol grip and folding carry handle/grip on

2988-527: The PK/PKS. The Zastava M86 is a copy of the solenoid-triggered PKT. These variants can be easily recognised by their unhollowed stock. The Zastava M09 is a copy of the PKM with black synthetic furniture, chambered in 5.56x45 NATO ammo. The Zastava M10 is a variant of the M09 with a solid stock. Maxim gun The Maxim gun is a recoil-operated machine gun invented in 1884 by Hiram Stevens Maxim . It

3071-506: The PKMN. The PKMSN variant can use NSPU-3 ( 1PN51 ) and NSPUM (1PN58) night sights. It can also be fitted with the 1PN93 series passive night sights. Besides that Shakhin and 1PN116 thermal sights and the 1PN119 anti-sniper special-purpose night vision sight are available for mounting on PK machine guns that like the PKMSN model feature a Warsaw Pact side-rail bracket on the left side of

3154-452: The PN1 used a new type of bands which was not yet in production at the time. Furthermore, according to Kalashnikov, its competitors attempted to bias the test by asking operators to lower the rate of fire because of overlapping bands during long bursts. There was also another incident during the test, according to Kalashnikov, the recoil of the PN1 was poorly distributed and a large part ended up in

3237-594: The Philippines, Hawaii, Mexico, and Central and South America, but never saw much combat use. During World War I, it remained in the U.S. for training. The Maxim, in the form of the PM M1910 chambered in 7.62×54mmR , has been used by both sides of the Russo-Ukrainian War of 2022. Many Maxim guns were retrofitted to suit the nature of modern warfare, including its installation on technicals and

3320-650: The Russian Pulemyot Maxim were both more or less direct copies of the Maxim. It also saw use during the Russian Civil War , which followed the Revolution in 1917. A picture of the period depicts a Maxim gun mounted on a tachanka , a horse-drawn carriage, along with the gunner, firing backwards at a pursuing White Army regiment. Anarchists attribute this mobile setup to Nestor Makhno . The United States Army had shown interest in

3403-459: The U-shaped stamping. The receiver top cover is also stamped from 1.5 mm sheet metal and hinged on the front of the receiver and locked at the back with a spring-loaded latch. The quick detachable barrel assembly slides into the receiver and attaches by a barrel-lock. On the original PK it was partially fluted to increase rigidity and improve heat dissipation. The barrel-lock also regulates

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3486-439: The U.K. chambered for .30-03 . Colt's Manufacturing Company was selected to produce it domestically, but challenges with schematics and specifications delayed its introduction. By the time Colt began production in 1908 (which was also the last year orders were placed for the guns), a total of 90 M1904s were made by Vickers. Colt made their machine guns for the new .30-06 caliber, and the ones made by Vickers were re-chambered for

3569-401: The accuracy of fire. Besides, the almost entirely from steel stampings made Stepanov mount has 20 fewer components than the preceding Samozhenkov tripod and is 40% less labour-intensive, simplifying and rationalizing production. The Stepanov mount is based on a principle of multi-functional components: the elevation mechanism frame is also used as a pole for kneeled shooting or anti-aircraft fire;

3652-408: The barrel and in that light machine gun setup is used as a squad-level support weapon. The right bipod leg accommodates links of a cleaning rod. Other accessories include a sling and storage covers. The PK machine gun is also suitable for installation on tripod mounts or vehicle mounted medium machine gun setups and can also be used as a light anti-aircraft weapon against slow flying aircraft when it

3735-409: The barrel. The PKM barrel assembly weighs 2.4 kg (5.3 lb) and can fire up to 400 rounds in rapid fire scenarios before it has to be replaced for another barrel or allowed to cool down to prevent unacceptable wear of the bore. The sustainable effective rate of fire is about 250 rounds per minute. Whilst, the cyclic rate of fire is around 600–800 rounds per minute. The rear sight assembly

3818-402: The barrels were originally manufactured from birch plywood laminates . Such engineered woods are stronger and resist warping better than the conventional one-piece patterns, do not require lengthy maturing, and are cheaper. The wooden furniture was finished with the Russian amber shellac finishing process. Small accessories and an oil-solvent container can be stored inside butt recesses. Later

3901-405: The base sleeve also serves as the axis for attaching rear legs of the tripod: the machine gun attachment is combined with the elevation mechanism frame lock for anti-aircraft fire; the fine elevation adjustment mechanism is integrated with the elevation mechanism axis. Each tripod leg can be folded for transport or adjusted for proper height on uneven terrain. The ammunition belt box can be secured to

3984-424: The bore. Some PKTs have been converted to infantry machine guns. The PKM (ПК Модернизированный: "Kalashnikov's Machine-gun Modernised"), was adopted into service in 1969. The PKM is a modernised, product-improved version of the PK. The upgrades are primarily aimed at reducing the weight, simplifying production, and facilitating easier operation. The receiver cover became more rigid due to lengthwise ribs. The butt

4067-409: The buttstock was fitted with a hinged butt-rest. More recent PKM machine guns and barrel assemblies are equipped with a new black glass-filled polyamide buttstock, pistol grip and barrel carry handle/grip shaped like the previously used laminated wooden stock and grips. PK machine guns are belt-fed, using non-disintegrating metal belts , which have links that wrap around the cartridge case shoulder all

4150-465: The code-name PKM-NATO (or PKM-N). The modifications included a heavier barrel, a larger chamber, and a redesign of the lock, bolt, extractor, and the entire feeding mechanism. The prototype was tested from 1997 to 1999, but was rejected. The Polish Army adopted the UKM-2000 machine gun instead in 2007, which was also based on the PKM. The Zastava M84 is a Yugoslav/Serbian-made licensed copy of

4233-631: The company was absorbed into the mother Vickers company, leading first to the Vickers-Maxim gun and then, after Vickers' redesign, the Vickers machine gun . Maxim's first British patents relating to the development of the Maxim gun were granted in June and July 1883. The first prototype was demonstrated to invited guests in October 1884. A prototype of the Maxim gun was given by Hiram Maxim to

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4316-509: The dangerous phenomenon known as " cook-off ", wherein the firing chamber becomes so hot that the propellant contained in a chambered round unintentionally ignites, making the weapon fire until the ammunition is exhausted. Open bolt designs typically operate much cooler than closed bolt designs due to the airflow allowed into the chamber, action and barrel during pauses between bursts, making them more suitable for constant full-automatic weapons such as machine guns . General-purpose machine guns like

4399-605: The design of the AKM and the RPK . Kalashnikov accepted the task despite his workload and the fact that Nikitin's PN1 had already been chosen by the army and that the latter was supported by certain ministries and senior officers. Their machine gun prototype was based on the well-proven gas-operated rotary-bolt design of the Kalashnikov-pattern arms. The Kalashnikov and the Nikitin-Sokolov prototypes underwent service tests in

4482-415: The feed way of the PK machine gun. The PK uses a non-reciprocating charging handle on the right side of the receiver to charge the gun. Since the PK uses a rimmed rifle cartridge and closed-link belts used for feeding, a two-stage feed mechanism with a preliminary extraction of a cartridge from a belt link was preferred over a direct ammunition feed design often used for rimless cartridges. The PK machine gun

4565-671: The first uses of the Maxim gun by British Forces was in the 1887 Yoni Expedition . The same prototype used by Stanley was brought back to central Africa by Frederick Lugard , where it played an instrumental role in the establishment of the Uganda Protectorate . The first unit in the world to receive the Maxim was the expeditionary force led by Hermann Wissmann which was sent in 1888 by the German Imperial government to its colonies in East Africa to suppress

4648-580: The front leg for slippery and moving ground. Hinged tripod legs allow a gunner to fire the machine gun from a prone, a sitting, or a kneeling position. The PKS machine gun, firing bursts from its tripod with fixed traversing and elevation mechanisms, as a medium machine gun has the following accuracy of fire: mean deviation of 5–6 cm (2.0–2.4 in) at a range of 100 m (109 yd), 25–29 cm (9.8–11.4 in) cm at 500 m (547 yd), and 49–68 cm (19–27 in) at 1,000 m (1,094 yd). The Russian and other European militaries use

4731-408: The gap between the breech face and the breech end of the barrel. PK barrels have a folding carry handle/grip that is positioned to the left of the receiver and is used to transport the weapon and quickly and safely change-out barrels to prevent barrel overheating. The bore is chrome-lined and features four right-hand grooves at a 240 mm (1 in 9.45 in) rifling twist rate. The muzzle is threaded for

4814-431: The gas cylinder into the atmosphere, thus varying the amount of energy transferred on to the long-stroke piston. The PK general-purpose machine gun U-shaped receiver is stamped from a smooth 1.5 mm (0.06 in) sheet of steel that is supported extensively by pins and rivets. For additional rigidity and strength the PK receiver features double walls made from 1.5 mm steel plates that are welded together with

4897-407: The gun's receiver. The 100-round belt "assault" box has a folding lid in its cover for feeding the ammunition belt when the box is attached under the machine gun receiver and weighs 3.9 kg (8.60 lb) or 3.4 kg (7.50 lb) for the modernised all aluminium lightweight variant. When the machine gun is fired from a bipod, the 100-round ammunition box is normally attached to the underside of

4980-448: The hinge behind. The iron sight line has a 663  mm (26.1  in ) sight radius. Like the RPD rear sight, the PK rear sight also features full windage adjustment in the form of small dials on either side of the notch. The front sight assembly is mounted near the end of the barrel and consists of a protected open post adjustable for elevation in the field. PK machine guns that feature

5063-481: The installation of various muzzle devices such as a flash hider . The muzzle was normally equipped with a conical flash suppressor that added 53 mm (2.1 in) to the barrel and later a long slotted flash suppressor that added 72 mm (2.8 in) to the barrel. Later when the PKM variant was introduced the PK series barrel fluting was omitted and the muzzle device was changed to a shorter cylindrical slotted flash suppressor that added 40 mm (1.6 in) to

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5146-476: The iron sights. It weighs 0.8 kg, offers 4× magnification with a field of view of 8° and 35 mm eye relief. The 1P29 is issued with a canvas pouch, a lens cleaning cloth, combination tool, two rubber eyecups, two eyecup clamps and three different bullet drop compensation (BDC) cams for the AK-74 , RPK-74 and PK machine gun. The 1P29 is intended for quickly engaging point and area targets at various ranges. On

5229-600: The left side of the receiver for mounting aiming optics. For heavier employment, the PKMS (ПКМ Станковый: "PKM Mounted") is mounted on the Stepanov 6T5 tripod mount. The PKM and 6T5 tripod weigh 12 kg (26.46 lb). The tripod mount, designed by L. V. Stepanov for the PKM machine gun entered service in 1969 and weighs 4.5 kg (9.92 lb). It is a lighter mount for the PK(M) general-purpose machine gun without affecting

5312-585: The middle of the PKB. Another configuration of the PKB has the normal stock and trigger mechanism removed and replaced by twin spade grips and a butterfly trigger. The PKT (ПК Танковый, "PK Tank") (1968) is a solenoid -fired coaxial version of PK to replace the SGMT Goryunov vehicle-mounted machine gun. Modifications include the removal of the stock, a longer (722 mm (28.4 in)) and heavier barrel that adds 30 m/s (98 ft/s) muzzle velocity,

5395-413: The modernised all aluminium lightweight variant. Both metal ammunition boxes have canvas carry handles. All openings on the machine gun, particularly the ejector port on the left and the belt feed entrance on the right, are covered with spring-loaded dust covers so that the openings are only exposed when they need to be. The PK is equipped with a simple detachable bipod mounted to the gas cylinder beneath

5478-549: The most improved type." In 1895, the Imperial Japanese Army purchased a number of Maxims and tested them during the 1895 invasion of Taiwan but later decided to standardize on the Hotchkiss machine gun . The Imperial Russian Army likewise purchased 58 Maxim machine guns in 1899 and contracted with Vickers in 1902 to manufacture the design in Russia, although manufacturing did not start until 1910. During

5561-534: The multi-model NSPU-3 ( 1PN51 ) night vision scope while the PKMN-2 can mount the multi-model NSPUM ( 1PN58 ) night vision scope. It can also be fitted with the 1PN93 series passive night sights. Besides the Shakhin and 1PN116 thermal sights and the 1PN119 anti-sniper special-purpose night vision sight are available for mounting on PK machine guns that like the PKMN model feature a Warsaw Pact side-rail bracket on

5644-608: The new round. A total of 287 M1904 Maxims were manufactured. The U.S. procured other machine guns after M1904 production ended, including the M1909 Benét–Mercié , the Colt–Vickers M1915 , and the Browning M1917 . M1904 Maxims were issued to infantry companies and cavalry. Each company had four guns with associated tripods, ammunition, and 20 mules to transport the heavy guns. The M1904 was deployed in operations in

5727-404: The receiver cover or on the ammunition feed tray cover hinged under it. The PK feed mechanism pulls the rimmed 7.62×54mmR cartridges out from the back of the ammunition belt and drops the cartridges down into the feed way, allowing the bolt to strip and feed the cartridges into the chamber for firing. The PK feed mechanism is radically different from that of 7.62×51mm NATO machine guns based on

5810-716: The receiver for mounting aiming optics. Modernised version of the PKT. Modernised version of the PKB. In the early 1990s, as part of the preparations to join NATO, the Polish armed forces were looking for a replacement for the PK-series machine guns then in service. The H. Cegielski - Poznań S.A. Works in Poznań modified the PK/PKS to feed standard 7.62×51mm NATO cartridges and use NATO standard ammunition belts . The new model received

5893-454: The receiver. For the medium machine gun role, there is also a 200/250-round ammunition box made from an aluminium frame and steel cover available which can be mounted on the tripods used for the PK machine gun series. A 200/250-round ammunition box containing a 250-round non-disintegrating belt weighs 9.4 kg (20.72 lb) and containing a 200-round non-disintegrating belt weighs 8 kg (17.64 lb) or 6.2 kg (13.67 lb) for

5976-438: The right rear tripod leg in such a manner that the gun can be moved with the ammunition box still in place and with the gun loaded. This enables one crew member to carry and operate the gun in combat without having to unload the gun before repositioning the gun. The PKMSN (ПКМС Ночной: "PKMS Night-Vision") is a special model of the tripod-mounted variant (PKMS) that can mount night sights for low-visibility operations, similar to

6059-420: The right side of the field of view a stadiametric rangefinder is incorporated that can be used to determine the distance from a 1.5 meters (4 ft 11.1 in) tall object from 400 to 1,200 m (437 to 1,312 yd). The reticle is an inverted aiming post in the top half of the field of view and is tritium -illuminated for low-light condition aiming. A later designed similar optical sight suitable for

6142-435: The stock; the pressure was so great that one of the soldiers responsible for testing the PN1 broke his cheekbone. Based on the test results, the army preferred the Kalashnikov design. In 1961, the 7.62x54R mm Kalashnikov universal machine gun was adopted and put into production. The production of the PK/PKS took place at the Kovrov Mechanical Plant and used the tripod mount and an ammunition belt boxes originally designed for

6225-463: The way around, and are linked by a coiling wire on each side. The links are made of 0.8 mm (0.03 in) thick high carbon stamped steel sheet metal that is zinc phosphated and varnished for protection. These belts are preloaded at ammunition factories in 25-round connectable belt lengths and can be linked to any length necessary. Factory connected PK ammunition belts are available in 25, 100, 200 and 250 rounds lengths. Typical of Soviet machine guns,

6308-482: The weapon, and Maxim's company initially had some trouble convincing European governments of the weapon's efficiency. Soldiers generally held a great mistrust of machine guns due to their tendency to jam . In the 1906 version of his book Small Wars , Charles Callwell says of machine guns: "The older forms are not suitable as a rule... they jammed at Ulundi , they jammed at Dogali , they jammed at Abu Klea and Tofrek , in some cases with unfortunate results." However,

6391-530: The words of the figure "Blood" in his poem "The Modern Traveller": Whatever happens, we have got The Maxim gun, and they have not. However, the destructive power of the Maxim gun in colonial warfare has often been embellished by popular myth. Modern historical accounts suggest that, while it was effective in pitched battles, as in the Matabele wars or the Battle of Omdurman , its significance owed much to its psychological impact. A larger-calibre version of

6474-603: Was adopted by the British Army under the guidance of Sir Garnet Wolseley , who had been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in 1888. In October that year, he placed an order of 120 rifle-calibre Maxims using the same .577/450 ammunition as the Martini–Henry rifles. Wolseley had previously led military expeditions in Africa (the Ashanti war and the Gordon Relief Expedition in 1884–85) and had

6557-466: Was earlier envisioned for the Nikitin-Sokoiov machine gun that was not adopted by the Soviet Union . All types of ammunition belt boxes are carried and mounted separately. The Rakov device is used for loading ammunition belts. The PK machine gun is attached to a cradle on the 6T2 Samozhenkov mount. The cradle is hinged to a plug-in swivel equipped with a rack-and-pinion traversing mechanism, and

6640-409: Was fitted with a hinged butt-rest. The barrel fluting was omitted and the flash hider was changed. Later on the PKM was equipped with a new black glass-filled polyamide buttstock and pistol grip shaped like the previously used laminated wooden stock and grip. The PKMN (ПКМ Ночной: "PKM Night-Vision") is a variant that can mount a night sight for low-visibility operations. The PKMN-1 can thus mount

6723-407: Was greatly influential in the development of machine guns, and it has multiple variants and derivatives. The Maxim gun featured one of the earliest recoil -operated firing systems in history. Energy from recoil acting on the breech block is used to eject each spent cartridge and insert the next one. Maxim's earliest designs used a 360-degree rotating cam to reverse the movement of the block, but this

6806-686: Was later simplified to a toggle lock. This made it vastly more efficient and less labor-intensive than previous manually-operated rapid-firing guns, such as the manually-cranked Mitrailleuse of 1851, the Gatling gun of 1861, the Gardner gun of 1874, or the Nordenfelt gun of 1873. The Maxim gun was water cooled , allowing it to sustain its rate of fire far longer than air-cooled guns. The extra weight and complexity this added, however, made it heavier and less flexible in use. Trials demonstrated that

6889-550: Was the first fully automatic machine gun in the world. The Maxim gun has been called "the weapon most associated with imperial conquest" by historian Martin Gilbert , and was heavily used by colonial powers during the " Scramble for Africa ". Afterwards, Maxim guns also saw extensive usage by different armies during the Russo-Japanese War , the First and Second World Wars , as well as in contemporary conflicts. The Maxim gun

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