RPK in combat 5.45 or 7.62?

[timkel]

Vladimir,
How would you describe the performance of the RPK in combat?
Was the RPK common in Afganistan?
Was the 7.62 favored over the 5.45?
http://www.hunting-pictures.com/members/timkel/RPK-74%20armed%20soldier.jpg

[makarov]

RPK has shown itself very well in Afghanistan. This very good, precise and reliable weapon.
The problem - it(he) has the greater weight, than AKM. As a lot of cartridges should be born by(with) the soldier. Therefore soldiers very much got tired, when have used it in mountains, far from military base. Therefore in Afghanistan RPK gave not most neat, but most strong soldier. We had 2 RPK on 30 soldiers.

It was popular because of bipod on RPK. We had no any bipod on AK.

As RPK was popular because of a capability to use night vision.

I probably am mistaken, but I did not see large advantage RPK above AKM. But it only my judgement. PK (7,62x54R0 is very strongly. This very large advantage above AKM and RPK.

I think, that RPK-74 is a very large error. Under the military theory - the manual machine gun (RPK, RPK-74, PK) will be used on efficiency of 300-900 meters. RPK-74 will use a mild bullet and his(its) efficiency low on distant distances(ranges). I as had some problems with reliability RPK-74. But it was the early model RPK-74. Today there is no problem with reliability.

Vladimir Makarov

[makarov]

You can see RPK 5,56x45. This very precise weapon. It is very pleasant for using.


http://www.hunting-pictures.com/members/makarov47/Rpk.jpg

Vladimir Makarov

[timkel]

Nice pic!
Is that a 10 cartridge magazine?

[confederate]

How does the 20" barrel length compare to the 16" barrel length for accuracy?

On the AR it is very noticable for velocity.

The action being very different from the AK, will it vary much?