Why The RPK74 LMG Succeeded In Russia But Failed To Impress Others (5.45x39 Rifle Update)

[@daveb3123]

Thanks Mishaco really appreciate what you do!

[@misha5670]

Thank you for watching, cheers

[@Gorkabandit]

Love my long barrel vepr 223 that I did an RPK clone on. I run the PO4x17 optic on it and it’s perfection

[@ryanrivera1224]

Love my Vepr 20” 30-06 I did conversion on. Even got 30rd steel mags 😊 thing is a beast

[@Gorkabandit]

@@ryanrivera1224 post a video on it

[@BNatoAk]

Saw your 556 ak vid , cool shit my friend!

[@Gorkabandit]

@@BNatoAk thank you my brother in Christ

[@timothycain4512]

I'm impressed by every rpk and ak kalashnikov style firearms Russia has produced especially in 545x39 I still havnt added an rpk to my collection it's definitely on the list just waiting for a good option to pop up

[@m.7n6]

I'm not really a rpk guy I think they're cool, but I feel I'm unimpressed for the caliber rpk is in, and rpk 74 is in, I feel it doesn't do the LMG justice, I feel 7.62x54r would be more suitable, and if they come up with better caliber other than 5.45 for the LMG I think I'd be impressed by it. Tbh rpk, or rpk74 is like making a full length AKM, or ak74 a 9mm and not in a sub gun variation it's like fuck the vitayaz design make AKM 9mm, Vitayaz is too short.

[@misha5670]

I've always wanted Cugir, Romania to export the AES-2B...their RPK variant in 5.45x39 w/ 40 rd steel box mags.

[@timothycain4512]

@@misha5670 that would be awesome but least u got a nice rpk collection

[@timothycain4512]

@@misha5670 I was hoping Romanian would fill the void with the 545 ammo

[@stoegerstewie8351]

Atlantic firearms has em now

[@JDT8h]

Back in 1975ish, this, the Galil-ARM and Stoner-63 were probably the only light-calibre LMGs in the world. Would have been handy, right off the bat.

[@njw1977]

I have a 16" Vepr 74 with the factory stock and pistol grip. I wish I could find a RPK barrel for it and then install a folder.

[@zeo5527]

It's such a beautiful gun

[@womb_raider8316]

I recently purchased one of the vector arms builds. It's at the gunsmith having the selector markings and Molot shield added. Can't wait to get it back!

[@misha5670]

Sadly, i doubt we will see true RPK74 receivers made in America again. NDS was great back in the day for making very specific receivers for individual build projects. They even cared enough to make an M72 specific receiver separate from the standard M70. The difference? no hole for the takedown latch pin. That's attention to detail right there.

[@jordansvennes5587]

So pretty, honestly aks are just beautiful

[@shawnpatten6515]

Great video. Thank you for making it.

[@Nordic_Goon]

I'm lusting over these haha, I'm looking for some info on the correct dates that the RPKS74 with the solid side folding plum stock (No optics rail slot) were manufactured. This info would be invaluable to know if you could shed some light. Appreciate you sharing these two rifles with us.

[@MisplacedArms]

I have one of the prototype plum RPK-74 magazines in my collection. It has Molot Style ink stamps, and the only mold marking is a very faint 1.

[@afkafk129]

Such a treat for the drive home.

[@timothycain4512]

Keep the kalashnikov content coming Misha its so awesome watching all the 74s and kings and ak12s and rpk74s in Ukraine and Russia right now thousands of bakelites and plum mags getting used over there it's good to see how durable they are in action I've seen alot of yugo underfolders and even some beryls on the battlefield being used to

[@Thecompanioncrate]

"I like pancakes" - Misha *cuts to misha shooting*

[@simonerubino52]

Videos are awesome full of knowledge I just don't have that much time to sit in one sitting

[@misha5670]

Sorry, Klayco47 made me promise to not stop doing long-form videos. What choice do I have? lol

[@ericvantassell6809]

yay, another classic christmas video

[@Victoratify]

14:11-it is important to clarify that the ammunition load of the RPK74 machine gun is 450 rounds. 360 rounds fit in 8 magazines.

[@TheGMan.]

That thing is a beauty.. both of them wow

[@markwayne6940]

Love when you say wake up!

[@davidkohler7454]

Misha, what's up with that reptile looking spray paint on your RPK,s.?

[@misha5670]

Cocaine's a hell of a drug....'nough said about that night.

[@foxf6]

did someone say spray paint?

[@Jose-xm3tq]

Always regret not being able to get one of these

[@misha5670]

I was able to get one thanks to...of all people...IO/Royal Tiger. Thanks to their relatively cheap VEPR 1V and how those shotup in value later, i traded mine off and that nearly covered this FM-RPK74 entirely.

[@Jose-xm3tq]

@@misha5670 I have 2 of those. Wouldn't mine trading one for a Fime rpk74

[@misha5670]

@@Jose-xm3tq I sold the VEPR 1V for decent money, but where i really cameout on top was with the 45 rd Molot .223 mags I had for it. I think each one brought $250-$300 at auction, though I did save one and include it with the rifle for its new owner. I'm not a monster afterall lol. So after moving the rifle and around 8 mags, I covered the FM-RPK74.

[@Jose-xm3tq]

@@misha5670 I remember I.O. Having em for sub $80.00 Lucky I got 6 of em My personal favorite Magazine

[@pontuseriksson8328]

Awesome🤘🤘

[@softailrider4976]

I have a vector rpk-74 with plum, absolutely love it

[@misha5670]

I bought a pair for a buddy and myself direct from Vector ages ago. I used to work very closely with Vector right up until their sudden closure. Maybe one day I can tell the tale of what happened behind the scenes.

[@colddeadhand7414]

I've got one of those molot bakelite mags for my fm 16 inch barrel 74. Anything 5.45 is becoming unobtainium anymore. 😞

[@misha5670]

Yes, yes sadly it is and you are right.

[@eloiseharbeson2483]

AK74 specific components have always been at a premium. Magazines particularly although AC-Unity is now making nice ones at a reasonable price.

[@markp4401]

Anybody know if the Zastava RPK in .308 imported by Mitchell Arms was a clone of or based on a Yugoslavian military weapon?

[@misha5670]

Yugoslavia didn't field 7.62NATO/.308. Instead they used 8mm Mauser until switching over to 7.62x54R in the 21st century (weird choice I know). The .308 guns were intended for export.

[@Jojo69869]

You're the best

[@mrsgtshepardxd6193]

I have a Molot Vepr 12. Great shotgun but i hate the tube stock. I want to replace it with a standard rear trunnion. Is there anybody out there who can do this?

[@misha5670]

Don't do it. If you really hate it, look for someone to trade you a fixed stock (std trunnion) V12 for your folder. They should be happy to do that deal as the folders are worth considerably more $$$ these days.

[@mrsgtshepardxd6193]

@@misha5670 Sry, I should have clarified mines a non folding fixed tube. I know they imported them early on with standard rear stocks but I didnt have the option at the time. FYI that plum rpk makes me tingle.

[@BillyBob-ov5ef]

That plum set is just begging for a plum rpk mag.

[@cjnoldner8526]

Guess I'm staying up late tonight thanks.

[@markp4401]

Misha said a soldier has to be mindful of the barrel overheating when firing full auto. Besides letting the barrel rest were there any other tricks to prevent overheating? Did they ever use water? No RPKs had quick change barrels right?

[@softailrider4976]

No bullshit when I say this, you’d piss on them

[@misha5670]

@@softailrider4976 Literally what i clicked on here to say myself too. Yep, piss was definitely used.

[@misha5670]

During the Winter War between Finland and Russia, the Finns stuck KP31 barrels in the snow to cool them off. Probably hell on the metal but great for cooling. I came across this info in a few books while doing my thesis back in university.

[@Leman.Russ.6thLegion]

Someone say RPK?

[@jamesn8750]

Its why im here

[@loganheaton9213]

What made 5.45 more reliable than 7.62? That's interesting, I'd never heard that before.

[@misha5670]

Cartridge dimensions. Less of a taper and just overall better geometry with 5.45 when it comes to feeding. Notice how a '74 mag has less of a curve compared with 7.62x39.

[@darktrojan00]

IDK why the ak74 has a 90 degree gas block and the rpk74 looks like it has a 40 degree gas block like the old akm/rpk47 , maybe they are 90 degrees but they kept making the same castings as the old rpk?

[@pguth98]

The original AKM gas blocks were machined, then they later went to cast. Early AK-74s used a cast 45 degree gas block, then later switched to the cast 90 degree blocks. All these changes were maid to ease production, but Molot, making relatively few RPKs when compared to the factories that made AKs, didn't need to switch over.

[@darktrojan00]

@@pguth98 So they stayed with an actual 40 degree gas block or it was just externally the same but drilled at 90 degrees?

[@pguth98]

@@darktrojan00 Same gas block.

[@spd579]

The 556 Bulgarian thumbs up!

[@patstrzeszewski3240]

Were there 5.46x39 drum mags for the RPK 74?

[@misha5670]

No

[@stevenbaringer7309]

So now that Victor Orban is out of supermax and back on the world arms stage somebody needs to contract him to import more 5.45x39 into the United States....

[@misha5670]

Thing is...from where? I bet you anything that Russia is buying up any stocks from anywhere they can find these days.

[@eloiseharbeson2483]

@@misha5670 True. My contact in Russia tells me that Barnaul has not made commercial ammo of any caliber since the invasion. Too bad. They made the best 5.45x39 on the market.

[@CptCudlScoops]

@@misha5670have you heard any updates on PSA making 5.45x39? I Haven’t heard any recent updates.

[@blackhatch46]

@@eloiseharbeson2483 They make the best of all the soviet calibers.

[@T-SwiftsMaritalAid]

@@eloiseharbeson2483 your contact in Russia. The Russian girl you chat with online and give her all your money doesn’t count

[@eloiseharbeson2483]

Got invested in the 5.45x39 cartridge before the 7n6 ban. Until the Ukraine invasion, commercial offerings were plentiful and cheap enough to get even more heavily invested in AK74 pattern weapons. Two VEPR's, a Saiga, an Arsenal and a Galil ACE in that caliber. Fortunately 😂 I am not likely to outlive my 5.45x39 ammo stash.

[@mistercisco81]

Some months ago had a chance to pick up a new VEPR RPK-47 for $4K from PSA. Dragged my feet and then it was gone. Huge regret.

[@misha5670]

Yeah $4k was a darn good deal. Even when they first cameout, they were rarely lower than that, and these days often double that price...its very sad. Nice guns but not worth $8k IMO.

[@Blackstone175]

How much are they going for? There is a lgs has one for 4.9k, didn't think much of it. Are they rising in value?

[@EdwardSnortin]

@@Blackstone175 $7000 - $8000

[@762cat]

Why didn't they just put an AK-74 muzzle brake on it?

[@misha5670]

Because the AK74 brake fits 24mm threads and the RPK74 like the RPK before it was threaded 14mm.

[@kalashloy4179]

so far Malaysian use of RPK74s are still largely a rumor, wasn't really seeing any proof of them in Malaysian services other than some written paragraphs in wiki. While the other hand, there's already evidence of the other kalash, the AK102 being used by the Malaysian navy special forces, PASKAL. Unlike the 102, things about rpk74 in Malaysia could only approached with a grain of salt imo.

[@ImageLimestone]

Malaysia uses all kinds of oddball stuff. Didn't they even purchase a few H&K XM8's?

[@kalashloy4179]

@@ImageLimestone yep, also fielded by PASKAL.

[@capt.trumptracker3641]

Can you recommend a reasonably priced , by today's prices , to purchase ? I will leave it in stock condition

[@capt.trumptracker3641]

I meant an AK .

[@misha5670]

@@capt.trumptracker3641 Just the usuals today: Zastava M70, FB Beryl, WBP Fox/Jack, Arsenal SAM7R, or the most classic of 'em all....WASR10. Yeah those are still out there too.

[@dbldee7275]

Let me sit down with my coffee ☕

[@aplaceholderbplaceholder9524]

This is my napping asmr.

[@HeebieKikeberger1025]

Just in time for Christmas

[@misha5670]

I got my first AES10 right before Christmas. Even shot it for the first time in the snow that year.

[@Punisher9419]

5.45x39 is a very effective, lethal and efficient round. Out of all of the military intermediate rounds it's the one I would pick over anythign else. I hear it's getting a lot of service in Ukraine these days.

[@misha5670]

I hear Russians are needing considerably more of it these days too.

[@Punisher9419]

@@misha5670 Yea it's weird. Must be that Special Military Opperation or something, must be training pretty hard.

[@misha5670]

@@Punisher9419 In Russia training does you.

[@m.7n6]

I would prefer any AKM, AK-12, AK15, or AK-19, AK-100 series rifle, because it's practical in the 7.62x39, 5.45x39, 5.56 caliber, where the rpk i feel like I'm unimpressed for it being the caliber that is used in AKM, ak74, ak-100 series, AK-12, or ak-15, or ak-203, where I feel the rpk or rpk74 should have been chambered in 7.62x54r. the rpk Is like making full length AKM and chambering it in 9mm, when 9mm is a handgun, or sub gun round and not rifle round, or standard AKM length or AK-103, or ak74 length round. It's the opposite in my opinion, I would be impressed if it was chambered in 7.62x54r, and .308/7.62x51 nato tbh. Regular AKM, AK-74, or ak-100 series of rifles in my opinion should be chambered in 7.62x39, 5.45x39, or 5.56/.223...

[@misha5670]

I think what you describe is basically the PKM

[@wademichalski768]

Made another SAM5 video since your footage got corrupted

[@richardrobinson9534]

I almost bought one last year, but just couldn't justify the money lol fml

[@aamerkhazemalabady]

Perfect from lraq

[@youarelonely]

The things my American ass would do for a true Russian RPK-74. They had 2 Vepr examples at my local GS for $5500 each last year. I should’ve bought one of them :(

[@thetest8777]

Hope Psa or kusa makes the rpk I think they will

[@hobojakobo]

It’s pretty interesting that despite all of the media I’ve seen coming out of the war in Ukraine, I’ve seen only one or two RPK-74s used by the Russians. Wonder why that is?

[@chrischiampo7647]

😀😎👍🏼

[@simontan6248]

Malaysia did not buy any RPK-74s. It has zero stocks of 5.45 anything.

[@misha5670]

Sorry, in a nearly 50 minutes video, I am definitely going to get some things wrong and mis-remember others. Please keep in mind yourself that i don't script these and go off of my memory, cheers.

[@RosaParksWasWyt]

Ahh yes. Only $9,000

[@Альфонсо25см]

Хай 🙋 Миша 🧸 🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🌃🌆

[@EdwardSnortin]

педик

[@Альфонсо25см]

@@EdwardSnortin Цирик

[@EdwardSnortin]

I'm thinking about saving up the $7000 for a Molot RPK-74

[@misha5670]

Gotta be honest with you, I wouldn't. That's already double what they were going for originally. If you get one, do it because you just want it. Don't buy as an 'investment'.