Russia's New Light Machine Gun - RPL-20

[@TheArmourersBench]

Massive thank you to Deni for his invaluable help with this video, find his telegram here - t.me/justgunstg. Be sure to check out our accompanying article for this video here - armourersbench.com/2024/08/25/rpl-20-russias-new-light-machine-gun/

[@eveliinatistelgren172]

Sorry, isn't this supposed to be brown? I thought no armed forces in the world were fielding black stuff anymore. What's up with that??

[@uhavedied12334557]

>Upside down PKM isn't that just a right side up AK?

[@ifyoudontfailyouarenoteven6210]

Yes and no. Some elements of PKM are taken from the guns much earlier than AK, and some are taken from AK.

[@jic1]

No, it's an upside-down Garand.

[@shinjiikari1021]

@jic1 technically kinda true

[@XtreeM_FaiL]

@@jic1 Sideways Garand.

[@MostlyPennyCat]

Front to back 122mm field gun.

[@maurikunnas6266]

"an upside down PKM" ... the PKM is an upside down AK :D .... so it's an AK internally?

[@levanpkh6882]

legit question

[@ThePizzaGoblin]

So it's a belt fed RPK

[@yo388]

Belt fed Garand

[@maurikunnas6266]

@@yo388 modernized musket :D

[@demxn8827]

every small arms russian have is probably based on the AK xD

[@randomwarehouse4702]

TAB replying to the bots commenting: *I AM FOUR PARALLEL UNIVERSES AHEAD OF YOU*

[@TheArmourersBench]

Hahaha

[@randomwarehouse4702]

​@@TheArmourersBench OH MY GOD THIS IS THE CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT OF MY LIFE

[@Canis_dirus300]

Are you ok?

[@randomwarehouse4702]

@@Canis_dirus300 I don't think so, but not for this reason.

[@The_ZeroLine]

@@randomwarehouse4702Great comment. Follow up comment a little sad. lol

[@wurzel9671]

Belt-fed CZ Bren kinda looking thing. Or if Negev and Bren 2 had a baby.

[@Nathan-jh1ho]

The feeding mechanism apears to be closer to that of the Negev which is based on the Czechosolvak UK59, as opposed to the MG42 style with top cover used in the FN MAG(M240)/Minimi(M249)/ HK MG4/5 and M60

[@DOMINIK99013]

@@frankrenda2519 What lol?

[@LaughingMan44]

Saying a gun is like another gun even though mechanically they are not remotely the same is not only ignorant it just isn't funny

[@abnerdoon4902]

@@LaughingMan44 If my grandmother had wheels.......

[@vncube1]

One of the prettier recent LMGs I've ever seen.

[@YouHaveMyMan]

It's a rectangle with some details

[@KB-kw8ni]

​@@YouHaveMyManYour head is a block with some details...

[@Retronyx]

this is a copy of Ultimax 2000

[@SoulRocketMan]

@@Retronyx are you high on something?

[@mattrobson3603]

@@SoulRocketMan The Ultimax 2000 is literally 20x as good as the Ultimax 100

[@David_Crayford]

"Textile Box" = Bag.

[@kittycatpilot]

it still has a rigid frame, but the mental image of a hobo sack of loose cartridges dangling from the bottom of the gun is p funny

[@goldenknight007]

Lovingly called a "nutsack" by US troops.

[@80m63rM4n]

It's not the first attempt to create a belt fed SAW in 5.45. Check out PU-21 article on modernfirearms.

[@justgunsyt]

The PU-21 case was a bit different. What the Soviets were looking for was an increase in combat rate of fire which they failed to achieve via use of belts. What the Russians are looking for is the capability to provide longer suppression at low-level units such as detachments and groups.

[@KSmithwick1989]

​@@justgunsyt It was basically a Soviet equivalent of the NGSW program. Their 6x49 mm cartridge was a rough equivalent of the current 6.8x51mm used by XM-250.

[@terrified057t4]

It'd be easier just getting a backdoor into FN lol

[@justgunsyt]

@@KSmithwick1989 It was not really. I have an upcoming article on it based on the interview of one the designers of the cartridge, Mr. Dvoryaninov. To cut it short, while the NGSW is intended for replacing the 5.56, the 'intermidiate' cartridge, the Soviet 6 mm is intended for replacing the 7,62 by 54, the rifle cartridge. Mr. Dvoryaninov has explicily specified that 6 by 49 mm cartridge could not be used as the main cartridge of a squad. Russian equivalent of the NGSW program would have been Alatau program.

[@Clinton-n7x]

NP = No Problem AB =Absolute Blast

[@Del_S]

Lack of a quick change barrel seems like something they might regret if they're trying to add a true LMG rather than just an automatic rifle into the mix.

[@Nathan-jh1ho]

As a SAW it's very rare to actually use the quick change barrel. They don't have a quick change barrel on their PKP. For fire support for close combat this should be decent, more sustained fire than RPK and lighter (mainly with ammo) than the PKM/P, assuming it's reliable

[@jic1]

The XM250 doesn't have a quick-change barrel either (well, it kind of does because it's part of SIG's platform, but the features needed to use it in the field weren't implemented); so if it's a mistake, it's a fashionable one.

[@tristanc3873]

Seems that everyone is going that direction these days. I don't really agree with it myself. I think a QC barrel, even if you don't issue spare barrels every time people go on patrol, is a necessary feature to build into the MG. Just in case. Part of it might be the move to suppressors on every rifle. No one wants a grunt discarding a burning hot barrel when it has an expensive suppressor attached to the end as well.

[@minhducnguyen9276]

​@@jic1 Both the US and Russia realized that while quick change barrels is a nice feature to have, it's unlikely that the users will ever get into the situation where it's needed and in such cases, having a forced cooling barrel like the PKP is adequate without the added weight of the spare barrel.

[@justgunsyt]

First of all, the main reason for the lack of the quick change barrel is told in the video itself - the RPL is a direct successor to the RPK. Changing the doctrine for the RPL specifically would be an unexpected outcome. Second of all, it's not that weird of a thing, to be honest. The new FN Evolys lacks such capability, the SIG M250 lacks it as well. In a sense, the KAC LAMG also follows the same logic since while it does feature a quick change barrel that is going to be basically impossible to implement in combat since there is no way to safely take it into one's hands while it's hot. I am going to release a longer video that would hopefully answer such questions about MGs in general and the RPL specifically, however, if you just want to call it an 'Automatic rifle' and that's it - that's your choice! 😀

[@Willy_Tepes]

Weird to see a show casing of the RPK-16 with its magazine incorrectly inserted.

[@mastervitty1088]

Maybe that's why it wasn't reliable

[@Max_Da_G]

If you look closely, you'll see that the RPK-16 is resting on that magazine. The table on which it sits is small so resting it on the stock isn't an option. So they half-inserted the drum to maintain a decent angle.

[@kawaiiarchive357]

It look like it got left outside in the rain, I like it.

[@KorianHUN]

0:48 ahhh the classic "i have no experience with the AK platform" badly inserted mag. Lifting the gun causes it to fall out almost immediately.

[@ironraccoon3536]

Might've been for display purposes, to put the rest of the gun at a slightly different angle.

[@TheJMan1K]

Actually looks like a well thought out design. Bet it’s lighter than even the current MK48.

[@beibotanov]

5.5 kilos empty, excellent for a steel gun

[@ф_стрелец]

it is

[@simonnot8487]

It better be! It fires a smaller caliber, after all.

[@Austrveg]

@@beibotanov 2kg lighter than m249. Its also half a kg lighter than the XM250, Americas newest lmg innovation o:

[@survivaloptions4999]

Minus the bling and you've got THE state of the art machine gun for the 1919 sping offensive.

[@rudolfthecat1176]

There will be like 5 of these produced in the next 10 years if it follows the trend of Russia's recent arms development

[@lil__boi3027]

Tell me you are autistic without telling me you are autistic​@@rudolfthecat1176

[@beibotanov]

@@rudolfthecat1176 There have been more than 200'000 AK-12's produced total a year ago...

[@beibotanov]

@@ligmasurvivor5600 it is still in it's trials phase

[@beibotanov]

@@ligmasurvivor5600 the way to go with most things a human life might depend on

[@prfwrx2497]

We're probably never going to see this thing get fielded.

[@AHalz]

Given that the war in Ukraine will be fought for a long time, this may in fact get fielded, probably in small quantities though

[@UnosRecens]

@@AHalz and no scopes / muzzle devices, it also looks too complicated for most of the orcs

[@tiortedrootsky]

@@UnosRecens and PK is so complicated, no one can use/maintain it, right?

[@AHalz]

@@UnosRecens there isn’t a need for a muzzle device on a LMG. In terms of optics, Russians already have knock offs of Eotechs which they’ve been using for over a decade now

[@GeorgeWashingtonLaserMusket]

@@AHalz They have a few knock off's but they don't have a meaningful number of optics; we've all seen the footage Russians are using iron sites.

[@nateweter4012]

Interesting. I’d say the lack of a quick change barrel, being pretty situation specific anyway, won’t be much of an issue since the barrel looks thick enough even with fluting. It is 5.45 and not 7.62x54R after all. I’m a little surprised at the size of it. I would have thought for an intermediate chambered SAW they’d have gone with something much shorter and lighter. I’d like to see a direct weight comparison of one of these fully loaded with optic of choice and something like a loaded Negev with red dot and magnifier, or a Mk.46 with a TA64 x6 ACOG. I wonder what the differences would be and how they’d test against one another.

[@Marcellogo]

Actually is the same barrel length of the old RPK , so they has just kept it as it was.

[@ColinMor-fj3qc]

545 is worse for heat

[@dicecorporation]

It's meant to be a sturdier AK, since it builds off of the RPK concept. But we'll see if it evolves for other purposes as well.

[@christopherwang4392]

0:40 to 0:50 Is the RPK-16's 96-round drum magazine compatible with the RPK-74?

[@beibotanov]

Yes, but it does not exist

[@XtreeM_FaiL]

Is that a 2-stroke or is the Briggs & Stratton charging handle a coincidence?

[@Willy3Sticks]

Non disintegrating belt and no quick change barrel ?

[@Nathan-Roman]

It's their first attempt at a belt fed light machine gun, they don't know any better

[@rumham8124]

@@Nathan-Roman uh the PKM? RPD? PU-21? etc.

[@Nathan-Roman]

@@rumham8124 Yes, I know what those are

[@Mr.Bobcat1776]

​@@Nathan-Roman0:22

[@ironwolfF1]

The Russians are creatures of habit (RE: their belt link system)...and they're _not_ going to trust _their_ average recruit with spare barrel management.

[@ryanvargas4889]

Looks great, I’d love to try one of these out or just handle one in person. Would be awesome if you could use magazines also like the SAW.

[@tylerkahler5791]

Can't wait for Ian to get his hands on this.

[@colinscott9586]

4:41 what groin protector is that? It looks awesome.

[@cigarettesmokingman9471]

Why do I often see OAL of guns and barrels in mm for the metric crowd? Why not cm? Why not 25.4 cm instead of 254 mm?

[@or6060]

i had assumed the way it worked was by using the top of the drum as a feed cover, so that you could reload it just like an AK. looks like it's still as clunky to reload as any other belt fed. i wonder how this compares to an ots-128 mechanically, it sounds like that gun functions as i wrongly assumed the rpl-20 did.

[@PeterHoffmann-rh9ve]

Locking very good how much is costing füllen automatisch with amontion

[@ripHalo0002]

Do you think the ROF is ~600? Or how do they plan to mitigate the heat build up

[@rumham8124]

yeah the cyclic rate of fire is around 600

[@napalmholocaust9093]

Great. Now you'll have two dangling sacks to worry about catching thorns on.

[@Tragicide]

I mean if she’s hawt I’d risk it. A holes a goal.

[@geronimo5537]

The barrel is a good change in itself. Though I can already see flaws with reloading and dirt getting in through the very open charging handle design. Also there is no reason not to have a disintegrating belt post 1990. They could even retain their cheaper older links by having a link that falls apart every 10-20 rounds.

[@beibotanov]

disintegrating? To have the gun choking with a link ricocheting off the grass? This is mostly a logistical difference - USSR preferred to load the logistical system less by supplying loose ammo in boxes to load into multi-use belts in the field, usually with a crank loader machines, this is why belts do not disintegrate.

[@geronimo5537]

@@frankrenda2519 its vastly superior. You dont have to carry dead weight or wrapping the used portion of the belt like a rope around the weapon to avoid tripping over it. There are also benefits to more reliable cycling. Use both for a couple hours and it becomes obvious quickly.

[@stevenseibel9216]

rpl stock looks nice

[@beibotanov]

The usual AK Evo with a bit of modification

[@matthayward7889]

This must be hot off the presses, never heard of it!

[@TheArmourersBench]

It is, unveiled last week! Hope you're well Matt.

[@jimtomav20]

This was added to BF2042 in early 2023, I knew of it before that and I believe it has public since at least 2020.

[@Chiller11]

Lack of a quick change barrel seems unnecessarily limiting. Looks like the monolithic upper never really went away. Very interesting episode. Interesting glimpse into Russian small arms manufacturing in the midst of a war economy

[@80m63rM4n]

What for do you need a quick change barrel on a SAW, when there is no second gunner to assist you and carry that spare barrel for you?

[@JakubKas]

​@@olisk-jy9rz They literally are lmao

[@fennoman9241]

@@olisk-jy9rz They literally are in war economy.

[@jerryle379]

​@@fennoman9241 not really war economy yet , close but not yet

[@fennoman9241]

@@olisk-jy9rz they are, and funny how you upvoted your comments.

[@va_sirberpasir9708]

People used to say PK(m) is upside down AK, now RPL is upside down PK, so its just flipped back to its roots then LoL

[@yaboyed5779]

Wait so it’s just an AK with an extended barrel now? We’ve gone full circle. 😭😭

[@lonewanderer420]

Gives me stoner 63 vibes i love it

[@OriGummie]

Is the whole receiver housing made of stamped metal?

[@ottopartz1]

The belt starting setup seems like they are trying to think things thru. Some older belt fed MGs look like a real pain to get the first round set up, and some footage I've seen shows soldiers starting a few rounds into the belt for speed.

[@Jesses001]

Looks like a rather modern light machine gun. Lots of rails and belt fed. I find it will likely work well as long as there is nothing strange going on under the hood. Upside down PKM? So...and AK action? Long strock gas piston? I mean it makes sense for who is making them.

[@rosaria8384]

I'm surprised DICE managed to nail the RPL-20 for BF2042, despite it still being unreleased.

[@TheMrbombastic13]

Can someone with more knowledge answer? Would it be possible to convert RPD in 7.62x39 to 5.45x39?

[@Nathan-Roman]

In principle it's possible, but what does that achieve? What benefit is there in doing that over designing a new weapon? That's a huge amount of effort poured into a project that might not give the results you wanted.

[@TheMrbombastic13]

@@Nathan-Roman maybe cheaper than all R&D into a new a weapon? And yes, 7.62 is a good cartridge but 5.45 is much more available in ukraine. And lighter so can pack more ammo for recon ops.

[@beibotanov]

The most inportant thing here is lack of standard belt, cheap and reliable, it was never mass-produced. RPD itself is just a bad design with it's 1930's level of reliability and manufactoring

[@ImmortalNidhogg]

Nice job man.

[@tandaominh8512]

H&K-421, FN Evolys, CZ Bren, Negev, RPL-20... which is one better?

[@jonny2954]

All of them follow a odd trend in making light machineguns so light that they in the end lack the needed material to disperse heat if actually used in a high fire rate support role.

[@lefunnyN1]

left side eject yet again like the pkm its almost like they cant learn to fix earlier mistakes

[@elitearbor]

While I agree that it's certainly an oddity, at this point it's also very familiar. It isn't a huge problem, but it can be strange at first. Now if I can get a hold of some of the belts, I'll be really pleased. Perhaps some day!

[@nextechsolutions5955]

@@elitearbor The good news is that you can visit Russia without a visa via Ukraine these days.

[@Nathan-jh1ho]

I guess they like left handed people more

[@tristanc3873]

Meh, that is just ergonomics and what you learn first is what you find the best to deal with. Right hand feed has advantages when carrying the gun or if you have an assistant who is meant to help tend the gun.

[@overlord4404]

@@nextechsolutions5955 Yeah, just dont forget to carry a large white cloth.

[@JamesAce]

Bet im gonna see more of this here Kalashnikov in the coming years

[@baneofbanes]

Eh depends entirely on if it’s adopted.

[@daniels0376]

I can't believe that they still use non-disintegrating metal belts. They are heavier and so much more alward than disintegrating plastic/polymer belts. The ergonomics are worse and they can get caught in stuff and yank your MG off target, potentially causing friendly fire incidents. I mean, it is presented as an assault light machinegun to be issued first and foremost to designed assault units (the Russians since 2022 separate their infantry into frontline infantry and assault infantry units). They are supposed to fight in treelines, brush, rubble, tight trenches. That stuff matters. It seems like a gigantic oversight and mark my words they will release disintegrating belts as soon as this thing starts seeing serious combat.

[@asavelakuse6865]

They have already been experimenting with disintegrating belts made of plastic not in scale just a few units. It looks promising.

[@Austrveg]

2kg lighter than m249. Its also half a kg lighter than the XM250. Not an issue!

[@stadtbekanntertunichtgut]

Thanks for your work. Could you explain in a new video what weapons, vehicles, aircraft and equipment Russia is currently working on? Since Russia has switched to a war economy, I assume that they are working on some weapons projects, does anyone know anything more specific? I am interested in this topic.

[@MickChallenger-q9l]

Everyone switched to a war economy lol, we are out of ammo

[@justgunsyt]

I will try to address all of these questions in my further videos, however, the short answer would be that the focus is actually going away from new developments in favor of quantities of already existing firearms. Most of the 'new' stuff one sees these days is actually pre-war developments that were put into production these days.

[@JakubKas]

​@@MickChallenger-q9lYou're 'out of ammo' because you cant be bothered to switch back from the peace dividend. Russia is in an actual WAR economy.

[@beibotanov]

It is a usual peacetime economy, and the government direly wants to keep it this way. Dunno who said this nonsense, prob. the same entity as "out of missiles tomorrow"

[@reapthewhirlwind6915]

is that flecktarn?

[@CH-tp4wz]

Not having a quick change barrel sounds like it could be a problem if you are in a sustained fight?

[@Андрюша-з2с]

This machine gun is designed for use by mobile units. Do you understand the difference between light machine guns and general-purpose machine guns? PKM and RPL-20 both have a continuous firing mode until the barrel cools down - 400 rounds. In the PKM, the barrel is replaced only when using the tripod in defensive fortifications when using boxes with belts for 250 rounds. When used mobile - a spare barrel and tripod are not taken with you. A machine gunner armed with an RPL-20 has ammunition - 600 rounds in 6 boxes. He can not carry more. Even in the mode of intensive firing in long bursts, taking into account the time for reloading, it is impossible to overheat the barrel. How do you imagine a modern infantry squad? Like an analogue of the German infantry squad of the Second World War - 1 machine gunner and 9 more soldiers, each of whom carries 600 rounds for the machine gun (a total of 10 x 600 = 6000)? And all these 10 people service 1 machine gun so that it can fire continuously until all these thousands of rounds are used up?

[@jonny2954]

Yeah. It's one of the new ultra-light machine guns that follow a odd trend in making light machineguns so light that they in the end lack the needed material to disperse heat if actually used in a high fire rate support role. HK421, FN Evolys and such.

[@THEPROVOKER]

1:40 because having rail mounting points on the ACTUAL BARREL makes sense :) can't wait to see people attaching bipod to that.

[@Dim-Sanych]

Уже прикрепили. Сошки съёмные и переставляются со ствола на цевьё.

[@krellio9006]

how is the charging handle already started rusting

[@josedorsaith5261]

Where?

[@krellio9006]

@@josedorsaith5261 2:58

[@XtreeM_FaiL]

@@josedorsaith5261 In Russia, probably.

[@KSmithwick1989]

​@@krellio9006 This weapon has clearly been used in testing. You can tell by the wear patterns and the bore also shows moderate wear.

[@StacheMan26]

The vast majority of ammo Russia uses is still corrosive, which means everything that's had more than a few rounds put through it, and not been properly cleaned afterward, is going to start rusting pretty quickly.

[@rakufin]

Oh, that's Georgiy Gubich in the background, didn't expect to see him in this video.

[@KraftCzenkoPL]

Is msbs grot vid coming soon?

[@scothayes9220]

Good show fellows. Thanks Danny.

[@Cancelnext]

Very important for automatic firearms is to function in all weather accuracy to not jam and overheating.

[@314299]

Very interesting.

[@Tadicuslegion78]

*several years from now* “Hey everyone I’m Ian McCollum and this is the Russian RPL-20, this particular one was a battlefield pickup in Ukraine…”

[@KSmithwick1989]

Imagine that scenario, he just gets invited to Poland to test fire one. I say Poland, because it serves as a repair/supply area for Ukraine.

[@shotgunjoel]

RPK-16 had magazine reliability problems? Probably because they didn't lock it in.

[@TicTacEnjoyer]

What scope is that?

[@dannyzero692]

Very strange for a modern light machine gun to not have disintegrating belts and quick change barrels, I do think the charging handle looked easy to use but could get snagged on when in thick foliage.

[@beibotanov]

disintegrating? To have the gun choking with a link ricocheting of the grass? This is mostly a logistical difference - USSR preferred to load the logistical system less by supplying loose ammo in boxes to load into multi-use belts in the field, usually with a crank loader machines, this is why belts do not disintegrate

[@dannyzero692]

@@beibotanov logistically it made sense but the USSR’s logistical ability is absolutely terrible. You really only have to spent 30 mins unboxing a can of Soviet ammo to understand that NATO would’ve won conventional WW3.

[@Igniz_aeromozol]

@@dannyzero692 Major skill issue. Speaking about logistics, those bets can be reloaded waay faster with a tool, while you have to fiddle with links by hand. This to me sounds like a logistical nightmare, providing enough of those.

[@beibotanov]

@@dannyzero692 dunno what a Soviet ammo "zinc" unboxing issues have to do with logistics - unboxees have recieved it already

[@kschleic9053]

I am curious why none of these LAMGs are being developed in a bullpup configuration. The necessity for a longer, heavier barrel to absorb and radiate the heat load of sustained full auto fire, combined with the relative unimportance of the trigger pull quality, seems to point right towards a bullpup version... Integrate the folding rear stock into a shroud that covers the trigger mechanism, replace the front handgrip with a pistol grip, connect them with a transfer bar. The shooters face would still be more than far enough back to avoid any need to change the ejection system, and the whole package could be 10" shorter.

[@jimtomav20]

I do also like the idea of a bullpup LAMG. The closest we have to that is the bullpup PKMs or the QBB-88, with the former not being intermediate calibre and the latter essentially just a heavier assault rifle. I don't see a reason you couldn't use something like the Knight's LAMG. The better weight distribution of a bullpup combined with constant recoil could make suppressive fire a lot more mobile, opposed to prone being practically mandatory as it is with heavier systems. I also have yet to see a bullpup LMG/GPMG/LAMG with a quick change barrel; there is no reason it couldn't though. Note, on the trigger, if its open bolt you could just put the bolt sear anywhere on the reciprocating parts, even as far forwards as the gas piston, no need for linkage.

[@kschleic9053]

@@jimtomav20 interesting idea about using a unconventional sear location... I didn't consider that.

[@NikolaosKorelis]

Can you feed it with ak mags?

[@gilraine1225]

i wonder how this would compare to m249? similar jobs but the 249 seems like a better design. 249 is probably heavier though

[@jessicasimp4459]

It’s the Russian equivalent of the HK MG4 because of the very similar looks between the RPL and the MG4, and yes that Russia still uses the 5.45 mm Soviet cartridge which is the answer to our 5.56 mm NATO Western cartridge.

[@beibotanov]

just couple kilos lighter

[@Joe-ch6mu]

NICE!!

[@ShortT-RexLikeArms]

Interesting that it's still left-side eject, that would mean that the RPL-20 most likely uses a new custom bolt instead of modifying existing 5.45 bolt.

[@theimmortal4718]

Looks like a variant of the ultimax 100

[@hoppinggnomethe4154]

0:35 LMAO 😂😂😂 They couldn't insert the drum mag properly 😂😂😂

[@mastervitty1088]

Clearing malfunctions in the feed mechanism without a traditional feed tray cover is going to be horrible in the field

[@ShimomuraTakezoWong]

Barrel shouldn't overheat/needs change if it dowsn't fires auto/burst continously pass 270-300 rounds.

[@beibotanov]

400 rounds, this is probably also a gunners standard ready load, two 100 and one 200 round ballsacks

[@ShimomuraTakezoWong]

@@beibotanov without changing barrels i always keep it to below 300 rounds continous for auto/burst on SAWs like M249/FN Minimi or M240/GPMGs especially not newly issued/above 6 years old otherwise it's heating up even using M16 for sustained burst fire, that was my service issues.

[@beibotanov]

@@ShimomuraTakezoWong I've heard that recommended burst length for MAG is around 200, I'm no professional though

[@ShimomuraTakezoWong]

@@beibotanov i change barrels after 300 rounds sustain fire 😄 conserving both barrels from heating up for a 2000 rounds capacity per day.

[@aaronkelley1425]

Russia had the PKM. It was a belt fed AKA is my favorite rifle. I choose it over American AR any day and I'm from America. I've had plenty of different AKs

[@notachair4757]

New LMG dropped 🔥 🔥 🔥

[@tomlobos2871]

looks good in a videogame i bet. but if spotting details one can make out the crudeness of its manufacturing. for that, the design is quite complicated in its shape. maybe i missed that out, but i'd be intrested in its actual weight.

[@beibotanov]

5.5 kilos empty

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

"Upside down PKM." wait hold on, isn't a PKM just an upside down AK mechanism?

[@Sk0lzky]

>an upside down PKM Fuck, they reinvented the AK

[@RexusOutfitters]

I still don't understand the difference between pull-feed and push-feed. Seems all MGs are pull-feed - until they aren't?

[@jic1]

In push-feed, the round is pushed through the belt into the chamber. In pull-feed, the round is pulled clear of the belt before it's chambered.

[@KSmithwick1989]

The easy to remember trick is this. Rimmed bullets require a pull-feed design. While rimless (crimped) bullet are push-feed. Since the rims are wider than the belt, preventing them from being pushed through.

[@commandosaber8719]

Kind of a shame, I kinda liked the Rpk-16. Probably valid issues with it but I just really liked its looks

[@jamesdc9595]

Looks sick and I want it, someone get Jim Fuller the specs

[@WarlordEnthusiast]

I actually quite like it.

[@ThisOldHelmet]

My cat’s breath smells like cat food

[@EC23331]

😮

[@nam430]

no way

[@CalgarGTX]

I'm in principle a big belt fed squad weapons proponent, but I'm not sure it's the direction to go in regarding current ukraine conflict. What we see daily is that troops (and therefore, organized squads) have a very low shelf life and keeping the same squad together to refill belts is almost impossible due to constant fpv drones attacks and whatnot. This isn't WW2 anymore where you could bring the mg42 to a good spot and 'chill' with the team while sending belt after belt downrange. Could be wrong but I'd rather stay on a boxed magazine if I'm about to be thrown off from a BMP-1(or worse) into a trench network. Ofc ideally ud want the same weapon system to be able to handle both types of feeds on the fly.

[@reapthewhirlwind6915]

yeah RPK is just fine

[@nitroxide17]

Spicy boi 😮

[@Kurdati]

That charging handle looks like something I'd expect the Swiss to use on their firearms

[@beibotanov]

the handle is a safety mechanism - if the gunner can not load the belt with it's tongue (I forgot the word) or the first round in the belt is missing, thus needing to load with opening the feed tray, the handle gets charged back, belt loaded, tray closed, then the handle must be returned forward thus turning this safety off

[@80m63rM4n]

>tongue (I forgot the word) @@beibotanovit's called "pull tab".

[@beibotanov]

@@80m63rM4n thanks! (I will definitely forget it when the need for the word comes next time😀)

[@dicecorporation]

Kord uses a similar mechanism as well

[@paveligorevich4082]

nice design, but the reload mechanisme is difficulty.

[@Rashed1255]

They’re still using non-disintegrating belts?

[@Penigale]

Yeah if it's reusable to a certain extent it'll save money. Russia has never really had good budgeting when it's come to weapons development.

[@beibotanov]

disintegrating? To have the gun choking with a link ricocheting of the grass? Why the hell to introduce the same hassle as the US has, with de-facto two types of 556 ammo, which do not really interchange - try picking cartridges from belts to use in M4 and vice versa. Yet it is mostly a logistical difference - USSR preferred to load the logistical system less by supplying loose ammo in boxes to load into multi-use belts in the field, usually with a crank loader machines, this is why belts do not disintegrate. Why the hell to introduce the same hassle as the US has, with de-facto two types of 556 ammo, which do not really interchange - try picking cartridges from belts to use in M4 and vice versa

[@Rashed1255]

@@beibotanov I’m not from the US, I have picked 5.56mm rounds from ammo belts & fed them into an M16A2. The problem with non-disintegrating links is having to carry a chain with u all over the place which can snag & cause a jam if the belt can’t exit properly (I have seen a video of this happening), sure u can reuse them & save munyz but if my life is on the line I don’t care.

[@beibotanov]

@@Rashed1255 well, any feed mechanism is unreliable with exception of double-feed mags. The reason why RPK exists

[@Rashed1255]

@@beibotanovRPK is just a reinforced AKM, the reason it exists is so that there is an LMG with mags that everyone can share. The same reason the FN MINIMI (FN M249 for 🇺🇸) has a mag-well for STANAG mags.

[@FreedomsLife1776]

Upside down PKM is just an AK action hahah I love how so many comments already caught this.

[@Azrael1st]

“And thus the men shall be armed with the finest weapons…”

[@2ndCanpipe]

0:57 The RPK-16 is in maglock

[@shanenonwolfe4109]

Wonder when we will see Ian reviewing a captured one

[@su-57stealthfighter73]

The charging handle is inspired on mg42/mg3 ...

[@sibassius7674]

I don't know the performance of this but i like how it looks❤

[@markrivera1872]

Love your content. You should review recent Aviv content. They are using new cut down PKM engine guns with an m lock hand guard.

[@markrivera1872]

I hate autocorrect

[@TheArmourersBench]

Thanks! Aviv?

[@markrivera1872]

@@TheArmourersBench Azov 3rd battalion.

[@markrivera1872]

@@TheArmourersBench I hate autocorrect

[@fuze3107]

0:25 Confused PKM, PKP noises

[@2Potates]

The HK21 did the bottom feed tray concept better.

[@psychobeam99]

Why is the bolt handle off a weed-eater?

[@beibotanov]

the handle is a safety mechanism - if the gunner can not load the belt with it's tongue (I forgot the word) or the first round in the belt is missing, thus needing to load with opening the feed tray, the handle gets charged back, belt loaded, tray closed, then the handle must be returned forward thus turning this safety off

[@psychobeam99]

@@beibotanov Ah

[@randompanda876]

It has the shoulder thing that goes up!!!

[@nam430]

coming back in a hour or 2 when the bots are done doing their stuff

[@kju520]

Snowflake.

[@baneofbanes]

Bots are never done

[@sp00kyaction-yq2pi]

96 round drum instead of a belt and a box is absurd. No wonder the other one never took off

[@norger]

this feels like a response to US NGSW guns

[@jic1]

More like a response to the FN Minimi/M249, over 40 years late.

[@norger]

@@jic1 probably but looks wise it's NGSW

[@jic1]

@@norger I'd call it 'post-2000'.

[@norger]

@@jic1 not really because at that time US army used m240 Bravo and minimi they don't look anything like this if we paint this gun all tan it will look like NGSW but feature wise it lacks behind

[@jic1]

@@norger Do an image search for an M249, current ones look a lot like that.

[@germanwarrabbit]

looks like an RPD but modern

[@yessir6325]

This going to be like their 2 round burst rifle that never made it past 20 models being manufactured

[@tulisotilas]

Can someone ellaborate why and how is an automatic, somewhat reliable, firearm obsolescent? I can understand why old fighter aircraft are obsolete, but that RPK still poops out bullets which are *** lethal. Why is this obsolescent gun?

[@asavelakuse6865]

I don't understand sometimes maybe preferences or just wanting things to change small details.