SAW VS. RPK

            Light machine guns are any air-cooled machine guns that have a caliber not greater than 0.30 inches. A light machine gun (LMG) is a weapon that is meant to be employed by an individual soldier with or with-out an assistant gunner.  A light machine gun can also be defined by its tactical role these weapons are often used in support of an infantry squad, being capable of quickly laying down accurate and devastating suppressive fire for quick retro-grade if needed. The American widely used M249 SAW is a more superior weapon than the Russian RPK.

            The Ruchnoy Pulemyot Kalashnikova also known as the RPK is almost identical to the AK-47 for the exception of a few modulations. The RPK operates on the same principle as the Ak-47. It utilizes the same ammunition, 7.62x39mm, and has almost identical features including the upper and lower receiver and the magazine feed. The difference in the two is that the RPK has a much longer barrel for increased accuracy and effective range. It also has a stronger receiver to handle the sustain fire of an LMG. This weapon was designed in part to replace the out dated Russian RPD and to help standardize the Red Army’s armory. Even though this weapon has been modified to handle the attributes of a light machine gun, the key word is modified unlike most other countries where a weapon is designed from the ground up.  The RPK’s rate of fire is 600 RPM (rounds per minute) the effective range for this weapon is 100-1,000m.

            The M249 SAW (squad automatic weapon) is the American version of the Belgian FN Minimi. This weapon fires the standard NATO 5.56mm round same as the M16A4 assault rifle and the M4 carbine. What is really unique about this weapon is that its designed to use both belt fed ammunition and the magazine fed ammunition via a magazine well on the port side. This weapon also has the railing system which allows the gunner to equip different accessories such as the ACOG  (advanced combat optical scope), a  vertical forward hand grip, a PEQ-2 which is an infrared laser for target acquisition. The SAW also has many different variants of its kind. For example, the Para saw has a collapsible but-stock and a shorter barrel this is optimal for room clearing. The rate of fire for this weapon is 750-1000 RPM, and its effective range is 910m. Although this weapon has a shorter effective range than that of the RPK, this weapon is built for accuracy because the weapon fires the smaller NATO round that leaves less room for recoil. Contrary to popular beliefs that this weapon jams all the time, it’s wrong. Just like any other mechanical equipment like a car, one must maintain the weapon in order for it to function properly. This weapon is superior to the RPK because of its light weight and compact size for better maneuverability and less recoil for improved accuracy.