PKP Pecheneg The PKP " Pecheneg " ( Russian : Печенег ) is a Russian machine gun chambered for the 7 . 62 x 54 mm round . It is a modernized PK machine gun . The Pecheneg is said to be more accurate than all its predecessors due to a heavier , non - removable forced air cooling barrel with radial cooling ribs and a handle which eliminates the haze effect from hot gases and keeps the barrel cooler , making the weapon more reliable . Furthermore , the weapon is capable of having a telescopic sight or other sights mounted on it , increasing accuracy further . The military designation of the Pecheneg is 6P41 or 6P41N when fitted with a night vision sight . The Pecheneg is currently in use by Russian Army Spetsnaz and other troops in significant numbers . The Pecheneg is named for the Pecheneg people , a warlike tribe of Turkic origin who lived in what later became steppes of Southern Russia and Ukraine . The Pecheneg is a standard 7 . 62x54R PKM machine gun without the rapid barrel - change option , and intended for use from an integral bipod as a squad support weapon . It can provide more sustained firepower than the standard - issue RPK - 74 , and the 7 . 62x54R cartridge offers a longer effective range and better penetration of light structures and improvised covers in urban and forest environments . Design . The Pecheneg LMG can be considered as a modification of the PKM machine gun , but it is built for only one tactical role ; that is , as a true squad - level light machine gun for mobile infantry and Spetsnaz troops . Its key difference from the parent design is the barrel , which is not intended to be replaced in the field ( although it can be removed for inspection and maintenance ) . The barrel is somewhat heavier than that of the PKM , and has radial cooling ribs . This is enclosed in a steel jacket , which runs up to the muzzle to provide forced air cooling a - la Lewis machine gun of the World War I era . Cooling air enters the jacket through oval windows at the rear of the jacket , and exits at the muzzle . Whereas early versions of the Pecheneg had a standard PKM - type flash suppressor , resulting in significant muzzle blast once the gun had warmed up , current production version guns have a special flash suppressor that eliminates the issue . The rear of the barrel - encasing steel jacket features a permanently attached carrying handle with a characteristic elongated profile , as it is also intended to protect the line of sight from mirages generated by convection of air heated up by the barrel . The manufacturer reports a firing rate of 800 rounds per minute in continuous sustained fire without any danger to the barrel . Another change from the PKM parent design is the location of the integral , non - removable folding bipod which is placed near the muzzle . This feature improves stability and long - range accuracy when firing from the bipod , but it also limits the arc of fire available without moving the position of bipod or shooter . Another consequence of said placement is that the Pecheneg is less comfortable to fire from the shoulder or the hip , as it does not have a handguard and the bipod is located too far forward to be used to hold the gun . However , the Pecheneg has sling swivels and can be fired from the hip using a sling and carrying handle to hold the gun , or by supporting it under the ammunition box with the off hand . In all other technical respects , such as action , feed , sights and stock , the Pecheneg is similar to modern PKM machine guns . It also retains the standard PKM mounting interface and therefore can be used from the same tripod , but it is always issued as a light machine gun ( without tripod mount ) . Users . Russia : Russian Ground Forces , Spetsnaz Kazakhstan