The second life of the Degtyarev light machine gun
When the legislation of any country allows more or less free circulation of small weapons among the population, manufacturers thereof are beginning to offer a variety of ideas. Among them are the original, such as capital processing of old models of weapons. For example, in the United States, “civilized” samples of old small arms enjoy some popularity. Some private firms take out weapons used by armies, and bring them in line with the law. First of all, the trigger mechanism is subject to alteration: according to American laws, citizens cannot own automatic weapons. However, this does not prevent the release of self-loading AK and even PCA.
Several years ago, DS Arms tried a similar scheme. The choice of the original weapon fell on the Soviet Light Machine Gun Degtyarev (RPD). This machine gun was developed in the years of the Great Patriotic War, but only got to the troops after victory. For the next 15-20 years, it was the main light machine gun of the Soviet army and was supplied to a number of foreign countries. In addition, in the 1958 year, shortly before the beginning of the replacement of the Degtyarev machine gun by the Kalashnikov machine gun (PKK), Poland received a license to manufacture the RPD. According to reports, it is from Poland that DS Arms buys machine guns for rework.
Machine guns obtained from Poland undergo small changes, after which they lose the possibility of firing in lines. To do this, automatics are slightly modified and shooting is now conducted from a closed, rather than an open shutter. The loss of automatic fire, of course, greatly changed the appearance of the RPD, but the specifics of the legislation overpowered all the arguments for preserving the original functionality. Nevertheless, the tape feed, the characteristic box for the tape and the native “body kit” remained unchanged. Converted machine gun began to sell under the name Ruchnoy Pulemet Degtyarova Rifle (RPD-Rifle). According to the weapons classification, the RPD has become a self-loading rifle with tape feed. The original alteration of the famous weapon interested potential buyers. Still, the demand was noticeably less desirable. DS Arms had to choose between maintaining authenticity and market prospects. And the choice fell on the last option.
The company's gunners launched the project RPD v.2.0 or RPD-Carbine. The “second version” of the Degtyarev machine gun implied a number of design changes that were intended to modernize the appearance and functionality of the old machine gun. The receiver and all its insides remained the same - the chosen focus on the market had no effect on the mechanics. But the native trunk RPD was replaced by a new one. RPD v.2.0 is equipped with a barrel shorter than the original. Also, the trunk of the “Second Version” has a longitudinal ribbing on the outer surface. It simultaneously improves cooling and facilitates the design with the same firing parameters. In addition, RPD-Carbine finally got a full-fledged flame arrester.
Where large changes undergone external "body kit" weapons. So, instead of the standard wooden butt and pistol grip RPD v.2.0 is equipped with plastic. In this case, the butt is made telescopic and is similar to those mounted on a number of modern automatic rifles. Another wooden detail of the original Degtyarev Light Machine Gun - the forearm - gave way to a modern aluminum machine. According to the recent trends in weapons business, the forend is equipped with two Picatinny rail. By default, the collimator sight (on top) and the “tactical” grip with integrated bipod are mounted on the slats. It is worth paying attention to changing the place for sight. On the original RPD open sight
located on the front of the receiver cover. For use on rapid-fire weapons, designed to literally water the enemy with bullets, it was normal. The cover of the receiver when firing constantly moved and hampered aimed fire, which, however, was compensated by the bullets flying. For self-loading weapons sold under market conditions, this was unacceptable. Therefore, the guys from DS Arms moved the sight from the receiver cover to the forearm. Yes, due to the transfer and reduction of the barrel length, the length of the sighting line was reduced when using an open sight. However, the collimator sighting device from such a transfer did not degrade its quality. As for the front handle, it is not only a tribute to fashion in recent years. It simultaneously performs two functions. When shooting from the hands of the shooter, it is more convenient to hold the RPD-Carbine, and if necessary, he can take out a folding bipod from the middle of the handle. A kind of universalization "body kit" for shooting from different positions. Finally, DS Arms made a slightly more convenient ammunition for a self-loading rifle. The 100 fixed tape on RPD v.2.0 cartridges is not stored in a metal or plastic container, but in a special-shaped bag sewn from synthetic fabric. In addition to gaining weight, this reduced tape noise.
According to the results of all changes, mostly external, the most modern, as it is called, assault weapons emerged from the good old RPD. According to DS Arms, the modern “body kit” and the widely used intermediate cartridge 7,62х39 mm can make an inexpensive, good and competitive alternative to other types of weapons of a similar class from RPD. At the same time, the American gunsmiths are looking at those countries where the DUR is still in service, with particular hope. In the future, instead of buying new machine guns, these states can order DS Arms to rework available ones and save a lot of money. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that when modifying the RPD in RPD-Carbine, it is not at all necessary to remove the automatic fire function.
However, American gunsmiths did not stop at just one replacement of the barrel and external parts. After completing work on the “modernization” of the Degtyarev machine gun, DS Arms developed a set of measures for reworking the RPD-Carbine to use the Remington SPC 6,8x43 cartridges. To do this, the machine gun stops another barrel, a new bolt, different from the original mass, and another return spring. The choice of an alternative cartridge for RPD v.2.0 was determined by the characteristics of the Remington company. In comparison with other intermediate cartridges 6,8x43 mm has the best performance effective range and action on the target. This new cartridge has not yet become widespread, but a number of countries have already become interested in it. So, in 2009, the 6,8 Remington SPC cartridge was adopted by the Royal Guard of Jordan. Shortly thereafter, it was reported that the Jordanian special services were showing interest in the 6,8-millimeter version of RPD v.2.0. The interest of the Jordanians in the version of the machine gun is precisely under the cartridge 6,8x43 easy to explain the ballistic characteristics of the cartridge. Remington SPC has almost the same recoil momentum and muzzle energy as 7,62x39 mm - 5,8 kgm / s versus 5,9 kgm / s and 2330 J versus 2190 J, respectively. However, at a range of about 500 meters, the difference in bullet energy is 40% in favor of Remington. Thus, a smaller caliber and a slightly larger muzzle energy of the bullet makes the 6,8-mm cartridge effective over a larger range of distances. Interestingly, the installation of 6,8-millimeter barrel and the corresponding shutter does not affect the other nodes and aggregates of the machine gun. For example, with the Remington cartridge, you can use the old one-piece metal tape, which was used on the very first Soviet versions of the RPD.
As you can see, in a relatively simple way, DS Arms was able to give a second life to an almost forgotten, but interesting weapon. And the commercial project, initially focused on the civilian market, eventually grew into a major undertaking of international scale. Regarding the official procurement of RPD v.2.0 by foreign countries - the same Jordan - there is no official information. However, the civilian self-loading version of the Degtyarev light machine gun has been on the market for several years and is not going to leave it. Currently, anyone, of course, subject to compliance with all legal formalities, can buy both versions of the modifications to the RPD from DS Arms. For RPD-Rifle, they ask for 2100 dollars, and for Carabin, 2850.
On the materials of the sites:
http://dsarms.com/
http://mpopenker.livejournal.com/
http://pravoslav-voin.info/
http://world.guns.ru/
Several years ago, DS Arms tried a similar scheme. The choice of the original weapon fell on the Soviet Light Machine Gun Degtyarev (RPD). This machine gun was developed in the years of the Great Patriotic War, but only got to the troops after victory. For the next 15-20 years, it was the main light machine gun of the Soviet army and was supplied to a number of foreign countries. In addition, in the 1958 year, shortly before the beginning of the replacement of the Degtyarev machine gun by the Kalashnikov machine gun (PKK), Poland received a license to manufacture the RPD. According to reports, it is from Poland that DS Arms buys machine guns for rework.
Machine guns obtained from Poland undergo small changes, after which they lose the possibility of firing in lines. To do this, automatics are slightly modified and shooting is now conducted from a closed, rather than an open shutter. The loss of automatic fire, of course, greatly changed the appearance of the RPD, but the specifics of the legislation overpowered all the arguments for preserving the original functionality. Nevertheless, the tape feed, the characteristic box for the tape and the native “body kit” remained unchanged. Converted machine gun began to sell under the name Ruchnoy Pulemet Degtyarova Rifle (RPD-Rifle). According to the weapons classification, the RPD has become a self-loading rifle with tape feed. The original alteration of the famous weapon interested potential buyers. Still, the demand was noticeably less desirable. DS Arms had to choose between maintaining authenticity and market prospects. And the choice fell on the last option.
The company's gunners launched the project RPD v.2.0 or RPD-Carbine. The “second version” of the Degtyarev machine gun implied a number of design changes that were intended to modernize the appearance and functionality of the old machine gun. The receiver and all its insides remained the same - the chosen focus on the market had no effect on the mechanics. But the native trunk RPD was replaced by a new one. RPD v.2.0 is equipped with a barrel shorter than the original. Also, the trunk of the “Second Version” has a longitudinal ribbing on the outer surface. It simultaneously improves cooling and facilitates the design with the same firing parameters. In addition, RPD-Carbine finally got a full-fledged flame arrester.
Where large changes undergone external "body kit" weapons. So, instead of the standard wooden butt and pistol grip RPD v.2.0 is equipped with plastic. In this case, the butt is made telescopic and is similar to those mounted on a number of modern automatic rifles. Another wooden detail of the original Degtyarev Light Machine Gun - the forearm - gave way to a modern aluminum machine. According to the recent trends in weapons business, the forend is equipped with two Picatinny rail. By default, the collimator sight (on top) and the “tactical” grip with integrated bipod are mounted on the slats. It is worth paying attention to changing the place for sight. On the original RPD open sight
located on the front of the receiver cover. For use on rapid-fire weapons, designed to literally water the enemy with bullets, it was normal. The cover of the receiver when firing constantly moved and hampered aimed fire, which, however, was compensated by the bullets flying. For self-loading weapons sold under market conditions, this was unacceptable. Therefore, the guys from DS Arms moved the sight from the receiver cover to the forearm. Yes, due to the transfer and reduction of the barrel length, the length of the sighting line was reduced when using an open sight. However, the collimator sighting device from such a transfer did not degrade its quality. As for the front handle, it is not only a tribute to fashion in recent years. It simultaneously performs two functions. When shooting from the hands of the shooter, it is more convenient to hold the RPD-Carbine, and if necessary, he can take out a folding bipod from the middle of the handle. A kind of universalization "body kit" for shooting from different positions. Finally, DS Arms made a slightly more convenient ammunition for a self-loading rifle. The 100 fixed tape on RPD v.2.0 cartridges is not stored in a metal or plastic container, but in a special-shaped bag sewn from synthetic fabric. In addition to gaining weight, this reduced tape noise.According to the results of all changes, mostly external, the most modern, as it is called, assault weapons emerged from the good old RPD. According to DS Arms, the modern “body kit” and the widely used intermediate cartridge 7,62х39 mm can make an inexpensive, good and competitive alternative to other types of weapons of a similar class from RPD. At the same time, the American gunsmiths are looking at those countries where the DUR is still in service, with particular hope. In the future, instead of buying new machine guns, these states can order DS Arms to rework available ones and save a lot of money. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that when modifying the RPD in RPD-Carbine, it is not at all necessary to remove the automatic fire function.
However, American gunsmiths did not stop at just one replacement of the barrel and external parts. After completing work on the “modernization” of the Degtyarev machine gun, DS Arms developed a set of measures for reworking the RPD-Carbine to use the Remington SPC 6,8x43 cartridges. To do this, the machine gun stops another barrel, a new bolt, different from the original mass, and another return spring. The choice of an alternative cartridge for RPD v.2.0 was determined by the characteristics of the Remington company. In comparison with other intermediate cartridges 6,8x43 mm has the best performance effective range and action on the target. This new cartridge has not yet become widespread, but a number of countries have already become interested in it. So, in 2009, the 6,8 Remington SPC cartridge was adopted by the Royal Guard of Jordan. Shortly thereafter, it was reported that the Jordanian special services were showing interest in the 6,8-millimeter version of RPD v.2.0. The interest of the Jordanians in the version of the machine gun is precisely under the cartridge 6,8x43 easy to explain the ballistic characteristics of the cartridge. Remington SPC has almost the same recoil momentum and muzzle energy as 7,62x39 mm - 5,8 kgm / s versus 5,9 kgm / s and 2330 J versus 2190 J, respectively. However, at a range of about 500 meters, the difference in bullet energy is 40% in favor of Remington. Thus, a smaller caliber and a slightly larger muzzle energy of the bullet makes the 6,8-mm cartridge effective over a larger range of distances. Interestingly, the installation of 6,8-millimeter barrel and the corresponding shutter does not affect the other nodes and aggregates of the machine gun. For example, with the Remington cartridge, you can use the old one-piece metal tape, which was used on the very first Soviet versions of the RPD.As you can see, in a relatively simple way, DS Arms was able to give a second life to an almost forgotten, but interesting weapon. And the commercial project, initially focused on the civilian market, eventually grew into a major undertaking of international scale. Regarding the official procurement of RPD v.2.0 by foreign countries - the same Jordan - there is no official information. However, the civilian self-loading version of the Degtyarev light machine gun has been on the market for several years and is not going to leave it. Currently, anyone, of course, subject to compliance with all legal formalities, can buy both versions of the modifications to the RPD from DS Arms. For RPD-Rifle, they ask for 2100 dollars, and for Carabin, 2850.
On the materials of the sites:
http://dsarms.com/
http://mpopenker.livejournal.com/
http://pravoslav-voin.info/
http://world.guns.ru/
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