RK 62

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Rynnäkkökivääri 62
Assembled 7.62 RK 62.jpg
Rk 62 (modernized)

Type assault rifle
Country of Origin Finland
Specifications
Length 950mm fixed / 710mm folded
Barrel 418mm
Weight 3.5 kg empty[1]
Cartridge 7.62x39mm
action Gas-operated, rotating bolt

Rate of fire 600–750 RPM
Muzzle velocity 720 m/s
Effective range 300m
Feed 30-round detachable AK magazine
Sights Aperture rear sight on a sliding tangent with flip tritium night sight, forward hooded post, 470mm sight radius
Service History
In service 1962–present
Used by Finnish Defence Forces
Production History
Designer Valmet
Designed 1962
Manufacturer Valmet and SAKO
Production dates 1962–1994
Number built 350,000+
Variants Valmet M76, Rk 95 Tp, IMI Galil

The Rk 62 (also 7.62 Rk 62 and M62; Rynnäkkökivääri 62 or "assault rifle 62") is an assault rifle manufactured by Valmet and Sako. It is the standard issue infantry weapon of the Finnish Defence Forces.

The Rk 62 was designed in 1962 and is based on the Soviet AK design. The Rk 62 uses the same 7.62x39mm cartridge as the AK. Between 1965 and 1994 350,000 M62 rifles were produced jointly by Valmet and Sako.

The Rk 62 has a flash suppressor, and a groove for a specially designed knife bayonet, which can be used alone as a combat knife. The Rk 62, along with its improved model, Rk 95 Tp, are considered to be the best AK-47 variants in the world by many experts, due to the superior quality of materials and workmanship.[1]

Contents

[edit] Versions

Rk 62 field stripped.

The first version called the Rk 60 was produced in 1960 and was internally almost a copy of the AK-47. It featured a metallic buttstock, a plastic handguard and pistol grip. The very first prototypes, closely modeled after Polish licence made AKs, had tinted birchwood stocks. After testing by the military, the Rk 60 was slightly modified and adopted as the 7.62 Rk 62. The Rk 62 is considered a high quality AK-47 variant. This is apparent especially in its accuracy, as it can frequently achieve less than one minute of arc. The rifle uses a "peep" diopter sight, which is flipped over to reveal the open tritium enhanced rear night sight. The forward sight has also a mode for night operation. After basic training, some 30% of Finnish conscripts can score 92 or more points with ten rounds at 150 m distance with target shooting on RK 62, the bullseye (10 points) diameter being 100 mm.

The Israeli IMI Galil assault rifle is based on the Rk 62.[2]

The civilian version of the rifle is called M62S, and it is nearly identical in appearance to the Rk 62, except for the fire selector which lacks the automatic fire setting. Valmet has also produced a hunting rifle variant using a further development of the Rk 62 receiver, called Valmet Petra, "petra" being an old Finnish word for deer, chambered originally for .308 Winchester and .243 Winchester, but later also .30-06 Springfield and through aftermarket modification, 9.3x62mm. The Petra was marketed as the "Valmet Hunter" in the US and Canada. It is very different in appearance to the Rk 62, having a wooden stock without separate pistol grip, a sporter type front grip, and the trigger has been moved further back on the receiver.

As an anecdote, the conscripts noticed soon the versatility of the Rk 62 magazines for opening beer bottles. This usage damaged the magazine lips, causing problems with the ammunition feed. [3] The Israelis introduced an integral bottle-opener on the Galil (incorporated into the rear handguard ferrule on the ARM variant) to avoid magazine damage.[4] The Finnish Army has fully replaced the metal magazines with ones made of polymer.

[edit] Variants

Different versions of the weapon include the Valmet M76, which is a version with a stamped steel receiver that reduces the weight to 3.5 kg. The latest version is called Rk 95 Tp, which is able to fire rifle grenades, can be fitted with a suppressor, telescopic sight and has a folding stock, among other improvements. It is currently used by the Finnish Defence Forces in relatively small numbers. As Sako had bought Valmet's small arms manufacturing division, the Rk 95 was manufactured only by Sako.

The naval version of Rk 62 has folding stock for easier storage on board the warships.

A special version of the Rk 62 featuring the Rk 95 buttstock, fire selector and the possibility of mounting optics is in use with the Finnish border guards' Special Border Jäger course.[5] [6]

[edit] Resources

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[edit] Gallery

[edit] See also

[edit] Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Valmet Rk. 62 / 76 / 95 (Finland) - Modern Firearms
  2. Konetuliaseet ja automaattipistoolit - Antti Värri
  3. Kokalis, Peter. Weapons Tests And Evaluations: The Best Of Soldier Of Fortune. Paladin Press. 2001. pp253
  4. Kokalis, Peter. Weapons Tests And Evaluations: The Best Of Soldier Of Fortune. Paladin Press. 2001. pp253
  5. Salpa 07-yhtymäharjoitus - Uutiset ja artikkelit
  6. Kuvia ja videoita


[edit] External links

"RK 62" is part of a series on the AK-47 and its cousins
AK-47 type II Part DM-ST-89-01131.jpg
AK-47 · AKM · AK-74 · AK-101 · AK-103 · AK-107 · AEK-971 · AMD 65 · CR-21 · IMI Galil · INSAS · Kbk wz. 1988 Tantal · Kbk wz. 1996 Mini-Beryl · Kbk wz. 2005 Jantar · Kbk wz. 2002 BIN · Kbkg wz. 1960 · Kbs wz. 1996 Beryl · Norinco Type 86S · PA md. 86 · PM md. 63/65 · PSL · R4 · RPK · RK 62 · RK 95 TP · Skbk wz. 1989 Onyks · Type 56 ·Type 81 · Valmet M76 · Valmet M82 · Zastava M21 · Zastava M70 · Zastava M70B · Zastava M72 · Zastava M76 · Zastava M77 · Zastava M77B1 ·Zastava M92
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