PKMs

PKMs refers to the family of Soviet-era 7.62×54mmR general-purpose machine guns that began with the PK and continued with the modernized PKM. Introduced in the 1960s, the PKM became one of the most widely produced and deployed belt-fed machine guns in the world. It is chambered for 7.62×54mmR, fed by linked belts, and is gas-operated with a tilting bolt and a quick-change barrel. The weapon is air-cooled and commonly used with a bipod, but can also be mounted on tripods or weapon mounts on vehicles.

The PKM family has been manufactured in several countries beyond the Soviet Union and has seen service with numerous national armed forces and irregular groups. It is valued for reliability, straightforward maintenance, and the general availability of ammunition and parts. In addition to the standard portable PKM, variants such as the PKMS introduce a side-folding buttstock for airborne or compact use. Other derivations include vehicle-mounted and tank- or tripod-adapted versions, such as the PKT and the later PKP family development, which includes the Pecheneg variant designed for improved stability during sustained fire.

Operational use and deployment have diversified the PKM family across a wide range of environments, from conventional warfare to guerrilla conflicts. The weapons are often chosen for their balance of portability, firepower, and ease of production, contributing to their continued presence in service decades after their introduction. The PKMs remain closely associated with 7.62×54mmR ammunition and with Soviet and post-Soviet small-arms manufacturing and export.