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The PU-21 (Russian: ПУ-21 Пулемёт с унифицированной подачей) is a 5.45×39mm machine gun designed by V. M. Kalashnikov and M. E. Dragunov between 1972 and 1977. The PU-21 can be fed from either a 45-round magazine or a 200-round belt. The PU-21's sights are graduated to distance of 1,000 metres (3,300 ft).[1][2]
| PU-21 / ПУ-21 (Пулемёт с унифицированной подачей) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Light machine gun |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Yu.K. Aleksandrov M.E. Dragunov V.M. Kalashnikov |
| Manufacturer | TsNIITochMash |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 5.7 kg |
| Length | 1060 mm (41.73 in) |
| Barrel length | 590 mm (23.2 in) |
| Cartridge | 5.45×39mm |
| Caliber | 5.45 mm |
| Action | Gas-operated |
| Rate of fire | 750 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity | 960 m/s (3150 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 1000 m (1094 yds) |
| Feed system | 20- or 45-round box magazine 200-round belt |
| Sights | Iron |
The PU-21 prototypes were thoroughly tested by the Soviet Army in Leningrad, but military experts did not see convincing arguments for replacing the RPK and RPK-74 with the PU-21 design. According to the Soviet military, the design was too complex compared to other weapons then in service, and failed to enhance combat effectiveness.
See also
edit- List of machine guns
- List of dual-feed firearms
- Ares Shrike 5.56
- RPK-74
- RPL-20, a similarly belted 5.45 machine gun, drew some inspiration from this project
- PKM
- FN Minimi
- QJY-88
- List of Russian weaponry
References
edit- ^ Пулемет ПУ (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
- ^ Отечественные пулеметы с унифицированной подачей (in Russian). Archived from the original on 6 December 2010. Retrieved 13 Jun 2012.
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