7.62x51 Round vs. 7.62x54R Round (and the RPK)

[DASHES]

Greetings.
I was hoping I could get some you guys to assist me in a matter.

I want to have the RPK Light Machine Gun as the standard rifle for my nation's Armed Forces, but I have read reports of how the 7.62x39 was a caliber designed for shorter barrels than the RPK (Like... The AK-47's barrel...) In the long RPK barrel, most of the 7.62x39's powder is burned up before the round leaves the muzzle, and drag starts to become a problem in the round's flight negatively affecting several aspects. If my soldiers are going to use the RPK, I need them to get the most out of their weapon, which they can't with the 7.62x39. Therefore, my solution is to chamber my RPK's into a longer cartridge, such as the 7.62x51 or the 7.62x54R.
I am trying to decide which is better for the RPK (Which is basically an AK-47 with a longer barrel and a bipod, for those of you who didn't know.)

What are your opinions?
Is the 7.62x54R generally a better than the 7.62x51?

Which would preform better in an RPK? What are the possible Pros and Cons?
Thanks a lot.

[Mercator Terra]

wrong thread

[DASHES]

wrong thread

I disagree.

The 'General' section is for light discussion and debate about almost anything. I doubt that this belongs in 'Factbooks', or anything similar.

Also, I am speaking OOC, so I can't see how this is the wrong section for something like this.

[Solyhniya]

Either switch to the 5.45x39 and keep the RPK platform or drop it in favour of the PKM.

[Novograd IV]

wrong thread

Debatable, but i think it might be better in FN&I, too


Issue with upped sizes, new barrels, so RP having them at your ammunition size all the time so far unless you want to fork out billions

You'll need a heavier barrel to deal with the increased charge, to prevent barrel scoring and all that, I assume the low power of the RPK with it's usual ammunition was to stop it heating too badly in increased fire situations, an issue with LMGs, HMGs and the like.

[Separatist Peoples]

well, your 7.62x54 is a battle rifle round. its going to have more kick, which is going to make it hard to fire in fully automatic platforms, such as your RPKs. the 7.62x51 is going to have much the same performance with a little less punch. however, as you can see with the (relative) effectiveness of the 5.56, a bigger bullet doesnt always mean the best results. keeping your rounds shorter means less weight and maybe more rounds per soldier, so I would say go ahead and take the 7.62x51 round. the extra accuracy and less weight will probably help out more then a little extra punch would.

[Lordieth]

Quite a few gun threads about at the moment..

[DASHES]

well, your 7.62x54 is a battle rifle round. its going to have more kick, which is going to make it hard to fire in fully automatic platforms, such as your RPKs. the 7.62x51 is going to have much the same performance with a little less punch. however, as you can see with the (relative) effectiveness of the 5.56, a bigger bullet doesnt always mean the best results. keeping your rounds shorter means less weight and maybe more rounds per soldier, so I would say go ahead and take the 7.62x51 round. the extra accuracy and less weight will probably help out more then a little extra punch would.

I see... Wait, maybe I should simply go with the 6.5 Grendel Cartridge!

But those round are expensive, aren't they? It would cost too much.

[Novograd IV]

well, your 7.62x54 is a battle rifle round. its going to have more kick, which is going to make it hard to fire in fully automatic platforms, such as your RPKs. the 7.62x51 is going to have much the same performance with a little less punch. however, as you can see with the (relative) effectiveness of the 5.56, a bigger bullet doesnt always mean the best results. keeping your rounds shorter means less weight and maybe more rounds per soldier, so I would say go ahead and take the 7.62x51 round. the extra accuracy and less weight will probably help out more then a little extra punch would.

I see... Wait, maybe I should simply go with the 6.5 Grendel Cartridge!

But those round are expensive, aren't they? It would cost too much.

Grendel's propellent chambers are fat, i don't recommend it for anything other than semi-auto for the space wastage

[Separatist Peoples]

I see... Wait, maybe I should simply go with the 6.5 Grendel Cartridge!

But those round are expensive, aren't they? It would cost too much.

Grendel's propellent chambers are fat, i don't recommend it for anything other than semi-auto for the space wastage

Exactly. You lose an awful lot of space, despite the excellent reputation. And the expense would be incredible. I figure since your nation uses the RPK light mg platform, that accuracy is a secondary concern, so extra ammunition space is a huge benefit

[DASHES]

Grendel's propellent chambers are fat, i don't recommend it for anything other than semi-auto for the space wastage

Exactly. You lose an awful lot of space, despite the excellent reputation. And the expense would be incredible. I figure since your nation uses the RPK light mg platform, that accuracy is a secondary concern, so extra ammunition space is a huge benefit

So it seems the seems the 7.62x51 is the better option, eh?

Cheaper, and better on space.

And since the 7.62x51 has been used in a great deal of Light Machine Guns that have good reputation, maybe it won't be such a bad choice for the RPK, is I make the barrel heavier.

I think I am ready to make my choice, but I would like a few more opinions first. That's for the help, Separatist Peoples.Consider an alliance?

[Separatist Peoples]

Apologies for the delay in responding. The Confederacy of Separatist Peoples would be honored to enter into an alliance with the Armed Godly Republic of DASHES.