FN Minimi(M249) vs the RPK-74

Okay these been a 19 page thread on the M-16 vs the Ak-47 but almost no discussion about one of the most important weapons for a squad the Light Machine Gun.
So if you had a choice which weapon would you bring into combat?

Depends on the situation. If I was going to need some suppressing fire at a moderate range , I'd use the M249. In a CQB situation though I'd use the RPK.

both are good weapons but i have to agree with D on this like

Definitly the M249, the RPK's drum magazine is prone to feeding jams because of the high pressure applied to the spring. Plus, it holds less (especially when using the box mag) ammo and the caliber is inferior.

None,I will not use any weapon,against any ennemy because all conflicts between countries are insignifiant(sp?)

umm how are they insignifiant?
if it was your country then it wouldnt be

Originally posted by DarkSide
None,I will not use any weapon,against any ennemy because all conflicts between countries are insignifiant(sp?)

Sorry my friend but this was completely off topic and uncreative to say the least. This is a Weaponry forum so please stick to Weaponry talk. Anyways as to my opinion i'd take the M249 as well.

The M249 really is the only way to go...nothing else seems to tickle my fancy.

M249 is far superior, you wouldn't use a SAW for CQB normally ;p
Be that as it may, with a sling the M249 is still small enough to use inside. The RPK isn't really comparable. Having shot a few, they are really nothing more than a heavy barreled AK, while the M249 is a dedicated LMG.

M249 all the way. It is my weapon of choice while playing Americas Army. Yes the government is training me to be a killing machine through free video games!

yeah i like the m249!
americas army game all the way man!

There are also shorter m-249 versions for spec ops and para. SSAW (short squad auto weapon)

Originally posted by Kozzy
the caliber is inferior.

7.62 is not inferior to 5.56, especially in a light support weapon. I dont want to start up the argument of which one is better, but for a light machine gun, 7.62 wins hands down as most effective.

No, 7.62x39 is inferior no matter how you put it to 5.56x45mm. It kicks more, is slower, has less stopping power, is heavier, and is less accurate. 7.62x51 or 54 is good caliber for MMGs, but not LMGs.

And what they hell am I talking about, the RPK-74 fires the 5.45x39 round, which is still inferior to the 5.56x45mm round.

[Edited on 27-5-2004 by Kozzy]

[Edited on 27-5-2004 by Kozzy]

Originally posted by Kozzy
No, 7.62x39 is inferior no matter how you put it to 5.56x45mm. It kicks more, is slower, has less stopping power, is heavier, and is less accurate. 7.62x51 or 54 is good caliber for MMGs, but not LMGs.

have you ever fired 7.62 or 5.56? I've fired both, and 7.62 is FAR more accurate, especially at long ranges, which is what LMG's fire at (try firing 5.56 at 500m with iron sights and hit a thing)

Less stopping power? 5.56 causes more damage through calvitation that 7.62, but 7.62 has equal or greater stopping power, due to projectile size and speed.

And the reason I brought this up is that i thought the RPK fired 7.62 (clicked the wrong link on world.guns.ru )

Originally posted by czakky

Originally posted by Kozzy
No, 7.62x39 is inferior no matter how you put it to 5.56x45mm. It kicks more, is slower, has less stopping power, is heavier, and is less accurate. 7.62x51 or 54 is good caliber for MMGs, but not LMGs.

have you ever fired 7.62 or 5.56? I've fired both, and 7.62 is FAR more accurate, especially at long ranges, which is what LMG's fire at (try firing 5.56 at 500m with iron sights and hit a thing)

Less stopping power? 5.56 causes more damage through calvitation that 7.62, but 7.62 has equal or greater stopping power, due to projectile size and speed.

And the reason I brought this up is that i thought the RPK fired 7.62 (clicked the wrong link on world.guns.ru

)

7.62x51 is more accurate, but no 7.62x39. That's what he was talking about.

Jesus Christ, read my posts guys. Yes, 7.62x51mm is more accurate, and has more stopping power then the 5.56x45mm. But the 7.62x39 round is not, it is slower and heavier, resulting in serious drop from wind and gravity. The 7.62x39 round does not expand or frag on impact with soft targets, it does have good penetration of building materials though.

Also, the RPK-74 fires 5.45x39 rounds, not the 7.62x39 rounds the eariler versions fired. This smaller round has a higher velocity, but not enough to frag or expand on impact like the 5.56x45mm NATO rounds.

What about M249 VS the PK(M)?

I would still say the M249, it is truly just a good LMG.