Why the NATO Polish Army Uses Soviet PKM Machine Gun 

Install Raid for Free ✅ Mobile and PC: clik.cc/d8YAr and get a special starter pack 💥 Available only for the next 30 days 💥 What do you think of the NATO version of the Soviet PKM? Is adding more PKM's to the Russian regular infantry squads a good idea?

Just some additional info: being a NATO country In Hungary we still use it as the standard LMG in the infantry, also we were deployed to Afghanisthan with them.

PKM stands for Perfect Killing Machine

We used PKM’s consistently during my time with a specific PMC company in 2013. They’re extremely lethal, reliable and quick to train up on.

The Finns use these in the defence forces, like the first picture of a finnish peacekeeper in the intro. Gonna try to get my hands on one when i get my callup next year.

Why did NATO make a version of the PKM? Uh, because it's bad ass.

0:55 Chris trying so hard to eat a disintegrated link

Just a little correction - Bulgaria and Romania weren't Soviet Republics, but allies in the Warsaw Pact.

Soviet PKM has rescued the life of me and my friends in the platoon.We had German MG3 machine guns that in the dust and muddy ground was horrible! It was malfunctioning again and again in the time of enemy attack and we became completely out gun and out fire . Then fortunately one guy managed to prepare one PKM which belonged to enemy and has been captured in previous battle. It fiered smoothly and continuously without any problem and saved us at that horrible night .

I love Polish firearms ingenuity they are genius. The way they modified the AKM into the Tantal was awesome.

0:50 ! What kinda wacky map is that ? a WTF worthy map for sure

I served on T-55 which comes with a PKT - that is the PK modified for use in a tank. The PKT was the one piece of equipment which always worked no matter what. It is as reliable as the AK. Since its rounds were considerably cheapter than those of the 12,7mm DSK, not to mention the gun shells, it was also the one piece of equipment we canstantly used and, consequently, the one we could hit the target with every time. While we would hit the target using the 100mm main gun in less than 30 % of the cases, we would hit the PKT targets at 1000 meters almost 100% of the cases. We even tried to shoot at rabits using the PKT when our commanders were not looking, but we could not hit them. One needs to react too fast to shoot a rabbit using a machine gun that moves the same way the main gun does.

Actually, the 7,62x54R is the longest serving rifle cartridge. It was first issued in the Mosin Nagant and Russian Winchester Lever Action 1895. It was one of the first high pressure, smokeless powder cartridges.

The SVD rifle also fits into this Russian doctrine as it is not meant as a Sniper rifle, as many seem to think, it's meant as a very mobile squad support for longer engagements. Like the PKM

"It's actually the world's second oldest military cartridge still in use. It's like getting hit by a time machine." This is why I watch this channel XD

Recently UKM2000 was developed further by the Polish military to the shorter version. Lighter and designed for special forces and recon squads. The name of of it is UKM 2020s

Love the PKM...

At page 6 they say that the testingconditions of the foreign guns were not great and a direct comparision wasnt possible

Two words: "rimmed casing". Generally speaking the PKM works so well because it uses a feeding system that can work only with rimmed cartridges, but these are inferior when it comes to magazine feeding because of the dreaded "rim-lock" problem. Therfore the ex-soviets have a better GPMG, NATO has better DMRs.

Really good video. Unfortunately, you didn't really talk about the history of the gun, which is., in fact, quite fascinating.

Poland has 5.56x45 AKs and 7.62x51 PKMs they by default have the best guns in NATO

Preatty much everyone in NATO, who used the PKM before, keept on using it. Great machine gun. No reason to replace it.

You're missing one important variant, the PKPM (GRAU 6P41M), which has released in the past couple years. It's a modernization kit that adopts many of the special force's Pecheneg-SP modifications for standard infantry.

Good to see a content about polish military

Poland. Or as gamers call it, *Proland.* _The pro level pvp server for Russians & Germans_

That map at 0:50 hurts my eyes and my soul

1500 yrds down range max fire distance gives the Polish a huge advantage. 2x - 3x the std fire range of the M4 carbine (500m), it has brutal fire power. The box canister used for ammo means to it doesn't have to be reloaded every few seconds - it doesn't have to be belt fed by another troop. Very practical weapon.

Better question is - why not? There are some Warsaw Pact equipment types that are simply not produced in NATO despite having a battlefield niche for them. For example SPAA like Tunguska and attack helicopter with transport capabilities like Mi-24. A few years back USMC was looking for Mi-24's and pilots for them as an OPFOR for training. Why not extend it further? Buy a few old Mi-24's, scoop them out of obsolete equipment and remember legacy of S-67. New engines, props and avionics. It would be better for hot scenarios then UH-60 and would serve as OPFOR training for Mi-35 too. I'm pretty sure that there is still enough specialists left in former Warsaw Pact states(and those, who immigrated) who had experience with those helicopters. And it would also allow said states to make better contributions to NATO.

There's one significant difference that you forgot to mention. Original FN MAG was designed with vehicle mounting in mind and was later adapted for infantry use while PKM was designed from ground up as a SAW system. That's why MAG and its derivatives are bulkier and have higher sustained fire capabilities while PKM is far lighter and more maneuverable. Also it's ironic that after decades of saying that Russian equipment is in all regards inferior to that of NATO the US Special Forces would openly encourage American companies to break the law in order to get some of that "junk" for themselves.

I have used m84 (Serbian version of pkm) and it is amazing weapon.Once I fell during changing position and stuck barrel into sand and bloody m84 kept spraying bullets while sand was leaking.It is also very precise.Serbian infantry platoon in 2003. was using 9 m84 (2 per 3 squad plus 3 in weapon squad (in tripod version with 3 soldier as crew (they carry 2 large ammo box, 2 smaller and reserve barrel beside m84 and tripod). Great chanel by the way, many greetings from Belgrade, Serbia.

Finnish infantry platoons also have 6 PKMs, 3 squads, each with 2 of them. Gotta love the firepower.

The US should be pouring the foreign defense budget into Poland. They have a history of warriors and a love of liberty.

PKP appreciation Friday. One of my favorite gpmg designs, everything I've seen and heard about use is glowingly positive.

Polish people once domesticated a bear, and made a soldier out of it, so making PKM into more humane NATO version wasn't much of a problem...

I never got to fire a PKM, but we had a broken one in our arms room in Afghanistan. It was eye opening, how light it was.

Cool video. I had no idea that the pkm had such a good reputation and was so loved. Sounds like a rad gun

Man, every time you have an add, I get ready to fast forward but your so damned entertaining I just end up sticking with it. Love your stuff man.

Thank you for the readily available subtitles! I appreciate that more than you know!😁

One of the reasons the PKM is so light is because of the pull-out system, which is only possible with a rimmed cartridge. When the Poles tried to change it by adapting the M240's push system, they had to lengthen the receiver by some 10 centimeters and increased the mass of the weapon by roughly 1 kg (do not quote me on this, I don't have the exact numbers off the top of my head).

I still think the M60 is a fantastic MG. Many M60's in the military were old, worn, and improperly maintained. When I arrived at the 7th ID as part of a COHORT company, I was issued a fairly new M60 that ran like butter. I also carried one for a short time in Germany with no problems.

I really like their M762 Beryl!

"spend more money to finish this cost saving measure" man, what an all too common phrase :D edit: "It's like getting hit by a time machine!" LOLOLOL

Bulgarian company Arsenal MG-1M 7.62x51 it's a PKM in NATO caliber. Also recently Zastava Arms from Serbia did the same thing. Their PKM clone M84 converted from 54R to 51. When is something good and proven use it...

Good Video! Keep it up! This is the kind of stuff that makes me wait for your content.

I live next to military unit in Poland and i love hearing pkm in the distance

Last year, Poland has introduced the latest version of the UKM called "UKM 2000S". It is a lighter and shorter version of this machine gun. Reportedly, the best version to date. The weapon is lighter (about a kilogram) and smaller (by several centimeters). The most important change, however, is the shortening of the barrel. - The rifle have two barrels - a short and a long one. The first one will be intended for highly maneuverable operations, i.e. landing, patrol and reconnaissance. The second, longer barrel, with greater range and firepower, will be used when the full combat potential of a machine gun is needed. Hope you make a video about this gun, someday.

I love when countries are determined to have their own guns because it ends in new interesting designs to use

Thank you for an enjoyable & informative video👍

You could have mentioned that the article you are quoting me from was back from 2013. Since then we had quite a significant effort put in the development of the UKM2000, and I must say as the author of the original piece that the current version fielded is top notch. Stay safe and watch your six. Greetings and warm wishes from Ukraine, wish us luck.

I had a PKMB version on the vehicle (SA-13) in the army. It was a classic PK machine gun with a stock with the possibility of mounting. For shooting, we removed it from the vehicle and fired from a bipod like a classic infantry machine gun. For example - At 400m I destroyed targets with a drag of 75x75 cm on a single shot. Basic exercises 2 times the target 75x75cm for 400m, 2x figure for 300m, 2x figure for 250m and 2x figure for 200m. I had 25 rounds and I had half left. The commander then gave me only targets for 400m 75x75cm, a total score of 17 for 25 rounds. 6x figure 9x target 75x75cm. PK is insanely accurate, simple, durable, light. We fired hundreds of rounds on other drills and without a fault, without overheating, you can rely on the PK machine gun in the cold in the mud in the sand in the water, minimal maintenance and still works,

Really enjoyed this video, Cappy. Looks like you’re having fun with that green screen. 👍. Keep up the good work!

OK. I have used both machine guns while I was in the FDF army... If I had to choose MG to use in Finland... I would choose PKM... Reason is dust and dirt. Easy to fix.

0:48 This "Cold War map" is too cold. So much so that Western Europe is a distorted landmass.

Small arms are an amazing ally with geopolitics. Just like with currency, if you hook an ally on YOUR caliber, just like with currency and pop stars, they are another Remora on your Great White Shark.

7:49 Quantity is a quality all its own.

Honestly the new barrel not needing swapping and the bullet links staying together (in old and new) and going back into the box seems really efficient and money saving.

I'm legit surprised they've removed the option for a quick swap barrel. That's been a standard feature for over 100 years.

Russian tactics before 1940’s: light infantry, pretty slow moving. Russian tactics after 1940’s: GAS GAS GAS IM GONNA STEP ON THE GAS

Who Remembers when the Czech Armory (CZ) bought Colt. It would be cool to breakdown and see why and how the Czech Armory bought Colt

I'm surprised it is of a lighter weight. It seems like in videogames it is one of the heaviest lmgs that you may field

Quick, someone go get Brandon Herrera. Get him to make his own version.

You said the cyclic rate was slow at 650. I believe 650 rpm is almost perfect. Your barrel doesn't overheat as fast, needing fewer barrel changes, doesn't run out of ammo as fast, and is lighter. 650 is fine against infantry, anti aircraft, not so much, but offensive aircraft mostly dealt with by means of misslss, not machine guns.

i really dig the writing in these informative and chuckle-inducing videos ty sir

08:33 *Bulgaria with their version of PKM cambered in 7.62x51 NATO*: “Am I a joke for you?”

I learn more good info. About this Pak. More power to your channel Sir

They should've adopted the South African SS77. It marries elements of the PKM and FN MAG and is battle proven.

0:50 thats a cursed map if I have ever seen any

Nice review, Cappy!

...damn, what kind of a weird ass map of cold war europa you had flashing at 0:50 even had to rewind and stopp the frame to study it for a minute or so. lol ; )

I've used the GPMG in the British army and the PKM in combat in Iraq and Syria. For that environment the AK and PKM all day long, for simplicity, reliability and being able to still fire even though clogged full of dust.

"The intense heat of the Cold War" -- Clean.

I've dreamed about that 30-45 degree angled foregrip when I was a machine gunner (later AG). Doubt even that would have helped me firing 240L from a shoulder though

A perfect example of Russian military engineering, lethal, durable and simple enough for average Ivan grunts to maintain and operate in the field. Simple and reliable kills better.

Us army tests from ww2 found out m2 carbines were much superior than stg44s. Don’t know about that

It does impress to me that so many infantry guns of the other side of the curtain are so much better than their western counterparts.

“If you use enemies weapons, you can carry less ammo” -chad on front line.

5:27 that's awesome simply put

the pkm has the ability to squeeze off single rounds with the precision of a sniper rifle thus, it's usually supplied with 6x or 8x scopes

8:25 Do you see that awesome ATV with a machine gun slapped on it? If I had an army, that would be the only units inside of it. Full ATV, just ATVs, just give a rocket launcher to the guy in the back and you can take on the world.

I trained with it in the Polish Army. It is good. Easy to clean, and to change the barrel. Overall simple and easy to learn. I think it will stay in the polish military for a long time.

Cant blame them. The PKM is a friggin reliable beast. And God I would love one of those.

It's the absolute best SAW in the world! It's light, super reliable and hard hitting! It's also suprisingly extremly accurate! When I first fired one I cringed, because my uncle faced the PK in Vietnam.

I think the 7.62x54r is the oldest cartridge in regular military use and its kind of amazing as its based off the oldest smokeless cartridge the 8mm French Lebel. People complain about steel cases but they are lighter than the brass counterparts. The only other 2 cartridges I can think of that are older and kind of in military use would be the .303 once used widely in Afganistan but they have had a massive weapons find recently, yes its still used by the police in 3rd world nations and is still in military armorys but some militarys still have black powder weapons stored in armorys. The only other caliber would be the .22 short for training but even then I think they now all use the .22lr

Nice video comrade Cappy.

It's a very powerful round too. More so than the 7.62x51

The NATOised Pkm is pretty sweet

Definitely one of my favorite guns. I think Poland is probably better off creating a GPM based on the principles of the PKM instead of trying so hard to make a sub-par chimera.

an old Army test....bias....NEVER

Thank you for being you

The UKM is cursed, it looks like a combination of a PKM and an M240.

Kinda baffles me how the belgian mag58 scored more than the L8A1 when they are basically the same weapon 🤣

Love it so much we use PKP in our Special Forces Black Cobra

@Task & Purpose I recently found your channel and it never fails, I always learn something. From experience the PKM is an astounding Belt feed when used in both the automatic rifle and machine gun roles. I did not know that old Soviet Doctorne only had machine guns(PKM'S) at company level????Mind blowing really if one considers for example - two 240B's are literally 70% of a light infantry platoons overall firepower, and the loss of one is a reason to either rethink your situation or a tactical withdrawal. Majority of ppl unfamiliar w/ M.G. theory and employment find it hard to understand that with all the 249 auto rifles M4s w/ 203's and Carl G's in a platoon that without two or three MGs that the platoon will be combat ineffective for the majority of missions. I think a good episode would be about the new MG338. My agency tested in about a year ago but unfortunately I didn't get to participate. From what I'm told the 30cal Magnum round - 338 Norma - has almost twice the effective range and incredible penitration that almost matches a .50cal! Friends said it was reliable in their limited testing and lighter than the 240 by 4 or 5 lbs. Innovative recoil reducer and Cans of course.

ah yes nice to see something polish as a polish person myself

it all comes down to weight and cost PKM feels really light compared to the m240 B, plus it's easy to get its ammo in most middle east and African countries

In Bulgaria it is still standard issued LMG and its not going to be replaced any time soon. Its just really good.

Have used many beltfeds but the pkm is by far my favorite

Lmao, we've been pulling this stuff off for a very long time. The first Polish manufactured pistol (the Vis) was actually a slightly modified 1911. The Polish rifles (wz, 29) manufactured just before the war were actually Kar98s with a different sling and bayonet lug. It's really funny imo.

Haven't even watched the video but the pkm is arguably THE BEST light machine gun. While I absolutely enjoyed the 240b. The pkm is fuggin awesome.

It would be interesting to compare new off the line m60 and pkm. Most m60's got used long past their intended useful life and that affected opinions in later years