Rk 62
Encyclopedia
The Rk 62 is an assault rifle
manufactured by Valmet
and Sako
. It is the standard issue
infantry weapon of the Finnish Defence Forces
.
The Rk 62 was designed in 1962 and is based on the Soviet
AK-47
design. The Rk 62 uses the same 7.62x39mm cartridge as the AK-47. Between 1965 and 1994 350,000 M62 rifles were produced jointly by Valmet and Sako.
The Rk 62 has a flash suppressor
, and a groove for a specially designed knife bayonet
, which can be used alone as a combat knife
. The Rk 95 Tp
is a more modern, improved version of the Rk 62. One of the most distinctive features of the Valmet rifles, including the M62 and all subsequent variations, is the open-ended, three prong flash suppressor with a bayonet lug on its lower side. In addition to the flash suppression, the end can quickly cut barbed wire by pushing the muzzle onto a strand of wire and firing a round - noisy but effective.
The first version called the Rk 60 was produced in 1960 and was internally almost a copy of the AK-47. It featured a metallic buttstock, a plastic handguard and pistol
grip. The very first prototypes, closely modeled after Polish licence made AKs, had tinted birch
wood stocks. After testing by the military, the Rk 60 was slightly modified and adopted as the 7.62 Rk 62. The Rk 62 is considered a high quality AK-47 variant. This is apparent especially in its accuracy, as it can frequently achieve less than one minute of arc
. The rifle uses a "peep" diopter sight, which is flipped over to reveal the open tritium
enhanced rear night sight. The forward sight has also a mode for night operation. After basic training, some 30% of Finnish conscripts can score 92 or more points with ten rounds at 150 m distance with target shooting on RK 62, the bullseye (10 points) diameter being 100 mm. The biggest single improvement apart from the metallurgical quality of the receiver and the overall quality of the barrel - is the sights - most AK variants have the rear sight mounted on top of the gas piston housing on top of the receiver. In the Rk62 the rear sight is mounted on the rear of the receiver cover with tritium illuminated night-sights. The sight radius is doubled enhancing the accuracy along with the hammer-forged match CM barrel. Aperture rear sight on a sliding tangent with flip tritium night sight, forward hooded post, 470 mm sight radius
In general, all Sako / Valmet Rk.62 family weapons are first class quality firearms that designed to withstand extreme environmental conditions of Nordic Europe. It is also should be noted that early Israeli made Galil assault rifles were made on machinery and by documentation, bought from Valmet.
The Israeli IMI Galil
assault rifle is based on the Rk 62.
The civilian version of the rifle is called M62S, and it is nearly identical in appearance to the Rk 62, except for the fire selector which lacks the automatic fire setting. Valmet has also produced a hunting rifle variant using a further development of the Rk 62 receiver, called Valmet Petra, "petra" being an old Finnish word for deer, chambered originally for .308 Winchester
and .243 Winchester
, but later also .30-06 Springfield
and through aftermarket modification, 9.3x62mm. The Petra was marketed as the "Valmet Hunter" in the US and Canada. It is very different in appearance to the Rk 62, having a wooden stock without separate pistol grip, a sporter type front grip, and the trigger has been moved further back on the receiver.
, which is a version with a stamped steel receiver that reduces the weight to 3.5 kg
. The latest version is called Rk 95 Tp
, which is able to fire rifle grenade
s, can be fitted with a suppressor
, telescopic sight
and has a folding stock, among other improvements. It is currently used by the Finnish Defence Forces
in relatively small numbers. As Sako had bought Valmet's small arms manufacturing division, the Rk 95 was manufactured only by Sako.
The naval version of Rk 62 has folding stock for easier storage on board the warships. The folding model is also issued to some army units, such as motorcycle infantry.
A special version of the Rk 62 featuring the Rk 95 buttstock, fire selector and the possibility of mounting optics is in use with the Finnish border guards' Special Border Jäger course.
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
manufactured by Valmet
Valmet
' was a Finnish state-owned conglomerate. Valmet was formed in 1951, when the state of Finland decided to group their various factories working on war reparations to the Soviet Union under one company...
and Sako
SAKO
SAKO, Limited is a Finnish firearm manufacturer located in Riihimäki....
. It is the standard issue
Service rifle
The service rifle of a given army or armed force is that which it issues as standard to its soldiers. In modern forces, this is typically a highly versatile and rugged assault rifle suitable for use in nearly all theatres and environments...
infantry weapon of the Finnish Defence Forces
Finnish Defence Forces
The Finnish Defence Forces are responsible for the defence of Finland. It is a cadre army of 15,000, of which 8,900 are professional soldiers , extended with conscripts and reservists such that the standard readiness strength is 34,700 people in uniform...
.
The Rk 62 was designed in 1962 and is based on the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
AK-47
AK-47
The AK-47 is a selective-fire, gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, first developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known as Avtomat Kalashnikova . It is also known as a Kalashnikov, an "AK", or in Russian slang, Kalash.Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year...
design. The Rk 62 uses the same 7.62x39mm cartridge as the AK-47. Between 1965 and 1994 350,000 M62 rifles were produced jointly by Valmet and Sako.
The Rk 62 has a flash suppressor
Flash suppressor
A flash suppressor, also known as a flash guard, flash eliminator, flash hider, or flash cone, is a device attached to the muzzle of a rifle or other gun that reduces the visible signature of the burning gases that exit the muzzle. This reduces the chances that the shooter will be blinded in dark...
, and a groove for a specially designed knife bayonet
Knife bayonet
A knife bayonet is a knife which can be used both as a bayonet, fighting or utility knife. The knife bayonet became the almost universal form of bayonet in the 20th century due to its versatility and effectiveness...
, which can be used alone as a combat knife
Combat knife
A combat knife is a fighting knife designed solely for military use and primarily intended for hand-to-hand or close combat fighting.Since the end of trench warfare, most military combat knives have been secondarily designed for utility use in addition to their original role as close-quarter combat...
. The Rk 95 Tp
Rk 95 TP
The Rk 95 Tp is a 7.62 mm Finnish assault rifle adopted by the Finnish Defence Forces in the 1990s in relatively small numbers.-History:...
is a more modern, improved version of the Rk 62. One of the most distinctive features of the Valmet rifles, including the M62 and all subsequent variations, is the open-ended, three prong flash suppressor with a bayonet lug on its lower side. In addition to the flash suppression, the end can quickly cut barbed wire by pushing the muzzle onto a strand of wire and firing a round - noisy but effective.
Versions
Pistol
When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
grip. The very first prototypes, closely modeled after Polish licence made AKs, had tinted birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
wood stocks. After testing by the military, the Rk 60 was slightly modified and adopted as the 7.62 Rk 62. The Rk 62 is considered a high quality AK-47 variant. This is apparent especially in its accuracy, as it can frequently achieve less than one minute of arc
Minute of arc
A minute of arc, arcminute, or minute of angle , is a unit of angular measurement equal to one sixtieth of one degree. In turn, a second of arc or arcsecond is one sixtieth of one minute of arc....
. The rifle uses a "peep" diopter sight, which is flipped over to reveal the open tritium
Tritium
Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. The nucleus of tritium contains one proton and two neutrons, whereas the nucleus of protium contains one proton and no neutrons...
enhanced rear night sight. The forward sight has also a mode for night operation. After basic training, some 30% of Finnish conscripts can score 92 or more points with ten rounds at 150 m distance with target shooting on RK 62, the bullseye (10 points) diameter being 100 mm. The biggest single improvement apart from the metallurgical quality of the receiver and the overall quality of the barrel - is the sights - most AK variants have the rear sight mounted on top of the gas piston housing on top of the receiver. In the Rk62 the rear sight is mounted on the rear of the receiver cover with tritium illuminated night-sights. The sight radius is doubled enhancing the accuracy along with the hammer-forged match CM barrel. Aperture rear sight on a sliding tangent with flip tritium night sight, forward hooded post, 470 mm sight radius
In general, all Sako / Valmet Rk.62 family weapons are first class quality firearms that designed to withstand extreme environmental conditions of Nordic Europe. It is also should be noted that early Israeli made Galil assault rifles were made on machinery and by documentation, bought from Valmet.
The Israeli IMI Galil
IMI Galil
The Galil is a family of Israeli small arms designed by Yisrael Galil and Yaacov Lior in the late 1960s and produced by Israel Military Industries Ltd of Ramat HaSharon...
assault rifle is based on the Rk 62.
The civilian version of the rifle is called M62S, and it is nearly identical in appearance to the Rk 62, except for the fire selector which lacks the automatic fire setting. Valmet has also produced a hunting rifle variant using a further development of the Rk 62 receiver, called Valmet Petra, "petra" being an old Finnish word for deer, chambered originally for .308 Winchester
.308 Winchester
The .308 Winchester is a rifle cartridge and is the commercial cartridge upon which the military 7.62x51mm NATO centerfire cartridge is based. The .308 Winchester was introduced in 1952, two years prior to the NATO adoption of the 7.62x51mm NATO T65...
and .243 Winchester
.243 Winchester
The .243 Winchester is a popular sporting rifle cartridge. Initially designed as a varmint round, it is now more frequently used on medium to large game such as whitetail deer, mule deer, pronghorn, wild hogs, and even black bear and caribou...
, but later also .30-06 Springfield
.30-06 Springfield
The .30-06 Springfield cartridge or 7.62×63mm in metric notation, was introduced to the United States Army in 1906 and standardized, and was in use until the 1960s and early 1970s. It replaced the .30-03, 6 mm Lee Navy, and .30 US Army...
and through aftermarket modification, 9.3x62mm. The Petra was marketed as the "Valmet Hunter" in the US and Canada. It is very different in appearance to the Rk 62, having a wooden stock without separate pistol grip, a sporter type front grip, and the trigger has been moved further back on the receiver.
Variants
Different versions of the weapon include the Valmet M76Valmet M76
The RK 62 76, also known as the Valmet M76 is a gas operated assault rifle of Finnish origin, which was also made in semi-automatic version for civilian market. Based on the earlier Rk 62 , it is a modified AK-47. The gun was in production from 1976 to 1986...
, which is a version with a stamped steel receiver that reduces the weight to 3.5 kg
Kilogram
The kilogram or kilogramme , also known as the kilo, is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units and is defined as being equal to the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram , which is almost exactly equal to the mass of one liter of water...
. The latest version is called Rk 95 Tp
Rk 95 TP
The Rk 95 Tp is a 7.62 mm Finnish assault rifle adopted by the Finnish Defence Forces in the 1990s in relatively small numbers.-History:...
, which is able to fire rifle grenade
Rifle grenade
A rifle grenade is a grenade that uses a rifle-based launcher to permit a longer effective range than would be possible if the grenade was thrown by hand...
s, can be fitted with a suppressor
Suppressor
A suppressor, sound suppressor, sound moderator, or silencer, is a device attached to or part of the barrel of a firearm which reduces the amount of noise and flash generated by firing the weapon....
, telescopic sight
Telescopic sight
A telescopic sight, commonly called a scope, is a sighting device that is based on an optical refracting telescope. They are equipped with some form of graphic image pattern mounted in an optically appropriate position in their optical system to give an accurate aiming point...
and has a folding stock, among other improvements. It is currently used by the Finnish Defence Forces
Finnish Defence Forces
The Finnish Defence Forces are responsible for the defence of Finland. It is a cadre army of 15,000, of which 8,900 are professional soldiers , extended with conscripts and reservists such that the standard readiness strength is 34,700 people in uniform...
in relatively small numbers. As Sako had bought Valmet's small arms manufacturing division, the Rk 95 was manufactured only by Sako.
The naval version of Rk 62 has folding stock for easier storage on board the warships. The folding model is also issued to some army units, such as motorcycle infantry.
A special version of the Rk 62 featuring the Rk 95 buttstock, fire selector and the possibility of mounting optics is in use with the Finnish border guards' Special Border Jäger course.