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PM-63 RAK



Overview


PM-63

Left side view of Polish PM-63 sub machine gun with stock and forward grip in open position.
Source: Unknown author - © copyright lies with original owner

Origin
Poland
Type
Sub machine gun
Entered service
1967
Status
Obsolete
Development
Late 1950's (design project)
1965 (formal adoption)
Developer
Poland
Piotr Wilniewczyc
Production
1964 - 1974 (Polish production)
1980's (Chinese production)
Producer
Poland - Łucznik arms factory
China
Unlicensed copy
Number produced
70.000 to 80.000 in Poland
Designations
9 mm pistolet maszynowy wz. 1963 (Polish service)
RAK / Ręczny Automat Komandosów
Polish for (commando hand-held weapon)
Type 82 (Chinese production)
Notable users
Poland
East Germany
Vietnam

Description


Introduction

The PM-63 is a sub machine gun of Polish origin. It was developed in the late 1950's as a personal defense weapon for rear echelon troops. For export versions in different calibers were developed, but were never placed in production.

Design

The design is a mix between a pistol and sub machine gun. It uses a straight blowback mechanism and fires from the open bolt position. The unique design feature of the PM-63 is that instead of a normal internal bolt a slide is fitted. The magazine is inserted into the pistol grip. A retractable metal wire stock and foldable forward grip are fitted. To make the weapon more controllable a spoon shaped compensator and a inertia based rate reducer are fitted.

Firepower

The PM-63 fires the 9x18mm Makarov round from double stack 15 or 25 round magazines. Fire modes are semi-automatic and automatic at a rate of fire of 650 rpm. The maximum effective range is quoted as 150 meters. With automatic fire this range is much reduced.

Users

The main user of the PM-63 was Poland and small quantities were exported to East Germany, Vietnam and various Arab nations. An unlicenced copy was produced in China as the Type 82 and has been exported to several nations with close ties to China.

Variants


PM-63

Right side view of PM-63 with stock and forward grip in folded position.
Source: Unknown author - © copyright lies with original owner

PM-63

The PM-63 is a sub machine gun that is easily identified by its many unique features. The external slide, foldable forward grip and spoon type compensator make it easy to identifiy. A PM-70 in 9x19mm and PM-73 in .380 ACP have been developed but were never produced in quantity.

Type 82

The Type 82 is a Chinese production model. This is a reverse engineered model that was produced without license. The Type 82 is reported to be very similar but not identical to the PM-63. It is chambered for 9x18mm Makarov.

Details


Facts PM-63
General
Origin
Poland
Type
Sub machine gun
Caliber
Caliber
9x18mm Makarov
Feed system
15 or 25 round detachable box magazine
Barrel length
152 mm
Rifling
Right hand twist
Muzzle velocity
320 m/s
Operation
Action
Straight blowback, fires from open bolt
Locking
None
Fire selector
0 - 1 - F
Rate of fire
650 rpm
Dimensions
Stock type
Retractable
Length
583 mm stock extended
333 mm stock folded
Height
145 mm with 15 rd magazine
213 mm with 25 rd magazine
Weight
1.6 kg empty
2.0 kg with 25 rd magazine
Sights
Mechanical
Iron sights, blade front and flip-up rear sight
Sight radius
153 mm
Range adjustment
75 and 150 m
Accessories
Vertical grip
Foldable forward grip

Related articles


IMI Uzi

At a glance the PM-63 looks rather similar to the Uzi but actually uses a very different design.

Heckler & Koch MP7

The German MP7 is a modern personal defense weapon, the same role that the PM-63 was designed to fulfill. Interestingly, it also features a folding forward grip.

SR-2 Veresk

The folding forward grip is also a feature on the Russian SR-2, which is otherwise unrelated.