7.62 RK 62 Assault Rifle

The 7.62 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 birchwood 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 the Nordic Europe. It is also should be noted that early Israeli made Galil assaul rifles were made on macinery 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.

Different versions of the weapon include the Valmet M76, 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 grenades, 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.

Rk 62
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	Finland
Service history
In service	1962–present
Used by	Finnish Defence Forces
Production history
Designer	Valmet
Designed	1962
Manufacturer	Valmet, SAKO
Produced	1962–1994
Number built	350,000+
Variants	Valmet M76, Rk 95 Tp
Specifications
Weight	3.6 kg empty
Length	950 mm with fixed or extended stock / 710 mm with stock folded
Barrel length	418 mm
Caliber	7.62x39mm
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	600–750 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	720 m/s
Effective range	400 m
Feed system	30-round detachable AK magazine
Sights	Aperture rear sight on a sliding tangent with flip tritium night sight, forward hooded post, 470 mm sight radius